Sittingbourne named as sixth Bunnings

The Homebase store at Mill Way, Sittingbourne is to be the sixth to be converted to a Bunnings Warehouse, after the company submitted plans for new signs for the store.

Bunnings has already converted the two Homebase stores in St.Albans and is close to opening the refurbished branches in Hemel Hempstead and Milton Keynes.

The application mentions that it would “secure new employment” and it is expected that the store team will almost double in size compared to the previous Homebase.

In April they announced that the current Homebase in Folkestone would close and that they had acquired the ex-B&Q warehouse in Folkestone, which would be converted and open in July. This was an interesting move by Bunnings, for the first time, showing their commitment to a 'close and move strategy' where they would move out of existing poor locations and move to better sites in key towns. Whether Bunnings will be able to make the location in Folkestone work after B&Q clearly couldn't, we guess only time will tell.

Read - Bunnings reveal location of fifth UK store

Read - Bunnings begins recruitment drive for new Folkestone store

With Folkestone and Sittingbourne being only 42 miles apart, as expected the next tranche of openings by Bunnings are likely to be part of a Kent Cluster enabling them to invest heavily in local advertising to build awareness of their brand, which is unknown to UK home improvement customers.

Wesfarmers have confirmed that there will be ten Bunnings trading by the end of 2017, although a strategy briefing due this Wednesday, may provide further information on this.

Source: Insight Team

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