Mountain Warehouse is planning to open 50 new stores in the UK next year, despite fears that the high street will die.
Outdoor clothing chain, The Outdoor Clothing Company, has announced a massive expansion of its physical stores in Britain as well as overseas. This is due to the surge in demand for shopping in person.
This year it will open 50 new stores in the world, bringing its total up to 370 across nine countries.
Mark Neale (56), the 56-year-old founder and CEO of the company, stated that “we think there’s still a lot of life left” in many of our high streets. All that talk about the death of high streets has been overdone. “We’re very optimistic about physical retail right now.”
Brick-and-mortar retailing is enjoying a revival after a decade-long decline. Rents are cheaper for retailers, investors are taking advantage and consumers are rediscovering the joy of in-store shopping.
Sainsbury’s has been expanding, as have B&M and Waitrose. Marks & Spencer is also planning to open new stores. Hotel Chocolat and White Stuff, as well as Dunelm, are planning new store openings.
Mountain Warehouse has set its sights on larger stores after developing a wider product range in the wake of the pandemic.
Neale founded Mountain Warehouse from a Swindon store in Wiltshire in 1997. “We have been opening lots of larger stores and relocating smaller, more heritage stores.”
The company’s product range includes clothing and tents for the holidays market
Mountain Warehouse , unlike most clothing retailers in Britain, benefited from the wetter summer. Neale explained that the unpredictable weather was always a good thing for them. “Sales of waterproof coats have been fairly robust. But we also have a range of products for people who are going on holidays: shorts T-shirts, changing robes, wetsuits, and wetsuits.”
The retailer’s revenue for the year ended February 25 was the highest ever recorded, at £386 millions. This is an increase of 4 percent year-on-year. The group reported a pre-tax profit of £26,2 million.
The online business of Mountain Warehouse, which includes more than 320 brands from third parties selling paddleboards, e-bikes, and other products, now accounts for nearly a third, compared to just under a quarter prior to the pandemic.
Mountain Warehouse acquired Eastern Mountain Sports, based in the US, for £7.6 million last week as part of their global expansion plans.
Mountain Warehouse is among the retail chains that are expanding.
Eastern Mountain Sports filed Chapter 11 protection for the third consecutive time in June due to what its owners called a “liquidity crises”. GoDigital Media bought the company from Frasers Group by 2022.
Neale stated that the US was the largest outdoor market in the entire world. “We are building a global company, so we cannot ignore the US.”
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