Natural World to open 22 stores in three years

Gifts retailer The Natural World plans to grow to at least 50 stores in the next two-and-a-half years, according to managing director Andrew Thomas.

There are 28 shops at present, and the retailer’s management team has been bolstered in preparation for expansion.

Appointments include Tim Finch as director of sales. He was previously retail operations director of Mainstream, the Arcadia business unit that ran Burton and Dorothy Perkins shops.

Natural World is preparing to post ‘record’ profits for the year ending June 2003.

Increased sourcing from the Far East and more own-brand product has helped increase profit margin.