Bensons for Beds is forging ahead with its transformation plans by opening eight new stores in December.
The retailer is opening three brand new stores and relocating another five into state-of-the-art premises.
The new openings mark another step in the transformation of the business, which restructured to become a standalone company in June 2020 after receiving new investment. While that restructure led to the closure of around 60 stores, Bensons has now embarked on modest growth in its estate.
Over the last 12 months it has relocated or opened in 20 new locations, and these latest pre-Christmas moves will take the total number of Bensons stores to 179.
The new stores comprise: Bedford, on St Johns Retail Park, opening 3rd December, and covering 7594 sqft with six members of staff; Poole, on Poole Retail Park, opening 3rd December, and covering 6555 sqft with six members of staff; and Dumfries, on Cuckoo Bridge Retail Park, opening 17th December, and covering 6811 sqft with six members of staff.
Relocation opening on 3rd December: Harlow, at 6a Queensgate Centre, across a 4217 sqft ground floor and a 3740 sqft mezzanine, and employing five members of staff;
Relocations opening on 10th December: Oxford, Botley Road Retail Park, covering a 3160 sqft ground floor and a 2651 sqft mezzanine, and employing five members of staff; and Doncaster, on Centurion Retail Park, covering 8655 sqft and employing five members of staff,
Relocations opening on 17th December: Swansea, on Pontarddulais Road Retail Park, covering 4574 sqft and employing six members of staff; and Barnsley, on Wombwell Retail Park, covering 4500 sqft and employing five members of staff.
To celebrate the opening of the new stores, each one will roll out Bensons’ purple carpet to welcome customers who will get an additional -10% off items bought over the opening weekend.
In addition to the new stores, the business is also seeing investment in the online store, digital technology, training, distribution and its dedicated manufacturing site at Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire.
Bensons’ chief executive Mark Jackson says: “The new openings and relocations are an essential part of our transformation plans as we invest in our store portfolio to give customers the best possible experience. Over the last 12 months we’ve made huge strides in our transition into a new company, and we’ve laid the foundations for growth through our continued investment in all aspects of the business.”
Around 35 new stores and relocations are planned for 2022, with 15 in the first half of the year as Bensons accelerates its growth plans.
