SHOPPERS in Swindon helped a fast-growing retailer have a record-breaking year following a string of new store openings in 2020 Though retail sales plummeted in October and further disruption to the sector is likely because of the latest UK-wide lockdown prompted by the pandemic, Flooring Superstore bucked the trend by seeing its profits rise.

The retailer has a shop on Bridgemead Retail Park in Swindon and saw its turnover increase by 35 per cent in 2019/20, and is now expecting this figure, which currently stands at more than £35 million, to rise further in 2020/21.

It opened six stores in the UK last year and now has a branch in 23 locations across England, Scotland, and Wales. As well as Swindon, this includes major cities such as London, Edinburgh, Newcastle, and Birmingham.

It only began opening physical stores in 2017.

The growth has led to more than 80 jobs being created in 2020, with the majority arriving during the peak of the first government lock-down, and the shop now employs more than 250 people in the UK.

New positions varied from office and store roles to drivers and warehousing operatives.

Chief retail officer Chris Barber said: “2020 was the most profitable and successful year in our history.

“Despite the pandemic, we have pressed on with our strategic bricks and mortar store opening programme and even when the stores have been closed during lockdown, we had the e-commerce side of the business to fall back on, and this has never been busier.

“People have used this year to concentrate on home improvements, so our online flooring sales have increased dramatically. Being reactive to the buying trend and having a strong online platform has allowed us to gain a bigger market share.

“Opening more stores puts us in an even stronger position, especially as we are able to offer our online pricing across the board.

“And this has a positive impact on jobs, with the vast majority of new colleagues starting with us during the height of the pandemic.

“So, with more store openings and new products planned, the future looks bright for our brand.”