Next reiterates furniture intent; 13 Home stores to open this year

21st July 2009 | retail | Variety retailer Next will confirm its desire to master the furniture and homeware sector by opening a further 13 Home stores this year – three more that it had previously announced.

The stores, which will average 11,000sq ft, will more than double the total number of Home outlets for the retailer, and give it an estimated 260,000sq ft of total floorspace devoted to furniture and other housewares.

The company, which earlier this year said it would not bow to demand to slash prices outside its traditional sale periods, has increased total sales across all categories by 1.4% in the 25 weeks to 18th July, and increased its internal profit forecast for the full year by £30m.