British retail veterans to launch online department store in China

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
Jul 29, 2015

This September, China will get a new online department store - one that focuses on British retail brands, reported Drapers.

The store is the result of a group of former executives from Jonathan Saunders, Burberry and Marks & Spencer teaming up. It will focus on China's emerging middle class with brands like Hackett, Reiss and Jigsaw. The Jack Russell Emporium launches in September with 10 retailers, and expects to have 25 by the end of the year and 100 by the end of 2016.

Jamie Powell, former interim managing director at Jonathan Saunders and commercial director of Jack Russell Emporium, told Drapers: “That emerging market has disposable income for the first time; they are cultured and may have travelled to the UK once or twice so they don’t want domestic product, but they cannot afford luxury brands like Burberry and Louis Vuitton.”

The firm would not name the members of the investment group behind it, but it includes former bosses of Burberry, M&S and Land Rover.

Adrian Potts, the creative director of Jack Russell Emporium and the owner of British menswear brand Jack Russell, said: “Between us we have a lot of experience in China and we understand the market, which is crucial. It’s about engaging the Chinese market, listening to what they want and providing the right products.”