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Sandersons boutique targets affluent market towns

Sandersons boutique targets affluent market towns

Sandersons boutique targets affluent market towns

26 August 2020

The team behind the award-winning boutique department store Sandersons have announced the opening of two further stores in the next 12 months - with the first in Morpeth, Northumberland, opening in October 2020. 
 
The opportunity to deliver a new Morpeth store has arisen following the closure of New Look in Morpeth in the most prominent location on the company’s Sanderson Arcade development – overlooking the town’s main car park and forming the entrance to the centre along with Marks and Spencer. 
 
Rather than going out to the market the team at Dransfield Properties decided to expand the successful Sandersons fascia with a second store in Morpeth - to be followed by a third store in Stroud, Gloucestershire opening for Easter 2021. 
 
The company has focussed its investments over the last 20 years on resilient market towns. Each centre has direct access to town centre car parking which is an integral part of the development and each scheme houses good quality restaurants, gyms, attractive public realm, and high-quality office space - alongside a strong retail line-up.
 
Since the government announced the easing of lockdown footfall across the centres has returned and businesses are all performing well. 
 
The first Sandersons store was opened at Fox Valley in north Sheffield in September 2016 and last year was named Best New Retailer in the Drapers Independent Award. 
 
The store has enjoyed a strong return to trading with this year’s figures recently showing a 35% increase on the same period last year. 
 
The company also operates a successful internet platform with next day delivery so customers can purchase the same products which are stocked in the bricks and mortar stores.
 
Sandersons was founded by Yorkshire businesswoman Deborah Holmes, who sadly passed away in January 2019. The name Sandersons was chosen as a tribute to Sanderson Arcade which will now house store number two for the boutique. 
 
Deborah’s husband, Mark Dransfield, who is the MD of Dransfield Properties, now heads up the business and works with the store team to build on her vision of focussing on strong customer service and delivering a completely unique retail experience.
 
Sandersons has also carved a niche as a stockist of luxury high end fragrance and the new stores will feature a range from Initio, Atkinsons, House of Oud, Parfum de Marley, Dior and Chanel.
 
Popular fashion names including Barbour, Gran Sasso, Tommy Hilfiger, Holland Cooper, and Jacob Cohen, will feature in the brand line up as well as Levi’s for men and women. 
 
The company prides itself on sourcing quirky and unique luxury brands including apothercary, candles and a stunning and exclusive range of handmade Parisian coats and jackets. 
 
The Sandersons team are working closely with Rutherford’s Department Store in Morpeth to ensure the two stores offer a completely different range of products, creating more choice in the region for shoppers.
 
Morpeth has become one of the North East’s most popular retail destinations in recent years due to its accessibility, easy car parking and range of shops and restaurants. Sanderson Arcade welcomed its 25 millionth customer in December – demonstrating the popularity of the town with the region’s consumers. 
 
Mark Dransfield said: “We have always been keen to bring the Sandersons boutique format to the affluent market towns we work in and we feel like this is the right time to invest. 
 
“We opened Sanderson Arcade in 2009 and since then we have seen the town completely transform and grow with further investment in new housing and infrastructure, including a cottage hospital and a new leisure centre which is due to open in Spring 2022.  
 
“We are seeking to create a fabulous experience for our new customers, and our market research suggests there is definitely a Sandersons shopper here in the north east.”
 
The company has a strong community ethos and will be employing a talented local team to welcome its new customers, as well as creating opportunities for local suppliers.  
 
The new Sandersons store at Morpeth leaves the centre with just the former Laura Ashley unit available which has just gone on the market.
 
An October launch for the Morpeth store will be followed in Spring 2021 with the opening of the new Stroud store which will anchor the company’s flagship Five Valleys development. 
 
For more information about Dransfield Properties visit www.dransfield.co.uk and to find out more about some of the great brands available at Sandersons visit the online store at www.sandersonsdeptstore.co.uk 
 

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk