In a world where ‘almost’ every business relies on websites, reviews, and social media to stay visible, Stantons Leeds Ltd is quite an exception. This long-standing, family-run locksmith business in Harehills, Leeds, has no website, no social media presence, yet its phones keep ringing and its doors stay open. For father-and-son team Steve and George Mijakovac, reputation, reliability, and word of mouth have always been their best marketing tools.
The business has been serving Leeds for decades, becoming a trusted name for locksmithing, joinery, and door fitting across homes and housing associations. With roots going back around 70 years, and over 30 of those in the Mijakovac family, Stantons Leeds is proof that personal service and strong local ties can still compete in a digital world. Now, George is looking to build on that legacy, bringing fresh energy and new ideas while staying true to the traditional values that made the business what it is today.
Following in My Father’s Footsteps
I got into locksmithing because of my dad, who’s been doing it all his life, and I just followed in his footsteps. I’ve never really been the academic type, I’ve always been a hands-on worker, just like him. Straight out of school, I joined him in the business, and that was eleven years ago now.
Working with my dad has been great. Of course, he’s old school, so we don’t always see things the same way. Sometimes we have to compromise on how we do things, but most of the time we agree. He’s got a huge amount of experience, and I’ve learned nearly everything from him. We’re a good team, and we’ve built a solid reputation in Leeds over the years.
More Than Just Locksmiths
We’re not just a locksmith shop, because we like to do a bit of everything. Locksmithing, joinery, and door fitting, plus double glazing for housing associations. We deal with all types of doors: uPVC, composite, fire doors, and internal doors. We also have a shop that sells DIY and ironmongery products, and we offer key cutting services too.
That range of work keeps every day different. There’s always a new challenge or something unusual that comes through the door. One customer came in recently asking for a really complex master key system. We spent ages explaining how it all worked, and honestly, we didn’t think they’d ever go ahead with it, but they did! We ended up installing a full DOM UK Sigma RS system for a school. That one was a great job, and it pushed us to expand what we offer on the access-control side.
Old-School Values in a Modern Market
We’ve been lucky because we’re based in a good area and have built strong relationships over time. That’s probably why not having a website or social media hasn’t hurt us too much so far. People know where we are – they pop in, call the shop, or send someone down. But I know that can’t last forever. We need to catch up with technology, get a proper booking system for customers, and start using Facebook, and collect online reviews. It’s the next step.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens when we do go online. Right now, we know our customers by name – they walk into the shop, or they’ve been coming to us for years through recommendations. Once we set up a website and social media, it’ll be obvious if a trove of extra work comes in. It’ll give us a clearer picture of how people find us and help us grow without losing that personal touch that’s kept us going for so long.
The biggest change we’ve noticed recently is competition from big DIY chains. A Selco opened nearby, and we’ve lost a bit of business to that, but nothing too drastic. Our customers come back because of the advice and knowledge we offer; you can’t get that in a warehouse. We help people understand what they’re buying, give them options, and if something goes wrong, we’re there to fix it. That’s what makes us different.
Looking Ahead: Expansion & New Horizons
The plan now is to expand and bring in more staff and offer more callouts. We want to grow the maintenance side of the business, work alongside electricians and other trades, and broaden what we can offer as a team. We’ll be recruiting soon to help make that happen.
I keep an eye on what’s new in the industry. I read The Locksmith Journal regularly. It’s good for seeing what new locks are coming out, and I’ve found products through that which I now stock in the shop such as Ultion, Mul-T-Lock, electronic locks. It’s great to stay ahead on the product side of things the old school way.
The past couple of months have been busy, which is great to see. We’ve got a loyal customer base, and the name carries weight locally. The business has stood the test of time because we take pride in what we do and look after our customers. I think that’s why Stantons is still here after 70 years, and hopefully it’ll keep going for many more.
0113 249 0757
info@stantonsgm.co.uk
Stantons Leeds Ltd
Based in Harehills, Stantons Leeds Ltd is one of Leeds’ longest-established locksmith and door specialists, combining over seven decades of service with a reputation for quality workmanship and personal care. From domestic and commercial locksmithing to joinery, door fitting, and key cutting, the business remains a trusted local name and proudly family-run.