Laura Ashley to exit Homebase concessions

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Oct 21, 2016

Retailer Laura Ashley Holdings announced Friday that it is pulling out of Homebase home improvement stores following the acquisition of the Homebase chain by Australia’s Wesfarmers.

The company has operated interiors product shop-in-shops in Homebase, which was previously owned by Sainsbury’s, for some time. However, it will close all the stores during Q2 2017.

Laura Ashley, which also sells womenswear from its non-Homebase locations, said it does not expect there to be a material impact on the group and anticipates that the majority of trade that it receives from these concessions will be redirected to other Laura Ashley stores and to its website.

Online is increasingly important to Laura Ashley and in the summer it reported e-sales up 15.7% in the 74 weeks to June 30. The company also announced plans to expand in China with a storefront on Alibaba’s Tmall.

Wesfarmers has signalled that it wants to make major changes at Homebase since its acquisition earlier this year, and its plans include a complete rebrand under the Bunnings name.

Meanwhile former owner Sainsbury’s is extending its own reach in premium interiors and has started opening Mini Habitat locations inside some larger supermarkets.