Retail in Edinburgh

[craig lindsay]

PRIMARK is set to win permission for two giant signs above its new Princes Street store, despite the fact they will be visible from Edinburgh Castle.
The retail giant has applied to put up three large raised signs outside the front of the store on Princes Street, and three more at the back entrance on Rose Street.

Council officials have said they are willing to allow the signs, despite the factADVERTISEMENT

that, because they are above street level and can be seen from the Castle, they are contrary to planning policies.

However, councillors have been advised to refuse permission for them to be lit in blue and green, as they would have too great an impact on the area.

The arrival of Primark has been seen as a potential boost for the flagging retail fortunes of Princes Street, but there is concern that the financial benefits have led to concerns about the impact of the development being overlooked.

The proposals sparked objection from heritage watchdog the Cockburn Association, and director Marion Williams said it would be disappointing if the council was to break its own guidelines.

"It will be a disappointment if they go against their own policies, although it would not be the first time," she said.

"Signage is becoming a big problem on Princes Street and George Street and it seems to be because so many exceptions are being made to the rules.

"Laura Ashley are looking to put up a big illuminated sign on George Street, and again that is against policy, but it may well be approved to try and encourage business.

"It does seem to be the case that economic developments have the upper hand and we wind up with these huge signs as a consequence. If the council have a policy then they should stick to it."

Head of planning, John Bury, said: "The proposals represent a justifiable breach of the non-statutory guidelines with respect to the high-level signage and illumination colour upon the Rose Street and ground-floor storey of the Princes Street elevations. However, the illumination of the high-level signage on the Princes Street elevation represents an unjustifiable breach of the guidelines and is unacceptable."

The Primark store on Princes Street will be a "flagship" branch for the company, which is also planning to open a major store at the Gyle and is developing a third store in Livingston.

The city centre store is expected to create up to 600 jobs and is scheduled to open in 2012.

A Primark spokesman said: "We respect Princes Street's unique heritage and while we would prefer to have illuminated signs we are very happy to take on board the council's views."

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ne...ark.6810998.jp

[RapidTaco]

I really disapprove of the Princes Street approach these days

[craig lindsay]

Retail openings in the last three months.

-Joules opened at 27 George Street, former former White Stuff unit
-AKA Women opened at unit 7 on Multrees Walk, next door to G Star
-Anthropologie opened at 39-41 George Street, former Austin Reed unit
-Austin Reed relocated to 102-104 George Street, next door to Pink
-The White Company relocated to 88 George Street, former Mappin & Webb unit
-Lipsy opened in Princess Mall
-PULP opened in Princess Mall

Near Future Openings.

-Charles Tyrwhitt opening at 52 George Street, former White Stuff unit (September)
-Hotel Chocolat opening at 7A Frederik Street, former Past Times unit (late 2011)

Far future Opening.

-New Look repening 121-123 Princess Street, former Pound Store unit (early 2012)
-Primark opening 91-93 Princes Street, former M&S unit (2012)
-Mango opening at 88 Princess Street, former JJB Sports unit (no date)
-Apple opening 10-15 Princess Street, former Waterstones, Evans, Burger King and Boots units(no date)
-Hollister are in negotiations to open at 80 George Street, former Cruise unit (no date)

[craig lindsay]

Jigsaw Menswear will launch as a full collection comprising outerwear, soft tailoring, garment-washed blazers, chino-style trousers and shorts, knitwear, jersey and a large shirting element as well as footwear and accessories. It will go into Jigsaw’s 20 largest stores, including London’s Westbourne Grove and King’s Road, Richmond upon Thames, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birmingham and Bath.

Full story here..

http://www.drapersonline.com/multipl...027903.article

[craig lindsay]

The White Company has opened a 5,835 sq ft lifestyle concept store in Edinburgh. The three floor George Street store features all of The White Company collections including bed and bath linen, fashion, fragrance, furniture and children's clothing.

This is the second of the retailer’s lifestyle stores, the other being in London’s Sloane Square.

