DIYWEEK.net

Home and garden retailer The Range is set to open its 50th superstore in Erdington, Birmingham, on February 25.
Plymouth-based entrepreneur Chris Dawson opened the first of his out-of-town superstores 22 years ago in his hometown, and now has ambitions to reach 100 stores by 2015.

He said: "Opening my first store was a great feeling but this is my proudest achievement. However, we're not the sort of company who rests on our laurels - store 51 in Shrewsbury opens two weeks after Erdington and 10 more are planned for this year."

Last year the company posted profits of £20.3m, double that of the previous year. Nearly all of The Range's new stores are in spaces left vacant by victims of the recession, including MFI and Woolworths.

Mr Dawson added: "We've always been run as if in a recession, which is why we've done alright in the last few years. We've got a great concept, great staff and love to bring life back to areas which have been recently hit by the economy."