The largest information from UK shops in 2025, together with Harrods, Liberty, John Lewis and extra.
Whichever means you take a look at it, 2024 has been a serious 12 months for UK shops. John Lewis introduced again its ‘By no means Knowingly Undersold’ pledge, Harvey Nichols gained a CEO, Fenwick misplaced a possible CEO, and Harrods grew to become embroiled in allegations of sexual abuse by former proprietor Mohammed Al-Fayed.
With the brand new 12 months looming, TheIndustry.trend rounds up an important division retailer information of 2024.
Harvey Nichols poaches Alexander McQueen EMEA President for CEO function
It was introduced in April that Julia Goddard, EMEA President of Alexander McQueen, would take over as CEO of Harvey Nichols, efficient in June. She changed Manju Malhotra, who resigned in August 2023 after 25 years on the division retailer chain.
Throughout her tenure at Alexander McQueen, Goddard led the EMEA area as President since 2019 with “dynamic progress and enlargement” in wholesale, retail and e-concession channels. Harvey Nichols’ proprietor Sir Dickinson Poon stated Goddard “can be invaluable in delivering long-term progress”.
Since taking on at Harvey Nichols, Goddard has made numerous government appointments in an effort to revitalise the retailer. Ex-Vogue Trend Director Kate Phelan was employed as Artistic Director in November, adopted by final week’s information that Katie Benson, Senior Shopping for Director at Internet-A-Porter, would grow to be Harvey Nichols’ Chief Service provider.
Why is John Lewis bringing again its ‘By no means Knowingly Undersold’ pledge and the way will it work?
First launched in 1925, ‘By no means Knowingly Undersold’ promised John Lewis clients that the retailer would match the value of any merchandise offered extra cheaply elsewhere, so long as it was the identical product and situations. Nonetheless, the division retailer chain retracted its historic pledge in 2022 below Dame Sharon White’s tenure as Chairman.
In a really broadly ported U-turn, John Lewis introduced it might be reinstating the pledge as of 9 September, led by Govt Director Peter Ruis, who rejoined the retailer in January this 12 months.
Ruis stated on the time: “As of Monday, we’re bringing again By no means Knowingly Undersold – 100 years because it was launched (in 1925). That is our model promise, and it’s concerning the high quality, service and costs we provide – I’ve all the time believed that the rationale John Lewis is so distinctive is the mixture of the three. It’s additionally very uncommon which you could be at a model that’s obtained a 100-year model promise.”
Former Harrods government says Fenwick CEO function provide ‘withdrawn unfairly’ and he has been made ‘responsible by affiliation’ with Mohamed Al Fayed
Sadly, essentially the most distinguished information surrounding shops this 12 months is that surrounding Mohammed Al Fayed, former proprietor of Harrods. An growing variety of rape and sexual assault claims have been made in opposition to the Egyptian businessman, who died in 2023 aged 94.
The allegations made in opposition to Al Fayed have begged a number of main questions, mainly, how he was in a position to systematically prey upon over 400 ladies all through 4 many years.
The reply to this has grow to be more and more clear because the case has continued: different events needed to be concerned, each inside Harrods and externally. This has left unlucky query marks over the heads of many Harrods workers who overlapped with Al Fayed’s tenure as proprietor (1985-2010), notably these on the high.
For Nigel Blow, whose employment at Harrods spanned 1992-2007, this could forestall him from taking the highest job at division retailer Fenwick, even with out proof of data of or involvement in Al Fayed’s alleged abuses.
Fenwick introduced in July that Blow can be taking on as CEO, having served as CEO of Morleys Shops from 2019. Nonetheless, simply two weeks earlier than he was as a consequence of take up submit, Fenwick withdrew the provide as a consequence of Blow’s affiliation with Harrods.
Blow labored in numerous government roles at Harrods between 2002 and 2007, together with Chief Service provider, however stated in a press release launched to TheIndustry.trend: “I can verify that, throughout my time on the enterprise, I by no means heard about or witnessed any such behaviour by Mr Al Fayed.”
There was backlash over Fenwick’s choice, with many criticising the full lack of proof linking Nigel Blow to any wrongdoing at Harrods throughout his tenure. Critics questioned whether or not Fenwick had acted recklessly, presumably undermining its dedication to due course of because of public or media strain.
In My View by Eric Musgrave: Is having Harrods in your CV now an issue?
Fenwick stated Nigel Blow had turned down the CEO place on the final minute. Blow stated that Fenwick had rescinded its provide on the final minute. In different phrases, one thing needed to give.
As we now know, Fenwick did retract the CEO function provide and Fenwick chairman Sian Westerman advised him the corporate was “was not in a position to proceed” together with his employment “in an effort to safeguard the status of the Fenwick enterprise”. Blow stated he had not agreed to Fenwick’s assertion.
Can manufacturers and retailers separate the potential worker from controversy surrounding their earlier employer? Contributor Eric Musgrave investigates.
Liberty to have fun new Depraved film with magical Christmas makeover
Similar to Elphaba herself, Liberty affords some levity in a considerably sorry 12 months for shops, albeit not within the gravity-defying sense. The enduring London retailer has had a Glinda-approved makeover, full with inexperienced and purple-lit Christmas bushes lining its first flooring exterior and the big visage of Oz himself in the primary entrance.
Sarah Coonan, Managing Director of Liberty, stated: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Common Photos to deliver the world of Depraved to life at Liberty this Christmas.
“Each Depraved and Liberty are steeped in wealthy storytelling, creativity, and a spirit of individuality, which makes this partnership an ideal match. At Liberty, we’ve got all the time championed the best in artwork and design, and this collaboration permits us to showcase the magical synergy between Depraved’s enchanting world and our personal heritage of daring, imaginative expression.
“We invite clients to ‘Discover the Magic Inside’ as they expertise a vacation season full of surprise, magnificence, and discovery.”
Morleys appoints former Home of Fraser exec as new CEO
In November, division retailer chain Morleys appointed retail veteran Allan Winstanley as its new Chief Govt, efficient January 2025, following Nigel Blow’s departure.
Morleys Group includes of eight shops; Morleys in Brixton, Bexleyheath and Tooting, in addition to Elys in Wimbledon, Pearsons in Enfield, Camp Hopson in Newbury, James Selby in north London and Roomes Trend and Residence in Upminster.
Winstanley is former Govt Director of Menswear, Magnificence & Childrenswear at Home of Fraser, the place he labored from 2005-2014, being promoted to Govt Director of Girls’s Attire, Equipment & Magnificence.
The brand new function will mark Winstanley’s return to the UK, having labored as Chief Merchandise Officer at Myer shops in Melbourne, Australia, for the previous six and a half years.
Selfridges co-owner says it overpaid for retailer portfolio
How a lot ought to one pay for a handful of luxurious division retailer chains lately? Nicely, apparently not £4 billion.
Tos Chirathivat, co-owner of Selfridges and Govt Chairman and CEO of Thailand’s Central Group, has acknowledged that the £4 billion price ticket connected to Selfridges and several other different European luxurious shops was too excessive, particularly given the rise in international rates of interest.
“You’ll all the time goal for the bottom attainable worth when shopping for one thing… Is £4 billion excessive? Sure, it’s excessive, particularly on this atmosphere,” he advised the Monetary Instances.
Nonetheless, Chirathivat alluded to the truth that Selfridges and the opposite bought belongings could also be a worthwhile funding longterm: “Possibly 10 years from now it received’t be too excessive, however if you happen to ask right now, then after all it’s too excessive.”
