Global Danish retailer JYSK is set to open five new stores by the end of its FY in August 2021, creating 100 jobs and taking the total number of UK stores to 26.
Following the opening of a new flagship store in Liverpool, JYSK continues with its expansion plans across the UK, off the back of record resuts growth for JYSK UK & Ireland of €2.9M (+69%) in the retailer's 2019/20 FY.
The new stores will be located in Bury, Stockport, Leeds, Barnsley, and Gainsborough. Despite the current restrictions in place for the UK, Jenny Johnston, JYSK sales and marketing manager, UK & Ireland, comments on the stores' potential: “We are delighted to be able to bring JYSK to five new locations across the UK. The sky is the limit for JYSK, and we remain committed to our expansion plans even in the current climate.
"All the new stores to open will be within a 1hr drive of existing stores to allow for synergies in processes and shared resources – this approach will allow for sustainable, controlled expansion of the UK portfolio.”
Founded in Denmark in 1979 by Lars Larsen, over the past four decades JYSK has expanded into 51 countries, and now operates more than 2900 stores worldwide, and employs more than 24,000 people.
With shopping choices limited, many customers turned to ecommerce in 2020, and almost a quarter (24%) of JYSK’s total annual orders were made online.
Roni Tuominen, UK & Ireland country manager (pictured), comments: “Our sales during the multiple lockdowns showed that many people are choosing to invest in their homes this year rather than spending money on going out or on holiday. With the difficulties of the pandemic continuing, people are creating their perfect home environments which they can feel safe and comfortable in, and JYSK are happy to be able to assist with that.
"Moving into 2021, we think that the pandemic will change that way that people work – we see flexible working and people continuing to work from home as something that will be in place long after the pandemic, therefore we don’t see the trend for home improvements declining any time soon.”
JYSK's Irish expansion also continues, with eight stores recently announced – including three new stores in Carlow, Tralee and Cork – bringing employee numbers there to over 150.
