Retail Recap: The important openings and partnerships of November 2023
As November comes to a close, the retail sector reflects on a rocky month, with retailers relying heavily on Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales to meet their golden quarter targets.
Throughout the month, there has been a flurry of festive campaigns and a slew of negative trading updates from companies such as VF Corp as well as ASOS. Tipping the scale, there have also been positive updates from Hugo Boss and White Stuff.
TheIndustry.fashion has curated a list of the retail stores that have opened this month, as well as a number of partnerships from businesses including Roksanda, END and Valentino.
Store Openings
Flannels opened a new flagship store at Gateshead’s Metrocentre
Frasers Group opened a new 50,000 sq ft Flannels flagship store at the Metrocentre in Gateshead, bringing a “ground-breaking fashion and beauty experience to the North of England” as the group continues its elevation strategy.
In Pictures: Calvin Klein headed to Dublin’s Blanchardstown Centre
River Island set to upsize at Manchester Arndale in a flurry of new lease activity
River Island has signed a new five-year lease at Manchester Arndale shopping centre and is upsizing by 3,686 sq ft to occupy a 22,415 sq ft unit, as it "commits to in-store investments to enhance the customer experience further".
Frasers Group opened a flagship Sports Direct store at Metrocentre
Frasers Group opened a new 50,000 sq ft Sports Direct store – with direct access to a new 37,000 sq ft Everlast Gyms flagship for the first time – at the Metrocentre in Gateshead.
In Pictures: Victoria’s Secret brought sexy back to Bristol
Marks & Spencer to deliver biggest ever store opening month
Marks & Spencer is opening nine new stores throughout November as it continues to strengthen its brick-and-mortar offer throughout the UK. The openings include six new stores and three store renewals, totalling a £80 million investment in brick-and-mortar retail and supporting over 2,200 local jobs across the UK.
Anya Hindmarch opened a Labelled store in Burlington Arcade “dedicated to the art of organisation”
Anya Hindmarch opened a 120 sq ft store at Burlington Arcade in London on 11 November, specifically for its best-selling Labelled collection of cases, bags, pouches, purses and vanity kits.
Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein strengthened outlet offerings
Lounge sought out physical retail in Liverpool
Lounge, the social-first underwear and lingerie label, is set to launch a Christmas pop-up store at Liverpool ONE, marking a continued effort to expand its physical retail offering. Set to open this December on South John Street, the 4,000 sq ft space adds to a series of Lounge’s successful pop-ups.
Alo Yoga expanded into UK with its first store on London’s King’s Road
Los Angeles-based premium activewear brand Alo Yoga opened its first UK store at 33 King’s Road in London on 17 November 2023, with further London stores planned to open on Regent Street in June 2024 and Brompton Road in September 2024.
TK Maxx opened a new store at Glasgow’s Braehead Shopping Centre
TK Maxx opened a new 27,000 sq ft store at the Braehead Shopping Centre in Glasgow, selling “much loved brands and designer labels at affordable prices” across clothing, accessories, beauty and homeware.
Phase Eight continued store rollout with Westfield Stratford
Chinti & Parker converted its pop-up on London’s King’s Road to its first permanent store
Luxury womenswear brand Chinti & Parker converted its 1,644 sq ft pop-up at 322 King’s Road in London into its first-ever permanent store, though the lease length has not been revealed.
Mango increased UK footprint with new Manchester store
Mango increased its footprint in the UK with a new store in Manchester's Trafford Centre. The Spanish fashion giant closed 2022 with 53 stores in the UK and has embarked on further expansion in 2023 with several store openings this year mainly in the south and centre of the country.
Odd Muse opened its first permanent pink flagship in Covent Garden
After trialling several successful London pop-up shops, Odd Muse, the slow-fashion e-tailer, opened its first-ever permanent flagship store in Covent Garden.
In Pictures: Marks & Spencer unveiled new Lakeside store
Marks & Spencer opened a 97,000 sq ft store at Lakeside, forming part of its plans to open a record number of stores this November.
Phase Eight and Hobbs open combined retail space at Merry Hill
Sister brands, Phase Eight and Hobbs, relocated and upsized their Merry Hill stores. Having relocated from separate units, the premium womenswear brands have been unified in a new 6,000 sq ft space on the Upper Mall.
Uniqlo to open new stores in London and Edinburgh in spring 2024
Uniqlo announced it will open a new 16,502 sq ft London store within the One Oxford Street development next to Tottenham Court Road tube station, and a 15,392 sq ft store on Princes Street in Edinburgh – its first in Scotland - in spring 2024.