Gary Temprell, retail director for The White Company said: “This is a major step forward, relocating and upsizing our existing successful business in this key market. The opening of this second lifestyle store will greatly improve our customer experience and continued trading in Edinburgh and we are delighted to have worked closely with the Landlord to reconfigure this building and enhance the space to showcase our full product range”

Last month The White Company reported a 22% rise in annual sales to £102 million.

http://www.theretailbulletin.com/new...tore_05-08-11/

[craig lindsay]

Primark now has hoardings around their future store on Princes Street advertising it's opening.

[craig lindsay]

Charles Tyrwich has started fitting out in the former White Stuff unit.

[flange]

Evans Cycles are opening in Edinburgh at 1A Exchange Place, they open on Monday 7th November.

http://www.evanscycles.com/stores/edinburgh

[craig lindsay]

Retailers are to be offered loans to help recreate Edinburgh's historic shop fronts.
The charity set up to protect the Old Town and New Town World Heritage sites is to offer "repayable grants" to any companies that are willing to carry out work to improve the appearance of their premises.

Edinburgh World Heritage has linked up wiADVERTISEMENT


th the city council to promote the scheme, designed to improve the appearance of the Capital's main shopping streets and patch up those that are showing signs of decay.

The loans, which are repayable within ten years, are mainly aimed at small independent stores that would find it difficult to fund work like repainting, introducing traditional hanging signs or doors or improving stonework in the current economic climate.

It is also hoped that firms with unattractive signs can be persuaded to take a loan to install something that fits better with their surroundings.

It is estimated that the loans will range from £1000 up to tens of thousands of pounds.

Read more..
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ne...for.6820229.jp

[craig lindsay]

Gerard Darel are opening a concession in Harvey Nichols, job applications are online..

http://www.s1jobs.com/job/edinburgh/...416644151.html

[craig lindsay]

White Stuff, the fashion lifestyle retailer, is increasing its brand offering with a series of new in-store initiatives. The retailer said the local events are designed to offset the 'doom and gloom' of the high street and to provide a sense of 'Retail-tainment' in its shops.

The White Stuff ’Swap Shop’, a throwback to the nostalgic Noel Edmunds 70’s show, will encourage customers to bring their secondhand White Stuff clothing into the shops and exchange it for another item on the swap shop rail.


A monthly White Stuff Book Club, sponsored by Penguin Books, is being trialled at the Cardiff, Edinburgh, Battersea, St Albans, Norwich and Farnham stores, whilst the Edinburgh store is hosting the critically acclaimed ‘One Million Tiny Plays about Britain’ throughout August.

White Stuff said it was giving customers an experience that goes beyond shopping as it further develops its brand enagagement strategy.

http://www.theretailbulletin.com/new...ment_26-08-11/

[craig lindsay]

Duchamp are opening a new concession in Harvey Nichols, jobs are online..

http://www.s1jobs.com/job/edinburgh/...416107319.html

This adds to other recent concessions from, Gieves & Hawkes and Gerard Darel.

[craig lindsay]

Kurt Geiger are opening in Edinburgh Airport, jobs are online..

http://www.retailchoice.com/JobSearc....0&precision=2

It adds to the airports growing amount of designer shops, which already include Jo Malone and MAC.

[craig lindsay]

Jaeger are opening a concession in Harvey Nichols.. I imagine it will be Jaeger Boutique as they are opening in department stores across the country..

http://www.retailchoice.com/JobSearc....0&precision=2

[flange]

Huan of Dumfries is planning to launch a new chain of Shhh shoe shops, starting with outlets in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and York.
16-May-2011

http://www.ukbusinesspark.co.uk/bpreta11.htm

Web retailer steps into shoe shops

15 May 2011

By Bill Magee

A SCOTTISH web retailer is bucking the online trend by taking to the high street with a chain of designer shoe shops in eight UK cities.

Steven Moffat, founder of Dumfries-based Huan, has to date concentrated on internet-based shopping websites, including Hip Furniture, which he shortly plans to expand to the US.

