Outdoor clothing giant plans to expand Gloucester store
BUSINESS is booming at Gloucester's outdoor clothing giant GO Outdoors as the firm plans to expand.
The store, which is one of their most successful in the country, is hoping to increase floor space for outdoor clothing and footwear by five per cent.
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From left; Ricky Powis Andy Goodwin Dean Cox Matt Oliver Sam Cooper and Sophia Pietragala
It's yet another sign of strength in Gloucester's economy, with predictions that the store, which already has a turnover of £6.6million, could bring in an extra £700,000 each year.
Plans have been submitted to Gloucester City Council to allow the expansion of floor space at the 55,000 sq ft store at Barton Street.
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There won't be a physical extension of the building, but the firm wants to sell more product lines in the space that it already has.
General manager Jonathan Slater said it was good news for the store, after it recently celebrated its two year anniversary since opening.
Mr Slater, who manages around 50 staff, said: "We seem to be bucking the trend and going from strength to strength.
"The company as a whole is doing really but this store in particular.
"Our outdoor clothing range is really popular and I think this is because we have the Cotswolds on our doorstep."
Rainy weather during the summer brought people looking for raincoats and jackets into the store much earlier this year.
"They usually start to come in from September but we had people buying raincoats in July. It is very dependent on the weather," added Mr Slater.
"Bad weather doesn't stop people going out and doing stuff, but the wrong clothing does, so that's why we've had people coming in so early to get the right gear."
The store is also keen on working with other local firms such as Gloucester's Warehouse climbing centre and promoting outdoor activities in the Forest of Dean.
The opening of GO Outdoors two years ago helped to transform the site which had been derelict for some six years after the DIY store B&Q left the site.
Comments
by Zindafud
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 12:34PM
“It's not always cheaper than everywhere else, but the staff are friendly, helpful and unusually for a "chain" - they actually seem to give a t0ss about their customers! I am a frequent customer at Go Outdoors, I don't shop there because it's cheap, I shop as there's a good choice and the store is conveniently located.
Oswald Bailey could never have survived simply as they didn't have the same choice for their customers. They also couldn't offer free parking.”
by King_Shalom
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 9:25PM
“When GO opened I was just glad to see a building that was rapidly becoming an eyesore being occupied with a shop that I would actually use. This doesn't stop me going out to Cirencester to use Cotswold Camping, but it provides a convenient option and more choice. There is also the added bonus that it has provided lots of jobs in the retail sector, never a bad thing in my opinion and another reason why Gloucester is improving as a place to visit and shop.”
by TimMessanger
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 9:22PM
“@Windy_Pants
They are counting on the fact that most people will go camping once a year thus shopping once a year and fall for the "discount" card and so they aren't any cheaper, the sad thing is that they managed to put a quality retailer like Oswold Bailys out of business even though they didn't match on service or quality!”
by windy_pants
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 1:30PM
“They pretend to be cheaper than other places,, but on my few comparisons they were not, you have to have a special membership card for the discounts at a £5 a year,,, ditch this card and stop pretending Go Outdoors.. so antiquated to have a card just like Matalan.”
by Glos_Lad34
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 10:58AM
“I've only been here once but pop back again.”
by Bratfurd
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 10:38AM
“I've never been to GO, and didn't realise it was so popular. Must pay a visit.”
by Raccoon
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 10:23AM
“I was under the impression that the planning application was just about the percentage of floor space that could be devoted to clothes and shoes, rather than an expansion.”