XPD is set to open its first store under the Officestore brand, and this will be followed by another 200 stores in three years, founding director James Wilson told OPI.
The new store, due to be opened in Belfast by the beginning of February with franchisee Ulster Business Equipment, is to be followed by a store in both London and Cheltenham in February, Wilson said, adding that clusters of three or four stores would then be added to the surrounding areas.
On Officestore’s longer-term goals, he said: "We hope to have 50-100 stores in the UK and Ireland over the next 12 months, and another 200 within three years."
He added that if the right partnership came along, Officestore would also look to move into European markets such as Germany and Italy where XPD’s other OP brands Officepoint and OfficeStar are enjoying success. But he emphasised that the current primary focus would remain on the UK. (see ‘no mean feat’, page 25)
Belfast (UK)
