New look for store

Home furnishing retailer Aldiss is in the process a £250,000 refit at its flagship Fakenham store.

The business, one of Norfolk's leading independents, has just finished the first phase of work designed to allow an increase in product ranges by up to 30pc in many departments in the 53,000 sq ft Old Lane superstore.

The curtain department features 700 new fabric ranges, while an expanded homewares department now includes luggage and leisure. There is also a new instore chocolate shop.

Dedicated studios have been created to exhibit furniture ranges, including Ercol and G-Plan, while

new fixtures and fittings allow larger capacity of stock throughout the

store.

In the coming months, customers will also be able to see a makeover of the shopfront to bring it up to date and a new roof

will be fitted in keeping

with the modernised building.

A spokesman for Aldiss said the changes had been made to "heighten the hassle-free and convenience element of the Aldiss shopping experience and offer shoppers the widest choice of home furnishings under one roof in the county".

Homewares buyer Ray Norman said the ability to display more stock would benefit the customer.

"They can rest assured that when they come to buy we have plenty of what they are looking for ready to take away," he said.

Managing director Paul Clifford said he was very proud of the recent improvements.

"We attribute our success to continuously listening and responding to our customers' needs and

feedback," he said. "This has proved essential to our progress and growth and had largely contributed to the decision to initiate these improvements, creating a shopping experience that is as helpful and convenient as possible."

Aldiss' Fakenham fashions store closed in August

after trading from the

Upper Market Place location for more than 80 years,

allowing the company to focus on its core activity of home furnishings.