Retailer spreads wings
A POPULAR discount retailer will open a “megastore” at Domain Central in August.
Bargain outlet Silly Solly’s — Nothing Over $ 5 has secured a 1000sq m location at the outlet shopping centre in Garbutt.
Owner of Silly Solly’s Steve Watchman said the store location was ideal.
“It’s very easy to get into, there’s great exposure from the road and heaps of parking right outside the shop — I think it’s a great spot for us,” Mr Watchman said. “All the majors are there and bring a lot of people to Domain, so I think it’s a really good fit for us.”
Mr Watchman, who has five stores in Cairns, said he’ll get the keys to the Domain store on August 1.
“We’ll then start to assemble the shop; we don’t have a confirmed date to open yet but it will certainly be towards the end of August.”
Mr Watchman said he was confident Townsville would support the discount retailer and said additional stores could be a possibility.
“We believe the discount in- dustry is quite under- serviced in Townsville,” Mr Watchman said. “Our plan is to get cracking with this one, see the reaction and potentially open a bigger one.”
Townsville isn’t the only North Queensland location Mr Watchman has interests in.
“We’ll open Ingham in July, Townsville at the end of August and we’re working on a deal right now in Mackay with a view to open in October,” he said. The discount chain offers discount items including pillows, towels, cleaning goods, sandals and women’s clothing.
“There’s a big gap in the market for what we’re doing,” Mr Watchman said.
“We’ll see how we go, have a bit of fun and get some more shops on the go in regional Queensland.”
Chamber of Commerce president Debbie Rains was pleased to hear Silly Solly’s was moving forward with plans to open a discount store in Townsville.
“It’s always encouraging to see new businesses look to set up home in Townsville,” Ms Rains said.
“It’s refreshing to see businesses open as opposed to closing in the region.”
Silly Solly’s is expected to employ 10 to 12 people at the Townsville store and three to five in Ingham.
“It’s good to see these businesses employing more people in the region and providing more job opportunities in the retail space,” Ms Rains said.
With the plastic bag ban coming into effect from July 1, Silly Solly’s will provide 35mm multi- use plastic bags to customers for free.
Mr Watchman said they wouldn’t charge for the bags “which I think a lot of people are getting upset about”.