Danish furniture retailer Jysk is poised to roll out more UK stores after resolving teething problems at its operations here and bolsters its management with a head of buying from Next.
The retailer, which has four UK stores, said it has been perfecting its model in this country since opening in April last year and is now preparing to open more shops.
Jysk has been making changes in stores, to displays and point of sale, as well as upping direct marketing in recent months.
Jysk will push the button on its expansion plans in the next financial year, which begins in August. Sales and marketing manager Dara Goolsby said the first stores are likely to open early next year, but declined to say how many there would be.
Goolsby said: “The opportunities are there. We’re looking at store formats now. There’s an abundance of different types of property, so there’s a lot to think about.”
She said that Jysk is considering all types of property, from small shops on the high street and in shopping centres to larger stores on retail parks, where its existing shops – located in the northwest of England – are based.
“We’re completely open to the idea of opening on high streets,” she said.
The retailer has hired former Next buyer Karen Peace as UK buyer. Peace will manage the assortment and introduce new products from local suppliers. Goolsby said Peace has “a wealth of experience in purchasing within home furnishings”. She added: “We need someone who can have an impact on the operation. We need to tweak things to get our offering right for the market.”
Jysk has also appointed Peter Dodd as district manager. Previously he was store manager at furniture chain Ilva, which went bust in June last year.
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