DIYWEEK.net

Family-run retailer reveals that current seven sites will reduce to four over an 18 month period in a bid to create “a more efficient and focused business”.

Taskers the home store, the Merseyside-based store group, will be closing its two smaller satellite stores at Heswall in the Wirral and Formby on Mereseyside. The closures will result in six full time equivalent job losses.

Explaining the decision, Taskers says the two stores account for only 3% of turnover and “are not considered core business”. Some staff are expected to be redeployed within the business. 

Taskers will then concentrate on its two main superstores at Aintree and Hunts Cross, and its online business, which is currently growing at 147% per year.

Its newly-opened Wavertree site near Liverpool city centre will also close in January and reopen in Spring 2018 selling what the business describes as “a tighter range of products more suitable for its location within the city”. Taskers explained that this store is situated in an area that is largely occupied by students.

Taskers office and warehousing currently runs from two separate premises, one owned by the company, and one rented. During 2018, the owned site will be doubled in size and all operations and offices will move to this new larger and improved facility. The rented site will close at the end of the current lease in July 2019.

MD John Tasker MD said of the restructure: “The moves are due to changes in the market place and local factors such as increased student numbers. These moves will also allow us to concentrate on key areas of the business, our two Superstores and our growing online business. Moving to one warehouse will simplify warehousing transport and online fulfilment and we will also introduce click and collect for larger items directly from our new warehouse facility which will save on transport and logistics.”

He added: “This is a very exciting time for Taskers.”