A new emporium-style pop up shop is set to breathe new life into a former Teesside department store building. And the venture, at the former Beales in Redcar, will create 11 new jobs just in time for Christmas. Newlife Redcar is set to open its doors to the public in December at the Regent Walk premises and will sell a range of fashion, homeware and other goodies at cut prices. The pop up shop is the second of its kind to open in the North this year, the other is based on Merseyside, and will open initially for six months. If the store proves successful, say Newlife, there might be an opportunity to extend the time further. The 30,000 sq ft site will open its doors to the public in December, with the sales floor taking up 5,000 sq ft selling a range of fashion and homeware and other goodies at cut-prices. Newlife is looking for staff to start work in the store straight away, roles include a deputy manager and 10 sales and stock processing roles ranging from full time to Saturday cover. … [Read more...] about Pop up shop and 11 new jobs at former department store
Department store definition
Death of the department store
Department stores are in decline across the country with traditional retailers announcing store closures, job losses and falls in profits. High street giant Debenhams recently announced plans to close around 50 stores - and it seems we could be witnessing the death of the department store. But does the old-fashioned retailer still have a place on Merseyside? For a certain type of shopper, the department store plays an important role in providing quality, familiarity and a range of brands under one roof. Standing outside House of Fraser in Birkenhead, it's easy to notice a trend among the shoppers heading in and out of the store. Overwhelmingly of an older generation, the people using this local department store are far less likely to shop online. We spoke to the shoppers still relying on department stories about the decline of the traditional retailer - and why is still has a place on Merseyside. "I would be lost without this place" In its heyday, it was THE shopping destination on … [Read more...] about Death of the department store
Fears for Jenners store at Loch Lomond quelled by owners
Trouble-hit department store House of Fraser says it remains “fully committed” to saving Jenners at Loch Lomond after a takeover deal fell through. Concerns were raised over the future of the Lomond Shores outlet, owned by the company, after a deal to save it collapsed. Chinese company C.Banner, who own the Hamley’s toy store chain, planned to buy House of Frasers shops including Loch Lomond Shores’ flagship store Jenners. But the firm said it would no longer proceed with its investment last week. The proposed deal would have saved the local store but still have seen a closure of around 31 stores and a loss of over 6000 jobs. The company had planned to take control of the struggling department store chain and inject £70million of cash. But House of Fraser have confirmed they are in talks with other investors and a spokesman told the Lennox Herald that the recent development does “not change the expected future of any of House of Fraser’s … [Read more...] about Fears for Jenners store at Loch Lomond quelled by owners
The decline of Wales’ department stores
The first department store arguably dates all the way back to the 1700s. But with a history that stretches so far back, was it always an inevitability that people's attitudes towards the stalwart of high street shopping would change? In recent weeks, we've heard that one of the UK's leading department stores, House Of Fraser, is closing a number of shops – including its Cardiff and Cwmbran sites – while another veteran of the Welsh shopping scene, Chepstow's Herbert Lewis, is set to shut after 140 years. And in 2016 Wildings, a Newport-based department store that had been in the city since 1874, revealed it was downsizing – closing off two of its floors just two years after a £140,000 refurbishment at the Commercial Street store. In the same year BHS – a company which dates back to 1928 – closed all of its stores. There's a lot of history Even before the more recent news there were signs that department stores had fallen out of favour. The iconic … [Read more...] about The decline of Wales’ department stores
Confirmed: Plymouth’s House of Fraser store will definitely close
Plymouth’s huge House of Fraser department store will definitely close with the loss of about 250 jobs after creditors today approved a plan which will shut 31 stores but save the remainder of the stricken chain. More than 75 per cent of the company’s creditors voted to accept a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) which will see the business shut 31 stores, putting 6,000 people out of work. This includes the immense outlet in Plymouth city centre, but Exeter’s House of Fraser was not on the list scheduled for closure and will remain open. The CVA will allow the company to secure rent reductions on its remaining shops. No date for the Plymouth store closure has yet been given, but it is expected it will be empty by early 2019. British Land, which owns the department store’s Plymouth city centre building is understood to be working on a contingency plan. Bosses met with Plymouth City Council chiefs in London to discuss options but have yet to release details. The … [Read more...] about Confirmed: Plymouth’s House of Fraser store will definitely close