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A retailer is bucking national trends of high street closures to open a new Tyneside city centre store.

While a host of well-known high street names are battling the ongoing Covid-19 crisis pushing consumers towards online shopping, home fragrance and gift specialist Collectables has expanded its bricks and mortar presence with the opening of a ninth store in the heart of one of Newcastle’s prime city centre shopping areas.

The shop in the Monument Mall on Blackett Street has created seven new roles, and Collectables managing director David Lewis is confident the outlet will flourish despite the ongoing challenges of coronavirus restrictions.

He said: “It’s been a hard year for retailers, but thanks to good sales online and in stores, and the benefit of the temporary business rates relief for businesses, we have increased our staff headcount in 2020.

“We are confident enough to open a new store in a prime city centre location, and we are growing our online outlets thanks to our focus on ranges which are very much at the forefront of people’s minds – home fragrance and accessories, comfort and wellbeing.

“People are spending more time than ever at home, and our products make the home a much more attractive and comfortable place to be.”

Collectables was founded in 1985 by Mr Lewis’ father, Philip, and has grown to be one of the North East’s best-known high street brands.

Specialising in home fragrance, comfort and wellbeing, gifts and home accessories, Collectables currently employs 60 people across its stores in Sunderland, Cramlington, Washington, the Metrocentre, Darlington, Middlesbrough, Castleford near Leeds, and now Newcastle.