Wilko is set to launch a new store in Poole in Dorset, as it confirms the opening dates of its upcoming Rotherham and St Albans shops.
The hardware retailer revealed it will open in Poole’s Dolphin shopping centre, with the launch date to be announced shortly, as new owner The Range continues its national roll-out of Wilko shops after it acquired the brand’s IP out of administration last October.
The business also confirmed the opening date of its new stores in Rotherham’s Parkgate Shopping Park and The Maltings shopping centre in St Albans for Good Friday on 29 March.
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The new throng of stores following the opening of the first Wilko stores under The Range’s ownership in December in Plymouth, Exeter and Luton, which the business said had seen “early signs of strong trading”.
The Range founder Chris Dawson told Retail Gazette late last year that he plans to open up to 40 new UK Wilko stores this year as he looks to restore the discount chain to its former glory.
Dawson said he is targeting “shopping centres and only very busy high streets” for the new stores.
“I would say 30 to 40 in the first year,” he said. “Then it’ll be the same, if not more, the following years till we fill the place up.”
He said the retailer had several stores “up and down the country” lined up to open before Easter.
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