In an effort to draw customers amid post-pandemic challenges and the ongoing financial squeeze, numerous brands are undertaking multi-million-pound investments to rejuvenate their brick-and-mortar locations.
Retail Gazette examines a selection of notable retail chains revamping their physical presence this year.
Currys
Currys is currently overhauling 65 of its UK outlets to “boost customer experience”.
The electronics retailer is reinventing stores, including locations in Aberdeen Garthdee, Bristol Winterstoke, and Grantham, to be more user-friendly and to better display an expanded selection of the latest technology.
The remodeling includes broader product categories such as televisions and computers, improved customer service areas, a streamlined mobile zone, and backroom enhancements for staff support.
The refurbishment initiative is supported by the retailer’s Asset Reclaim Centre, which collects and repurposes shop fixtures and fittings for future use.
M&S
Marks & Spencer is advancing its strategy to modernize its store network with a £480 million investment in “larger, superior stores”, leading to the opening of 20 new locations last year.
The upgrade effort continues fervently this year with the planned opening of nine new food sites and up to four comprehensive stores.
A significant portion, £30 million, is earmarked for upgrading M&S’s London stores. This will result in two new food halls and up to 12 refreshed stores in areas such as Blackheath and Islington.
Highlights include a new 7,200 square-foot fresh-market style food hall in Sidcup and an 18,000 square foot outlet in Friern Barnet.
Twelve stores undergoing rejuvenation will gain larger bakeries, exclusive flower and wine sections, and enhanced click-and-collect facilities.
Aldi
Aldi is channeling £90 million into enhancing its stores this year, ensuring that shopping feels just as premium as the products offered.
This summer, the retailer will refresh over 30 stores, with an additional 100 slated for improvements later on.
Planned upgrades, which will differ by location, include expanded shopping areas and the implementation of energy-efficient solutions, including fridge doors and eco-friendly refrigerants to cut carbon output.
Aldi has flagged stores in Leek, Newport, and Brierly Hill as candidates for significant transformations.
Asda
Asda has initiated a £50 million store improvement scheme for a better shopping milieu in its larger supermarkets and superstores.
Intended to touch 170 stores overall, this project is expected to wrap up by the end of November.
Around 50 of its sizeable stores will see “major enhancements”, including new services and features, while the others will benefit from refurbished exteriors and interiors to match Asda’s updated brand identity.
Updates will happen in stores across various locations, including Coventry and Dundee. The planned modifications are set to take about five weeks, with operations continuing and anticipated minimal disruption to shoppers.
Waitrose
Waitrose has disclosed plans to invest nearly £1 billion in upgrading its stores.
James Bailey, the executive director, has shared that the company is focusing on “revitalizing and rejuvenating” around 80 existing supermarkets.
With pilot changes at its Sudbury location aiming for brighter and more engaging environments, the company intends to elevate its count-service offering significantly.
Expectations are set for a substantial unveiling of these upgraded, consumer-centric stores starting next year.
John Lewis
John Lewis intends to trigger new store layouts in select locations this fall.
This chain is geared up for 160 store enhancements through partnerships with various brands and suppliers.
Peter Ruis, an executive director, cited the expansion of the beauty hall on Oxford Street as a prime example of upgrades, which are scheduled throughout the year.
The enhancements are complemented by new technologies aimed at enriching customer service, such as the deployment of team headsets.
John Lewis’s Horsham store recently underwent a revamp to test innovative concepts and services, consolidating its position as a comprehensive hub for fashion, beauty, tech, and home design.
Card Factory
Card Factory is nearing the completion of its store transformation program.
With its space realignment project, which affected 729 locations, the card retailer has reduced the floor space for everyday card offerings by 7% to make room for a 16% larger assortment of gifts and celebration must-haves.
The Card Factory’s annual report mentions the cost-effective project’s positive sales impact and a payback period within a year.
A subsequent phase includes a facelift for a smaller batch of stores based on the successful trial from the previous year.
Updated outlets now present an improved ambiance, straightforward navigation, and design upgrades that boost both store flexibility and operational efficiency.
Aiming for more than a 10% increase in sales, the new store model sets the standard for future expansions and refits.
EE
The telecommunications powerhouse EE is progressing with its new retail format expansion, aligning the company’s focus with the objective of “satisfying all our consumer electronics needs”.
The brand is allocating £6 million towards renovating its stores“`html
This year, EE is set to inaugurate new EE Studio locations and revamp its smaller stores.
Previously in October, EE announced its venture into the smart home and fitness sector, with products ranging from smart refrigerators and televisions to kettles and exercise equipment.
CEO Marc Allera is ambitiously aiming to rival giants like Amazon and Currys in becoming a leading retailer of electronic goods in the UK.
Refreshing New Loo
New Look reveals plans to inject £3.3 million into the makeover of 20 stores within the Greater Manchester region.
The clothing chain plans to experiment with several new concepts, such as revamped store layouts and the latest technological features, as well as providing enhanced employee training. These changes, rolling out over the coming year, are expected to set the standard for future store upgrades company-wide.
A number of cosmetic enhancements are on the horizon for New Look stores to enrich the shopping experience and better represent the brand’s identity.
In addition, stores will adopt a niche product selection tailored to regional preferences, and interactive displays will introduce shoppers to extended online offerings, with the option for next-day in-store pickup of a wider variety of apparel and shoes.
Primark’s Landmark Investment
As Primark celebrates its five-decade presence in the UK, it is channeling over £100 million into its UK locations this year.
Originally launched in Dublin in 1969, the firm is refurbishing 15 stores in an effort to lessen its environmental impact.
This investment also encompasses the opening of three new stores, relocation of three more, and substantial expansions, including the Westfield Stratford City shopping centre in London.
River Island’s Modern Transformation
River Island is moving towards a subtler approach in marketing as it transitions towards its River Studios concept.
The brand is overhauling its stores to elevate customer experience, as seen in its most recent renovation at the Manchester Arndale shopping centre.
The new design features innovative additions like interactive fitting rooms and self-checkout stations, creating a contemporary and streamlined shopping environment.
By September, the transformation will have reached three of its Dublin stores at Dundrum Town Centre, Swords, and Blanchardstown, ready to welcome back shoppers.
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