February 2011

Barnfield Construction has secured a deal to build a 100,000 sq ft extension to The Original Factory Shop’s headquarters in Burnley.

The design and build contract, due to be carried out over the next five months, will nearly double the company’s head office space on the Orient Business Park.

Tim Webber, managing director at Barnfield, said: “We previously owned all of the land that the head office is situated on, having built the unit for Vita Achter some years previously, but sold a proportion three years ago to Alpinemoor Pension Fund.

“To complete the deal with The Original Factory Shop, Barnfield Construction reacquired 40,000 sq ft of warehousing and associated land at the site. We are delighted with the outcome of this agreement.”

The agreement was handled by James Horsley of the Yorkshire Property Company and Mark Bruce Lockhart of real estate investment consultancy Phillips Lockhart.

The Original Factory Shop has more than 160 stores and 2,600 employees. In January, the company revealed record sales over the Christmas period, achieving its highest-ever sales in a day on 23 December, only to break the figure by 8 per cent the following day.

Sales rose 23 per cent over the six weeks to 26 December compared with the same period in 2009. It sold more than 100,000 pairs of wellington boots as the snowy weather produced a surge in demand.

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24 Feb 2011 by Insider Media Limited

THE former Woolworth's store in Bargoed, which closed in January 2009, will re-open as the Original Factory Shop, a national retail store.

A lease has now been signed to take over the building and an extensive re-fit is currently taking place within the store.

Cllr Ron Davies, CCCB cabinet member for regeneration said: "Bargoed town centre is experiencing a major transformation thanks to the range of regeneration projects underway at the moment. The decision by the Original Factory Shop to invest in the town is fantastic news and demonstrates a new found confidence in Bargoed.

"The building enjoys a key location within the town centre and will also benefit from the new bus station development and the new pedestrian link being created in close proximity to the site. The premises, which boasts the largest retail floor space in the town, was purchased by the council using Heads of the Valleys funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.

The ongoing regeneration of Bargoed town centre is a key priority for Caerphilly county borough council.

The multi-million pound Greater Bargoed Community Regeneration Scheme involves a number of projects such as the recently opened 'Angel Way' road scheme, improvements to the public transport infrastructure and town centre enhancement works. Advanced negotiations are also underway to secure a major retail and leisure development in the town and it is hoped that an announcement will be made in the near future.

The Original Factory Shop has stores nationwide offering a wide range of merchandise - ladieswear, menswear, kidswear, sportswear, electricals, housewares, toys, beauty and fragrance - all discounted. Most of the products sold by the firm are either branded or originally made for other high street stores and supermarkets.

For more information about developments in Bargoed town centre visit www.caerphilly.gov.uk/bargoedsbigidea or call Andrew Highway, Town Centre Development Manager on 01443 866213.

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22 Feb 2011 by Campaign

FACE painting and fancy dress got shoppers into the fundraising mood to benefit a cause close to the hearts of people in Bishop's Cleeve.

The Original Factory Shop in Tobyfield Road has chosen to make a difference to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust by picking it as its new charity partner for 2011.

Store manager, Sarah Fisher, was inspired by the bravery of little Chloe Reynolds, who has cystic fibrosis.

The four-year-old, from Bishop's Cleeve, was in the shop on Saturday with her mum Lorna Dutton.

Lorna, who rolled up her sleeves and helped paint faces, said: "It's a great cause.

"Chloe has her ups and downs, but she's getting on okay at the moment."

A programme of fundraising activities has been planned and staff hope to raise a minimum of £500 for the charity throughout the year.

This week, shoppers will take part in a raffle, with the chance of winning a children's bicycle and a selection of toys.

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22 Feb 2011 by This is Gloucestershire

SOARING sales at the Original Factory Shop in Lydney have helped the business buck the national trend.

The high street department store has announced a 23 per cent rise in sales in the run-up to Christmas, including record sales of Wellington boots and advent calendars.

Lydney store manager Mark Williams said: "We are delighted with the contribution the Lydney store made to the company's trading over the Christmas period."

The low-price shop, in the old Woolworths on Newerne Street, has just announced that its local charity for the coming year will be LydneyDial-a-Ride.
 

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14 Feb 2011 by This is Gloucestershire

THE regeneration of a Rhymney Valley town took another big step forward yesterday when a national retailer announced it would be opening a store there.

A lease has been signed by The Original Factory Shop to take over the old Woolworths building in the centre of Bargoed. The shop will sell discounted clothes, toys and electrical goods.

