Harvey Nichols has temporarily paused online trading as it transitions to new ownership under Frasers Group.

The luxury department store’s website has been replaced with a holding message confirming that Harvey Nichols is “currently unavailable online”, while it completes a period of transition.

Harvey Nichols has told customers that orders placed and gift cards purchased before 13 August fall under the previous ownership structure. Refunds relating to those orders cannot be processed directly by Harvey Nichols, with customers directed to contact HNCustomers@fticonsulting.com. Orders placed from 13 August onwards will be handled under the retailer’s standard refunds and returns policy.

Stores remain open, with teams available to assist customers in person.

The move follows Frasers Group’s acquisition of Harvey Nichols from administrators FTI Consulting on 13 August. The deal includes the retailer’s six UK stores, its online business, existing inventory, international franchise agreements and more than 1,000 employees.

The retailer’s stores in Knightsbridge, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and Edinburgh are included in the transaction.

Frasers has said Harvey Nichols will require “significant restructuring” as it is integrated into the wider group, including a review of the store portfolio, organisational structure, operating model and cost base.

Frasers Group chief executive Michael Murray said the retailer was “an iconic British institution with significant potential”, but warned that “meaningful change is needed” and that the turnaround could result in a smaller business in the near term.

The ecommerce pause marks one of the first visible changes under Frasers’ ownership, as the group begins reshaping the nearly 200-year-old retailer for a more sustainable future.

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