M&S plans per una spin-off stores
Standalone offer for fashion brand as search for clothing head continues
January 30 2004
Marks & Spencer will open a stand-alone store spotlighting its per una fashion brand in Chelsea this summer.
The store in King’s Road, featuring the clothing label, developed for M&S by designer George Davies, follows plans to roll out a chain of furniture and homeware outlets, Lifestore.
Up to four per una stores could open this year, according to trade magazine[i] Drapers[/i]. The first of three initial Lifestore outlets opens in Gatehead in February. M&S is also looking for new locations for its grocery only Simply Food Stores.
M&S plans to put the standalone per una stores in upmarket locationa which would not support a full-range store. Per una has outperformed M&S’s general womenswear ranges over the past year.
As M&S continues its search for a new head of clothing, it has emerged that Jane Shepherdson, brand director of the Arcadia-owned young fashion chain Topshop, has turned down an approach from M&S.
Shepherdson said: “I am very happy working for Arcadia and being the brand director of the largest fashion brand in the UK. I have full autonomy to run the business and to decide its fashion direction and I have no intention of considering a move elsewhere.”
However Gillian Ridley, a senior womenswear buying at Debenhams, is to join M&S, working for Yasmin Yusuf, creative director for clothing, and Steve Longdon, womenswear director.
