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Majestic rolls out new mini-store concept
UK wine specialist Majestic has unveiled a mini-store format with its new Harpenden store, as it tests new ways of reaching customers across the UK and doubles down on its commitment to bricks and mortar, service-led retail.
At only 1,800 sq ft, the new Harpenden store is less than half the size of the average Majestic wine shop, and marks the first of the new mini town-centre format.
The retailer says the new site – in the centre of Harpenden High Street and only three-minute walk from the town’s station – will “allow the business to test a fresh approach to reaching communities in key target areas of the UK”, being “perfectly placed to serve walk-in customers picking up a bottle on their way home from work.”
The store will stock more than 600 wines from Majestic’s range, including a 72-strong area dedicated to Fine Wine, along with beers, spirits and low/no alcohol drinks, with the range.
It is the fifth new Majestic to open in the last financial year, following the traditional warehouse formats in Haywards Heath, Godalming, Stafford and Preston. There are plans for an other eight shops over the next year, including Banstead in Surrey, Saltash and Truro in Cornwall, and Thame in Oxfordshire.
Majestic CEO John Colley said the team had be eyeing up the Harpenden location “for some time”.
“The trial of this smaller format offers us an exciting opportunity to serve our customers in new ways and cater for a number of different shopping missions,” he said. “The lessons we learn in Harpenden will be invaluable as we look to further grow our store estate.”
He noted that there had been a strong response from customers to the four stores opened this year and that the strong performance of the new and existing shops, e-commerce and Commercial businesses meant the retailer “heads into what will be another challenging financial year with good trading momentum.”
In January, the wine specialist reported its second biggest Christmas ever, with sales up on the previous year, and up 21.1% on pre-pandemic levels.
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