Homebase has ramped up the rollout of its small-format stores with the opening of a new high street shop in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.
In a show of its belief in the future of the British high street, Homebase has added a Kitchens by Homebase to an existing Bathstore showroom and taken on neighbouring units which include a DECORATE by Homebase and the retailer’s first small-format Homebase store, offering a range of home and garden essentials.
Customers visiting Bathstore and Kitchens by Homebase will be supported by specially trained team members, on hand to turn design ideas into a reality with technology including 3D visualisation software, taking the stress out of bathroom and kitchen projects and allowing customers to imagine how it will look in their own homes.
As well as plenty of advice and inspiration, this new store will offer customers a wide choice of well-loved brands. For those designing their dream kitchen, the Country Living and House Beautiful collections bring together the best of British design and craftmanship. Customers can complete the look with high-quality appliances from brands including Bosch, Neff and Miele.
DECORATE by Homebase store offers everything needed for decorating projects, including paints from brands such as Dulux, Farrow & Ball, Crown, ELLE Decoration and Craig & Rose.
It also features areas in-store to allow customers to work with the Homebase team to trial different colours next to one another, as well as map out what their new living room or bedroom might look like with furniture and home accessories from Homebase. Over the coming months, these spaces will be used for workshops and events with experts to help the local community make light work of even the most daring home improvement projects.
Also available are all the essentials customers need, from lightbulbs and screws to bird care products for their gardens, with more than 2,500 products available in a small-format Homebase. It will also offer ‘Order and Collect’, making it even easier for customers to buy products from Homebase’s full range of over 35,000 products either online for pick up in-store within the hour or order in-store for home delivery.
Damian McGloughlin, CEO of Homebase, comments: “We understand the importance of customer experience both in-store and online and we’re really excited to be bringing our inspiration, style and advice to the high street. We’re listening to the local community to make sure we can provide them with the products they’re looking for to complete any home or garden improvement project.”
Homebase also has three other small-format stores with DECORATE by Homebase stores in Cheadle and Sutton and another dual-branded Kitchens by Homebase and Bathstore in nearby Guildford.
The new openings follow a busy start to 2021 for Homebase. The retailer has launched a new partnership with Next to bring six garden centres to Next stores around the country. In March, Homebase.co.uk was refreshed as part of a 10-year strategic partnership with THG, with the aim of making it the go-to destination for inspiration, expertise, and products for projects big and small.