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Dragons' Den dragon, Peter Jones, acquired some Jessops assets a few months back and I commented in my blog that the deal didn't seem to include any of the nearly 200 shops.
Well, it seems Mr.Jones has acquired 36 or so stores and will be opening them over the next month at about one a day.
But central to the relaunch is the online business. Unfortunately that seems to have suffered a glitch as it was counting itself down to opening at 12 noon today but has been stuck on 'any minute now' for almost an hour after the deadline.
Here is the press release text:
28 March 2013 - Jessops, the iconic UK photography retailer, will re-open its doors this Thursday after a vote of confidence from Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Peter Jones CBE.
In a major comeback, Jones will launch six stores this Thursday, then up to 30 more throughout April, at the rate of one a day.
Leading from the front, he will take the helm and assume the role of Chairman and Chief executive. This follows a £4m investment in revitalising Jessops stores, with flagship outlets including Oxford Street and Birmingham, the largest photographic imaging store in Europe.
The move comes as a boost to British retail, and will create up to 500 jobs, with Jessops forecasting sales of over £80m in Year 1. That will give the retailer nearly 15% of the DSLR Camera market in the UK and place Jessops immediately back as a Top3 player in the market.
Peter Jones CBE commented:
“Britain’s high street is fighting back - the facts show it, and I am giving my personal commitment to its resurgence by re-opening the doors of one of Britain’s most historic retailers.
“I’m taking the helm as Chairman and Chief Executive because I believe Jessops is an iconic British brand which can lead the retail resurgence on Britain’s high streets, powered by new innovations and world-leading, expert staff.
“Image is everything, and even in the mobile and tablet era, there’s no substitute for a quality camera when it comes to taking the perfect picture. Jessops’ hallmark expertise and customer service will now be available again to customers across the UK.
“I’m convinced the great British public will get behind Jessops and look forward to welcoming the first new customers through our doors on Thursday.”
New Jessops stores will feature:
The Dragon’s backing for Jessops continues the upward trend for Britain’s retailers, following last week’s buyout of Blockbuster, and British Retail Consortium figures which showed shoppers are deserting out-of-town shopping centres to return to the high street, with a year-by-year increase of 2.7% in shoppers from February 2012.
Well, it seems Mr.Jones has acquired 36 or so stores and will be opening them over the next month at about one a day.
But central to the relaunch is the online business. Unfortunately that seems to have suffered a glitch as it was counting itself down to opening at 12 noon today but has been stuck on 'any minute now' for almost an hour after the deadline.
Here is the press release text:
“I’M IN” - DRAGON RELAUNCHES JESSOPS AND BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO BRITISH HIGH STREET
JESSOPS BACK IN A FLASH AS PETER JONES CBE OPENS DOORS AT SIX STORES THIS THURSDAY
In a major comeback, Jones will launch six stores this Thursday, then up to 30 more throughout April, at the rate of one a day.
Leading from the front, he will take the helm and assume the role of Chairman and Chief executive. This follows a £4m investment in revitalising Jessops stores, with flagship outlets including Oxford Street and Birmingham, the largest photographic imaging store in Europe.
The move comes as a boost to British retail, and will create up to 500 jobs, with Jessops forecasting sales of over £80m in Year 1. That will give the retailer nearly 15% of the DSLR Camera market in the UK and place Jessops immediately back as a Top3 player in the market.
Peter Jones CBE commented:
“Britain’s high street is fighting back - the facts show it, and I am giving my personal commitment to its resurgence by re-opening the doors of one of Britain’s most historic retailers.
“I’m taking the helm as Chairman and Chief Executive because I believe Jessops is an iconic British brand which can lead the retail resurgence on Britain’s high streets, powered by new innovations and world-leading, expert staff.
“Image is everything, and even in the mobile and tablet era, there’s no substitute for a quality camera when it comes to taking the perfect picture. Jessops’ hallmark expertise and customer service will now be available again to customers across the UK.
“I’m convinced the great British public will get behind Jessops and look forward to welcoming the first new customers through our doors on Thursday.”
New Jessops stores will feature:
- Play Tables: Reconfigured stores to give an interactive experience where you can touch and feel the products, and try before you buy
- The Jessops Academy: photography courses can be booked in every store, for all levels from amateur snappers to aspiring professionals
- Collect@store: Greater integration with Jessops’ online offering, including a collect@store option for customers
- Expert assistance: The most highly-trained sales assistants in Europe, many specially trained with the camera manufacturers
- Europe’s Biggest range: Widest range of the world’s leading imaging brands
- Photo Printing: Offering a 25 minute express service as well as premium printing to canvas & posters within the hour
The Dragon’s backing for Jessops continues the upward trend for Britain’s retailers, following last week’s buyout of Blockbuster, and British Retail Consortium figures which showed shoppers are deserting out-of-town shopping centres to return to the high street, with a year-by-year increase of 2.7% in shoppers from February 2012.
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