Geek Retreat to open new shops creating 600 jobs
Geek Retreat is bucking the high street trend, and has said it will open 100 new stores in the next two years. This would create about 600 jobs.
The board game and toy retailer said sales had been buoyed off the back of popularity of franchises such as Marvel and Stranger Things.
Boardgames, card trading and tabletop games make up an industry worth £8bn ($10.4bn) in the UK and is predicted to grow by 3.1% annually over the next three years.
The planned shop openings are a rare bright spot in a time when retailers are closing down at a rapid pace due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New data over the weekend showed that the first half of this year saw a record number of store closures in the UK due to the virus.
According to research by the Local Data Company (LDC) and PwC UK, 11,120 chain operator outlets have shut so far this year, while 5,119 shops opened. This means a net decline of 6,001 — almost double the decline tracked in 2019.
That count could be higher still, as researchers did not take into account shops which have yet to reopen following the COVID-19 lockdown, with the grim expectation that many will never operate again.
READ MORE: Coronavirus pushes 11,120 UK shops to close
Geek Retreat has put emphasis on ensuring its stores are safe and accessible to those on the autistic spectrum or with mental health issues.
Peter Dobson, chief executive of Geek Retreat, said: “We have made sure all of our stores are welcoming and accessible to gamers whatever their interests, providing a place for our loyal customers to get out of the house and play safely post-lockdown.
“This is particularly important for our more vulnerable customers, like those on the autistic spectrum, or with mental health issues where being in an inclusive, welcoming, and social environment is very important. It is strength of the relationships which our stores build with local communities that is a key driver of growth.”
The franchise, which opened in 2013, currently employs 110 people in 14 shops.
New shops will be popping up in Bournemouth, Northampton, Liverpool and have recently opened in Northwich and Chelmsford.
Watch: Why job losses have risen despite the economy reopening
