Anthropologie continues rollout of 'local' store concept

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jan 14, 2020

Retailer Anthropologie is continuing the rollout of its smaller, ‘local store’ concept with a third location under the local umbrella having opened. The new store is the second local shop to open in the UK.

The Urbn-owned chain has opened a new 6,000 sq ft store at 56 High Street, Winchester, Hampshire, working with Colliers International’s retail team on the takeover of the former Jack Wills unit. It has a 10-year lease and is paying £185,000 annually for the space.

The brand currently has around 230 standalone stores globally, with 13 in the UK, six of which are in London. But it unveiled the new local concept last October when it the first store bowed in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. The next was in Kingston in the UK with the new Winchester store coming ahead of another that’s due to open in Oxford soon. A fifth local store will also open early this year although it’s not yet known where that will be.

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Colliers International’s Lloyd Entwistle said the Anthropologie rollout is a sign that “it’s not all doom and gloom on the high street. The brand has combined flagships in city centres, with online and a social offering, and this new local neighbourhood shop concept just adds to why retailers that provide a relevant customer experience, are those that are thriving. 

“Jack Wills went into administration in the summer and through early discussions we were able to sign up a new quality tenant very quickly. Landlords have to be on the front foot to secure the best solutions for their properties whether it’s a quality retailer as in this case or an alternative use”.