High street womenswear retailer Whistles is searching for 33 new store locations across the UK and Ireland.
Whistles, part of the South African Foschini Group, has appointed Brasier Freeth to find the sites.
The retailer is looking for units of between 800 and 1,500 sq ft, and said that “attractive and quirky properties will be considered”. It is not clear whether it aims to relocate some existing stores as part of the process.
Plans for the roll-out come as the retailer continues its turnaround strategy, which sought to reduce its loss-making outlets, direct costs and overheads.
Whistles reported total sales rose by 18% to £68.9m for the 62 weeks to 1 April 2017, when it filed its accounts in December last year.
In signs that its turnaround strategy had begun to bear fruit, it narrowed its losses and reported a pre-tax loss of £3.7m for the 62-week period, compared with a loss of £6.1m for the 52 weeks to 30 January 2016.
It operated 44 standalones across the UK and three international shops at the time, as well as a further 90 department store concessions.
The business said in the report that in-store sales and concessions “fell back” during the period, as consumers increasingly favoured online shopping.
Whistles has said it will consider other locations, but has specified sites in:
■ Central London: Argyll Street, Soho, Covent Garden, Marylebone, One New Change and Regent Street.
■ Greater London and the UK: Beaconsfield, Berkhamsted, Bishops Stortford, Bromley, Brompton Road, Chester, Croydon, Dulwich, Ealing, Exeter, Gatwick, Heathrow, Henley-on-Thames, Hitchin, Horsham, Leamington Spa, Lewes, Maidstone, Newbury, Putney, Sevenoaks, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Wandsworth, Winchester and Witney.
■ Ireland: Dublin and Dundrum.
The Foschini Group also owns Hobbs and Phase Eight.
Pic credit: Ed Reeve/VIEW/REX/Shutterstock
To send feedback, e-mail pui-guan.man@egi.co.uk or tweet @PuiGuanM or @estatesgazette
