Coffee shop lined up as Hexham Millets confirms 21 September closing date?
Hexham’s Millets store in Fore Street is to close on 21 September, after trading in the town for seven years. Though the Hexham Courant broke...
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Does JJB Sports have a future?
Last week’s news that Dick’s Sporting Goods, the US sports chain, has written off the £20m investment it made in JJB Sports just four months...
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Newcastle roundup: retail lettings remain active as Cath Kidston signs and Office expands
Cath Kidston is to open a standalone store in Newcastle city centre, it has been revealed. The upmarket clothing, accessories, bags and homeware retailer –...
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New-concept Wilko opens in Crawley’s ex-TJ Hughes store
Wilkinson’s “newest and most exciting concept store” has opened at 14-26 The Broadway in Crawley this morning (15 August). Designed to “offer the community a...
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Can Clintons’ new look help restore the chain’s fortunes?
Just two months after rescuing nearly 400 Clintons stores, the chain’s new owners have started rolling out a new look – inside and out –...
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Rescued for the fourth time, can Ethel Austin really have a future?
When value clothing retailer Ethel Austin fell into administration for the fourth time in as many years three weeks ago, it’s fair to say that its chances of...
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L’Occitane en Provence heads to Newcastle’s Eldon Square
L’Occitane en Provence, the upmarket beauty products retailer, is to open a standalone shop in Newcastle’s Eldon Square next month. Details of the September store...
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Mixed news for North East high streets as 22 Peters Bakery shops are saved, but 34 close
Scarborough-based Cooplands snapped up 22 stores from Peters Bakery yesterday, following its Durham-based rival’s collapse into administration back in June. The deal announced by the...
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Customers get first glimpse inside Newcastle’s new Primark
Going away for a summer holiday is usually a prompt for interesting retail things to happen in my absence, and this month has been no exception....
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As big-name retailers crowd the bathrooms market, how can the indies fight back?
Though I get to work with plenty of bathroom retailers through my Home Interiors Directory website, it isn’t a sector of the retail industry I’ve really blogged...
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“Stores are still an absolute”: Retailer Q&A with Outdoor World Direct
If you ever needed proof that the present-day high street is about winners and losers rather than the general decline that the media would have...
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Woolaballoo.com and Deli at Number 4: Hexham’s new breed of web-savvy independents
I’ve often commented on Hexham’s very low retail vacancy rate, and the fact that the town’s empty units rarely stay empty for long. Arrivals in...
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Newcastle’s revamped Wilkinson is better and brighter
Since Wilkinson, the family-owned hardware and variety chain, quietly launched its new logo and store format over three years ago, the refreshed look seems to have...
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Photo update: Gateshead Peacocks prepares for reopening
Following yesterday’s news that EWM Group is to reopen the previously closed-down Peacocks store in Gateshead, I took an early-evening trip into the town centre to see...
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Peacocks confirms imminent reopening of Gateshead town centre store
Rescued fashion retailer Peacocks has confirmed that it is to reopen its store in Gateshead town centre, most likely this coming Friday (22 June). Edinburgh...
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Poundworld takes over Middlesbrough’s ex-Peacocks, as it opens its 30th store in 15 weeks
Middlesbrough might have lost its Pure Party store in the fallout from Clinton Cards’ collapse, but as some retailers depart the town others are arriving...
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Eldon Square among saved stores as American Greetings snaps up 397 Clintons sites
Yesterday’s news that Lakeshore Lending Limited, a subsidiary of card manufacturer and supplier American Greetings, has bought the brands and assets of Clinton Cards – including...
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“There’s a nice niche market there”: Retailer Q&A with Geordies Everywhere
Think of online retail, and the chances are that the big-name players, such as Amazon and Asos – or perhaps a multichannel powerhouse like John...
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Bright, Hip and Stylish: Newcastle’s new BHS impresses – for the most part
Given my extensive coverage of the build up to Newcastle’s new BHS store in Northumberland Street, you won’t be surprised to learn that I’ve paid a couple...
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The missing wow factor behind Clintons’ collapse
As one of the biggest recent retail administrations – in terms of both the jobs (8,000) and stores (767) that are at risk – it’s...
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