New lease of life for Peacocks in town centre
10:00am Tuesday 26th February 2013 in News
From left, Peacocks manager Sharon Peart, Diane Thompson and regional manager Julie Morgan
ONLY a year after being threatened with closure, a retailer is aiming to breathe new life into the town centre.
Peacocks is set to open a re-branded store in Regent Street on Thursday, much to the delight of its staff who were threatened with redundancy last February.
The company fell into administration, but was sold to Edinburgh Woollen Mill, saving 6,000 jobs nationally including those in Swindon.
On Saturday, its store in The Parade closed and it has moved up the road to a new site next to Poundland, breathing some life into Regent Street which has seen a number of stores close recently.
In the past year, both La Senza and Birthdays have closed and it was announced last week that HMV would also be closing its doors in the coming weeks.
The new Peacock store has secured the jobs of 15 staff as well as taking on an additional four people.
Julie Morgan, regional manager for Peacocks, said: “For myself I am really excited. It is an opportunity to see the vision of the brand.
“It is positive step in the right direction for the brand.
“In terms of size of the stores they are both the same but the investment the company has made in this store is clear to see.
“We are really excited about it opening on Thursday.”
Peacocks is planning to open around 50 new stores this year, with Swindon being the first of these.
Newly appointed managing director Tony Brown is expected to bring a breath of fresh air to the company.
Sharon Peart, store manager, said: “Since The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group took over it has been exciting and we are looking forward to the store opening on Thursday.
“I think it is good for the staff and the feedback from customers has been positive and we have had people trying to come in already.
“We are excited for people to see the new store.”
Comments(16)
pats43
says...
12:15pm Tue 26 Feb 13
Aiming to breathe new life into the town centre.
Unquote
Don't make me laugh. All they have done is moved from one end of the street to another. Now there an empty shop where they used to be that's all.
house on the hill
says...
1:12pm Tue 26 Feb 13
11:55am Tue 26 Feb 13
QUOTE
Julie Morgan, regional manager for Peacocks, said: “For myself I am really excited. It is an opportunity to see the vision of the brand.
UNQUOTE
What? Cheaper than TK Maxx and not as naff as Primark?”"""
What you have to remember is that TK Maxx clothes last a lot longer, so overall it is a false economy to buy from the "cheaper" shops and you get better quality.
itsamess3
says...
1:30pm Tue 26 Feb 13
The now parent company does have the advantage of internet sales as well as quality products at reasonable prices.
Better to wait until the shop opens before the knockers start--see what's on offer first.
house on the hill
says...
1:50pm Tue 26 Feb 13
faatmaan
says...
1:57pm Tue 26 Feb 13
itsamess3
says...
2:51pm Tue 26 Feb 13
house on the hill wrote:Really? With 6000 jobs countrywide saved and 19 jobs here where there is little to no chance of other jobs and one more shop in the town saved.
Only 19 staff in Swindon so not a major player by any means!
rmc001
says...
3:06pm Tue 26 Feb 13
Problem with this is more people are going to turn to other towns and cities to do their shopping, which means less income for the shops that remain.
Might as well make the most of the town centre whilst we still have it!
house on the hill
says...
9:50pm Tue 26 Feb 13
timt1964
says...
10:14pm Tue 26 Feb 13
Bobby Bee
says...
10:33pm Tue 26 Feb 13
Localboy86
says...
11:26pm Tue 26 Feb 13
house on the hill
says...
8:32am Wed 27 Feb 13
itsamess3
says...
9:43am Wed 27 Feb 13
Why knock a shop before it is open and you have not browsed that shop to see the product.
What drags the town centre down is the charity shops with their highly paid directors and professional valuers-no business rates etc. My view being if a person works for a charity they should not be paid and monies donated used for the purpose donated--not to end up in fat cats pockets.
Al Smith
says...
10:06am Wed 27 Feb 13
house on the hill wrote:Judging by the crowds a lot of the shopping is done in out of town retail parks (see news about a new M&S opening up at mannington) or the outlet village for flashier stuff.
Where do Swindon people actually shop do we know? Even if the high street came back in fashion would they shop here anyway? Not exactly an advert for Swindon, come and see our poundshops and charity shops and of course peacocks
house on the hill
says...
1:29pm Wed 27 Feb 13
10:06am Wed 27 Feb 13
house on the hill wrote:
Where do Swindon people actually shop do we know? Even if the high street came back in fashion would they shop here anyway? Not exactly an advert for Swindon, come and see our poundshops and charity shops and of course peacocks"
Judging by the crowds a lot of the shopping is done in out of town retail parks (see news about a new M&S opening up at mannington) or the outlet village for flashier stuff.”"""
which I guess answers the question of what Swindon shoppers want, better quality shops, free parking, less traffic. Like many I dont go into the town centre unless absolutely neccessary and even then i am in and out like Russell Brand on a night out!
The Real Librarian says...
11:55am Tue 26 Feb 13
Julie Morgan, regional manager for Peacocks, said: “For myself I am really excited. It is an opportunity to see the vision of the brand.
UNQUOTE
What? Cheaper than TK Maxx and not as naff as Primark?