Range set to open 50th store in Birmingham

HOME, leisure and garden retailer The Range is set to open its 50th store in the UK in Birmingham.

The company, which was founded 22 years ago by businessman Chris Dawson, will open the doors at the store in Erdington on February 25.

The Range is one of Britain’s fastest growing retailers and Mr Dawson has said his intention is to open the chain 100th store by 2015.

Mr Dawson, valued at £250m in last year’s Sunday Times rich list, said: “Opening my first store was a great feeling but this is my proudest achievement. However, we’re not the sort of company who rests on our laurels – store 51 in Shrewsbury opens two weeks after Erdington and 10 more are planned for this year.”

The Range, which last year posted profits of £20.3m – double that of the previous 12 months, has thrived during the recession and ironically nearly all of its new stores are in spaces left vacant by the likes of MFI and Woolworths. Many ex-MFI and Woolworth’s staff now work for the firm.

Mr Dawson said: “We’ve always been run as if in a recession, which is why we’ve done alright in the last few years. We’ve got a great concept, great staff and love to bring life back to areas which have been recently hit by the economy.”

The group also has outlets in Coventry, Kidderminster and Telford.