But his latest project involves a departure from the online world to the rather more troubled high street.

Moffat realises that his move may seem strange as most retailers are moving in the opposite direction and beefing up their internet presence.

Online sales have continued to grow over the past few years while the high street has been beset with problems.

But Moffat is undaunted. He claims that the systems and processes taken directly from the online market can be applied to the "bricks and mortar" world and replicated on the high street.

His shoe stores - called Shhh… - promise designer brands including Chrissie Morris, Natacha Marro and Kat Maconie.

The first shop will open in the summer in Edinburgh's George Street, rapidly followed by stores in Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, York, Liverpool, Newcastle and Birmingham.

"I see only opportunity on the high street," he said. "Historically, during any depression or downturn is exactly when to push for growth, and the age old story of spotting a gap in the market - no matter how thin - will always hold true."

Moffat said his Shhh… project fills a gap in Huan's portfolio. "Strategically my group had no luxury brands, and I was bored of launching e-commerce companies, to be honest.

"Fourteen or more years ago I was so excited about the possibilities of the internet. I now see the same possibilities for the future of the high street with a modern form of retailing that I saw online years ago."

Huan started out as a web design company but its online shopping sites now cover babywear, games and gadgets, kitchen supplies, pets and window cleaning supplies.

http://www.scotsman.com/retail/Web-r...hoe.6768250.jp

[craig lindsay]

Charles Tyrwitt opened on the 8th in the former White Stuff unit on George Street.

[craig lindsay]

Harvey Nichols is delighted to support the Elephant*Family by hosting the Jungle City pop-up shop on the Second Floor. The shop will be selling miniature versions of the tiger, elephant, crocodile and hornbill sculptures, which can currently be seen dotted about the Royal Botanical Gardens.

In-house painting events for children and adults will be held a couple of times a week to decorate miniature blank versions of the sculptures. There will also be books available profiling the artists involved in decorating the sculptures and the inspiration behind their designs.

Elephant*Family is a nationwide charity working to save the Asian elephants, and other animals sharing their habitat, from extinction.

Jungle City will be Scotland’s largest outdoor art exhibition on record involving hundreds of painted endangered Asian jungle animals in August and September this year.

The pop-up shop will be open for trading from Thursday 25 August until Saturday 8 October at Harvey Nichols Edinburgh, for more information please call 0131 524 8388

http://www.harveynichols.com/hnedit/...e/jungle-city/

[craig lindsay]

Pizza Express opened at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre on the 14th.

Anybody from Edinburgh?
Make sure you visit our new Ocean Terminal restaurant - opens tomorrow!
13 Sep via Facebook

https://mobile.twitter.com/#!/PizzaExpress

[flange]

Decathlon are opening a new store in Edinburgh in November at Hermiston Junction, job vacancies are now online.

Department manager - EDINBURGH - OPENING WINTER 2011

Job description

Join us as a department manager you’ll be running your own business from the start: Recruiting, training and managing your own team, planning your commercial activity and managing your stock to ensure you run a profitable business. It’s not a nine-to-five desk job, so you’ll need plenty of energy and a desire to work hands-on, in a customer-facing environment. In return you’ll get plenty of training and coaching, real responsibility, a competitive salary and benefits package and the opportunity to work with the sport you love. Now’s a great time to join us, because we want today’s department managers to be tomorrow’s Store Managers, Regional managers and beyond.

Profile Detail

A graduate and/or with previous experience, you're passionate about sport and are seeking a managerial role.
You're energetic and have a sense of responsibility and organisation.
Your service attitude and team spirit are your key strengths.
You want an active role where you'll be making decisions every day.
Knowledge of French useful but not essential.

FOR THE EDINBURGH STORE OPENING AT HERMISTON JUNCTION NOVEMBER 2011

http://recruitment.decathlon.com/can...cForUser.do_12

[flange]

Decathlon open in Edinburgh at the former JJB Sports unit at Hermiston Gait Retail Park on Thursday 24th November.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/