Kitchen brand next125 has opened its second UK concept store.
next125 South Lakes is its 13th across Germany, Austria, China and the UK and is its first in England. The first next125 store was opened in Glasgow by Gideon Robinson.
The Kirkby Lonsdale, Lake District store is targeting a wide, rural and affluent catchment area of the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Lune Valley and Lancaster and is operated by Butler Interiors.
‘There was a great appeal to joining an international network. We have been a next125 retailer since 2010 and launched our first exclusive next125 showroom in 2019, shortly after my son Liam joined the business. The concept store made real commercial sense as we were looking to take our retail offer to the next level, allowing us to expand and develop cost-effectively while maintaining our independence and autonomy,’ says ,” says Mark Butler, Butler Interiors director.
‘This model works for us. We were clear that we wanted to build on the Butler Interiors brand and being a next125 concept store allows us to do just that. With the new showroom, we now have the space to present next125 as it should be displayed. We worked closely with the team in Germany on the initial designs, then adapted them to suit our local market, showcasing features we know would resonate with our customers,’ says Liam Butler.
Butler Interiors will relocate its existing Schüller showroom to the same site, and this is scheduled to open in the late summer.
‘Moving our Schüller showroom wasn’t part of the original plan but it makes perfect sense. We can develop both brands independently, while ensuring we can meet the needs of every customer who visits us. next125 appeals to the premium and aspirational consumer, while Schüller offers a broader range and more accessible price points,’ says Mark Butler.
‘The next125 concept store is built on partnership and collaboration, working with retailers to showcase the brand in its purest form. We partner with businesses that share our values of trust, responsibility, courage and appreciation. The next125 South Lakes partnership with Mark, Liam and their team epitomises these values. As we celebrate 25 years of next125, and our growing network of concept stores will continue to build a strong foundation for the future,’ says Robert Kettenbach, next125 global brand director.
