Jojo Maman Bebe Joins St David's

Extract:

A Welsh maternity and nursery retailer is set to join the mix of stores at St David’s in Cardiff. JoJo Maman Bébé, which was established in Newport, will open its first Cardiff store in the shopping centre in March.

Article:

A Welsh maternity and nursery retailer is set to join the mix of stores at St David’s in Cardiff.

JoJo Maman Bébé, which was established in Newport, will open its first Cardiff store in the shopping centre in March.

JoJo Maman Bébé was launched in 1993 as a small specialist maternity wear and baby clothing company and has since grown throughout the UK and overseas. Its founder Laura Tension was awarded an MBE for services to business in 2004 and named Welsh Woman Entrepreneur of 2003.  JoJo Maman Bébé was also named Drapers Children’s Wear Retailer of the Year 2008.

The retailer has 22 outlets in the UK with a 23rd opening in Surrey in February. The Cardiff store will be the second in Wales for JoJo Maman Bébé and is scheduled to open before the Spring on the upper level of the Grand Arcade in St David’s, between John Lewis and Apple.

JoJo Maman Bébé is one of up to 40 retailers to open in St David’s following launch, including Guess, Jane Norman, Lakeland, Jamie’s Italian and The Pen Shop.

Joanne Skilton, on behalf of the St David’s Partnership, the joint venture between CSC and Land Securities, said: “There is a fantastic variety of retailers in St David’s from high-end, internationally recognised brands to high street stores. JoJo Maman Bébé is a successful local company and a very welcome addition to the shopping experience at St David’s.

“St David’s has already brought almost 90 new stores to Cardiff, many of which have come to Wales for the very first time. When St David’s opened, we promised that we would continue to bring a great mix of retailers and we are continuing to deliver on this promise. There are more exciting retailers in the pipeline for St David’s so our shoppers will have even more stores to experience each time they come to the city.”

JoJo Maman Bébé has a long-term strategy to opening up to eight new retail stores per year and is still based in Newport where it has a warehouse and retail outlet. As a Welsh company, JoJo Maman Bébé has long been striving to find the perfect location in the capital city.

Managing director Laura Tension said: “We are so excited by the new inspirational store. JoJo is proof that independent retailers can thrive in these difficult economic times and against the weight of competition from the supermarkets. We have grown organically and offer customers the individuality that is sometimes hard to find on the high street.

“Being a company with Welsh origins and with our head office in Newport, opening in Cardiff feels like we are coming home. I have looked at dozens of stores in Cardiff over the years and haven’t been able to find the ideal location but we have finally found what we were looking for. St David’s gives Cardiff city centre a much needed nucleus and makes an ideal destination for discerning JoJo customers across the region, who would previously head to Bristol, Cheltenham and Bath for their maternity, nursery and baby needs.”

- ENDS –