Proud store manager Damon Kemp has praised his staff after home improvement and garden retailer Bunnings Warehouse opened its doors in Chichester — and created more than 20 jobs in the process.
The new store is on the site of the former Homebase in Discovery Park. Services on offer include everything from paint mixing to key cutting, a garden centre, timber cutting and DIY workshops.
And Damon said: “All our team members have worked really hard to get the store ready for opening and have undertaken many hours of training to make sure we have the expertise to help customers with home or garden projects.”
Sarah Ayton OBE, the double Olympic gold-winning sailor, was on hand to help celebrat the opening and attended a welcome breakfast for team members.
She said: “I’ve had a great time opening my local Bunnings Warehouse this morning and meeting the team members. I’m sure that the store will be a huge success.”
Bunnings’ team members got busy ahead of the store opening, helping with projects in the Chichester area. These included donating bikes to Love Your Hospital, painting the building and cleaning a decking area for Aldwick Royal British Legion and raising flower beds for the Apuldram Centre.
The store will host a weekend of events on 13-14 January, where customers can enjoy a range of family activities including a “sausage sizzle”, face-painting, balloon modelling and a story time session.
Bunnings, the leading retailer of home improvement and garden products in Australia and New Zealand, acquired Homebase for £340million in February 2016.
