The Rebels are coming ...

By GEORGINA BOND

Briscoe Group plans a franchise of mini Rebel Sport stores throughout the country to extend its market beyond the cities.

Managing director Rod Duke said the smaller stores would carry a full range of clothing and footwear and would be ideal in shopping malls.

The expansion is to start around Easter.

Duke said the franchise would be ideal in towns that were too small for a large-format Rebel Sports store.

But some towns would be able to accommodate both, and the company saw significant niche opportunities in many larger centres.

New large format Rebel Sport stores would continue to be opened.

The group is due to open its twentieth store in Riccarton, Christchurch, next month.

"I think we can get the [store] network up to 50 pretty quickly," said Duke.

Whether the new franchises would carry the Rebel name or a different name would be determined store-by-store.

Duke said there had been several inquiries for franchised Rebel Sport in recent years.

Business had been a bit tough this year but the group was coming into its busy season.