The securing of an anchor store for the town centre is the latest success in the town’s regeneration scheme, which the council say will transform the town centre.

Councillor Ron Davies, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Bargoed town centre is experiencing a major transformation thanks to the range of regeneration projects underway at the moment. The decision by the Original Factory Shop to invest in the town is fantastic news and demonstrates a new found confidence in Bargoed.

“The building enjoys a key location within the town centre and will also benefit from the new bus station development and the new pedestrian link being created in close proximity to the site. I’m sure traders and residents will join us in welcoming this new addition to the town centre and we look forward to the store opening in the coming weeks.”

The council say that advanced negotiations are also underway to secure a major retail and leisure development in the town. They say an announcement will be made on it in the near future.

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11 Feb 2011 by Wales Online

MOVES to breathe new life into Bargoed shopping centre have been lifted with the re-occupation of the old Woolworth’s store at the heart of the town.

National retailer The Original Factory Shop has signed a lease to take over the key building and an extensive re-fit is underway.

So the largest store in the town – empty since the demise of the Woolworths chain at the end of 2008 – will finally reopen its doors to customers.

The Original Factory Shop offers discounted branded goods from clothing to electricals, housewares, toys, beauty and fragrance. 

That’s happened in the wake of an £8.3m regeneration scheme with a new bus station, the transformation of the Hanbury Road baptist chapel into a library and further enhancements on High Street and Upper High Street with better pavements, public artwork and improved public spaces.

 That followed the £25m Angel Way road scheme and public transport improvements infrastructure while advanced negotiations are underway to secure a major retail and leisure development for the town with an announcement expected in the near future.

Caerphilly council’s cabinet member for regeneration Councillor Ron Davies said: “Bargoed town centre is experiencing a major transformation thanks to the range of regeneration projects underway at the moment.

“The decision by the Original Factory Shop to invest in the town is fantastic news and demonstrates a new found confidence in Bargoed.

“I’m sure traders and residents will join us in welcoming this new addition to the town centre and we look forward to the store opening in the coming weeks,” he said. 

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10 Feb 2011 by Wales online.co.uk

Record sales of Wellington boots and advent calendars helped two Cumbrian discount stores contribute to a bumper Christmas for their owner.

The Original Factory Shop stores at Wigton and Maryport contributed to a five per cent rise in like-for-like sales for the firm in the six weeks to December 26.

The company said the results were particularly impressive given the severe weather in December which blighted the sales of high street rivals.

The retailer enjoyed two consecutive record sales days on December 23 and Christmas Eve.

Strong sales of outdoor clothing, footwear and accessories boosted its performance in the six-week period, including shifting 100,000 Wellington boots.

And healthy sales of advent calendars also contributed, with advent calendars for pets outselling the human variety by three to one.

Original Factory Shop area manager Pauline McCorquodale said: “We are delighted with the contribution the Maryport and Wigton stores have made to the company’s trading over the Christmas period.

“We were undoubtedly impacted by the severe weather conditions, however, the combination of our loyal customers still coming out to shop and our ever committed colleagues still coming to work meant that we were still able to deliver an excellent trading performance.

“We saw particularly strong gift sales in the final week before Christmas as customers chose to shop locally for stocking fillers.

“Over the past two years, the company has grown sales 73 per cent, or 17.1 per cent on a like-for-like basis, and our store network has increased from 99 to 160 today.

“We remain excited about the long-term growth opportunities for the company.”

Bosses plan to open another 35 stores this year, taking the company’s network to nearly 200.

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08 Feb 2011 by Cumberland News

An appeal to restore Shirehampton's Tithe Barn received a fundraising boost this week as local shop workers pledged their support.

Staff at the Original Factory Shop, in High Street, have chosen the charity as their official partner for 2010, aiming to raise at least £500 with a series of events.

Store manager Ashley West said: "We had a great deal of interest in the campaign from local causes looking for a helping hand and it was a very difficult decision to make.

"Colleagues are very excited about the scheme and cannot wait to get stuck into the fundraising initiatives we have planned.

"Customers will have the chance to join in the fun in store to help us raise as much money as we can for this worthy cause."

On behalf of St Mary's Church, Tithe Barn Appeal Manager, James Harris said: "We are so grateful to the Original Factory Shop for picking us as their charity partner. The money they have raised this week will contribute towards bringing the Tithe Barn back into use for the benefit of the local community."
 

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