Hooty's in job boost
Black Country discount business Hooty's is to open two new stores in the Midlands creating up to 200 jobs as part of a £1million expansion plan announced today.
The Willenhall-based success story is enjoying growing profits and is on track for a £17.5 million turnover this financial year – its best yet.
Chairman Richard Beaumont has now revealed how it is planned to grow the brand with a chain of shops, adding to the existing one on the Longacres Industrial Estate, Rose Hill.
"We are aiming to open two new centres by March next year employing between 70 and 100 people at each one," he said. "We are in the final negotiations on the first one."
The new stores are likely to be in Birmingham and Derbyshire and cost around £500,000 each. It will also mean dozens more jobs for the headquarters in Willenhall which will remain at the centre of the business.
Hooty's was first established as a wholesaler in 1963. Essex businessman Mr Beaumont took over eight years ago and he added: "Despite the recession we are doing well and trading at a higher level than last year. In the last six months we have created 28 new jobs and by Christmas it should be another 40."
The firm was last week given permission to extend opening hours on a Friday despite fears it could lead to an increase in noise. Mr Beaumont said: "We've taken on extra off-site warehousing and diverted some of the goods traffic there so we have reduced the load that would affect neighbours."
