15 jobs for JYSK store

11:41am Wednesday 7th May 2008

Comments (6)   Have your say »

DENMARK'S answer to the furniture giant Ikea has confirmed it is opening its first Yorkshire store in York this summer, creating 15 jobs.

The global furniture retailer JYSK says it will open its 1,400sq ft premises on Sterling Road at Clifton Moor.

It says the store, selling a range of mattresses, duvets, towels, textiles, bookcases, beds, tables, sofas, housewares and garden furniture, will form part of the group's second phase of store openings in the UK.

The Press revealed last month how JYSK was set to open at Clifton Moor by mid-June.

A spokeswoman said then that the store would be along the lines of two 10,000 sq ft outlets which it had opened in Lincoln and Mansfield, selling products for the bathroom, bedroom and living room.

A spokeswoman said today the York store's opening date would be announced shortly, and staff would be recruited through the local Job Centre Plus.

She said there were plans for a significant roll out of new stores in Britain in the next two years, and the search was on for suitable properties on retail parks throughout the UK to support major expansion.

The JYSK group is one of the world's biggest retail furniture groups, with 1,350 stores in 30 countries and plans for further expansion in Italy, Slovenia and Russia.

It has reportedly vowed to provide a challenge to the domination of the UK's homeware and furniture sector by Ikea, as it launches a £50 million expansion in the UK, which could eventually mean up to 500 stores being opened here over the next two decades.

Steve Stenhouse, country manager for JYSK UK, has said that Great Britain was "especially interesting" for the company, but also a very difficult market to enter.

He said: "Competition over here is very tough, but we are convinced that there is room for us and that customers will receive us well.

"People always need to replace their furnishings and furniture and, if times are particularly hard, they want to shop around for the best price."