SINGAPORE - Courts, a leading electrical, IT and furniture products retailer, announced on Thursday that it signed agreements with two international brands.

They are Ace Hardware International Holdings, and Danish retail chain JYSK, which sells home necessities across the sleeping and living categories.

Their products will be sold exclusively at Courts stores in Singapore, via what is called the shop-in-shop concept. The first two are slated to open within six months from April 1.

Under a 10-year exclusive agreement with Ace Hardware International for Singapore, Courts will set up a 8,000 sq ft shop-in-shop concept in the flagship Megastore Tampines's market hall.

There are plans to open five Ace Hardware stores across the island in four years.

JYSK's five-year partnership with Courts starts with the first store of 9,000 sq ft at the new Courts Bukit Timah store, and Courts intends to open 20 JYSK stores over five years in Singapore.

Mr Terry O.Connor, Courts Asia's group chief executive, said: "Homeowners. tastes and needs are constantly evolving. Due to globalisation, there is now greater accessibility and therefore appreciation for global brands and their offerings.

"Joining hands with Ace Hardware and also with JYSK has allowed us to provide a more comprehensive suite of home solutions offerings to our customers and reach out to new customers, from DIY project enthusiasts to purveyors of design."

He added that as the cost of operations is high for a retailer in Singapore, Courts needs to find ways to innovate its offerings and improve overall productivity for its store bases.