Hobbs Eyes US Market

Hobbs has revealed plans to enter the US and Middle Eastern markets on the back of continue growth in the UK and Irish Republic.

The company is said to be exploring opportunities in the two overseas markets, but has not made a decision on whether it will pursue a concession or standalone store strategy.

The business is in the second y ear of a three-year growth plan, and will open four stores and four concessions in the UK this year. A store at Brent Cross shopping centre is scheduled to open on March 20. The company is in negotiations over three more stores and hopes to sign the deal by later this month.

The new concessions will be in Selfridges at Manchester's Trafford Centre, House of Fraser in Reading, Jenners in Edinburgh and Fenwick in Newcastle.

The next Hobbs store to begin trading will be at Portsmouth's Gunwharf Quays outlet centre on February 21. The year's opening will take Hobbs to 41 stores in the UK. The company's only overseas store is a franchise in Sweden.

Hobbs is also relocating its head office in mid-February to larger premises around 200 yards away from the original office in Gloucester Avenue, London.