CLOTHES SHOP TAKES OVER CITY CENTRE’S FORMER M&S OUTLET
And is looking to take on up to 20 new staff
A CLOTHES shop selling designer brands at low prices has opened at the city centre’s former M&S store.
Sale Lab has opened its first ever retail outlet in Hanley, after being solely an ecommerce business for two years.
The company buys excess clearance stock from brands around the world and sells them to various different retailers.
The store – which previously housed M&S before it closed down in August – is located on Market Square.
It sells designer womenswear, menswear and childrenswear, as well as footwear and accessories – and their products cost no more than £15 each.
Ollie Thewlass, aged 37, from Lincolnshire, is one of the directors of the business.
He said: “There was this fantastic opportunity with this big M&S store in the middle of Hanley. We like Stokeon-trent, it’s a very historic city with a great community.
“We felt it needed something like this. We are trying to repurpose buildings like this. We are going to have retail at the front of the store. The second and third floor will be a warehouse and distribution.
“We are hoping for the top floor to be accommodation or give back to the community with work space or temporary office space. Hopefully we can create a model on repurposing these big old buildings because the idea of having all three floors of retail for one business is probably over with the likes of online.
“We see a need for great products at a great price still exists in communities like this. There’s a lot of people here and we want to give back to them.”
Sale Lab currently employs 20 workers, but is looking to employ between 10 and 20 further members of staff to fill various positions from being on the shop floor to working behind the scenes at their warehouse.
Ollie added: “We’ve had a great response. We are really pleased to be making an impact at this time leading up to Christmas.
“Our hopes are to create a successful high street business which delivers great products at a great value to the people of Stoke.-on-trent.”
Shoppers are pleased to see another business in the city centre.
Sue Blakeman, aged 58, from Alsager, said: “I think it’s great that they have opened. They have got good clothing and it’s something that Hanley needed.
“Hopefully it will bring more people into the city centre. I miss M&S, but at least it’s not another empty shop.”
Elaine Smith, aged 65, from Dresden, added: “It’s fantastic for Hanley. Any shop opening is better than there being no shop at all.
“It was nice to see so many people inside and buying stuff.”