Sharps Bedrooms has rolled out its concept format at five intu shopping centres in as many months to gain access to their high footfall of customers.
Ranging in size from 692 sq ft at intu Lakeside to 2,738 sq ft at intu Broadmarsh, the stores will target intu’s high concentration of female and affluent shoppers by offering a selection of its full product range in a showroom environment.
The UK’s leading fitted furniture specialist will launch new stores at intu Broadmarsh and intu Eldon Square this month as part of the strategy to enter prime UK shopping destinations, following openings at intu Lakeside in February and at intu Merry Hill and intu Derby at the end of last year.
Speaking of the new concept store openings, Peter Welsh, retail operations director at Sharps, said: “By opening concept showrooms we can introduce the latest ranges to a wider group of consumers and offer the opportunity to explore and experience the luxury of Sharps’ fitted furniture. intu’s popular shopping destinations are the perfect locations for our concept stores as they provide both high footfall and flexibility.”
Sharps Bedrooms is the latest big box retailer to take space at intu following openings for DFS and SEAT at its centres last year.
Julian Wilkinson, asset management director at intu, said: “Sharps is the latest brand to take advantage of our nationwide portfolio of high-footfall shopping destinations.
“We’re welcoming an increasing number of traditionally large-format retailers who are taking smaller stores at intu centres to get access to a higher footfall of their core customers. This combination of new concept stores alongside fantastic leisure opportunities is providing even more reasons for customers to visit from further and for longer for a day out experience with us.”
