Test Rite may team up with Britain's favorite store Debenhams

Taipei, June 23, 2003 (CENS)--The B&Q store of the Test Rite Group is studying a plan to cooperate with the Debenhams Retail plc of Britain to open department stores in Taiwan.

Debenhams has been a leading retailing giant in the United Kingdom. Dubbed as Britain's favorite department store, it presently operates 102 stores in Britain and Ireland.

The company has been seeking to expand on the international market by forming partnerships with leading retailers in other nations.

Founded six years ago, B&Q has grown into a major company offering the increasingly popular DIY products. It also sets up HOLA stores for housewares and HOMY stores for bed mats.

An executive of B&Q said that the partnership with Debenhams will help enhance each other's products and services.

If a final deal is reached with Debenhams, he said, B&Q will help the British company to find suitable locations for opening stores. Taking over the existing Taiwan retailing stores with lackluster sales can also be an option, he said.

Test Rite, the parent trading company, had sales of NT$15.5 billion last year. B&Q stores generated NT$8 billion in revenues a year, followed by HOLA stores, NT$1.3 billion. The group also owns construction firms.