Next to open first department store in Watford
Next is set to open its first ever department store style emporium that brings its fashion, beauty and home offer under one-roof.
The megastore’s arrival comes as Next moves towards a department store model. The retailer, which has long sold fashion and home, has been growing its beauty business and introducing an array of concessions in its larger stores. Its Oxford Street store includes Clarks, Paperchase, Hema and Costa Coffee concessions.
The retailer will relocate its current Next Beauty & Home store Watford Atria – which was one of its first beauty formats, opening in October 2020 – and will open a store almost three times as big at 94,000 sq ft in April this year.
The three floor store will have a 4,500 sq ft Victoria’s Secret shop adjacent, which will connect with the Next store but will also have its a separate entrance. Next acquired a majority stake in Victoria’s Secret’s UK arm in September 2020 after they plunged into administration.
A Next spokesperson said: “We are very excited to announce plans for our new and improved store at Atria Watford – a location where Next has already thrived for many years. The new unit will bring together the three elements of our offering in one place – fashion, home and beauty – for the first time, for our Watford shoppers to enjoy.”
Steve Gray, head of European retail asset management at Atria-owner Global Mutual said: “Next is a hugely important and long-standing tenant at the centre – and so we are really pleased to have supported them as they reconfigure their offering with us. We know locals and visitors will be incredibly excited by the new store.”
