News

Timpson set to open at Cramlington shopping centre

British service retailer Timpson is set to open at new store at Manor Walks Shopping and Leisure in Cramlington, Northumberland. The family-owned retailer will open at the scheme as part of a planned transition with The Cramlington Cobbler, following the retirement of the independent store’s owners. Spanning 340 sq ft, the new Timpson store will be over three times the size of the previous 95 sq ft location, providing additional space for core services including shoe repairs, key cutting, engraving and watch repairs, as well as new offerings including dry cleaning and photo services, such as passport and other photo ID, photo processing and personalised gifts. Laura Hopper, area manager at Timpson, said: “We’re really excited to be joining Manor Walks and becoming part of the Cramlington community. The Cramlington Cobbler has built up a fantastic reputation and a very loyal customer base over many years, so it’s important to us that we retain that local connection and continue to look after customers in the way they’re used to.” He continued: “The new, larger shop will allow us to build on the services that customers already know and trust, while introducing a wider range of Timpson services. We’re really looking […]

Deals

Canary Wharf adds UNIQLO to fashion lineup

Canary Wharf in London has expanded its fashion offer with the signing of Japanese retailer UNIQLO. The new store will feature the brand’s full range of clothing for men and women, including its HEATTECH and AIRism lines. UNIQLO’s signing follows a host of deals to retailers including Jigsaw, Nokwol, Sushi Dog, Holy Greens – which made its UK debut – as well as Vagabond, The Tallyman, and Bronson Burger. Sea Lanes Canary Wharf – an open-air floating swimming pool – opened in June, welcoming over 30,000 swimmers within the first month of opening. Stuart Fyfe, managing director of retail, leisure and hospitality at Canary Wharf Group, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome UNIQLO to Canary Wharf. This is a brand that has built a global following by making exceptional quality feel effortless and accessible. UNIQLO joins a host of innovative, forward-thinking brands that are redefining what a world-class retail and leisure destination can feel like, and we couldn’t be more excited for them to be part of the story. “The momentum we’re seeing across the Wharf this year has been remarkable. Footfall continues to grow, our visitors are spending more time here and the energy across the retail, dining and […]

Requirements

Toolstation eyes new sites as it looks to expand London and South East estate

Toolstation has released its latest property requirements list as it looks to expand its store estate across Greater London and the South East. The trade supplies retailer is seeking units on high streets and trade parks ranging between 2,000 sq ft and 5,000 sq ft in size, located in prominent and visible roadside locations. Ideal units will be situated in easily accessible locations, with access to parking and loading bays essential. Target locations include: GCW has been retained to find suitable locations.

Insights

The rise of ‘treatonomics’: how changing spending patterns are affecting retail destinations

Times of economic difficulty and reduced consumer confidence have traditionally seen consumers tighten their purse strings, occasionally saving up for a larger purchase. But a recent shift in spending patterns suggests that shoppers are now shunning big-ticket purchases in favour of smaller, less expensive products or experiences. This concept, dubbed ‘treatonomics’, has been observed by Alex Petit, head of research and insights at Global Mutual, within the group’s portfolio of outlet shopping centres. “What we’ve seen is that cost-of-living crisis, combined with people wanting to keep on treating themselves, means that people are suddenly treating themselves on much smaller price points. That’s what we’re seeing with treatonomics”, she tells Completely Retail News. Data from the ONS found that despite increasing costs, sales volumes have remained broadly flat against pre-pandemic levels. This implies a shift towards consumers spending money less often, but instead choosing to make select purchases of higher values. “People are being very considered”, says Petit, “I think it comes from the pandemic as well, when we were all locked at home and we were deprived of a lot of things. People now have a slightly different outlook on life as there’s this hang-up psychologically, from us not being […]

Advice

Turn lease events from growing pains into commercial gains

By Simon Matley, director for dilapidations and occupier services at TFT After a period of acquisition, a large commercial retail portfolio can become either a major liability or a powerful cost saver for retailers who need every advantage they can get in a challenging consumer market. For national multiples and high street brands, often with sizeable portfolios numbering in the hundreds of units, or for smaller regional operations that are growing at speed, flexibility and control are hugely important. Brands today are adapting their portfolios in light of changing consumer behaviour and omni-channel retailing, and this is shaped by the increasingly sophisticated data capture that allows them to better understand stock, fulfilment, customer behaviour, and operations. For many who have been acquiring premises over the past 10 years, they will almost certainly find that data allows them to be more efficient in the space they need, not least because of the growth of last mile logistics and on demand deliveries which enables occupiers to be nimble in how they use their spaces. Whether they operate on the high street, in retail parks or rely on distribution centres, retailers want to scale fast, explore new territory and snap up the right […]

News

CACI makes senior hire to property team

Data specialist CACI has appointed Andrew McVicker as a partner within its business advisory team. He brings nearly 20 years of consultancy experience to the group, having previously led the strategy team at Benoy, and also holding positions at Pragma and FSP Retail. McVicker has worked across a range of commercial sectors in the UK and internationally, including retail environments, workplace, and mixed-use schemes. As part of CACI’s business advisory team, he will now be responsible for reinforcing the group’s position with some of the UK’s best-known landlords, asset managers, and public sector clients. Utilising proprietary tools, datasets, and the understanding of commercial property available at CACI, McVicker will look to help clients create effective strategies geared towards delivering positive outcomes. Andrew McVicker said: “Owners, operators, managers, and investors into places are increasingly crying out for the best mix of robust data and implementable insight, to support evolution. That’s what makes joining CACI now so exciting; I can now play a role in helping to shape tangible changes to some of our best-loved places, from the ones we seek out in our spare time to the ones we take for granted on a daily basis. Having this level of industry-leading […]