News

Plans for Oxford Street’s £150 Million redevelopment revealed

Oxford Circus will be transformed into two, pedestrian-friendly piazzas as part of plans unveiled by Westminster City Council and The Crown Estate.

The new piazzas will become London’s front door and will be the subject of an international design competition.

The reinvention of the Circus as a world-leading, forward-facing, urban space, is the latest step in the council’s ambitious plans to revive Oxford Street and the wider District, for its vision for a greener, smarter future for the West End.

Westminster has already committed £150m to kickstart the OSD programmes and attract inward investment, taking full advantage of the Elizabeth Line opening in 2022 and the area’s links to the wider West End and beyond. RF

Westfield backs #letsdolondonbetter campaign to support the nation’s talented artists

In an effort to hero talent from across the nation, and to support the arts industry as London re-opens, Westfield is backing a campaign by artist Laura Nevill entitled #LetsDoLondonBetter, which aims to raise profiles for local artists and generate support across the UK for creative communities to flourish.

Partnering with Nevill as “Curator in Residence”, Westfield, along with Out of Home specialists, Ocean Outdoor, will provide a value in kind media and space package which would normally cost commercial brands £1 million pounds, to some of the Britain’s most talented emerging creatives to showcase their artwork at Europe’s two largest shopping centres.

Artists will exhibit across almost 30 key large format digital advertising sites including London’s biggest full-motion retail screen at 220m², physical stores and physical exhibition space with support across its social channels, providing talent with mass awareness to the public.

Disney Cruella takeover at M-A-C on Carnaby Street

Shaftesbury announced the launch of a one-off installation at the MAC global flagship store on Carnaby Street to celebrate the forthcoming collection; The Disney Cruella Collection by MAC. The unique installation will include an exterior wrap of the store, bathed in Cruella’s style, and the store interior will be transformed too, giving customers a taste of the all-new live-action feature film about the rebellious early days of one of cinemas most notorious – and notoriously fashionable – villains, the legendary “Cruella” de Vil.

The takeover incorporates a showstopping storefront wrapped in the signature colours of the main character – black, white, and red – and inspired by the film’s setting; 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution. RF

Google to open its first permanent physical store

Google will open its first-ever permanent brick-and-mortar store this summer, in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. It will be located in the 1.2 million sq.-ft. building that is home to Google’s New York City offices, which employ some 11,000-plus associates.

“Google has been in New York for the last 20 years, and we view the store as a natural extension of our longtime commitment to the city,” Jason Rosenthal, VP, direct channels and membership

The move to brick-and-mortar retail comes as Google has been increasing its hardware lineup. Early this year, the company closed on its $2.1 billion acquisition of Fitbit.

Google said the store will be a place where consumers can experience its hardware products services “in a helpful way.” Customers will be able to browse and buy Google-made products, including Pixel phones, Nest devices, Fitbits, Pixelbooks and more.. RF

Creative Design & Display Connections

The organisers behind the Creative Retail Awards have launched the inaugural Creative Design & Display Connections (CDDC) meet the buyer event. To be held in September 2021 at Bounce Old Street in London, the event consists of 14 pre-matched one-to-one meetings between buyers and suppliers over the course of the day. With Supplier entry from just £1,750 + VAT, the event could provide the highest ever ROI for companies at this difficult trading period. Approved delegates receive free entry plus two complimentary tickets to the world renowned Creative Retail Awards taking place in October.

Visit www.cddconnections.com

Creative Retail Awards CONFIRM NEW ceremony DATES

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and for the safety and enjoyment of all participants, the organisers have decided to postpone the upcoming Creative Retail Awards ceremony until 14th October 2021.

The Creative Retail Awards are truly unique in their blend of celebration, networking and entertainment. Following government guidelines there is significant doubt that large scale indoor events will be able to operate in June, even with social distancing observed.

