Matalan to trial smaller stores

Discount clothing retailer Matalan is to trial a smaller store format which would enable it to bring its merchandise to the UK high street.

A trial shop will open in Portadown, Northern Ireland in October. It will stock only clothing, spotlighting Matalan brands such as Easy and Lee Cooper. Matalan's out-of-town and edge-of-town stores have extended their range to include homeware in recent years.

Until now, Matalan has avoided high streets and shopping centres due to the higher rents, but faces increased competition in the discount clothing sector. Asda will open two trial in-town standalone clothing stores spotlighting its George brand next month.

The Matalan store in Portadown's Magowan West shopping centre will be twinned with a larger store in nearby Craigavon three miles away, enabling Matalan to economically deliver clothing to both.