Habitat links up with Borders to open 'dual' stores

Furniture chain Habitat is teaming up with bookseller Borders to create lifestyle destinations.

Habitat UK country manager Mark Hislop said shoppers have a similar mindset and the move is expected to increase dwell time for both retailers.

The first dual store will open in the Birstal Shopping Park, at Junction 27 of the M62 near Leeds, at the beginning of November. The retailers share a shed and car park, but their shops are self-contained. The pair are likely to seek more properties together.

Hislop, a former Tesco head of non-food operations, is almost a year into a turnaround programme at the loss-making furniture retailer. The 40-strong store portfolio is being refurbished, and refits of five larger stores, including the Tottenham Court Road flagship, are already complete.

The Ikano-owned retailer is also working with Capital Group, which will open the first in a new chain of restaurants chain called Cafe Munch above the King's Road store.