A History of Listers

David Lister, known to all as ‘JDL’, founded the company on 6th May 1974.
In 1957, long before starting the firm, JDL had joined a London tool wholesale business based in the City of London and which later relocated to Greenhithe in Kent. That business expanded through acquiring a small ironmongery wholesaler and then outgrew its premises and decided in 1973 to restructure the firm by de-merging. In 1974 JDL took the opportunity to return home to Suffolk by purchasing the stock and goodwill of the company’s now growing lock and builders ironmongery division; JDL formed a new company, Lister Locks Ltd. The new business moved to the Farthing Road industrial estate in Ipswich.
From Farthing Road the business concentrated on stocking and distributing locks, security fittings and builders ironmongery – operating as a strictly bona fide wholesale builders merchant outlet on behalf of British manufacturers and selling only to builders merchants and DIY stores.
JDL was assisted by his two sons: John, who was responsible for purchasing, warehouse management and distribution, and Colin, who were responsible for external sales.
Shortly after moving into Unit 17 in Farthing Road the adjacent unit became available and so the floor area was immediately doubled. In 1979 the company moved to Unit 3, which had almost three times the floor area. The business however soon absorbed even this large space and took on the lease on the adjacent warehouse before in 1982 buying Unit 12, yet another 20,000sq ft unit. This would make a total office and warehouse capacity of approximately 125k sq ft.

In 1987 Listers set up in-house production facilities for pre-packing goods, such as the Listers own branded Listerpack; a range of security, door furniture and ironmongery products.
In Easter 1990, the company moved across town to its current site in Landseer Road. Ironically the new building had been originally developed in the late 1970s as a builder’s merchant’s outlet by another established Ipswich company, Sankey Smythe Ltd. The logistics worked, and Listers would never look back.
In the years since the company moved to Landseer Road its founder David ‘JDL’ Lister has passed away. However, the company has developed into a national distribution centre supplying all major builders merchants across the United Kingdom with a range of locks, security fittings, fixings and architectural ironmongery.
Listers celebrated the company’s 30th anniversary in 2004.Celebrations included a massive staff party at the Ipswich Town Hall. 2004 also saw the re-launch of the company’s own label brand, Listerpack.
On 6 January 2006, Basta Parsons Limited acquired Lister Locks Limited. Kevin Norton, is now Chief Executive.

Basta was established in County Sligo in 1955, and celebrated its 50th birthday in 2005. Basta came under current ownership in 1990, when Kevin Norton took over as Chief Executive. An ambitious growth plan and business development programme turned round the company. Product Development and Brand promotion have been a wonderful success for Basta.

Since 1998 Basta has completed four acquisitions - ‘Worcester Parsons’ (formerly part of the Newman Tonks Group), ‘Lathams’ (in 2001 which brought the Conqueror and Gibbons brands), Arthur Shaw (famous for its stays and fasteners for timber windows) in 2002 and now Listers.

An interesting history which united with Listers means this impressive team offer an unrivaled combination of Service and Quality and are striving to become the number one choice!