Member Article

£60,000 investment and new jobs created by store revamp

A family-run flooring retailer is bucking the trend in the industry by creating new jobs and investing £60,000 in the revamp of its flagship store on Teesside.

With many retailers struggling - including the UK’s biggest carpet retailer Carpetright which recently closed a quarter of its stores - Franks the Flooring Store continues to thrive.

In the past few months, it has opened two new stores, in Coulby Newham and South Shields, and it has now also unveiled its new-look store in Portrack Lane, Stockton.

The 26,000 square foot store has underdone a makeover, which includes a new showroom, displays, fascia’s and external lighting.

The new layout of the store has enabled the retailer to add extra ranges, including luxury vinyl, laminate and solid engineered wood flooring.

And with more people now opting for lower maintenance gardens, it has also increased its stock of artificial grass.

The refurbishment has also led to the creation of two new jobs for local people, bring the total in the Portrack store to 12.

Franks’ Business Development Manager Mick Copeland said “The Portrack store is one of our oldest stores in the North East, open for 20 years and becoming a flagship for the company.

“It’s the biggest and by far our busiest store, and by refurbishing the showroom, our aim is to further enhance the customer experience and offer an even greater range of products at prices people can afford.”

Franks the Flooring Store now has 27 stores across the North-East.

Mr Copeland added: “The flooring industry, like many other high street retailers, has been feeling the pinch recently and Carpetright is just the most recent example.

“With Frank’s, there’s always been great customer loyalty but alongside this we have continued to invest in our existing stores, open new stores and diversified into areas such as artificial grass, which has been very successful.

“And still being a family-run business also helps as people like the personal touch.

“Ultimately, our goal is to remain the number one carpet retailer in the North East.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Neil Shaefer .