Jeweller Argento is on the brink of an aggressive store expansion programme with plans to double its portfolio within a year.
Argento operates 23 stores in the UK and Ireland, selling designer collections including Danish brands Pilgrim and Pandora. It also stocks its own costume, amber and silver jewellery range, Karma.
The retailer is in talks to add another 11 stores – all of which it plans to open this year – with roughly another 10 to be taken on next year.
Argento has already opened a number of stores this year, in Doncaster, Craigavon, in Northern Ireland, and most recently in Belfast.
Argento founder and owner Pete Boyle said: “It is a great opportunity for us. Our sales are strong and we have got good growth. There are more attractive deals on offer and the terms of leases being offered are good.”
Locations for new stores are likely to include Dublin’s prestigious Grafton Street and Nottingham. The Nottingham store would be its second in the city, adding to its unit on Bridlesmith Gate, which generates the highest sales of any Argento store.
Boyle added: “We’d like to get to 100 stores eventually.”
Argento is seeking stores of a similar size to those in its present portfolio, of between 300 and 400 sq ft.
As part of the expansion plans the retailer will open standalone stores for the Pandora brand. The Danish brand, which specialises in bracelets will be traded through concept stores set up in a joint venture with Argento.
Argento was established in Northern Ireland in 1997. Its first store, in Belfast, is still the flagship in the portfolio.
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