Autumn 2007

Housing Units, one of the UK's leading independent home furnishings stores, has taken its proposition online with the launch of a full e-commerce web site.

The company operates from a five-acre retail site at Failsworth, north Manchester, and director Nick Fox says there was an underlying paradox behind its decision to go online.

'We are one of those rare retailers in the sector who see more and more people coming into our store,' he says, but adds: 'We also know that many customers who are considering larger purchases wish to return home before making any purchase.

'The web site will enable us to close a greater percentage of those types of opportunities, as well as readily appeal to the growing demographic of internet only shoppers, who value the convenience and simplicity of browsing and shopping from home.'

The company has chosen Shopcreator to build and host its online store. Initially the site lists 500 lines, which include accessories, bathrooms, fireplaces, flooring, furniture and gifts. The aim is to increase the total to 2,000 items by the end of the year. The retail store has 30,000 items.

Housing Units delivers many of the larger items on its own fleet of delivery vans, and therefore limits its geographical range to areas of the North West that they can reach. Smaller items are despatched nationwide by courier at prices ranging from £4 to £16.