‘High street is back’ says furniture boss in expansion

A BLACK Country high street has received a welcome boost after it was revealed that an old retail store was being brought back to life.

Furniture for the Home, which already operates an online retail business and store in Sedgley, is investing nearly £50,000 into creating a second showroom in the former Amblecote Furnishers building, in Kingswinford.

Owner Simon Foster said he believed consumers had started to return to the high street and were keen to buy local in the pursuit of a more personalised service.

A full refurb of the Market Street building is under way and, once complete, will house a large showroom selling home and garden furniture and accessories over two floors.

Three jobs will be created to start with because of the investment, with more positions likely to become available once the shop opens its doors next month.

Mr Foster said: “The high street is back when it comes to purchasing furniture, with consumers keen to touch, feel and see how their purchases could look in a home environment.

“We’ve seen this in the massive rise in footfall we have enjoyed in our first store in Sedgley and this got us thinking about a second store that could service a different part of the Black Country.

“When the Amblecote Furnishers site came available, we knew it was perfect for what we were looking to achieve, from a location, parking and size point of view.

“It is also an iconic local name in retail and everyone knows where it is.

“It’s also great to bring the building back to life after standing empty for two years.”