Laura Ashley is returning to bricks-and-mortar retail by launching its first physical shop in five years.
The homeware brand will open a 10,000 sq ft store at Lakeside shopping centre in Essex on 26 September.
The flagship, which is being launched in partnership with Next and coincides with its founder’s 100th anniversary, comes after Laura Ashley collapsed into administration in 2020.
The new store is set to feature a homeware, a sofa shop and an interior design service.
The move comes after Laura Ashley was acquired by Ben Sherman owner Marquee Brands in January.
The deal saw the lifestyle retailer’s UK-based team retained as part of a strategy to expand Marquee Brands’ global footprint.
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Marquee Brands chief commercial and growth officer Rachel Terrace said: “Laura Ashley stores have always been destinations of inspiration, where consumers could explore and immerse themselves in the brand’s world of design.
“In partnership with Next, a leading retail partner for the brand, we are proud to reintroduce this experience in a refreshed retail concept. This opening represents a significant milestone in LauraAshley’s return to the UK retail market and signals the next phase of growth for the brand.
A Next spokesperson added: “We’re excited to be partnering with Marquee Brands to reintroduce Laura Ashley’s physical store presence in the UK.
“This new space offers customers the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the world of LauraAshley, discovering the wide range of collections available from interiors to womenswear and childrenswear, all within a fresh and inspiring environment, in one of the UK’s best retail locations.”
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