A NEW home goods store has opened in Winchester, with hundreds queuing to get a glimpse inside the latest arrival on the Winnall estate.
The Range opened today, Friday April 4, in the former Homebase unit and will soon be joined by the city's first drive-through Gregg's.
The grand opening was marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the mayor Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith, marking the debut of The Range’s homeware and furnishings, with a new gardening hub for enthusiasts.
He said: "It was really sad when Homebase closed and it was just an empty shed, so this is great. You don't want the feeling that everything is closing down."
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He said: "We were here as Homebase, and I think the great part about it is that the unit's not standing empty, we've got a great new store, it looks fantastic, we've recruited over 30 odd people from the local area and we're still recruiting, so I think we've generated some jobs. We've regenerated a retail unit, you can see the people coming in and I think it's really good.
"What [The Range] has achieved in a very short space of time has been fantastic."
A highlight of the new store is the introduction of the "Garden Centre by Homebase", offering a selection of outdoor plants, gardening tools and supplies to satisfy every green-fingered enthusiast. It also follows The Range’s dog-friendly initiative, allowing well-behaved four-legged shoppers in store, provided they are kept on the lead.
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Shoppers were keen to be among the first to experience the store, with early queues forming outside. The initial 50 customers were treated to goodie bags, filled with over 20 of the retailer’s most-loved products.
CEO of CDS Superstores, trading as The Range, Wilko and Homebase, Alex Simpkin said: “We’re thrilled to have welcomed so many people to our new Winchester location. It was amazing to see the community come together to celebrate and we’re proud to offer such a fantastic range of products and prizes to thank them for their support.
“The introduction of the Garden Centre by Homebase in this new-store format means we can offer customers everything from stylish homeware to outdoor living solutions, all under one roof.”
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