Retail
A destination for retail excellence
Andy Cole, General Manager at Touchwood Shopping Centre, Solihull, says the centre is a retail destination of choice as exciting new brand arrivals, store openings, expansion plans and strong trading continues to ensure it remains a location shoppers want to visit, and that retailers want to be part of. Whilst challenging trading
conditions prevail, there is no doubt that Touchwood’s unique retail mix of quality independent and internationally renowned brands is successfully delivering an experience that consumers desire, and within a prestigious environment that retailers seek. This success is evidenced by the
number of new and exciting brands that have chosen to take up permanent sites over the past year, as well as the increasing number that have upsized to larger retail units within the centre, confident that Touchwood’s business proposition remains a compelling and vibrant one. One particularly pleasing
Retail Therapy
By Andy Cole General Manager at Touchwood Shopping Centre, Solihull
‘Welcoming innovative and cutting-edge brands such as Tesla extends the reach and breadth of the Touchwood shopping experience’
addition to the retail brand portfolio has been the arrival of Tesla Motors UK – a manufacturer of luxury electric cars. From a burgeoning commercial partnership which initially saw the company utilise promotional slots within the centre’s Atrium site and on the back of a subsequent strong trading performance, the business will be taking up a long-term presence within one of Touchwood’s biggest shop units. Welcoming innovative and cutting-edge brands such as Tesla extends the reach and breadth of the Touchwood shopping experience, generates real excitement and underpins the momentum behind our ongoing growth ambitions. Alongside the arrival of Tesla, we have been joined by other leading
brands such as popular jewellery brand, Pandora. Tiger’s new store is their biggest UK site, while Italian fashion brand, O bag chose Touchwood as the location for its first UK concept store. Monsoon took the strategic decision to re-locate from the high street into Touchwood to increase their footprint, and Next upsized its retail unit to include a new shoe department on the back of strong sales performance and footfall numbers. But while satisfying the needs of our customers and retail partners is of
paramount importance, we are also fully aware of our responsibility to the local community in which we operate. This year has seen the launch of the ‘Better Places’ initiative, which aims to help local charities and organisations improve the lives for those they help every day. In an early example of the type of support that will be ongoing, Touchwood volunteers recently spent time at local care home, The Foundation of Lady Katherine Leveson, leading a day of cake baking, board games and boules! The coming year promises to be even more exciting as plans to extend
the centre begin to take shape, following planning permission being granted last December to extend Touchwood by 115,000 sq ft. The new space will add up to 30 new shops, restaurants and cafés, and the plans also include a covered arcade to link to Touchwood’s existing Atrium. The extension is the largest investment in Touchwood since it opened in
2001, and will help to attract more visitors to the town and grow the evening economy, as well as creating 400 permanent jobs once complete, and around 500 new jobs during construction. This significant investment in our future, together with a strategic vision
that will see the centre continue to attract increasing numbers of shoppers and sought after brand partners, ensures that Touchwood remains relevant and a true retail destination of choice.
May 2016 CHAMBERLINK 57 A prime new location
Health food chain Holland & Barrett has announced a new store in Birmingham city centre – creating a range of new jobs. The High Street retailer has
taken the ground and first floors at Real Estate Investors’ Gateway House at 50-53 High Street on a ten-year lease. Next to Marks & Spencer and near to the Bull Ring shopping centre, the outlet is expected to create nine jobs, including a full-time supervisor and part-time shop assistants. Holland & Barrett’s head of
brand, Emma Hobbs, said: “This is an excellent opportunity in an area enjoying a large footfall and amidst many quality retailers. “It represents a very significant investment and we are confident
it will receive a warm welcome from shoppers.” Ian Clark, senior asset manager
at REI, said: “Holland & Barrett is a great addition to our portfolio. “It confirms the level of
confidence from the marketplace in the location and effectively endorses our asset management strategy in terms of making the most of the 27,000 sq ft complex.” Holland & Barrett will be joining
existing occupiers including Shelter and Learndirect, the UK’s largest provider of skills, training and employment services. Its stores are a familiar sight in
almost every major city and town across the UK and Ireland, with a total of 620 outlets.
Sector Focus
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