New store for Carlisle city centre

The firm specialises in children's school essentials and will be creating eight jobs with its new shop.

It is moving into an empty unit in The Lanes which is opposite the centre's branch of Greggs. The outlet was occupied by the bakery until November last year.

Smiggle - a name formed by combining the words 'smile' and 'giggle' - has an ambition to open 100 store across the UK before the end of this year.

Its Carlisle operation is its first shop in Cumbria.

John Cheston, the firm's managing director, said: “We’re thrilled to be opening our 75th store here in Carlisle. There really is nothing like Smiggle anywhere else on the high street and it will be great to see the public’s reaction when the doors open on September 23.

“It’s important for us to inject fun into everything we do – from product design to store design, we will always focus on delivering to our fans the most original and playful stationery possible.

"We at Smiggle know how important it is to have the right tools to start the school year in style.”

Smiggle was set up in Melbourne in 2003 and operates across Australia and in New Zealand, Malaysia and Hong Kong. It arrived in the UK two years ago.

It specialises in bold and bright products including lunchboxes, backpacks, pencil cases, scented stationery and gadgets.

The company is planning to open its new store with a range of offers including saver stamps and giveaways.

Smiggle is the latest major retailer to announce it is moving into Carlisle.

Toys R Us is moving into The Lanes after a three-year absence from the city and clothing firm Jack Wills secured permission for a shopfront on English Street last week. Primark is also set to open its store in The Lanes in October.

David Jackson, commercial director of The Lanes, said: "We are very pleased to know that they are coming.

"We have done some preliminary work for them in fitting the shop out.

"It is refreshing to get a new business coming in."