It is only February, but it is turning out to be a busy year for Joshua Bate Trading Bermuda.

The business is celebrating its 25th anniversary and has just relocated the Bate’s showroom to larger premises.

The appliance and building materials company has moved from Pembroke to Devonshire.

“We were unable to expand in our building, so we had to move in order the better serve our customers,” said Joshua Bate, president of the company.

The showroom was previously at Somers Warehouse on Cemetery Road. It is now at Marsh Lane, Devonshire, a few buildings from the Ornamental Iron Works, and has more than doubled in size.

The relocation was carried out in a single weekend, and the store is back up and running. However, there will also be an official grand opening celebration on February 18.

Since it started trading in 1992, the company has weathered good times and rockier periods, such as the economic downturn of the late 2000s.

“We shrank to one office and one person in Bermuda in 2009. Now we have 10,000 sq ft and 15 staff,” said Mr Bate.

“Things turned around. We kept to our basic priority of importing goods as efficiently as possible.”

The business is Bermuda’s authorised appliance dealer for GE, Monogram, Wolf, Sub-Zero, Asko and has hundreds of product lines including furniture, lighting, flooring, plumbing fixtures and faucets and mattresses.

“It’s been a fun ride,” said Mr Bate. “I have never been as proud of our staff as I am now. In addition to offering our customers the best values on everything we import and source, everyone on our team works hard to provide the best customer service in Bermuda. I am truly a lucky man.”

He said every player in the team is strong.

The latest addition to the company is Bate’s Quality Service, providing service and installation for appliances and more. It is staffed by certified technicians.

When asked what has contributed to the company’s continuing success after 25 years in business, Mr Bate said: “We treat people the way we would like to be treated ourselves.”

At the grand opening celebrations there will be giveaways, a bouncy castle, hot dog stall and more. The company is encouraging customers to follow it on Facebook to get early notice of promotions and special offers tied to this year’s 25th anniversary.

Bate’s is now located at 7 Marsh Lane. It has a website at www.bate.bm