Wickes to open new concept kitchen and bathroom store in Tunbridge Wells

Wickes has been granted planning approval to open a store on the Grosvenor Road site of the former Noakes department store.

The building, which has lain empty for nearly two years, will be converted to accommodate a "new kitchen and bathroom concept". The store is scheduled to open next month.

Noakes closed the prominent town centre site in December 2009, ending its 150 years of trading on the site. Planning permission, now granted by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, was needed for shop front changes.

Wickes is also said to be reviewing its media planning and buying account, currently managed by MEC.

A number of agencies have been approached by Wickes' marketing director, Rob Murray, and brand director, Tony Holdway for the £23m account with a view to submit presentations over the next month. A decision will be made by the end of the year with the new contract commencing in the first quarter of 2012.

The shake-up reflects a recent shift in emphasis by the company away from in-store promotions to catalogues and online services. Wickes media spend is predominantly toward TV and press with the remainder distributed between radio, outdoor, direct mail and online.

Source : Builders’ Merchants News
www.buildersmerchantsnews.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/5027/Wickes_opens_in_Tunbridge_Wells.html