2023 saw a resurgence in the high street, with a raft of high-profile store openings.
Retail Gazette rounds up the best new stores of the year that have created a real buzz on the high street.
HMV, Oxford Street
To the delight of music – and er, pop culture fans – last month HMV reopened the doors to its Oxford Street flagship after a four-year absence.
Spanning across three floors, the 10,500 sq ft space houses the music retailer’s extensive vinyl, CD, DVD and now vast array of pop culture merchandise.
The store, which stocks over 35,000 products, also includes a performance space on the first floor, which promises to host big acts going forward.
The opening marked an important milestone in HMV’s turnaround under Canadian retail mogul Doug Putnam, but was also an important development for Oxford Street.
The district is vying to return to its former glory with many vacancies and downmarket tenants blighting the famous shopping street.
The fact that HMV replaced an American candy shop, which was trading from its former iconic store, was heartening for many.
Sephora, Westfield London
Back in March Sephora returned to the UK after a 17 year absence, opening its flagship store in Westfield London, White City with those wanting to be the first inside facing seven-hour long queues.
The beauty retailer’s 6,000 sq ft store houses a range of products from makeup to fragrance, skincare, haircare, and wellness and over 140 big-name brands including Drunk Elephant, Summer Fridays and Fenty as well as exclusive brands to Sephora UK such as Makeup by Mario and Ariana Grande’s R.E.M Beauty.
The store also features a Grand Beauty Hub, which the business said will “provide memorable experiences for customers”.
Boots Beauty, Battersea Power Station
Earlier this month Boots unveiled its first ‘Boots Beauty’ store at Battersea Power Station in London.
The new 11,200 sq ft shop houses 250 curated beauty brands across skincare, cosmetics, body care, hair care and fragrance catering to all budgets, including R.E.M Beauty, Kerastase and more.
Customers can watch regular masterclasses hosted by leading beauty brands, and visit a Beauty Bar delivering free express services from specialists.
The store also houses a Hair Bar that offers a professional scalp analysis service for support with hair damage and thinning hair.
The sole focus on beauty is a big step for Boots, which has been reinventing its beauty offer in stores for the past few years.
It also shows that the health and beauty retailer is geared up to take on Sephora, which is ramping up its UK expansion.
Footasylum, Oxford Street
Back in September Footasylum opened the doors to its flagship store at 73-89 Oxford Street, housing 100 motion screens to provide an ultra immersive in-store experience.
The 20,000 sq ft store, trades across two floors, with additional customer service and click-and-collect lockers located in the store’s basement.
Footasylum chief executive and chair, ex-JD Sports boss Barry Bown, told Retail Gazette the Oxford Street site was a brand-building store.
“The new flagship store will take the Footasylum brand, which is all about ‘defying ordinary’, to the next level.”
“I can assure you the store will be a fantastic shopping experience. Throughout my career I’ve overseen the launch of hundreds of stores, and this really will be the most impressive retail space I’ve ever had the pleasure of working on,” he said.
The new flagship store is the latest in a line of Footasylum site openings, as the company continues its ambitious expansion programme.
Uniqlo, Covent Garden
This Spring Uniqlo opened its 1,450 sq m joint store with Theory in Covent Garden.
Located in the heart of the famous shopping district with entrances on Long Acre and Floral Street, the three-floor store houses the fashion retailer‘s menswear and womenswear offering.
The Grade II-listed former Victorian carriage hall features an open courtyard and vaulted glass atrium and also hosts its repair and reuse re.Uniqlo station and its first in-store cafe.
Sainsbury’s, Hook
Sainsbury’s superstore in Hook makes the cut due to its big step forward in energy efficiency.
The 25,000 sq ft store, which opened in May, uses just half the energy of a similar-sized store and 25% less electricity than its most energy-efficient supermarkets.
It operates using 100% renewable electricity without relying on any fossil fuels.
The store also now contributes to the grocer’s target of becoming water-neutral by 2040, with low-pressure bathroom taps and rainwater harvesting, setting the standard for future Sainsbury’s superstores.
On, Regent Street
As the activewear trend continues to trend throughout 2023, back in February sportswear brand On opened the door to its first UK store on London’s Regent Street.
The fast-growing brand lets in-store technology showcase its high performance sportswear and trainers, with both a robot leg and wind simulator on the shop floor.
Other technology featured within the flagship includes a wind simulator that shows how its windproof, water resistant jackets perform under the elements and more robotic arms that show how the shoes soles and cushioning work.
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Flannels and Sports Direct, Gateshead Metrocentre
Back in September Frasers Group opened its new “revolutionary” stores for both Sports Direct and Flannels at Gateshead’s Metrocentre.
The 50,000sq ft Flannels flagship on the ground floor boasts an expansive new luxury fashion collection from brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford and Vivienne Westwood, as well as contemporary brands such as Amiri, Off-White, and Palm Angels.
Its new 50,000sq ft Sport Direct store features specialist sporting areas for running, football, and outdoor, across men’s, women’s and kidswear. It also includes Sports Direct’s new Running concept that it debuted at the Manchester flagship.
Lego, Battersea Power Station
This May Lego opened the doors to its Battersea Power station store as it continued to ramp up its retail expansion plans.
The retailer’s first London branch south of the river boasts a wide assortment of Lego sets for children and adults as well as an interactive Battersea-inspired Lego mural and a 3D model of the power station.
Interactive stations, from build your own figurines to play tables, are featured throughout the store. Shoppers can also find individual Lego bricks and elements on the Pick-A-Brick wall.
Lush, Glasgow
Just in time for Christmas, Lush opened doors to its largest store in Scotland and one of its largest stores globally this month on Buchanan Street in Glasgow.
Extending over the building’s basement, ground and three upper floors, the 20,000 sq ft shop features “experiential concepts” including a Shampoo Bar, Lush parties, and skin and hair care consultations for visitors as well as a vegan coffee shop.
The retailer’s first Scottish anchor store also sells new products such as Lush lifestyle goods including clothing, cosmetic bags, pins and soap dishes.
An additional floor hosting the store’s Scotland-themed Lush Spa will also arrive in February next year.
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