Flooring retailer Andersens has a string of new stores to open in the first half of 2021. First to be unveiled is a new store in Warners Bay in March with another in Gosford in early May.
An additional five outlets are in the pipeline, according to Dean Lightfoot, network development manager.
“We’ve just signed another store in Canberra with a franchisee who started in January 2020 and has his second site located, and the deal signed. He’s very confident in the brand.”
The Andersens name will also be popping up on new stores in new build home maker centres in Victoria, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the mid-north coast of New South Wales, and in inner Sydney.
“I have a plan for 10 this year and we’re on track to do this,” says Dean, who is already locking in some sites for development in 2022.
The recent tranche of franchisees show Aussies in their 40s are looking to take more control of their future and they are responding to the brand’s country town history.
“They love the legacy, the country town service. We started in Gatton which is half an hour out of Toowoomba, and we’ve stayed there. Our warehouse is there, some of our admin staff has been there over 30 years. We will never move from Gatton,” says Dean.
The heritage business has committed to an environmental goal: to plant 50,000 trees across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and South America. More than 38,000 have already been planted since the initiative, Project Green, began in June 2020.
Andersens’ boss Rowan Hodge was behind the reforestation idea, but it has been the franchisees who have really driven the project, says Dean.
It has been the same with a mega donation for The Smith Family. The network in December raised more than $80,000 for the charity with franchisees contributing for each invoice they raised.
“It was something that resonated with our community, giving back to young Australians and supporting education for underprivileged children,” says Dean.
Business has been good for the retailer, throughout 2020.
“We’re really lucky to be in our industry,” says Dean. He points to the ‘resortification’ of the home where customers spend their would-be travel dollars on home improvements.
“I don’t see it slowing down,” says Dean.
This story originally appeared on sister site Inside Franchise Business.
