Today in retail: Habitat’s safe home with Sainsbury’s

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Habitat’s future was thrown into doubt when Homebase, where it previously operated concessions, was sold to Bunnings parent company Wesfarmers.

Aside from its London flagship, Habitat was soon to be without a place to call home.

However, it became part of the Sainsbury’s family when the grocer snapped up Argos from Home Retail Group last year.

Sainsbury’s quickly opened a handful of Habitat shop-in-shops at some of its larger stores. And more light was shed on the situation today when, as a mark of its confidence and commitment to its newly purchased firms, Sainsbury’s unveiled plans to open another ten Habitat shop-in-shops before the end of its financial year.

Habitat, which is also opening a range of standalone mini-stores, hopes the physical units will support and facilitate sales through its digital channels.

Sainsbury’s also committed to converting 60 Argos stores into a new digital format, as it ramps up efforts to make its new chains feel at home.

Also in the news, Bathstore is venturing into the kitchen and bedroom markets with the launch of its new fascia, Haus Store.

Two branches, in Farnborough and Lakeside, open tomorrow.

Quote of the day

“Our cutting-edge digital capability is a core strength of our business and our decision to transform 60 Argos stores by March next year moves our strategy on further.”

– Sainsbury’s Argos chief executive John Rogers commenting on today’s announcement