Wickes opens California store
Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, October 22, 2005
Murrieta, Calif. — Wickes Furniture has opened its 11th store here in Southern California, part of an aggressive push to grow to $1 billion in annual revenue by the end of 2008.
Initial consumer response to the 40,000-square-foot store has been "very favorable, and the performance is meeting the company's expectations," said John Disa, president and CEO.
With the new California store, Wheeling, Ill.-based Wickes has 32 stores in four markets — greater Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis and Portland, Ore.
Two more California stores are slated to open, in Palmdale in November and in Riverside by the end of the year or early next year, Disa said.
Wickes aims to open a net 10 stores in 2006, primarily in Los Angeles and Chicago.
In Murrieta, Wickes continued the rollout of its new format, inspired by Rooms To Go — a former partner of Wickes with Boca Raton, Fla.-based Sun Capital Partners — but with variations, including more lifestyle groupings and changes in merchandising and marketing approaches.
The front features a large glass facade, and inside architecture includes the use of brick and brushed-metal and wood trim.
Disa wouldn't disclose Wickes' investment in the store or project sales.
He said overall business this year is "trending about 10%" over 2004 but would not provide a full-year sales estimate.
Wickes is ranked No. 20 on Furniture/Today's survey of Top 100 U.S. furniture stores with 2004 estimated furniture, bedding and accessory sales of $400 million.
Sun Capital, which bought Rooms To Go's stake in Wickes this past year, has been investing in the retailer in other ways too.
Earlier this year, it approved a $14 million capital boost for new planning and operating software to be rolled out in phases starting late this year through 2006.
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Wickes opens California store
Oct 27, 2005
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