Retail Recap: The important openings and partnerships of January 2023
As the first month of 2023 comes to an end, the retail sector has seen fewer store openings and slower trading following a busy November and December filled with festive shopping and seasonal activations.
2023 is expected to be another difficult year for consumers and businesses, as inflation shows no immediate signs of waning. This is backed up by a variety of trading updates shared this month, with brands including Superdrug, In The Style and Quiz expecting market challenges to continue.
TheIndustry.fashion has curated a list of all the retail stores that have opened this month, as well as a number of partnerships from businesses including ASOS, eBay and Sosandar.
Store openings
TK Maxx to open megastore in former NEXT at Atria Watford
TK Maxx announced the opening of a 30,557 sq ft store at the Atria Watford shopping centre this summer. It will offer customers its usual mix of much-loved brands and designer labels at affordable prices, covering clothing, accessories, beauty and homeware.
Boutique Lark London selects Victoria Place for first store outside of London
Woking’s Victoria Place will welcome independent lifestyle boutique Lark London, in a move that marks the brand’s first store outside the capital. The multi award-winning retailer will open in a 1,558 sq ft space, showcasing its eclectic selection of lifestyle, fashion and homeware products from over 300 brands.
Zara and Goldsmiths sign for autumn store openings at SouthGate in Bath
Zara agreed to take a 32,000 sq ft store, and luxury watch and jewellery retailer Goldsmiths signed for a 5,000 sq ft unit, at the SouthGate open-air shopping destination in Bath – both to open in autumn 2023. This marks Zara’s first store in the city, located over two floors and set to sell items across womenswear, menswear and homeware.
UK’s first multi-charity preloved pop-up fashion store to open at Brent Cross
Charity Super.Mkt, the UK’s first multi-charity fashion store, opened a pop-up store at Brent Cross shopping centre in London. The four-week pop-up offers a selection of second-hand garments, bringing together the best donated clothing sourced from ten UK charities and marking the first time that national and local charities have collaborated on a store.
Universal Works opens relocated Nottingham store
Nottingham-based menswear brand Universal Works opened a new store at 120-122 Derby Road in its home city. It has a relocated to a larger space from its previous shop-in-shop above Rough Trade records at 5 Broad Street in the Hockley area of Nottingham.
New Look launches 'vintage and pre-loved' Re-Fashion concessions
New Look built on its partnership with Re-Fashion by launching six new concessions across the UK, offering a curated collection of pre-loved garments. Available at stores in Coventry, Nottingham, Peterborough, Leicester, Loughborough and Wolverhampton, the businesses are working together to reduce clothing waste.
Marks & Spencer unveils plans for 20 new “bigger, better” stores
Marks & Spencer announced its plans to open 20 new stores across the UK, in a move that will create over 3,400 jobs. As part of this, the retailer will open eight full-line stores in shopping centres such as the Bullring in Birmingham and the Trafford Centre in Manchester, as well as in retail parks and high streets across key cities.
Pandora set to open new concept store on Oxford Street
Pandora announced its plans to open a new concept store at the 70/88 Oxford Street development, taking the retail space to 96% let. The jewellery brand will occupy a corner unit, located opposite the Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth Line exit on Dean Street.
New Bond Street to welcome Dsquared2 and Hackett flagship stores
GPE announced that Dsquared2 and Hackett will be opening flagship stores on New Bond Street this year, forming part of its Hanover development. The Dsquared2 store will be the brand’s only standalone flagship in London, whilst the Hackett store will trade as its first standalone concept store.
Partnerships
Nike and Tiffany & Co. collaboration confirmed
The news that Nike and Tiffany & Co. are collaborating on a black suede low-top Air Force 1- featuring a Tiffany blue leather swoosh – was confirmed. The shoes feature tonal black laces and subtle Tiffany & Co. branding, including an 1837 moniker, relating to the year the luxury brand was founded in New York.
ASOS partners with Secret Sales to clear excess stock
ASOS announced its partnership with Secret Sales to clear the backlog of excess stock and boost revenues. Secret Sales customers can shop from an initial selection of up to 1,000 products from ASOS-owned brands. These include ASOS Design, Collusion, Reclaimed Vintage, Topshop, Topman, and Miss Selfridge, all at reduced prices.
Mallet London collaborates with Transport for London on limited edition trainers
Premium British label Mallet London partnered with Transport for London (TfL) on a limited-edition capsule collection, featuring the brand’s ‘Knox’ trainers that celebrate the iconic Tube map, which was designed by Harry Beck in 1933 – 90 years ago this year.
The Rolling Stones launch exclusive collaboration collection with MTV
The Rolling Stones, in partnership with merchandising and brand management company Bravado – part of Universal Music Group - launched a collaboration collection with MTV exclusively at the RS No.9 Carnaby flagship store in London and on its website.
Barbour and House of Hackney back for fourth collaboration for SS23
British heritage and lifestyle brand Barbour once again collaborated with East London luxury interior brand House of Hackney, with a new collection featuring three distinctive prints “encapsulating the style of both iconic British brands” for SS23.
Sainsbury's partnership with Sosandar aims to "increase brand awareness"
Sainsbury's agreed a deal to Sosandar across its online platform and a select number of retail locations. The initial product range will include bestselling styles from Sosandar's high performing collection and accessories.
Paul Smith and Mulberry collaborate on unisex bag collection
Paul Smith and Mulberry collaborated on a unisex bag collection, which celebrates British creativity and fuses the signature styles of the two houses. The full ten-piece capsule collection will launch in Autumn 2023.
Marble Arch London launches discounts loyalty app to boost footfall
Marble Arch London and its Business Improvement District (BID) scheme partnered with LoyalFree App to offer on-the-go access to exclusive offers and discounts across the area’s shops, health and beauty salons, restaurants, pubs and cafes, to support businesses and drive footfall.
British Airways unveils new uniform designed by Ozwald Boateng
British Airways announced its plans to replace its nearly 20-year-old uniforms with updated ensembles designed by Savile Row designer and tailor Ozwald Boateng OBE. The uniforms will replace those previously designed by Julien MacDonald and will be worn by more than 30,000 of the airline’s colleagues from Spring 2023.
Love Island partners with eBay again for pre-loved looks on new series
Spotlighting pre-loved fashion once again, Love Island partnered with eBay for season nine of the nation's popular dating show. Last series, the online marketplace took over from fast fashion label ISawItFirst, becoming the show’s first-ever pre-loved fashion partner.
Mulberry collaborates with Miffy on collection for the Year of the Rabbit
Mulberry collaborated with animated character Miffy on a limited-edition capsule collection to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit for Lunar New Year. Building on Mulberry’s history of unexpected collaborations, the Mulberry x Miffy capsule sees Miffy feature across a series of bags and accessories.
Scotch & Soda launches Looney Tunes’ Bugs Bunny collaboration collection for SS23
Scotch & Soda launched a collection with Looney Tunes for SS23, featuring iconic character Bugs Bunny on everyday styles for adults and kids. The capsule highlights recognisable graphics and details, with unisex styles for adults such as the varsity jacket showing Bugs Bunny on the front and back, finished with the letter S (for Scotch & Soda) and Looney Tunes’ iconic “That’s All Folks” strapline on the chest.
Features
- Menswear Buyer's Preview AW23.
- Womenswear the winner at JATC Manchester.
- In My View by Eric Musgrave: Vivienne Westwood’s best creation was herself.
- The Interview: Nina Briance, Founder of Cult Mia.
- E-commerce trends: an action plan for success in 2023.
- Has JD handed the branded fashion sector to Frasers?
