An historic homeware retailer in Wiltshire is set to relocate from its flagship store in Trowbridge to larger premises as part of expansion plans, as it evolves into a “digital first” business..
Knees Home and Electrical, which was founded in the county in 1879, has announced it will be moving less than a mile from its outlet at Spitfire Retail Park to a larger site on the White Horse Business Park in early 2022.
The company, which sells home furnishing, electrical appliances and kitchens, said the move would allow it to combine its entire retail operation “under one roof”, with a showroom sitting alongside its warehouse and support teams.
The business said its new base would showcase a range of lifestyle products across its built-in appliances, cooking and fitted kitchen categories, while its growing online division will continue to stock its freestanding appliances and homeware products.
The firm’s managing director Andy Pickford said: “A building like this does not become available every day, so when it has, we’ve moved fast and decisively to secure it. We are really excited about this change and can’t wait to offer our loyal customers a more refined shopping experience.
“What this new building gives us is a platform to provide our customers with a wonderful opportunity to see our aspirational and lifestyle products in an experiential space.
"But by consolidating our entire operation under one roof, we can connect the physical and digital and provide our customers with a more efficient and hassle-free service proposition.
“This is all part of our plan to continue to evolve as a digital first omnichannel retailer.”
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Knees Home and Electrical also has a store on Malmesbury High Street that has been open since the 1950s. The company said the outlet would remain “an important part of our physical proposition.” It added that following significant investment in the store last year it was seeing an “encouraging” trading performance.
Knees Home and Electrical moved from the centre of Trowbridge to Spitfire Business Park in 2014 in response to the changing retail landscape.
The company said it had been “working tirelessly” to grow the digital arm of the business in recent years to face the challenges posed to the sector, which has seen shoppers migrate to online retailers from bricks and mortar stores.
The company's first shop in the town was opened by Henry Knee as Knee’s Ironmongers and Manufacturers in the 19th century, selling paints, varnishes, mantel pieces and lamps.
The family business became a limited company in 1908 and by the mid 1930s had several shops across the county. Henry’s son Hebden Knee diversified the business into the motor trade, opening showrooms and garages in Calne, Chippenham and Trowbridge.
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