Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Independent housewares retailer UK Cookshop is opening a second branch, in the West Sussex town of Burgess Hill, on Saturday (October 11).
The business, run by husband and wife team Nikki and Dave Sharp, currently operates an 80sq m high street premises which made its debut in 2005 in the West Sussex town of Hurstpierpoint, near Brighton, along with an ecommerce website at www.ukcookshop.co.uk,
These ventures will now be joined by an 80sq m unit four miles away, in Market Place Shopping Centre in the heart of Burgess Hill town centre, in a retail unit previously occupied by a fabric shop.
The shopfit and displays will be in “a very different style” to Hursterpierpoint, with the emphasis on a rustic look: for example, 200 apple crates are being used for shelving and the countertop is an 8ft x 2ft piece of chestnut.
But the stock at both stores will be similar. There are currently 5,000 products and more will be added. Key suppliers include Joseph Joseph, T&G Woodware, Rayware, ICTC, CKS, Kitchen Craft, Dexam, Le Creuset, Aga, NJ Products, Alan Silverwood, DKB Household UK, Taylor’s Eye Witness, Culpitt, Horwood and Ulster Weavers Core product categories are cookware, cake decorating, knives and tools and gadgets.
Dave Sharp said: “We sell pretty much everything – except small electricals. But we will wait and see: we’ll stick in a few items and if the demand is there, we’ll do more. He added: “Everyone, including bira (British Independent Retailers Association), have been very helpful.”
Nikki will manage the new branch while Dave and his mother-in-law will look after Hurstperpoint and the warehouse. They will be supported by four part-time staff cross the two shops.
There will be special promotions on the Burgess Hill branch’s opening day include free goodie bags to the first 50 customers and an in-store competition run by T&G Woodware.
