HOMEWARE retailer Bedeck has said it is on course for double digit growth following an 18-month investment programme.
Headquartered in Magheralin, the company has recently invested a seven-figure sum in its flagship Belfast store on the Lisburn Road and a new 5,000 sq ft trade showroom at its head office.
The bedding specialist has also invested in stores in Kildare, York and Cheshire Oaks and the latest store in Ashford, Kent, which opened this month.
Bedeck says the investment has already resulted in a 10 per cent spike in footfall.
The company, which employs 325 people, has a strong presence across the UK, with some 80 stores and in-shop concessions.
Last year the Irish homeware retailer signed up with American distributer, CHF Industries, giving it exclusive rights to sell CHF brands such as DKNY bed and bath products.
Bedeck’s joint managing director Gary Irwin said the CHF deal and the expanding product range had called for a much larger showroom.
“The partnership has also encouraged us to extend our product offering in the curtains and towels categories, which are fast becoming top performing ranges and so, needed a dedicated site from which to inform and excite buyers,” he said.
The company’s other managing director, Andrew Irwin, added: “The investment across our retail stores comes out of the need to continue to inspire our customers. We want to create a friendly and pleasant environment for both staff and customers and ensure they have a positive shopping experience. As a business we feel it is important to constantly evolve and refine our stores to stay relevant within the very pressurised retail environment. We are seeing a resurgence of interest for outlet shopping and the shopper experience is no less important here than that of shopping on the high street. Our investment in the outlets reflects that.”
