Furniture upstarts acquire St Helens store for £1m

Joseph James has bought the 40,000 sq ft former Wilkos store off Cotham Street, which the eponymous founders moved into in April 2025.

James Pullen and Joseph Shenton founded the business in 2019 and now have stores in Stockport, Stretford, Warrington, and St Helens.

The founders target large-scale former retail units like the ex-Wilkos store in St Helens, which became vacant in 2023. In Stockport, Joseph James can be found in the former Debenhams unit in the town centre, while in Warrington it calls an old M&S home.

Joseph James sells clearance stock from retailers including Furniture Village, DFS, Sofology, and Very at between 30-70% off the retail price.

The decision to purchase the St Helens unit came about because the founders believed it was significantly undervalued.

Pullen and Shenton, both aged 25, have bought the asset for £1m from Regional REIT, which had acquired it in 2019 for £3.4m.

The building’s new owners are planning a series of upgrades including solar panels on the roof and an improved entrance.

Redkite Solicitors advised on legals.