Buoyant Next plans another 'department store' at Trafford Centre

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Mar 9, 2022

There was big news for Manchester’s Trafford Centre mall this week with UK fashion, beauty and home retail giant Next signing a 10-year lease to open an all-new  65,000 sq ft store in November.

Expect the opening to follow a department store format in all but name as it joins a similar venture by Next at the Atria shopping centre in Watford to deliver a platform for its growing list of own- and third-party brands within its extensive portfolio. The Watford store, which opens in April, will cover almost 95,000 sq ft across three floors.

The new Trafford Centre store will significantly upsize the brand’s presence in the centre, bringing its fashion, beauty and home offering together. A list of the brands at the store have yet to be released but could well include areas for intimates and leisure brand Victoria’s Secret and the Gap brand, for which Next holds the UK licences.

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Next currently operates a Gap webstore in the UK under its Next Total Platform operation, but is also opening a section at its flagship London Oxford Street store. Meanwhile, it also announced the launch its own web-based beauty brand Woah in February and this could also have a presence at both new stores.

Rhys Evans, director of Asset Management at Pradera Lateral, which operates the Trafford Centre, said: “This is a significant signing for us and an exciting step for everyone involved. The new store will dramatically increase Next’s presence and impact on the mall and provide a seamless customer experience.”

Mike Barrow, area manager at Next, said: “We are excited to be able to bring all of our products together in one destination within the Trafford Centre. Will ensure we are able to provide a better product offering and, more importantly, the best customer service within Trafford Centre.”