The Entertainer to open first overseas stores in Pakistan and Dubai

The Entertainer, which has 78 stores in the UK, has chosen an unnamed franchise partner for its Pakistan operation, while three potential partners are “very anxious” to take on the franchise in Dubai, said managing director Gary Grant.

It is not known where in Pakistan the first store would open, or how many shops he wanted in the country. He said he hoped to open the first store in June before the Muslim holiday Eid, which falls in August.

Few UK retailers other than Debenhams have made the leap to Pakistan, a country viewed as difficult to break into due to the market differences.

Grant admitted that Pakistan is a “very difficult market that is not in any way mature like the UK” but added: “The kids still play with toys.”

Grant said the retailer had found a strong franchise partner that is “professional and enthusiastic”. “They’re not a small company and they know what’s expected,” he said.

The Entertainer revealed in November it was mulling international stores after it recorded pre-tax profit up 24.2% to £1.3m in the year to January 28, 2012.

Grant said: “We’ve been regularly chased by partners in Dubai wanting to take on The Entertainer franchises.”

The Entertainer plans to open 12 stores in the UK this year, including its first Scottish store, which will be located in Glasgow.

Grant also urged Government to review business rates.

“The biggest threat to retail isn’t landlord and rents it’s the Government and business rates,” he said.

He said that as retailers pay more costs, the first thing that they then cut is jobs, which will impact employment levels.

Retail Week and the BRC have been urging the Government to freeze business rates this year through the Fair Rates for Retail Campaign, as retailers face a 2.6% increase in business rates on top of two years of onerous increases that have added £500m to their rates bill.