// Joe Browns hires new buying director Jane Reik
// The retailer completed a £1.5 million warehouse extension
// Reik was previously at the N Brown Group where she started off as senior buyer in 2005
Joe Browns has appointed the former N Brown womenswear buying director Jane Reik as its new buying director after completing a £1.5 million warehouse extension.
Reik will be responsible for the womenswear, menswear and homeware departments at the Leeds-based business.
She was previously at the N Brown Group where she started off as senior buyer in 2005 and worked her way up to womenswear buying director in 2018.
READ MORE: Big Interview: Simon Brown, founder & MD Joe Browns
Reik oversaw brands such as Simply Be and JD Williams. Prior to N Brown, she also worked with Umbro and George at Asda.
“Reik exhibits great passion and zeal, leaving me in no doubt she’s got the right attitude and toolkit to drive growth and innovation within the buying department,” Joe Browns founder and managing director Simon Brown said.
Reik added: “What really drew me to Joe Browns was the uniqueness of the product. “I’m really excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for us in homeware as we look to expand our offering after an amazing reaction to the first exclusive launch last autumn.
“Growing our nightwear and leisure ranges within womenswear is going to be a focus for autumn/winter 2021, while menswear continues to go from strength to strength.”
Joe Browns recently completed a 27,000sq ft addition to its existing 60,000sq ft warehouse at its head office.
The decision to push ahead with the expansion during the onset of the first national lockdown last March proved to be “vital” as shopping behaviour became ever more digital, the retailer said.
It now has 87,000sq ft warehouse and plans to create a further 40,000sq ft.
Joe Browns finance director Darren Abbott said: “Despite the challenges 2020 posed, and there were a few, we never lost faith in the strength of the Joe Browns brand.
“The importance of investing in our future remained, and so our commitment to progression continued.
“As we look forward to a new year in retail, it’s reassuring to know our dreams and intentions for the future are not restricted by our warehouse capacity.
“I anticipate more investment in both staff and facilities in the year ahead to accommodate the increasing demand online.”
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