Family-owned furnishings retailer Housing Units completed a 5-year retail site development plan, one year ahead of schedule launching five new exciting retail concepts.
The plan included creating new departments, introducing new brands and improving existing areas to further enhance the destination store’s offering of furniture and furnishings.
Established in 1947, Housing Units is one of the UK’s leading furniture and furnishings retailers. The company boasts a 5-acre site with 120,000 square feet of retail space, over 60,000 of which is dedicated to furniture. Additionally, an adjacent 5-acre site houses a 100,000 square-foot distribution centre, allowing many product ranges to be readily available from stock.
The site development plan was completed a year ahead of schedule due to the forced closures during COVID-19, allowing the business to create several new departments while the store was closed for the first time in its 77-year history.
“This development has solidified our position as the leading home furnishings retailer in the UK’s mid to high sector. We seized the opportunity presented by the pandemic to accelerate our plans. The five new developments have not only reinforced our goal of offering the best selection of furniture and furnishings in the Northwest but possibly in the entire UK,” said Nick Fox, CEO of Housing Units.
The store attracts visitors from across the country. With the addition of the Wickentree Restaurant, which includes a private dining room, and the Café 1947, Housing Units is truly a destination store.
1.New Beds and Bedroom Department
The department features an incredibly modern style, making shopping for bedroom furnishings at Housing Units easy and stimulating. Inspired by international travels, it incorporates destination department design with inspiring contemporary lifestyle styling and decoration. Italian flair and carefully selected lighting create a relaxed environment for customers to browse, be inspired, and imagine the products in their own homes. A bespoke lighting system has been installed to create specific moods in each area, ensuring the perfect ambiance.
Merchandising was a key focus of the design brief. A tasteful distinction between good, better, and best products is achieved using a variety of materials, including soft and hard flooring, luxurious Venetian plaster finishes, panelled wall details, column features, and a signature catwalk with feature lighting that makes a dramatic first impression.
2.Modern Living
Modern Living is a cool and edgy concept featuring carefully selected furniture and accessories with smaller homes in mind and suited to multifunctional living spaces. From sofas to functional dining tables, Modern Living features a wide selection of fresh, fun furniture for playful personalities. Products are selected with city-living in mind, often smaller in scale and multifunctional. Whether designing an apartment, downsizing, or a first home, the department has modern furniture to decorate every room in fantastic lifestyle settings.
Modern Living also carries a range of decorative accessories, mirrors and art, rugs, lighting, soft furnishings, bed linens and scents for the home. Carefully selected for every room it is a simple one stop shop for urban living.
3.Emporium Luxury Furniture Department
The refurbishment of the Emporium furniture department expanded our collection, increasing the furniture offering to over 60,000 square feet. The purpose-built gallery showcases luxury lifestyle settings, featuring collections from UK and international brands, ensuring the perfect piece for the home. From sofas and chairs to dining furniture, customers can explore the finest selections from around the world. A key feature of this area was the removal of the low ceiling, creating a sense of light and space.
4.Eichholtz Gallery
Eichholtz, a renowned Dutch brand known for luxury design furniture, lighting, and accessories, is celebrated globally. Housing Units opened its Eichholtz brand store in 2023, featuring seven stunning room sets over 1600 square feet, offering the best selection in the UK.
5.Home Furnishing Store, Contemporary area
The most recent and final phase of the development plan was completed in 2024, with 1800sq ft dedicated to contemporary European furniture brands such as Venjakob, Himolla, Bontempi, and Calia. The space exemplifies excellence in standards and a consistent aesthetic, featuring walnut columns and screens to present the products in a clean and sophisticated manner.
