G-Star RAW continues UK retail expansion with store at Intu Metrocentre

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Oct 23, 2018

Denim brand G-Star RAW has agreed terms with shopping centre owner Intu to open its latest store at the giant Intu Metrocentre in Gateshead as part of the retailer’s plan to expand across the UK.

The 2,454 sq ft store location opens later this month in one of Northern England's premier shopping centres and also follows the brand recently signing up for a 2,500 sq ft space at Intu Lakeside further south in Essex. It has an existing store at Manchester Arndale and the company has also just opened at the new Icon Outlet mall in South London suburb Greenwich.

Kate Grant, regional managing director, north, for Intu, said the “destination offers retailers high footfall combined with long dwell time,” which has led to more flagship openings recently.

Importantly too, the mall has a strong mixture of shopping and leisure tenants which feeds into the current trend for consumers to seek more shopping mall experiences rather than just places to shop.

Meanwhile, Mary Doumtsi, general manager UK, for G-Star RAW, said the local area is “a really important market for us.”

Other brands to recently sign up to the retail mix at Metrocentre include FatFace and Skechers.