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  • FLANNELS opens the doors to its first store in Ireland at Blanchardstown Centre – Retail Focus

    FLANNELS opens the doors to its first store in Ireland at Blanchardstown Centre – Retail Focus

    FLANNELS opens the doors to its first store in Ireland at Blanchardstown Centre – Retail Focus

    Luxury fashion retailer, FLANNELS, has opened the doors to its new store at Blanchardstown Centre, Dublin’s largest retail and leisure destination. The store is the retailer’s first in the Republic of Ireland.

    The retailer is home to a carefully curated edit of designer clothing, accessories and footwear for men, women and children. It stocks the biggest names in luxury fashion, as well as an evolving roster of new and emerging labels, including Burberry, Creed, Versace, Stone Island, and Tom Ford.

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    Flannels Blanchardstown.. Photo by Joas Souza

    FLANNELS, which is part of Frasers Group, is an inclusive retailer – focused on bringing luxury fashion to everyone – and on offering the best possible in-store experiences. The brand will occupy the former Debenhams unit on the ground floor of the centre, spanning over 40,000 sq ft.

     

    Flannels Blanchardstown.. Photo by Joas Souza

    Blanchardstown Centre is Dublin’s largest retail and leisure destination, covering over 1.1 million sq ft. The centre acts as a key community focal point and attracts high visitor numbers from Dublin and surrounding counties, with an annual footfall of over 16 million.

    Blanchardstown Centre has benefitted from an extension and extensive refurbishment process over the last two years, with further spend planned. The work involved a full mall upgrade. This investment has succeeded in attracting a host of new international and local brands, and centre occupancy currently stands at 98%.

    Flannels Blanchardstown.. Photo by Joas Souza

    Blanchardstown is Dublin’s third largest urban area, popular with urban professionals and young families, with one of the fastest growing populations in Ireland. Catchment totals 1.9m, with 39% of shoppers in the three most affluent Acorn categories. Blanchardstown has excellent transport connections – sitting on the M50 ring road and N3 motorway, eight miles from Dublin city centre, 15 minutes from Dublin airport and on a total of 20 bus routes.

    Pat Nash, Managing Director at Falcon AM, asset managers for Blanchardstown Centre, commented:

    “The luxury offer at FLANNELS will further diversify our fashion line-up here at Blanchardstown – broadening appeal significantly and speaking directly to demand from our catchment.

    “The news closely follows a host of other signings and openings – reflecting the success of investment in the centre over recent months, in attracting premium brands that drive footfall and really enhance visitor choice.

    “This opening is a great way to round off what has been a strong year for the centre. Confidence remains across the Irish retail market in the run up to Christmas, and we look forward to giving further positive updates in the new year.”

     

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  • Athleta Opens at West Edmonton Mall

    Athleta Opens at West Edmonton Mall

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    Gap-owned performance lifestyle brand Athleta has opened a store in West Edmonton Mall as part of a Canadian expansion.

    The brand opened in a 8,734 square foot Level Two, Phase II location that was formerly Abercrombie & Fitch.

    Athleta expanded into the Canadian market with the launch of an ecommerce platform in August 2021 before opening the first company-operated stores outside of the US at Park Royal Shopping Centre in West Vancouver and in Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

    Athleta at West Edmonton Mall (Image: WEM.ca)
    Athleta at West Edmonton Mall (Image: West Edmonton Mall)

    The brand shared with Retail Insider during a June 2022 interview that the Canadian market would see five new locations by the end of the year with a continued expansion of stores coming in 2023.

    “The addition of five new stores this year is an extension of our entry strategy and launch success. Athleta’s Canadian business is a key contributor to long-term growth, and we believe our store fleet growth strategy will get us there as we see Canadians return to in-store shopping,” said Jenelle Sheridan, VP and GM Athleta Canada.

    “We have learned a lot about the Canadian customer since launch – including where our online demand is coming from as well as what she is most interested in from our brand. We’ve leveraged these insights, combined with the 30+ years of experience our sister brands (Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic) have operating in the Canadian market, to help inform our location selection for these five new stores in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.”

