One of the UK’s top lifestyle fashion brands is creating 10 new jobs in Wrexham.
The growing Animal chain is planning to open their new store at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre in time for the May Day Bank Holiday.
The news has delighted centre bosses and local AM Lesley Griffiths who heard about their impending arrival during a visit to Eagles Meadow.
Animal was founded in Cornwall 25 years ago and now has 45 outlets across the UK.
They opened five new stores last year and the Wrexham branch will be their first of 2012.
It’s a lifestyle brand that specialises in fashion and sportswear for surfing, skating, BMX and water sports.
Animal spokesman Chris Crook explained: “Animal was conceived in 1987 by two surfers who were really fed up with losing their watches in the water due to the straps breaking under extreme conditions.
“They came up with a solution in the form of webbing and a velcro strap that seemed to put an end to their problems.
“They originally set up production in a back bedroom at one of their mother’s homes – and the rest is history.
“Animal’s range has now grown to include freesports-inspired clothing, watches, wetsuits, technical outwear, eyewear, footwear, luggage and accessories.
“This is our first store for 2012 but we opened five stores last year so the brand is going from strength to strength.
“We chose to come to Eagles Meadow after looking at the excellent footfall figures, it seems like a busy place and the centre itself is really impressive.
“We’re hoping to open for the May Bank Holiday and we’re recruiting 10 members of staff including a Manager and an Assistant Manager.
“We’re really excited about coming to Wrexham, we can’t wait to get the store opened.”
It was music to the ears of Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths who said: “It’s great news that there’s another new business coming to Eagles Meadow followed, I believe, by several others in the near future.
“The more shops you have, the more attractive the town becomes as a destination for shoppers and Wrexham now has a huge variety of shops for people to choose from.
“I meet people all the time who come from right across North Wales and from Shropshire and even from Mid Wales because Wrexham is such a great place to shop.
“The impending arrival of Animal just serves to emphasise Wrexham’s credentials as the shopping capital of North Wales.”
Eagles Meadow Manager Kevin Critchley revealed he was expecting another three business to open soon.
He said: “We had seven new tenants last year and I’m still very hopeful that we’ll actually be 100 per cent full by next Christmas.
“Eagles Meadow has combined with the rest of the town centre to create a retail powerhouse to rival anywhere other than the larger cities.
“It’s the perfect partnership and Wrexham how has a fantastic offer for shoppers, with a host of high street favourites and a terrific array of independent stores.”
