Shops boss Mike Rutter is looking forward to forging long and fruitful business links with a significant investment in the island.

The retail manager of Sandpiper CI is planning to bring an iQ store selling Apple products to Victory House, Prospect Hill.

And the company is also intending to open a branch of the Card Factory in Strand Street. Between them the stores will employ more than 30 people.

Mr Rutter told Business News he is excited about the plans but Sandpiper CI’s ambitions could be even greater.

In an interview with Business News he said he remains a firm believer in the power of ’bricks and mortar’ shops even though many have taken a hammering in recent months partly because of the internet.

He could not rule out the possibility that in the future the business could bring more big names here

Channel Islands based Sandpiper CI is listed on the Guernsey-based The International Stock Exchange which itself has an outlet in the island. And Mr Rutter said he would love island investors to get involved. Sandpiper CI claims to be the largest retailer in the Channel Islands employing more than 1,000 people across more than 80 stores including iQ shops in Jersey and Guernsey.

Primarily a food retailer operating the Marks and Spencer, Morrisons Daily and Iceland franchises, the company also operates the Channel Islands franchises for Costa Coffee, Hotel Chocolat, George and several other retail outlets.

The two new stores are hoping to be trading by early autumn. Mr Rutter said the card shop is expected to open in September and the iQ store selling Apple products should open a month later.

Asked if he believes this is the start of something bigger for the island in the future he said: ’Yes it definitely is.

’Between these two stores we are seeing a considerable investment.

And it won’t be the last investment that we will make.

’We are not clear what brands we will be bringing and when, that depends on the opportunities and the sites that become available.

’We have got a good stable of franchises that we could bring.’

He said they had a ’really strong set of brands’.

And they were also in talks with other brands for whom they do not currently have the rights to.

Business News asked why they wanted to expand into the Isle of Man.

He said: ’It’s opportunity based. As I say we have some very strong brands.’

He said: ’There are also some similarities in offshore retailing between the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

’The complexities of being in an offshore location are things that we understand.’

Speaking from the head office in Jersey he said the iQ store ’will look and feel exactly like the Apple stores you see in the UK.

’What we have is the availability of every product that Apple markets.

’Our team will be fully trained.’

Around 20 people will be based at iQ and Mr Rutter said: ’We are in the middle of recruiting and it is very exciting.’

Mr Rutter insisted that there is a future for retail despite the competition from online.

He said: ’If you are talking about bricks and mortar retail there are definitely benefits.

’If you take Apple as an example, a lot of our customers like the reassurance of being able to touch the product, see it and learn about the product.

’A lot of customers do appreciate the additional benefit and value of being able to talk to our representatives about their needs.

’So there is still plenty of need, in our opinion, for a vibrant high street with shops.

’The internet has its place and certainly there is an internet element to our retail business, but certainly when you are spending what can be a good sum of money on a device it is often people’s first choice to go and be able to speak to someone.

Sandpiper CI was in the news in 2017 when it was revealed to be interested in buying Tynwald Mills. But it did not take place.

Eventually Edinburgh bought the centre.

Mr Rutter said the company’s ’previous attempt to enter the (Isle of Man) market did not work out. But I’m glad to say this time it definitely looks like we are landing in the island and we are very pleased.’