An Oxfordshire hardware independent is significantly growing its decor offer by expanding into the shop next door.
The move will see Reed's Hardware in Market Place, Wantage bring high-profile new brands to the town, with the new shop supplying both ready-mixed paints and a paint colour mixing service, wallpapers and supporting decorating sundries.

Reed's currently sells ironmongery, hardware and DIY lines, and joint owner Ian Mead told diyweek.net that it had always supplied paint products. "But we've never done tinting, so this is an expansion into tinted paints," he said, "and wallpaper is new for us."

The new outlet will introduce paints from Dulux, Farrow & Ball and Little Greene, and the two latter will supply wallcoverings.

"The new shop is the same size so we're doubling in size effectively," Mr Mead said, "and the expanded premises will allow us to provide a more complete offer for those taking on home improvement and decorating projects.

"In and around Wantage there isn't any competition. People end up travelling out to the likes of Oxford, Swindon or Newbury so we see an opportunity there that we can satisfy."

Reed's is one of Wantage's oldest retail names, established in Mill Street more than 40 years ago and relocating to its current premises in 1997. Mr Mead and his wife Fiona took over the shop in June 2013.

The new decor outlet has its official launch this Saturday, with Wantage Mayor St John Dickson doing the honours.

He said: "I'm absolutely delighted that Ian Mead has expanded the business in Wantage. We have for a long time needed a local supplier for home and trade decorating since the closure of Focus four years ago.

"It's fantastic news that a premium brand such as Farrow and Ball paints are ready to sell their products in this town. They're very protective as to where they set up outlets so by selecting Wantage they have indicated confidence in the town and its future."

Wantage Town Team co-ordinator Iain Nicholson added: "It's always a boost when an empty unit gets taken up by an established independent business, especially when it's one of our best-known town centre names, and they are bringing new high profile brands and services to the town centre."