Arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft is making a “significant investment” into bricks and mortar with plans to open seven new stores in England in 2025, Retail Week can reveal.
The retailer has confirmed plans to open new stores in areas including Devon, Kent, Yorkshire, Durham and the Midlands next year, creating 105 new jobs in the process.
Retail Week understands the new openings are the latest step in Hobbycraft’s strategic shift to prioritising physical retail post-pandemic. The retailer views its store estate as a “vital hub” for winning over new customers by focusing on offering a more experiential way of shopping for arts and crafts.
The new stores will have a greater focus on offering digital crafting spaces and haberdashery areas for customers to experiment with products before purchasing.
They will also have expert staff on hand to answer customer questions, feature dedicated crafting spaces, and offer experiential workshops and demonstrations.
Store colleagues can also join the retailer’s Artisan programme to gain additional training in developing writing and presenting skills, learn how to use social media effectively and participate in training days around business skills and development.
Hobbycraft chief executive Dominic Jordan said: “Our continued store rollout across the UK illustrates the importance we place in providing customers with a physical presence to gain the full art and craft experience.
“We want to build a communal space for crafters across the UK to build their passion for craft and enhance their creativity, with seven new stores scheduled to open in 2025 and further expansion thereafter.”
Since 2020, Hobbycraft has opened 26 stores, creating over 300 new retail jobs in the process.
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