Housing Units spends £200,000 on upgrade

HOMEWARES retailer Housing Units has said that it plans to start its 65th birthday celebrations with a facelift.

The Failsworth-based firm, which is owned by chairman Harry Fox and his family, is spending £200,000 on the improvement and expansion of key departments.

New retail floor areas will be added, departments will be revamped and relocated and new staff and management offices will also be built.

Director Nick Fox said: “We’re finding that we need to expand some departments because of the level of demand, but we’re also finding that when we do that sales figures increase – several departments are already outstripping forecast as a consequence.

“We’ll of course be running 65th anniversary customer promotions and competitions, but a great part of the buzz is amongst the staff and management who are proud not just to be surviving a downturn, but in many cases bucking trends with record sales volumes.”

Housing Units – known for its top-hatted doormen – was established in 1947. It currently employs around 275 people and in the year to March 31 turnover grew to £18.5m (2010: £18.2m), and pre tax profits to £375,000.