By HELEN COMPSON

Last updated at 12:57, Friday, 11 June 2010

HEXHAM breathed a sigh of relief this week as department store chain Beales clinched a £250,000 deal to buy Robb’s.

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Its chief executive Tony Brown got straight down to business on Monday by giving some much sought after reassurance.

The 100-plus jobs at Robb’s are safe, the post office will be retained, and the food hall is here to stay.

Although the other 11 stores in the Dorset-based Beales chain are more notable for their mix of clothes and household goods, Mr Brown said: “I spent 19 years with Asda – I can do food!

“The food hall is here to stay, 100 per cent. I just want to make it better.”

With that, he signalled the start of a two-year programme of investment in the store designed to undo the neglect of recent years.

Refurbishment work will run throughout the summer, ready for a store relaunch on September 1, but then there will be a break to allow for Christmas trading.

Mr Brown admitted there was a lot to do. “In these cases, when you are buying a store in administration, you don’t get a great opportunity to do due diligence – there is a big leap of faith.

“We have a clear picture now, and there are more challenges than we thought there would be.

“We need to get the space working better for us, get the right brands in place and get over the reputation issues. Robb’s has been a poor servant to the town.”

Having signed a 15-year lease with the owners of the Robb’s building, Scottish property company Buccleuch Group, Mr Brown said he intended to take Robb’s more upmarket.

“I greatly admire Fenwick’s and John Lewis, and we try to get that type of quality and brand-mix.”

Beales has three in-house clothes brands and its own range of household goods and linens, but negotiations are already under way with several national fashion houses.

Jacques Vert, Alexon, Joules, Noa Noa and Craghopper are all on the horizon for women, while Mr Brown is aware of the need to cater for young people, too.

The Wrangler, Levi, Esprit and Jack Jones ranges could all be brought in quite easily. And talks are taking place to bring Miss Selfridge to Hexham.

A cosmetics hall will be re-installed in the first round of refurbishments, providing a bright, polished front-of-house.

“Ultimately, we want people to have less reason to go to the MetroCentre,” he said.

“If we offer the same quality and brand mix, why would customers want to go somewhere 20 miles away?”

Mr Brown spent Monday and Tuesday in Hexham in a series of meetings with staff, concession holders and suppliers.

“We have asked them to raise their game in terms of quality and ambience and, to be fair, they have all been very positive on that front. The staff want to contribute to getting the store back to where it should be.”

A show of hands revealed the overwhelming majority of staff were in favour of keeping the Robb’s name. So while their wish will be granted, the marketing banner ‘Robb’s, part of the Beales family’ will be used from now on to help restore the Hexham institution’s rather tarnished reputation.

Keen not to second-guess what shoppers wanted in Hexham, three customer consultation sessions will take place on June 22 and June 23.

Mr Brown revealed he had also spoken with members of the Robb family – Derek Robb’s widow, Nancy, and their son Keith – to learn more about the history of the store.

Northumberland County Council, which has been working with the administrators, MCR – brought in the salvage what it could of the chain belonging to the previous owner, Vergo Retail – welcomed the takeover.

Executive member for regeneration, Coun. Tom Brechany said: “We are very encouraged by the initial plans of Beales, and particularly the assurance the post office can still be located in the store.

“We will continue to work with the new operators and with Buccleuch Group, which owns the property, so that the store continues to benefit the wider retail offer and the economy of Hexham.”

Hexham’s MP Guy Opperman said: “This is great news, not just for the employees and loyal customers, but for the whole town. Robb’s is an iconic store and its survival under its new owners is a positive sign for the local economy.”

The administrators are still trying to find buyers for another 16 department stores in the Vergo Retail group, including Jopling’s of Sunderland.

First published at 09:38, Friday, 11 June 2010
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk