The Range opens in former Huddersfield Homebase store

Huddersfield’s latest shopping sensation The Range opened to rave reviews today - Friday 3rd April - with 150 shoppers turning up as early as 7am in the hope of bagging a bargain.

The first 50 shoppers won a free Kilner jar.

One of those through the doors at the Great Northern Retail Park was David Simpson, of Kirkburton, with his wife Sandra and grandson Pascal.

He said: “It was the perfect thing to do on a wet bank holiday so we were glad of this opening.”

Wife Sandra was impressed and added: “We’ve been to the one in Halifax and I think this is bigger and better.”

Regional manager Steve Harrold said Huddersfield shoppers had plenty to look forward to.

“When you open on a bank holiday you expect it to be a little bit busier and that’s what we’ve found,” he said.

“Things have gone really well. The Range is a well-known brand and people have become familiar with it from our opening in Halifax.”

The Range has taken over the former Homebase store which closed down in January. The Plymouth-based chain now has 105 stores nationwide with a further 25 planned for this year.

Luke Naughton, the new store’s manager, said: “There have been big queues and that was from 7am. It’s certainly a lot brighter than Homebase, which was rather grey.”

The new store was officially opened by the Mayor of Kirklees Clr Ken Smith and mayoress Christine Smith.

It has created more than 100 jobs from warehouse staff and sales assistants to store and office managers and has 16 departments including DIY, homewares and arts and crafts as well as an extensive garden centre.

Paul Shewbrook, Head of Retail at The Range flew by helicopter from Plymouth to Huddersfield for the opening. He then flew to Darlington and Glasgow after The Range opened two more stores today.

He said: “It was fantastic to see so many people turn up and the feedback we have had already has been really positive.”

Chris Dawson, who founded The Range in 1980, said: “It is always exciting to open a new store and Huddersfield is no exception.

“Huddersfield comes at an exciting time for us as a company and is part of an expansion plan which has seen over 25 stores opened in the last two years, creating almost 2,500 jobs across the UK.
“The Huddersfield store alone has provided over 100 new jobs in the local area.”

Said Mr Dawson: “Our continued success is largely due to the fantastic teams that we employ and we are confident that the new Huddersfield employees will only add to our achievements. Huddersfield is the perfect location for The Range and we look forward to inviting the local community down to enjoy the opening event.”

Homebase closed its Huddersfield store in January with the loss of 34 jobs as part of a review by parent Home Retail Group which led to a the closure of a quarter of its 323 outlets.

Source : Ken Smith and Henryk Zientec
www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/range-opens-doors-huddersfield-8976609