Catalogue firm reveals jobs boost - graduate jobs

Up to 2,000 jobs may be created - including some graduate job opportunities - thanks to a high street expansion by catalogue firm N Brown .

The giant has opened two Simply Be stores to test the water - one in Liverpool and one in Bury - and plans to open five more later this year.

Alan White - the company's chief executive - said that if the two stores are successful, he would like to expand the chain and have 25 stores in three years' time.

And he expects there to be potential for 80 stores overall.

The CEO said: "The vast majority of customers who go into the stores are new to Simply Be.

"We're also seeing a different pattern of sales. We will use 2012 to evaluate the new shops."

Two of the shops are planned for high streets, while others are in out-of-town shopping malls.

Mr White said he had got a good bargain with landlords, including "sensible" rental prices, thanks to the retail sector's current turmoil.

The announcement coincided with a 2% increase in group sales in the 19 weeks up to January 7, which goes some way to reversing a 1.5% dip in the previous month and a half.

Copyright Press Association 2012