Dawson & Sanderson to open new branch in Middlesbrough

Northeast-based agency chain Dawson & Sanderson is set to open a new Middlesbrough branch later this month as part of a relocation and merger of two existing stores.

The company’s current Middlesbrough and Hartlepool branches will move into the new larger and centrally located branch in M Parkway shopping centre, Coulby Newham, where the store will occupy the former All Things Good unit in the shopping centre.

All staff from the two existing branches will stay with the business. The new branch will have a team of seven experienced staff, managed by Mark Slater, who is currently the manager of the Hartlepool store and has 35 years’ experience.

There will be five customer desks and a full foreign exchange service.

Following the relocation Dawson & Sanderson will have 19 stores, with Coulby Newham becoming one of the group’s largest stores by footprint.

Managing director David Chambers said the shift in footfall had led to the decision to relocate its stores.

He said: “We have been looking for the right opportunity in Teesside for a number of years. Our stores in both Middlesbrough and Hartlepool have increasingly found themselves out of position as shopping habits and town-centre footfall have changed.

“Coulby Newham has always been on our radar, but there hasn’t been a suitable unit available. When we became aware of this opportunity, we felt we had to take it.”

The M Parkway Shopping Centre benefits from strong, consistent year-round footfall, helped by the Tesco superstore, as well as free parking, he noted, and is accessible for customers from across Teesside.

“Rather than reducing our presence in Teesside, we see this as an investment in the area, bringing two experienced teams together in a larger, better positioned store that we believe has significant potential,” he added.

Last week, the M Parkway shopping centre posted a picture on Facebook of the store’s new location being refurbished, with an advert for the agency and list of some preferred partners, such as Jet2holidays, Tui and P&O Cruises.

The shopping centre has more than 50 retailers including brands such as Tesco, Boots, Iceland, Superdrug, Card Factory, Specsavers, Poundland, Greggs and Burger King as well as several independent shops.

Chambers said the group’s focus now was on strengthening its existing network and ensuring stores were in the right location for the future.

“The Coulby Newham relocation is a good example of that strategy, investing where we believe there is an opportunity to create a stronger and more sustainable presence,” he said, stressing: “We have no immediate plans to open any additional stores in the coming months.”