Family-owned home department store Leekes has announced the first stage of its £1m refurbishment is complete.
Leekes has delivered almost 30 years of retailing at Cross Hands and it is intended that phase one of the planned enhancements will improve the Cross Hands customer experience for years to come, delivering a brand new look for the store and an even larger range of goods for the home.
Visitors to the store will notice the newly-landscaped car park, entrance and exit, all with disabled access; a new sleep zone offering an extensive selection of beds, bedframes and bedroom furniture; Wales’ largest conservatory display in a brand new purpose-built polytunnel; plus a floor dedicated solely to furniture studios from all of the leading brands.
In addition, the popular in-house restaurant has been extended taking its total covers from 60 to 100 and local Bicycle retailer Tredz has opened a new studio complete with professional bike fitting service.
Over the last five years Leekes has concentrated on expanding its business in the Midlands, but is now committed to a programme of refurbishment in its Welsh stores, starting with Cross Hands.
Emma Leeke, MD at Leekes, says: “We are delighted to have completed phase one on schedule. We now start phase two which includes the refurbishment of our kitchen and bathroom studios to improve and enhance our breadth and range. Work has now started on this second stage and is expected to be completed by early 2014.
“When Cross Hands first opened on Friday 5th October in 1984 it was a significant milestone for the family, with traffic lining the roads into the Business Park and more than 6000 people queuing outside the store on launch day. Today the store remains as popular as ever with total footfall at 700,000 and annual turnover at £17.5m in 2012.”
Customers will immediately notice that some areas of the store look remarkably different, but they will still be greeted with the same warm welcome and friendly expertise they’ve been used to for the last 30 years – with six of the 134 current members of staff having worked at the store since the day it opened. A further 60% of the staff have worked at Cross Hands for over five years, whilst one third boast over 10 years’ service.
Emma adds: “The Leekes vision is one of growth, expansion and quality service - and we’re firmly focused on keeping the business in this direction. We are incredibly excited to see the reaction of our customers to the £1m refurbishment and look forward to welcoming even more people into the store.”
