Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Wilkinson is the latest retailer to start opening a series of downsized stores.
The value home and garden operation recently launched its smallest-ever store, at just 1,400sq ft, in the town centre in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire. The outlet, with extended opening hours every day, from 7am to 11pm, aims to give the elderly and people coming home from work easier access to Wilkinson’s offer with the added convenience of being on their doorstep.
A second shop along the same lines is scheduled to open in Kings Heath, Birmingham, on December 14.
The Stapleford store is the retailer’s 287th. Together, the stores serve over 180m customers each year. The company plans to have 500 outlets across the UK by 2012.
Wilkinson sells more than 25,000 product lines, including kitchenware, household disposables, DIY products and food.
Meanwhile, John Lewis is also planning to reduce the size of future department stores as it seeks to achieve its goal of doubling its presence over the next decade. The stores could offer just 100,000sq ft of selling space compared with the existing average of around 150,000sq ft. The new stores will be located in towns with small catchment areas.
