Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
The Range opened its first store in Scotland yesterday (August 16).
The Glasgow outlet, on London Road was opened by the owner and founder of The Range Chris Dawson, who was accompanied by the Depute Lord Provost Bailie Gerald Leonard, Miss Scotland Jamey Bowers and celebrity designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.
Glasgow is the chain’s 76th store and will be followed soon by a new outlet in the Essex town of Southend-on-Sea.
The Range, which describes itself as Britain’s fastest-growing retail chain with 7,000 staff, stocks more than 65,000 quality products across 16 departments including homewares, DIY, furniture, lighting, arts & crafts and garden.
The group’s ethos is to present mid-price home, leisure and garden products, “drawing together everything that could be needed for a stylish home, all at affordable prices”.
Originally CDS Superstores, The Range originated in the markets of the south-west and was founded by Plymouth-based entrepreneur Chris Dawson who started the business in 1980 as an open air market trader.
Speaking at the launch of the Glasgow store, he reportedly said that he expects to create 6,750 jobs within the next three years, of which 1,750 will be in Scotland.
Chris Dawson said that The Range will create employment by opening another 45 superstores in the next three years. Each store creates at least 150 jobs, along with supporting roles at its head office in Plymouth, warehouse, shop-fitting company and waste management arm..
Plans have already been announced to open another five The Range superstores this year at Edinburgh, Dundee, Dudley, Milton Keynes and Southend-on-Sea, to add to the seven already opened in 2013. A further 20 are planned for 2014.