    • Athleta at West Edmonton Mall (Image: West Edmonton Mall)
    • Athleta at West Edmonton Mall (Image: West Edmonton Mall)

    “We’re committed to growing our Canada business, including opening additional new stores in the market in 2023. We have a plan to expand our brand steadily throughout the country from coast to coast,” added Sheridan.

    The future expansion will include CF Toronto Eaton Centre, taking over the former Massimo Dutti store, which shuttered this past fall. Massimo Dutti also shuttered its First Canadian Place location, leaving Yorkdale as the remaining Canadian location.

    Retail Insider will continue to follow the expansion of Athleta as it grows throughout the Canadian market.

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  • Tech brand Nothing opens first physical store

    Tech brand Nothing opens first physical store

    ELECTRICALS & TECHNOLOGY

    12 December, 2022 | by Angela Beevers

    London-based technology brand Nothing has chosen Soho for the opening of its first retail store.

    Set over two floors, the 758 square foot shop on Peter Street will stock the Nothing Phone and Ear (stick), as well as merchandise and limited edition runs of products. It will also offer collections from fashion and design brands and audio products from Stockholm-based collaborator Teenage Engineering.

    Carl Pei, chief executive and co-founder of Nothing, said: “2022 has been a milestone year for Nothing with the launch of our first smartphone, Phone  as well as Ear (stick) so we are excited to open the doors of Nothing Store Soho to get even more people hands-on with our products.”

    The space features a specially commissioned 4,000 flip dot system wall that can be instantly programmed to create a constantly revolving graphic story. In addition, the brand has installed a transparent retro-style phone booth where Nothing’s phone will operate as the official store helpline.

    Meanwhile the lower floor of the shop acts as white box gallery style space with exhibitions and events.

    Samantha Bain-Mollison, retail director at Shaftesbury. said: “We are excited to welcome Nothing to our Soho community of innovative design and independent retailers. The design-led British brand is a great addition, and we are pleased to see them operate the only technology store in the area.”

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  • Immersive Lifestyle Store Showfields Opens Georgetown Location

    Immersive Lifestyle Store Showfields Opens Georgetown Location

    Showfields – an RIS 2022 Hot Retail Startup – is opening a fourth location in Georgetown. The new store will be built around the same “industry-disrupting” concept as the company’s other locations, and will feature over 70 brands, including Black-owned businesses, emerging brands, vegan leather products, and small batch skincare and beauty companies. 

    Founded in 2018, Showfields has positioned itself as “the ultimate curator,” bringing together immersive store experiences, innovative retail communities and mission-driven brands since starting out. The retailer also runs on a reverse business model, allowing brands to run flexible, fixed-price, six-month campaigns instead of getting revenue from brand sales, it allows brands to run affordable and flexible six-month campaigns, along with all the sales, data and insights garnered during this time. 

    “By doing so, we can now curate these brands through the Showfields lens ensuring all our products are inspiring, well-made, artistic and mission-driven,” Nathanel shared. “It is through this process that we can serve up what we refer to as ‘the most interesting’ brands from around the world and trigger wonder and inspiration for all who cross through the threshold of our front door.”

    The first of their stores of this kind opened in Brooklyn in November 2022, and the Georgetown location will follow the same format and flow, with the three-storey space divided into departments representing a room of a house. Showfields also has piloted store concepts in Manhattan, Miami and Los Angeles. Situated in a former Brooks Brothers store, the design of the latest location is centered around sustainability, innovation and vibrancy, while retaining the spirit of the building itself.

    [See Also: First Look: Starbucks’ Immersive New York Reserve Store]

    On the ground floor, shoppers can explore haircare and beauty products from black-owned companies, along with jewelry, homeware, and vitamins. Moving to the second floor, guests will have access to a variety of products from Mari Kondo’s KonMari line, along with pickleball gear and vegan leather handbags. For the kids, Showfields will feature a selection of stores selling Connectix Tiles, Piccolina clothing and modern-art inspired playsets from Follies.  

