Member Article

Alton Sports retail unit creates jobs in Farnham

Hampshire and Surrey based Alton Sports has announced it is set to open its fifth retail unit at number one Castle Street in Farnham over the next few months after receiving a six figure funding package from Royal Bank of Scotland.

Alton Sports came on to Alton’s High Street in 1999 and has seen the specialised footwear and sportswear business continually grow from an £80,000 turnover sole trader business to a multi-million chain of five retail units. The new site will sit alongside the existing stores in Eastleigh, Fourmarks, Alton and Farnham. Plans are already in discussion to increase the brand into Winchester.

Alton Sports latest acquisition in Farnham is a listed building and is over 400 years old. Husband and wife owners, Toby and Georgie Lambert, plan to retain all the historic features of open wood and brick to keep it in line with the high street’s Tudor style image.

Castle Street will boast all the normal Alton Sports range in one half, with the other half dedicated to the exclusive Bensons footwear range. This will cater for those individuals looking for leisure footwear in fine leathers and bespoke designs. Alton Sports have chosen to diversify into the Bensons range to offer smart casual footwear for those not looking to participate in sport, but still want to look the part.

Alton Sports is best known for tailoring footwear to your specific sport and feet. A running machine and high spec technology is installed at each store allowing their fully trained staff to work with each customer to find the best footwear for their use.

The number of employees across all existing four stores is 40 staff, this is a mixture of full time and part time roles. Ten new jobs will be created at its castle Street store to assist local employment.

Toby Lambert, owner of Alton Sports, said: “The business began in 1999 as a father and son partnership. Sadly my father passed away 10 years ago but Georgie and I have continued to build the brand across Hampshire, moving into the Surrey borders. We are confident by providing a second retail unit in Farnham, this will serve local people that shop in the town whilst our out of town location will continue to attract people far and wide with its easy parking access.

“We have exciting plans in the pipeline to build the brand even further across a number of high street locations with Winchester being our next prime target. With the Royal Bank of Scotland on board, this is more than achievable as they have been so supportive and certainly share in our long-term vision.”

Stephen Spurling, Relationship Manager at Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “From a sole retailer that started in 1999, Toby has grown the business exponentially over the last 18 years to five shops with turnover increasing in line with his strategic growth strategy and further plans for expansion in the future. We wish him well as he opens his latest unit in Farnham and we’re confident he will make this an even bigger success.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Caroline Marsden .