Andrea Johnston, who has more than two decades of experience in the home furnishings retail trade, has been appointed General Manager for Glasswells’ new Ipswich showroom.

Andrea previously worked at a senior level for two national home furnishing retailers in Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and London. She has directly managed showrooms and has had regional responsibilities for groups of household-name stores.

One of her major tasks at Glasswells will be to recruit 70 new staff for the 73,000 sq.ft. showroom, which opens in December on Orwell Retail Park, at the junction of London Road and Ranelagh Road.

She said, “This is a very exciting new role and it builds on my experience in the home furnishings retail sector. I’m a big fan of Glasswells, and I’m really looking forward to planning for the opening and operation of the Ipswich showroom.

“The Ipswich showroom will mirror the shopping experience at Glasswells’ store in Newmarket Road, Bury St Edmunds and will supplement the showroom in Martlesham Heath,” she added. “We will be stocking a wide range of stylish quality home furnishings and we’re also planning a fabulous gift department, a children’s play area and a superb restaurant where everything is freshly prepared.”