Selco Builders Warehouse has said that it will continue to add to its branch network before the end of 2020 – despite the coronavirus crisis – with the builders’ merchant confirming it will open its 69th branch in the UK in Salford in October.
The new branch opening, Selco’s second in 2020 following on from Orpington at the start of the year, will create 50 jobs in the local area. Howard Luft, the firm’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to announce the plans are still very much in place for us to open our Salford branch later this year.
“The coronavirus crisis has been an extremely challenging period for the entire country and it’s been no different for us at Selco. However, opening up in Salford has been a long-term target and we are determined to achieve that over the coming months.
“We are confident that the branch will be open in October, subject to ongoing developments with coronavirus.”
Howard explained that Selco has undergone a major branch expansion over the last seven years and remains committed to supporting tradespeople across the UK by providing “unrivalled availability, with the widest range of products in stock, as well as excellent customer service and trade pricing”.
The opening is intended to strengthen Selco’s position in the Manchester area where it already has three branches, in Ardwick, Ashton Moss and Baguley, as well as another in Warrington.
Having closed all its branches and delivery services when lockdown began in late March, Selco began to gradually reopen its offering from early May. Howard added: “The operating conditions we have in Salford will be dictated to by government guidance, which we are following extremely closely.
“At present, we have social distancing measures inside branches including a 2m gap being maintained between all individuals, no more than two customers being allowed to enter the branch together, a limit to the total number of customers allowed in a branch at any one time and protective safety screens around the trade counter and tills.
“I think it’s a reasonable assumption that most – if not all those measures – will still be in place when Salford opens but we will take stock of where we are then and ensure the health and safety of our customers and colleagues will be our No 1 priority.”
