The HWP Group -- better known as Holmes, Williams & Purvey -- and Gorham's Ltd. have entered into an agreement to sell major appliances from Gorham's Home Centre on St. John's Road.

The household appliances will be sold from Gorham's newly expanded appliance section. The area was created as the result of the company moving its gardening, sports, marine and outdoor goods and supplies divisions over to the Outdoor Centre, its 9,000 sq. ft. retail addition.

Under the agreement, customers will be able to buy major General Electric appliances at Gorham's which have been supplied by HWP.

Stoves, refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers and microwaves will all now be available at Gorham's. Air conditioners will be added to the line in the summer. Gorham's will continue to offer smaller appliances, although its selection has been expanded.

"We are delighted with this joint venture, which gives HWP an opportunity to take advantage of Gorham's busy showroom floor,'' said HWP chief operating officer Jonathan Brewin.

"This agreement will provide us with another attractive environment from which to sell our GE appliance line, while Gorham's will benefit by arranging to have its warrantee and service for TVs, video cassette recorders and microwave cookers handled by the HWP Group.'' Major appliances sold at Gorham's will be delivered to customers and serviced by HWP.

Gorham's general manager, Rod Ferguson, said: "In the past, we did not want to get into selling larger appliances because we did not have the (necessary) service expertise in these fields.'' Mr. Ferguson explained that the home appliance market is growing. "HWP presented us with a great opportunity to become involved in the home appliance market and to thereby expand our appliance selection. We have tripled the floor space in the section and, as technology advances, we will be showcasing more exciting products.'' HWP has supplied a sales person to assist customers in the appliance section, while Gorham's has increased its staff in that area.

Mr. Brewin said that prices for GE appliances for sale at Gorham's would be "exactly the same'' as the prices at HWP's Front Street appliance centre, which consolidates all of HWP's electrical appliance sales under one roof.