located on Bermuda House Lane, the store's owner Ms Gillian Motyer has decided to set up in the new Washington Mall extension called Washington Mall West on Reid Street.

"We will be able to reach our clients better at the Washington Mall and make the business more successful,'' said Ms Motyer. "After four years, there are still people in Bermuda who don't know where Cotton Ginny is located.'' "The shopping nucleus in Hamilton is Reid Street and Queen Street. If located one block beyond this, stores tends to miss out.'' However, Mrs. Motyer said the Cotton Ginny line, a Canadian natural fibred casual clothing design, had "done well and proved the line can be a success in Bermuda''.

Cotton Ginny has grown to 189 stores in Canada. It retails private label merchandise under the Cotton Ginny and Cotton Ginny Plus brand names. There are only two Cotton Ginny stores outside Canada -- in Bermuda and the Bahamas.

The Bermuda store is not a franchise, according to Ms Motyer. She said merchandise is bought wholesale from Cotton Ginny.

The lease is still being negotiated with developers Washington Properties, but Cotton Ginny is expected to occupy the Washington Mall site by November 1. The interior will have a "clean, attractive look'' based on a Cotton Ginny shop design concept. The Masterworks Foundation is set to move to Cotton Ginny's old premise.

Ms Motyer will hire more staff for the larger retail operation. She has 50 percent more space in the Washington Mall site. "There is a slight difference in rents, but I was surprised how affordable the new site is,'' she said.