Fishing Republic is set to open two new stores in Yorkshire following almost £1 million investment from Bank of Scotland Corporate. The company, which specialises in the sale of carp, coarse and sea fishing equipment, purchased and renovated a 10,000 sq ft site on Stoke Street in Attercliffe, Sheffield that opens its doors to the public on December 1 and another similar site off Wheatley Hall Road in Doncaster that will open in February 2008. Each store will employ seven people.
Fishing Republic began trading with its first store in Barnsley in 2005, but has followed an expansion strategy across the North of England that netted them another four. The new Sheffield and Doncaster stores will be Fishing Republic’s sixth and seventh respectively and will reinforce the organisation’s position as the largest chain of fishing tackle retailers in the country.
The two new store openings will be followed by further expansion that will see three new stores open each year. This will take Fishing Republic’s turnover to around nine million pounds during the next three years.
Stephen Gross, Managing Director of Fishing Republic, commented: “The new Sheffield and Doncaster stores will consolidate our position as the largest chain of fishing tackle retailers in the country and we plan to further build on this market position. Bank of Scotland Corporate has been fantastically supportive of our plans and we look forward to working with them throughout our expansion.”
Stephen Dale, Associate Director at Bank of Scotland Corporate in Doncaster, added: “Fishing Republic has shown tremendous ability and ambition to build a market leading company inside two years. I have no doubt that Stephen and his management team has the experience and belief to realise its further expansion plans and I look forward to being able to support them with those plans.”