    In a recent conversation with RIS, Showfields’ CEO Tal Zvi Nathanel explained that,“the traditional retail model is based on the questions of ‘What’s going to sell’ and combining this with the goal of reducing risk. The result is that over time, the customer is forced into a position where they can only see ‘known’ or ‘familiar’ brands/products. In contrast, at Showfields we wanted to ask a different question — ‘What is interesting? What is new? What is innovative? What is pushing the envelope?’”

    The store is now open and will host a series of free events to celebrate and mark the occasion.

  • Rock & Roll DTC Retail Concept ‘Clocks and Colours’ Opens 1st Storefront in Toronto [Photos/Interview]

    Rock & Roll DTC Retail Concept ‘Clocks and Colours’ Opens 1st Storefront in Toronto [Photos/Interview]

    Clocks and Colours caters to men interested in rock & roll, motorcycles, tattoos and barber shop cultures.

    Originally designed as an online direct to consumer business, the retailer has opened a new storefront in Ossington in Toronto with plans to launch the brand as well into the United States.

    Shane Vitaly Foran, CEO, said the concept began in 2013.

    Shane Vitaly Foran

    “I actually started another brand called Vitaly. That was my first brand 12 years ago and started building that. After about two years it had kind of found a place in the electronic music world, the bar crowd, which is fine. But it’s not really my background. My background was rock & roll, tattoos, motorcycles, that kind of a world. So I decided to start a second brand that lived in that universe and that world and that was Clocks and Colours.

    “At its core, at its foundation, it really is a rock & roll brand. I wanted to create a brand that had extremely high quality products but were fair. What I found is you could either get garbage just like straight up costume jewelry at five or 10 dollars at a side stand type thing or everything being made for that world was astronomically expensive, not even aspirational. It was just ridiculous. So I wanted to fill that gap and that’s what I’ve done.”

    Clocks + Colours Ossington (Image: Clocks + Colours)

    The company’s primary offering is mid-tier sterling silver jewelry that is hand-crafted in Bali. 

    “We’ve got a couple of wholesale accounts but it’s never really been part of the business,” said Foran.

    The new flagship is at 154 Ossington Avenue. 

    “It’s basically exactly where I’ve always wanted to have a store for the brand. I think it’s the perfect home for Clocks and Colours. Ossington has kind of always been the street in Toronto that’s reflected my values. It has cafes and the retail stores that I like, the restaurants and bars that I like. It just felt like the right home,” said Foran.

    Clocks + Colours Ossington (Image: Clocks + Colours)
    Clocks + Colours Ossington (Image: Clocks + Colours)

    “It has that rock & roll sensibility but at the same time people are relatively well put together and are quite aware of fashion and style. It checked all the boxes for Clocks and Colours.

    “We’ve always wanted to open a store. For a long time we didn’t feel like we had a big enough product assortment and we also just didn’t feel the brand was ready but the reality is that our product is incredibly high quality and it’s one of those things where you can see photos of stuff but often you can’t really tell how impressive something is until you pick it up. Another thing too is a lot of our products are not cheap. Some of our pieces are $2000 so I think for people to spend that much sometimes they just want to see it in person, try it on. We wanted to have an ability for people to physically engage with the product that way but at the same time we really wanted to have a place where we could really drive home our culture and create community.”

    Foran said the retail store is very strategically set up. There’s a Harley Davidson in the front window, signaling its motorcycle background. There’s a photo gallery that is a huge part of the brand’s DNA. There’s also at the back an entire setup for a band with guitars, amps, showcasing its rock & roll DNA. And there’s a section for Peter McKinnon’s brand Pirate Life.

    Clocks + Colours Ossington (Image: Clocks + Colours)

    “We really wanted to have a space where we could tell that story and show people what we’re all about, host events so that people can come see what we’re actually like,” he said.

    The Ossington store is about 1,200 square feet.

    Foran said the retailer wants to open more stores. A goal is to look next south of the border at places like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, potentially Austin.

    “Those are all pretty serious considerations for us right now,” he added.

  • Retailer opens two Nisa Express stores on same Essex street

    Retailer opens two Nisa Express stores on same Essex street

    Shoppers might be forgiven for thinking they have something wrong with their eyes but there is method behind the madness for Nisa customer Manjit Dabhi.

