Revamp for Cavan store

SportsDirect has confirmed plans to revamp its Cavan store, allaying fears about a possible closure and job losses. However, BrandMax is set to disappear from the Cavan Town retail landscape.

Rumours were rampant after a ‘closing down sale’ sign was displayed on the windows of BrandMax, located upstairs at SportsDirect in the Lakeland Retail Park, Cavan Town.

Assistant manager Ciara Crowe explained: “They’re closing down the Brandmax upstairs and they’re moving the technical side of SportsDirect upstairs, like the football boots, and outdoor [equipment], so it will be a complete sports shop again.

“Then they will be expanding out on the branded clothing. Where we previously didn’t have the ladies branded clothing, we will be having it now. We will have more of a variety of branded clothing and sports clothing and just won’t do the home section anymore. That’s really the only thing that’s changing.”

Ms Crowe explained the company will be closing the top section of the shop to facilitiate the revamp and reopening it in the coming weeks. SportsDirect downstairs will remain open for the duration.

“They’re talking about refitting us within the next three weeks.”

The assistant manager assured that no jobs would be lost. In fact, new jobs may even be created.

“If anything there will be more jobs because obviously there will be more stock and it will just mean we will be hiring.”

The decision was made to remove Brandmax from stores nationwide due to its poor performance.

In 2020 alone, a loss of €19.49m was recorded for BrandMax and Sportsdirect.

However, Ms Crowe said other areas of the company are performing very well.

“Heatons has evolved. Flannels and Frasers have their own areas and it’s more luxurious so they want to phase out BrandMax - the old Heatons, and make way for the newer stuff.”

The news has eased the minds of locals who feared yet another top Cavan Town store was going to close following the county town’s most recent closure, Argos.

Argos closed its doors at the Cavan Retail Park for the final time on June 24.

Its parent company, Sainsbury’s, announced in January its plans to shut the outlets and operations in the Republic of Ireland; while stores in the North remain open. The retailer, which had operated in the Republic for the past 27 years, said it made the decision following a long period of careful consideration.

Othwer major retail names to cease trading in the county town in recent times include Carphone Warehouse and Ladbrokes bookmakers.