Norwich-based value retailer QD Stores has announced it will be opening an online shopping channel to complement its high street business.
It comes after the independent appointed e-commerce retail specialist Richard Sutton earlier this year. Norwich-based QD Stores operates 31 outlets in town centre locations, from the east of England to Doncaster in the north and Wrexham in the west.

Parent company QD Stores Group also owns Cherry Lane garden centres, Thingmebobs, Buyright and Lathams retail brands. The move to e-commerce comes as the group reports strong summer trading, with year to date like-for-like growth up 4%. This has been primarily driven by seasonally-adjusted promotions across its apparel, garden and leisure business.

Said QD Stores group managing director Justin Farrington Smith: "We've had a good run matching solutions to needs with some great hot weather deals like the Mega Slide, our second best selling product by value for three weeks running."

The group's latest Cherry Lane garden centre at Towcester is "trading over budget," revealed Mr Farrington Smith, "while our Bradmore outlet is trading exceptionally well given a store fire caused over a million pounds of damage just as we were about to re-open."

He also predicts further store acquisitions for the Cherry Lane brand in the near future, adding: "We are continuing to evaluate future sites and in particular garden centres," he said.

And, off the back of last year's impressive Christmas trading period, when sales were up a record 8.19%, Mr Farrington Smith expects the trend to continue this year. "We have very exciting plans for some great products coming out this Christmas.

"Our new e-commerce manager Richard Sutton brings over fifteen years experience within in-store and e-commerce sales helping us realise our aim to have elements of a brand new transactional site live in time for another strong festive sales period."