Wilko has confirmed that its Uxbridge store, the latest to launch as part of its plans to return to high streets nationwide, will open its doors to customers at 9am on 22nd November. This 30,000 sq.ft. store launch marks the household and garden retailer’s return to West London and is its seventh opening since the brand was acquired by CDS Superstores.
Meanwhile, Dunelm is throwing open its doors at Westfield White City. This will be the first London store for the popular homewares retailer which has grown steadily over the past decade and also boasts a successful online operation.
Sosandar will open its fourth store later this month choosing the ‘go-to’ St David’s shopping centre in Cardiff where it will sit alongside the likes of AllSaints, Mint Velvet & Reiss. It is also expanding into Ireland with a concession space within Arnotts department store in Dublin. The brand is also planning further openings across the UK over the coming 24 months.
Major retailers have joined together to put pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reduce rates on retail properties. They are calling for the Government to introduce a Retail Rates Corrector as part of its reform of the business rates system which many have decried as being out of kilter with current-day retail revenue generation. A 20 per cent downward adjustment on business rates would address the imbalance which sees the retail sector pay 7.4 per cent of all business taxes which at £33bn which is 1.5 times greater than its share of the overall economy at 5 per cent GDP. Further, of retail’s £33bn total tax bill, one-fifth comprises business rates.
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