Habitat has announced plans to open 50 of its new Mini Habitat stores by the end of the year following the successful roll out of its mini ‘shop-in-shop’ format in Homebase stores across the country.
Clare Askem, MD of Habitat, announced the ambitious expansion plan that will now see a new Habitat store launch every two weeks, with new stores opening shortly in Kingston, Huntingdon and Selly Oak.
“We’re thrilled that the Mini Habitat format has proven to be such a success with our customers,” she says. “Three years ago there were just three Habitat stores in London, however today we are making the Habitat brand available across the UK again with new openings from Truro to Edinburgh. Coupled with increased distribution through the Argos brand and our online store, Habitat really is now more accessible than ever before.”
Each Mini Habitat store, at around 2500 sqft, is manned by Habitat staff and includes an edited collection of the full Habitat range – with 85% of products exclusively designed by its in-house design studio – and includes both affordable and statement designer furniture, lighting, textiles and accessories. Customers will have access to the full Habitat catalogue through in-store iPads with an in-store delivery option.
London Mini Habitat stores can be found in Battersea, Walthamstow, Kingston, Ruislip, Ewell, Orpington and Waltham Cross branches of Homebase, alongside its three flagship stores at Tottenham Court Road, King’s Road and Finchley Road.
Habitat this year celebrates its 50th birthday with a series of special events planned in stores nationwide for September 2014 that will coincide with London Design Festival (13th-21st September), for which Habitat will also showcase a special exhibition in its Kings Road flagship store in collaboration with designers including Tord Boontje, Claire Norcross, Simon Pengelly, Sarah Campbell, Aaron Probyn and Shin Azumi.
