Matalan accelerates store refurbishment and appoints new growth director
Matalan is accelerating its store refurbishment programme after its first phase proved a huge success – and the fashion and homewares giant has also hired a new leader for its global growth plans, reports BritPanorama.
Merseyside-based Matalan has refurbished 30 stores this year as part of a £25m five-year investment in its bricks-and-mortar estate. The company’s chief retail officer Katherine Davis states that these refreshed stores have experienced a “significant” rise in footfall since reopening and are now outperforming the wider Matalan estate by 14% in sales terms.
Stores in locations such as Rhyl, Hull, and Wrexham are reporting sales increases of 20% compared to the same period last year, with customer satisfaction scores also on the rise. Matalan plans to refit 40 additional stores next year, 10 more than originally planned.
The upgrades will feature simplified layouts and enhanced signage, “brighter and more inviting” interiors, improved lighting in car parks, and more concession partnerships with brands including Little Mistress, Blue Vanilla, and Quiz.
Katherine Davis emphasized, “Whether it’s brighter interiors, faster tills or a nicer experience parking your car, we’re listening and investing in what matters most to our customers. The results speak for themselves – higher footfall, happier shoppers, and even more compelling reasons to visit your local Matalan.”
She further added, “This all ladders up to delivering a better experience for our customers – as well as our colleagues on the shop floor – and winning market share, which is central to our ambitious business transformation.”
Matalan has also announced the appointment of Steve Ridehalgh as its director of international to spearhead the company’s global growth plans “as part of the second phase of Matalan’s turnaround.” Ridehalgh brings considerable experience in overseas expansion and franchise development, having previously led global growth at Oasis and Warehouse.
Amid these initiatives, Matalan’s focus on enhancing physical store experiences reflects broader trends in retail, where customer engagement and satisfaction increasingly drive business strategies in a competitive landscape.
