Expansion plan!

Jun 23 2009 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Expansion plan!

A SAFETY equipment retailer has opened a store in Huddersfield – as the first step in a trans-Pennine expansion plan.

The Industrial Superstore, which is based in Dukinfield, Cheshire, and also has a store at Atherton, Manchester, has acquired the stock of the Safety Equipment Centre at Lockwood, which went into liquidation after almost 30 years in business.

The newcomer firm is operating from the Safety Equipment Centre’s former premises at Bridge Street after renegotiating the lease on the building.

Now it is establishing relationships with former clients of the Safety Equipment Centre and seeking out new customers.

Lee Parsons, of The Industrial Superstore, said: “We have some big plans.

“We would like to open more stores along the M62 corridor. Our plan is to have 12 outlets over the next few years.”

Mr Parsons said the company’s three stores were on course to achieve turnover of £1m this year.

The Industrial Superstore is the trade name of AB Outsourcing, which was founded 10 years ago by Mr Parsons and his father Gary.

The new Huddersfield store is led by manager Mark Chapman, who has moved from the Dukinfield head office to oversee the new outlet and introduce new ranges.

As well as supplying a wide range of safety equipment, The Industrial Superstore specialises in providing print and embroidered garments.

It is expanding into school wear and corporate clothing alongside its existing ranges of work wear and personal protection equipment.

It is also building its online presence and has produced an 80-page catalogue.

Customers dealt with from the Lockwood store include Kirklees Council, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust and chemical company CiBA in Bradford.

The Industrial Superstore has clients ranging from one-man businesses to national names such as Mitsubishi and Brother.

Top-selling items at present include first aid kits and fire extinguishers for caravans.

But Mr Parsons said: “Everyone is a potential customer – from the local takeaway owner wanting to kit out staff in polo shirts with his logo to major companies needing a hundred pairs of safety boots.

“The move to Huddersfield is a logical one for us.

“The Safety Equipment Centre was well-known and well-established.

“We are putting out own range together and we are putting out own stamp on the store and the early signs are very positive.”

The Safety Equipment Centre (Huddersfield) Ltd went into voluntary liquidation at the end of April. Owner Tony Stocks acquired the business in 1980 and had run it for 29 years.