The UK’s largest franchised carpet and bed retailer has opened a flagship £1.5m store in the Altrincham Retail Park in Broadheath.
The new United Carpets and Beds showroom is a 10,000 sq ft space and has opened in part of the unit vacated by B&Q when it closed in September 2016, and is the company’s 59th store.
Mark Long, the store manager, anticipates that the current five-strong team may double in the next 12 months with the need for more warehouse and sales staff.
Long said: “This is a strategic move in the growth of our northern retail offering. We wanted to create a central store where we can showcase our latest product ranges, acting as a test-bed to ensure we are providing exactly what our customers want.”
The plan is for the flagship showroom to have a full roll-out after gauging how well it does in the area.
Long added: “The customer experience is hugely important to us and while our website supports consumer research and sales, we still find many customers want to see, feel and sample the carpets, floorings and beds before they buy.
“The Altrincham store is so valuable in supporting our customer engagement, research and offering.”
United Carpets Group plc launched in 1997 and the business was family owned until 2005.
The retailer, which now has nearly 60 stores across the North East, North West, Midlands and South Wales, specialises in supplying carpets and rugs, laminates and vinyls.
It also stocks bed brands including Silentnight, Sealy and Rest Assured.
Will Hickman, marketing manager for the group, added: “Our business made its name on the high street 21 years ago and more than two decades later, we are still putting the customer first with both an online and a physical retail presence.
“We’re delighted to be introducing our proposition to the public of Altrincham in the all-important run up to Christmas!”
United sits in Unit 2 of the Altrincham Retail Park, between the Gym Group and the soon-to-open Atlantic Bowl.
