Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
The Colanders business has recently completed a large extension of its shop in Hitchin.
It is the second expansion for the cookshop, which has been in the Hertfordshire market town for over 16 years. It first grew its space by taking over a neighbouring luggage shop and has now bought the luggage business’s second shop, also next door, which has added a further 1,500sq ft of retail space.
The shops have been knocked into one, and owner David Eggison and his team now trade from over 3,500sq ft in total.
The new expansion has enabled the shop to create three separate and distinct product areas: cookware and bakeware, kitchenware and tableware. In turn, it has been able to increase its bakeware and cake decoration selection and to add new product ranges such as placemats and tablelinen. The glassware and ceramic ranges have also been expanded.
“Retailing on the high street at the moment is tough,” Eggison told HousewaresLive.net, “but Hitchin and its local community have been good to us in supporting their local retailer so I owe it to them to provide a wider choice and quality of product on their doorstep.
“Our expansion despite these difficult economic times reflects our continued determination to be a key retailer in the town.”
To celebrate the expansion Eggison held a party for all the staff and local dignitaries, and his five-year-old daughter Sarah cut the ribbon to unveil the new shop.
At one time, Colanders had six shops, all in Hertfordshire, but Hitchin is now the only one remaining as business migrates online. Eggison says website sales have enjoyed huge success in the last few years, with that side of the business now employing over 20 people in its warehouse in Welwyn Garden City.
“The website accounts for about 15% of the Colanders business now and it’s still growing,” he said. “It’s a big turnover on the internet.”
