Boots invites rival retailers into stores

HIGH Street retailer Boots said today it was looking to bring in other companies to take up excess space at some of its biggest stores.

The health and beauty retailer, which has a number of large sites in town centres, confirmed it was considering the space-sharing plan following a pilot scheme that has seen Travelex money exchange bureaux open in some shops.

A spokesman said no deals had been struck, although one report said the space may interest fashion retailers or a services business such as the Post Office.

He said: 'We think there is an opportunity there because we have very central prime sites with good footfall. We have 19m customers a week and there's a chance for other retailers to take advantage.'

The excess space is a legacy from the 1970s when the retailer bought big sites as part of a drive to become a department store chain. The group has stores of up to 25,000 sq ft, whereas its entire range of health and beauty products takes up about 20,000 sq ft.

In an interview with the Financial Times, chief executive Richard Baker said Boots already had partnerships with companies selling items on its website and could extend such arrangements into its stores.

He said: 'We can be really excellent in health and beauty and all of the things that are immediately attached to that. There are also other businesses where we can operate with partners and make a difference.

'If you take mobile phones, we have space to trade them and we can partner with somebody to give them access to a female customer base.'

Boots already has a wide range of products in its larger stores, including food processors and kitchenware. Mr Baker added: 'We've got some very big stores that, with health and beauty alone, would be over-spaced. If we didn't have the space, would we go into this merchandise? No, is the honest answer.'