 The first store to open was in Poole, and this was closely followed by stores in Cardiff, Bristol, Gloucester, Northampton and Manchester followed by Thurrock in October 2008 and Cambridge in March 2009.By the end of 2009 HomeSense are operating 14 stores and have opened an additional 6 stores between August and November in Worcester, Birmingham, Preston, Romford, Staples Corner (London) and Nottingham.HomeSense have plans for approx 150 stores in the UK & Ireland over the next 5–7 years, and has alluded to expansion in continental Europe in the future.