    Having owned a convenience store in the small parade of shops for several years, he was keen to develop the business and when a unit became available earlier this year, he didn’t let the small matter of two shops in between his and the new unit get in the way.

    “The unit was operating as an off licence but was quite run down,” said Dabhi. “When it became available, I knew that if someone else got in there and developed it, the competition could pose me with some real difficulties and so I stepped in.”

    Dabhi then set about developing his existing store as well as the new one into a Nisa Express – one focusing on groceries and the other trading as an off licence.

    He said: “It’s a little bit inconvenient for shoppers to have to leave one shop and go to the other, but they are just a few metres away from one another and it means we can offer a good range in both shops rather than having to compromise.”

    The grocery store, which is around 900 sq.ft. and incorporates a Post Office Local counter, was already supplied by Nisa but operated with an independent fascia. The development has seen the existing store take on the Nisa Express fascia and the range has been refined.

    Meanwhile the new unit, also around 900 sq.ft. has been fitted out to match with the Nisa Express fascia and a range of licensed as well as soft drinks including 7.5m of chilled alcohol. There is also a cabinet of frozen foods along with a wide choice of snacking.

    Manjit, who has a further two stores trading with Nisa, said: “We did not sell alcohol before and so we have made the most of the new store to do this and it is going the right way. The football has helped drive sales and we hope Christmas will too as shoppers get used to how we operate and see the range we have available.”

  • Alexander McQueen opens in the Miami Design District just in time for you to release those pent up shopping desires

    Just want to do something normal? We all do. Something like wandering a beautiful boutique, letting something lux catch your eye, taking that something you’re intrigued with to the dressing room, trying it on, falling in love and then finding a place to wear it.

    Visitors to the new Alexander McQueen flagship store can shop luxurious summer-ready accessories.
    Visitors to the new Alexander McQueen flagship store can shop luxurious summer-ready accessories.

    If that sounds like a dream come true, prepare for the opening of Alexander McQueen in the Miami Design District today. Located at 146 NE 41st St, the store will reflect the house’s new design concept, as envisioned by Sarah Burton, creative director, and architect Smiljan Radic. Expect to find the outside world inside. Woods like oak and walnut in dark and light shades bring a warmth to the space’s walls and floors, while glass cylinders reflect light, bringing a weightlessness to the space. Keep an eye out for the cotton-crete around the store, a new invention designed specifically for the space that births papier mâché made from cotton.

    The store’s design is a perfect blend of nature and architecture with elements of contemporary and traditional seamlessly fused together as you would expect from the house of McQueen. “It’s exactly what the Design District is missing,” explains Maria Tettamanti, fashion blogger and journalist. “Miami appreciates McQueen’s designs unlike any other city. Our connection with nature and his are the perfect match. Our love of bold is one with its.”

    CROWN JEWELS

    And then there’s the wares. Both men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, accessories and mannequins adorned in the runway collections remind shoppers why they came. Bringing nature to the forefront, find antique gold butterflies on rings, cuffs, hoop earrings and necklaces, bringing about a sense of freedom, a symbol we can all relate to, especially now. The butterflies carry over to a box clutch, in light blue or ivory satin, with a handle adorned with elaborate insects and delicate blooms. The butterfly theme continues on in light blue gradient lens pilot sunglasses with a sculpted butterfly charm.

    A box clutch from the exclusive capsule collection that will be available in the Miami Design District.
    A box clutch from the exclusive capsule collection that will be available in the Miami Design District.

    But it’s not all butterflies. Round black crystals encrust a black leather belt. And the womenswear capsule features three dresses with three dimensions of violet on jacquard and sweet pea print, bringing more nature to the world of McQueen. Alexander McQueen’s Miami opening marks the arrival of a capsule collection that will only be sold at limited McQueen locations, with the Miami Design District flagship store being one of them. Lucky us, indeed.

    The British label’s Tread Slick shoes.
    The British label’s Tread Slick shoes.

    Says Tettamanti: “McQueen’s new offerings will have you stomping around town to the beat of your own drum. And that is exactly what the world needs right now — individuality.”

    Alexander McQueen is located at 146 NE 41st St.Miami, FL 33137. For more information, please call 786-857-5100.