Ossie Mills expands to meet demand
LANCASHIRE-based Oswaldtwistle Mills has opened new premises, with enquiries about its concessions on the up as a cheaper alternative to the High Street.
The company has responded to growing demand for space from retailers by opening an 8,500 sq ft concession-based operation, called Best of Oswaldtwistle Mills, in the former Woolworths store at Accrington’s Arndale Centre, creating 15 jobs.
Oswaldtwistle Mills is also expanding its food hall to cater for increasing demand for its locally sourced food products, as well as converting a disused mill behind the main retail site into a business and conference centre.
Boyd Hargreaves, Oswaldtwistle Mills retail director, said that month-to-month leases, shopping tourism and strength in numbers, are attracting retailers that are daunted by the costs of setting up on the high street in these uncertain times.
He said: “Concessions offer a strong opportunity for retailers to trade in an environment with a more cost-effective return per square foot than a traditional store format.”
National shoe retailer Pavers, which operates 76 stores and concessions across the UK, has just opened an outlet at Oswaldtwistle Mills.
Steve Collyer, general manager of the discount footwear chain, said its concessions are outperforming its High Street outlets by 5% year on year.
He said: “We are not tied into long leases and there is strength in numbers.”
Oswaldtwistle Mills, which has more than 1.2 million visitors a year, sits just off the M65 near Accrington, covers 88,000 sq ft and contains more than 80 retail concessions specialising in fashion, crafts, furniture and locally produced food.
