DIY giant 4Home nails first €5m opening of 30 store rollout plan

A NEW €5 million 4Home store, a subsidiary of Dairygold Co-op, opened in Mallow, Co Cork, at the weekend.

It is the first of 30 stores the company plans to open over the next three years, creating more than 600 jobs.

Most of the stores will be franchised.

4Home managing director Simon Healy said the 24,000 sq ft Mallow store, employing 30 people, is a quality, modern homeware and DIY outlet.

He said the store operated to the highest standards of customer service, procurement practices, store design and category management.

Franchising would play a key role in the growth of the 4Home chain over the next three years he said.

“The franchising model is tried and tested in the retail sector,’’ he said.

“We plan to apply this model and create the first Irish fully fledged DIY/homeware offering in this sector of the market.

“We have already received numerous expressions of interest from potential franchisees both in the hardware sector and outside of it and are currently in advanced discussions with a number of retailers nationwide.”

Mr Healy said 4Home will offer the independent retailer leading edge marketing, technology, logistics and operations resources in a market that has been threatened by large British multiples.

The new Mallow store at Park Road includes departments such as garden, paint, DIY, floors, doors, lighting, plumbing, homewares, domestic appliances, electrical, bathroom, giftware and furniture.

Three further Co-op superstores at Carrigaline, Co Cork, and at Raheen and Annacotty in Limerick, will begin operations under the 4Home brand during September.

A number of franchise stores will be open by the end of the year.