Mackenzie & Cruickshank is expanding with a £750,000 eco-friendly extension which will give more retail space for outdoor living and gardening products.
The development will begin in January with 2023 also being the year that the company is celebrating its 20th anniversary at that location.
The existing buildings will also be receiving some tlc with a completely new roof and flooring.
The 500msq extension will boast solar panels, air source and under floor heating and Ali Wilson, general manager of the family-run business said it will improve the customer experience.
He said: “The new extension to M&C will change the whole frontage of the shop and will provide us with a huge amount of extra space in order to show off our vast range of gardening and outdoor living products. Gardening trends have changed over the years and M&C is able to now offer the full package from bulbs, compost and tools right through to bbqs, pizza ovens and furniture sets, but all of this needs space.”
M&C has been owned by the Wilson family for 25 years. The company was originally located in Forres High Street and then relocated to the former call centre building at the Greshop 20 years ago next October.
Ali said: “It’s very poignant that we are doing this extension as we enter our 20th year at this address. Over the years the company has change, expanded and diversified and that is what has kept us at the top of our game and a leader in our industry.
Ali added: “When considering this extension, it was important to us to use local companies. It’s an ethos we rely on our customers to adopt, so it was only right that we did too. The structural and cladding work is being carried out by our neighbours AJ Engineering and we are getting solar pv from AES Solar and glazing from Moray Glass. The air source is being done by Elgin Refrigeration and the electrics by Mcdonald & Munro who are also Elgin based. We are using a local health and safety company to ensure we adhere to all the legislation and some early prep work is being carried out by a local joinery firm.”
Build works for the extension are expected to start on January 4 and Ali appealed to the firm’s loyal customers to be patient.
“As with any big development, there will be a certain level of disruption and we hope that our customers understand. There will be a temporary change to how our customers can enter the car park and the building, but our staff will be on hand to help. We will communicate as much as we can through our website and social media channels and with signage around the store.
“Everything will remain open at M&C throughout the whole process, it may just be that they need to be moved around whilst the development takes place.”
The last major development at M&C was in 2017 when the company’s half a million-pound glass house extension was opened.