The announcement by The Factory Shop, which describes itself as “like Woolworths only more so”, ends weeks of speculation about what will fill the hole left in the High Street by the big chain’s closure.
The Factory Shop is due to open its doors on July 14. It has placed an ad in the Journal this week for staff, and says it is particularly interested in former Woolworths employees.
Marketing director Colin Leggatt said his company was expanding and in many towns former Woolworths stores had proved the ideal sites for their business.
“We’ve taken on around 20 stores in various parts of the country, and in many cases former Woolworths staff who have been good people. Woolworths staggered its closures over a period of time, and where closure was fairly recent as in Bridgnorth some of the staff are still around.”
The company’s property department were at the Bridgnorth site this week, to see what work was required before the store could open.
“Some former Woolworths stores have been in a shocking state of repair and a lot of work has been needed, but at Bridgnorth we were pleasantly surprised. So much so we were down to open at the end of July and have brought it forward to July 14,” he said.
“There will be no major structural changes made, simply a re-fit and a new sign on the front. Bridgnorth fits our criteria of a small-ish town with a population under 25,000, under-served by national retailers and with a good workforce. ”
Mr Leggatt described the stores – full name The Original Factory Shop – as “Woolworths meets Matalan meets TKMax,” but added “we differ from most factory outlets in that we supply a lot of the big brands – Monsoon, M & S, Next, Adidas, Nike, Dunlop etc.
“We’re like a mini department store selling over-makes, cut-labels and seconds in a wide range of brands.”
Based in Burnley, Lancashire, the company has 110 shops throughout the country including two in Shropshire at Whitchurch and Market Drayton.
The Original Factory Shop was established in 1969 as part of Peter Black’s selling over-makes and seconds manufactured for M&S. Now with stores nationwide its discounted merchandise range includes ladieswear, menswear, childrenswear, sportswear, electricals, housewares, garden furniture, toys, gifts, beauty and fragrance.
Chairman of Bridgnorth and District Business Association Steve Mitra said it was good news for the town.
“It’s nice to see a prime site in the High Street being used so quickly after being closed. It backs what our members were saying at a recent meeting with the new council’s development partnership.
“Things are looking up. People are seeing orders coming back, the banks have money to lend people to acquire premises, and people recently made redundant are setting up their own businesses, which is encouraging.”
