A BIG name in quality home furnishings is returning to Wrexham more than 20 years after it left the town.<\/p>\n
Seven new jobs will be created when Listers opens a fifth store at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre at the beginning of next month in time for one of the busiest sales periods of the year.<\/p>\n
For the family run firm, which owns four other stores in Llandudno, Shrewsbury and Chester, it will be a happy return to a town which played host to one of the company\u2019s earliest successes.<\/p>\n
Mark Lister, director of the company which was started by his father Mike in 1967, said: \u201cWe have always been very keen to return to Wrexham and the addition of Eagles Meadow, as a really smart and modern shopping centre, has given us the ideal location to come back to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark\u2019s father, who is retired and now lives in South Africa, owned a large Listers store on Priory Street in the late 70s and early 80s from where he sold mainly curtains, carpets and bedding.<\/p>\n
Mark, 39, a father-of-two from Llandudno, said: \u201cMy dad loved having a store there. He said he liked the Wrexham people because you always knew where you were with them and his shop was very popular.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember Madonna printed cushion covers he had in stock and it was probably one of the biggest suppliers of carpets and curtains in North Wales at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are a different business now, because we have branched out more into furniture, but our desire to run a friendly, family run business which provides a good quality product for a good quality price is still very much the same and I think one of the main reasons why the business continues to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Listers offers a wide range of home items from kitchens and furniture to bed linen, tableware and gifts.<\/p>\n
The company specialises in reclaimed oak furniture, mainly sourced from Vietnam, which Mark himself is mostly responsible for choosing.<\/p>\n
He is in charge of the company along with his brother, Jason, sister, Claire and step brother, Mike Eratt.<\/p>\n
Mark said: \u201cI like to think we will be filling a gap in Wrexham and I don\u2019t think there is any one like us in the town.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur customers like us because we have new items coming in all the time so some will come every week to see what is on offer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t sell anything which is too modern or contemporary. Our style is quite rustic and shabby chic which people seem to really like.<\/p>\n
“While most of it may not look modern, it is modern in its practicality and use for everyday life and I think that is what attracts people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manager of the new Wrexham store will be Clare Hughes, who has worked at Listers\u2019 Chester store for two years.<\/p>\n
Clare, 38, a mother-of two, said: \u201cI am very excited about coming to Wrexham and we have had a lot of positive feedback from customers about the new shop who remember us from Wrexham all those years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we will be giving the people of the town a really interesting, new store to shop in because we have some beautiful things on offer, whether you are furnishing a whole house or simply looking for a gift for someone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clare said her team would also ensure Wrexham customers would receive a very high standard of customer service which stems from the fact that it is a very friendly and caring company to work for.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cEvery day when I get up, I look forward to going to work and even though, it is work, I really enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kevin Critchley, Eagles Meadow manager, said: \u201cListers is a truly terrific addition to Eagles Meadow and there is some excitement growing among our shoppers for their arrival.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a perfect example of our commitment to attracting new businesses which can offer something special to the town and I am glad they will be open before Christmas because I think they are going to be a great place to shop for a whole range of gifts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Go to <\/strong>www.listersinteriors.com<\/strong><\/a> to find out more or go to <\/strong>www.eagles-meadow.co.uk<\/strong><\/a> for more news about what is happening at Eagles Meadow.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n