Jones Bootmaker has laid out expansion plans as it prepares for a strong festive sales period.
It wants to open up to 15 stores in the next two years in its Southeast and Home Counties heartland. It also wants to find sites in the City and West End of London, as well as expand into Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Jones Bootmaker chief executive Ken Bartle said: “We are looking to open up to 15 new stores if the right locations can be found. The climate is tough but there are good deals to be had, and things will improve. When the market turns we will be ready.”
Bartle added that he is optimistic ahead of Christmas as trading is “strong” despite the warm start to autumn. The retailer is also creating a “high quality” modernised shopfit designed by Dalziel + Pow, which it will roll out to all new stores. Jones Bootmaker has more than 80 stores and is on the hunt for shops of about 1,000 sq ft in shopping centres and high streets.
Retail agent Kitchen La Frenais Morgan acts for Jones Bootmaker.
In March, footwear veterans Ken Bartle and Peter Phillips, with investor backing, ploughed £4.5m into the retailer to take back control of the business, which had links to Icelandic investors.
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