Specialist retailer Calendar Club has announced plans to acquire around 250 short-term mall kiosks and shop units throughout England, Scotland and Wales for the run up to Christmas 2018.
Celebrating 20 years on the high street this year, Calendar Club has developed into the largest retailer of calendars and the largest and most successful temporary store retailer in the UK.
“The move will come as good news for many landlords who have seen a number of significant players retreating from the High Street in the last year,” says Steve Cullis, Associate Director of Williams Gunter Hardwick.
“We know that Calendar Club adds a healthy element to many shopping centres, as their units are well fitted and drive footfall in the lead up to Christmas. But equally importantly, they occupy what would otherwise be empty units and offer a range of products that complement rather than rival other occupiers.”
David Pike, Director of Calendar Club added, “We are proud to be entering our 20th anniversary year on the high street. Having been highly successful in securing mall kiosks to date this season, we are now targeting fewer shop units than last year.
“It is vital in these more difficult times that we maintain the health of Calendar Club as a business – the challenge of declining footfall in shopping centres and high streets and the subsequent tougher trading conditions, mean that we need to be very particular about where we take space.
“Concentrating on bringing our occupancy costs down from the level of recent years, will enable us to continue to be a successful retail business and reliable tenant for the next twenty years.”
Williams Gunter Hardwick will lead the search in the southern half of the UK from their Bristol office, with Barker Proudlove of Leeds responsible for acquiring units in the northern half. All store acquisitions will be coordinated by Peter Daye and Dan Tinkler, based at Calendar Club in Exeter.
The Devon-based company opened its first 12 stores in 1998 and now sells over four million calendars a year, along with a range of diaries, family planners and other gifts. Whilst an increasing amount of Calendar Club’s business is online, their temporary stores space in shopping centres and on High Streets are still an important part of their business.