Pop-Ups
Pandora launched ‘Art of Loves’ experiential pop-up on London’s South Bank
Pandora, which the British Fashion Council recently announced as the Principal Partner of The Fashion Awards 2023, announced plans to open a new pop-up experience on London’s South Bank – to run from 9-19 November.
Love Brand & Co. opened a swimwear pop-up at Harrods
Premium swimwear and resort wear company Love Brand & Co. is opening a 400 sq ft pop-up at Harrods in London's Knightsbridge on 26 November 2023. If it proves a success, the brand aims to turn the pop-up into a permanent concession in the luxury department store.
Step into the world of Marc Jacobs at its Covent Garden pop-up
Phoebe English made a case for slow fashion with made-to-order festive collection
Phoebe English Studio launched the ‘(Re)Made to Party’ capsule collection exclusively available at the (Re)Made to Party Boutique and Bar pop-up shop. The space is located at 149 Shoreditch High Street and is open 16-18 November.
Save the Children to host Christmas Jumper Day at Covent Garden pop-up shop
In Pictures: Inside the first ASOS physical retail pop-up
Online fashion giant ASOS threw open the doors of its first physical retail pop-up in central London, offering an immersive, digitally enabled experience to shoppers over four floors.
Omnes brought sustainable fashion to London in its first-ever pop-up
Omnes, the climate-positive and accessible fashion brand, opened the doors to its first-ever pop-up shop on London’s Carnaby Street. Offering its socially responsible customers their first opportunity to shop the brand in person, the 1,200 sq ft store is spread over two floors.
Partnerships
Net-A-Porter debuted rental in partnership with By Rotation and HURR
Net-A-Porter launched its first rental service in time for the holiday season, in partnership with the By Rotation and HURR rental platforms, as it seeks to test the appetite for high-end rental among a younger customer base.
Rixo brought the fitting room home with its new ‘Try Before You Buy’ service
Rixo, the vintage-inspired womenswear brand, launched a ‘Try Before You Buy’ service with Harper for its UK-based customers. Powered by Harper, who manages Rixo’s existing concierge service, the Try Before You Buy scheme is the first of its kind in the UK.
In Pictures: Zlatan Ibrahimović created a curated collection for H&M Move
World-renowned Swedish football player, Zlatan Ibrahimović, collaborated with H&M Move on a curated line of men’s sportswear that prioritises both fashion and function.
Primark and Rita Ora released a festive second drop
Primark and the critically acclaimed singer Rita Ora once again collaborated, this time with a festive-ready collection that allowed "Primark customers to shop her famous style for less".
END and Creepz’s collection brings web3 to streetwear culture
Creepz, an NFT entertainment brand, launched its first high-end streetwear collection with the luxury fashion retailer END. The collection, dubbed ‘Invasion’, is a limited-edition clothing line that bridges the gap between NFTs and streetwear culture.
FitFlop upped fashion focus with Roksanda partnership
London-based wellness footwear brand FitFlop took its fashion appeal up a notch with a new design partnership with luxury womenswear brand - and London Fashion Week (LFW) favourite - Roksanda, which counts Matches and Net-a-Porter as stockists.
Palace and Kappa collaborated on a line of Alpine F1 merchandise
Ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Palace announced the launch of 'Kappa Palace for Alpine F1’ – a collaboration collection of Alpine F1 merchandise designed by Palace and produced by Kappa.
Valentino Pink decked the halls of Harrods this festive season
World-renowned department store, Harrods, unveiled its magical world of festive experiences at the famous terracotta palace in Knightsbridge. This year, Valentino was enlisted to “bring a touch of elegance to the holiday season”.
Revolve presented the future of fashion by selling clothes designed by AI
Depop got physical with pop-up shops in partnership with Sook
Online fashion resale platform Depop entered a six-month partnership with pop-up retail space provider Sook, which will see its most popular sellers occupying empty units for a limited time.
In Pictures: Third time was the charm for FRAME and Ritz Paris
FRAME, the denim house known for its Californian-cool aesthetic, collaborated for a third time with the iconic Ritz Paris Hotel on a capsule collection of merch that marries “American classics with French sophistication”.
In Pictures: Dr. Martens’ collaboration with Alpha Industries
Dr. Martens and Alpha Industries came together on a new collaboration collection, which launched on 9 November 2023. Classic design elements from Dr. Martens’ iconic 1460 boot and Alpha Industries’ MA-1 nylon flying jacket were merged to create something unique.
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