Matalan’s store refresh programme is clearly having an impact with the retailer saying in an update on Monday that the customer response is exceeding its expectations, as well as announcing the arrival of a new director of international.

It has completed all 30 of the 2025 planned revamps within the year, as part of its £25 million investment in its physical estate that’s intended to drive the business’s transformation.

And it’s clearly worth the money as the refreshed stores are generating higher footfall and are outperforming the wider estate by 14% in terms of sales, “well ahead of expectations, with customer satisfaction scores up significantly”.

It means the company is now planning to accelerate the number of refits next year to 40, which is 10 more than it had planned.

Updates to the stores include simplified layouts and better signage, with fitting rooms and tills relocated to central, more accessible areas. There are also plans to roll out new self-service tills early next year, as well as  self-serve click & collect.

The interiors are also “brighter and more inviting interiors, thanks to upgraded LED lighting and expanded visual merchandising, all spearheaded by Matalan’s newly appointed head of VM, Fran Theanne”. 

And it’s been investing in car parks, new signage and improved external lighting to increase visibility on retail parks as well.

Plus many of the refreshed stores feature new concession partnerships to complement the retailer’s own “newly elevated core ranges”. Those partnerships include womenswear brands Little Mistress, Blue Vanilla and Quiz, with others to follow.

As mentioned, the store investment programme is costing the company £25 million. It will renew its entire estate with the programme running for three to five years, although the speed seen so far suggests it could be at the lower end of that timescale. 

Chief retail officer Katherine Davis said: “We’re listening and investing in what matters most to our customers. The results speak for themselves – higher footfall, happier shoppers . This all ladders up to delivering a better experience for our customers – as well as our colleagues on the shop floor – and winning market share, which is central to our ambitious business transformation.”

Meanwhile, Steve Ridehalgh has joined as director of international, reporting to Davis.

He’ll be responsible for the business’s international growth strategy as part of the second phase of its turnaround. That means a focus on opening new markets and building franchise partnerships.

He joins with significant experience in overseas expansion and franchise development, having been responsible for the global expansion of Oasis and Warehouse. He was most recently franchise director at Debenhams and then partner at PartnerWise Franchise, advising retailers on global strategy.

He began his career with Alshaya Group in Saudi Arabia and then oversaw international ops at BHS.