Since their inception, the Creative Retail Awards have always been an experience led occasion with their characteristic twist on conventional Award ceremonies, and the organisers strongly feel if they are unable to provide the highest quality event it will do a disservice to all entrants, their projects and those attending. With a truly worldwide audience, the Awards attract attendees from all over EMEA and North America who wish to celebrate the industry’s achievements which would not be possible in the current environment. RF

Anya Hindmarch launches new shopping village

The culmination of 2 years of work and the realisation of founder Anya Hindmarch’s long-held dream, Anya Village launched on the Cadogan Estate in London’s Chelsea.

The Village is a collection of five neighbouring Anya Hindmarch stores located near Sloane Street. The ‘houses’ will be ever-evolving and offer unique collaborations throughout the year.

Hindmarch said: “I feel that the next 10 years are going to be about ‘localisation’ not ‘globalisation’ and it feels so right to return to the brand’s roots here on the Cadogan Estate and to realise my dream of The Village. If retail is to exist in a digital world, there needs to be a reason to visit.”

ARKET to open its first physical store in Russia

Nordic lifestyle brand ARKET will open a new flagship store in Moscow, Russia during autumn 2021. Following the opening of arket.ru in autumn 2020, the new 004024 – 940 store is ARKET’s first physical destination in the country.

Based in Stockholm, ARKET is a lifestyle destination with carefully made essentials for women, men, children and the home, as well as a New Nordic vegetarian café. ‘We are very excited to announce that we are expanding our physical presence with the opening of the first ARKET store in Russia. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet our existing Russian following in real life, and to welcome new customers to a complete ARKET experience of modern responsible fashion, interiors, and contemporary vegetarian cuisine.’ says PernillaWohlfahrt, ARKET Managing Director. RF

FASHION HOUSE opens €25m outlet centre in Bucharest

International fashion outlet developer, FASHION HOUSE Group has officially opened its doors to a €25M new outlet centre in the east of Bucharest, the Group’s second outlet centre in Romania’s capital.

As the first new outlet centre to open on mainland Europe this year, FASHION HOUSE Pallady spans over 12,000 sqm accommodating 62 stores, a children’s play area and restaurants. More than 100 new jobs have been created through the opening of the first phase. The second and final phase will commence development in 2022.

With an open-air gallery, FASHION HOUSE Pallady features a design concept inspired by Bucharest’s Belle Époque architecture with bohemian streets for customers to enjoy shopping and natural sunlight.

Pallady, designed by renowned Romanian architects DMA, is the first major part of a much larger retail and leisure park under development by Liebrecht & Wood Group, with the aim of becoming Romania’s ‘Number One’ shopping and leisure destination. RF

www.retail-focus.co.uk/news

Tod’s opens seasonal pop-up in NYC

Tod’s debuts its seasonal pop-up in East Hampton, New York. The unique space, with an artistically decorated interior and illustrations by artist Andrea Tarella, will house Tod’s iconic products as well as an exclusive collection of must-have summer essentials. The 1,700-square-foot space at 47 Newtown Lane is decorated with printed wallpaper and is inspired by Italy’s picturesque seaside landscapes of Portofino.

DIOR opens two Dioriviera pop-ups in Mykonos

DIOR has launched two pop-ups in Mykonos, timed to open before Dior’s much anticipated next cruise collection, which will be staged in Athens on June 17, a runway show certain to generate huge attention for the Paris brand in the Greek islands.

Each summer since 2017, Dior’s artistic director, Maria Grazia Chiuri has enjoyed breezing into tony resorts with pop-ups. Dior’s outpost in Mykonos seems a dream destination for her delicate sailor-striped tops; Mitzah scarves; tote bags and J’Adior bracelets – all illustrating her Dioriviera concept. RF

JYSK to open two new stores in Greater Manchester

The largest Danish retailer operating globally, JYSK, is set to open two new stores within the Greater Manchester region as part of its ambitious UK expansion plans. The first of the two new stores that the Scandinavian retailer will open will be on 10th June in Bury at Angouleme Retail Park followed by a store in Stockport at Manchester Road Retail Park on 8th July with 25 new jobs being created.