Next to trial garden centre & DIY offer

Fashion retailer Next is set to open a new store this August featuring a garden centre-style offer alongside its existing home and clothing ranges.

The announcement comes after the company dismissed reports back in November that it was planning to open a store with an outdoor garden centre after buying a former Homebase store in Shoreham.

However, now it is doing just that, with a new format comprising a Next clothing store and a Home store, which includes several 'DIY light' ranges and a conservatory and garden centre.

Next has stressed the new store is an experiment, and says it has no plans to roll out any more.

Speaking at the chain's results presentation in January, chief executive Simon Wolfson said: "We're not competing with the big DIY sheds but we will be selling things like fencing, paving, aggregates, plant pots, woodcare, flooring... It's an experiment."

The store will also include a paint centre, offering Dulux and Next paint ranges, and will also sell wallpaper and bathroom and kitchen tiles.

The garden centre area will offer fencing, sheds, garden furniture and horticultural products.

Lord Wolfson said the company was not planning to roll out the format, and said: "I would stress that this is a trial along with many others we are doing and it may not work."

Next currently has 44 Home stores across the UK and plans to open a further 15 in 2011.

Source : DIY Week.net