Carpetright rival Tapi Carpets on track to open 100 stores by Christmas

Harris, who launched the floorings retailer in 2015, told Retail Week: “We have 100 stores either open or in layer’s hands right now, so it’s all about when the landlord can deliver them.”

Harris, who is the son of Carpetright founder Lord Harris, predicts Tapi will maintain its open rate of 50 stores per year until it reaches its “perfect number” of 200 stores across UK retail park, high street and shopping centre locations.

He added that Tapi will continue to target towns to suit the brand, which is aimed at a mid-to-high market shopper, and said he already has a number of locations in mind for 2018 store openings.

“Tapi will continue to target towns to suit the brand, which is aimed at a mid-to-high market shopper”

Harris maintained that Tapi was still on course to turn a profit by 2018 and said its prices have not been affected by sterling’s slump since the Brexit vote so far.

Making its mark

Tapi Carpet’s debuted on Tooting high street in May 2015, when the floor coverings market was booming.

With backing from high profile retailers such as Lord Kirkham, the firm has gone head-to-head with Carpetright, the business Harris’ father founded in 1988 and where he worked for 23 years.

Carpetright chief executive Wilf Walsh has since kicked off an extensive refurbishment programme and will overhaul the retailer’s 429 stores by 2018.

At the end of its first financial year ended December 2016, Tapi had 49 stores.

Its portfolio currently stands at 70 units, ranging from 2,000 sq ft to 10,000 sq ft.