Flooring Masters selects Swansea as expansion begins

A new Wales-based flooring retailer has selected a popular Swansea retail park to launch its ambitious expansion of the business.

Flooring Masters Wales Ltd has signed a 10-year lease for unit 2b (6,150 sq ft) at Lion Way Retail Park. The site, owned by Worcestershire-based Barberry Developments, is ideally located just north of Swansea city centre on the established Swansea Enterprise Park with excellent access to M4 junctions 44/45.

Martyn Cartwright, director of Barberry Developments, said: “We are delighted to welcome Flooring Masters who join several prominent retailers such as Farmfoods and Poundstretcher who are already successfully operating from the site. This recent letting means that Lion Way Park is almost at full capacity with only one 4,955 sq ft unit left to lease.”

Flooring Masters this year opened its first store in Aberdare, Mid Glamorgan, and the Swansea branch opened last month (September). The ambitious company is also planning to launch a third store in Cardiff by Christmas, and a further two stores in 2013.

Martyn added: “We are pleased that Flooring Masters has chosen Lion Way to begin its expansion plans and that the new store will create jobs in the area. As a small, independent retailer, we worked with Flooring Masters to offer flexible lease terms that will help them to get their new business venture off the ground and trading successfully.”

David Harris, owner of Flooring Masters Wales Ltd, said: “Opening a store in Swansea is a major step forward for us and we are excited at the prospect of greeting thousands of new customers. Our first store is doing extremely well at an out of town development in Aberdare, and we hope to continue this success at Lion Way Retail Park.”

Barberry, which acquired Lion Way Retail Park in 2008, has been working with existing tenants to considerably improve the layout and configuration of the car park and landscaping areas. While the retail park has always been popular the improvements have further boosted trading activity. The area is already an established retail destination with nearby retailers including Tesco Extra, Halfords, PC World and Comet.

There is now only one 4,955 sq ft unit (unit 1B) available to let at Lion Way Retail Park. The unit can be split from 1,200 sq ft.