Decathlon gives city a timely jobs boost (From Andover Advertiser)
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Decathlon gives city a timely jobs boost
11:00am Thursday 15th November 2012 in Hampshire Business
WestQuay retail park
FRENCH sports retailer Decathlon is to open a new store in Southampton next month, bringing 40 jobs.
The world’s biggest sports retailer has taken over the former JJB store on the West Quay retail park and is giving it a £500,000 makeover.
The new store is Decathlon’s 14th in the UK and the first on the south coast. The next nearest is Reading.
Decathlon UK managing director Steve Dykes said the company had been eyeing Southampton for “a long time” and was delighted to have secured the city centre site.
He said the store will cater for 70 sports, from more technical sports like archery and kayaking to cycling, rugby and football.
The store will run various demonstrations throughout the year and Mr Dykes said he was looking to recruit “sports people” to be able to offer expert advice to customers.
The new store, due to open on December 7, comes as a welcome boost to the city’s shopping offer after JJB Sports collapsed with £150m debts. Rival Sports Direct bought 20 JJB stores, including its outlet in Winchester’s High Street.
Decathlon is sponsoring Southampton’s Christmas ice rink, which opens today.
The Decathlon Group runs 240 stores across France, and 180 in Spain among other countries throughout Europe.
It has a turnover of around £5 billion and more than 40,000 employees worldwide. It made its first profit in the UK last year, after ten years.
Comments(9)
once a saint
says...
11:22am Thu 15 Nov 12
Over the Edge wrote:Would you rather another vacant shop? It may not be the largest employer but it is some good news for the struggling retail trade.
40 new jobs probably all part-time minimum wage jobs,,,,excellent news for the city,,,,,by my reckoning that's still leave 817 workers looking for work in late quarter 4 and early quarter 1
Likesadrink
says...
11:30am Thu 15 Nov 12
elvisimo
says...
11:33am Thu 15 Nov 12
Likesadrink wrote:very fussy and cautious over where they trade so they have obviously seen something possitive in Southampton. Good news.
Decent shop is Decathalon, used to visit their Surrey Quays store regularly. Excellent for the smaller/ outdoor/ more technical sports and good value too.
Shoong
says...
11:53am Thu 15 Nov 12
Over the Edge wrote:Hang on, isn't this exactly what you want and keep bleating over?
40 new jobs probably all part-time minimum wage jobs,,,,excellent news for the city,,,,,by my reckoning that's still leave 817 workers looking for work in late quarter 4 and early quarter 1
But I suppose it's ok to bash good news, no matter how insignificant you feel it is, as long as it suits your political agenda.
Subject48
says...
12:02pm Thu 15 Nov 12
Lone Ranger.
says...
2:03pm Thu 15 Nov 12
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So much egg on face
Dragonqueen
says...
2:16pm Thu 15 Nov 12
SFC4EVA
says...
5:23pm Thu 15 Nov 12
Over the Edge says...
11:06am Thu 15 Nov 12