Marks & Spencer is set to expand its presence with the opening of two new flagship stores in Bath and Bristol, backed by a significant investment.
- The Bath location will see a £17m investment as M&S relocates to a larger space at the Southgate shopping centre.
- The Bristol flagship, situated in Cabot Circus, involves a £21m investment and anticipates creating up to 150 jobs.
- These openings are part of M&S’s broader store rotation strategy aimed at enhancing their retail footprint across the UK.
- CEO Stuart Machin emphasised the importance of situating stores in optimal city centre locations to enhance customer experience.
Marks & Spencer has announced its ambitious plans to expand its retail footprint with two new flagship stores slated for Bath’s Southgate shopping centre and Bristol’s Cabot Circus shopping centre. This decision forms part of a bold £38 million investment strategy, underlining the retailer’s commitment to revitalising its brick-and-mortar presence across the UK.
In Bath, M&S will relocate from its current Stall street location to a significantly larger site, occupying 83,000 square feet within the former Debenhams space at Southgate. This move, representing an investment of £17 million, is set to provide existing employees the opportunity to transfer to the new store.
Meanwhile, in Bristol, Marks & Spencer is making a notable return to the city centre by establishing a new 80,000 square feet flagship within Cabot Circus. The Bristol project, supported by a £21 million investment, is expected to generate approximately 150 new employment opportunities, further invigorating local economic activities.
These flagship openings are integral to M&S’s ongoing store rotation plan, which seeks to refine the company’s strategic focus by ensuring stores are optimally located. The retailer plans to open up to four new full-line stores and nine new food halls within the current fiscal year, demonstrating a substantial reinforcement of its commitment to serving its customers more efficiently.
Stuart Machin, the CEO, highlighted the success gained from previous relocations in cities like Liverpool and Birmingham, which have attracted new clientele while reinforcing the strategy to proceed aggressively with the store rotation programme. As part of this initiative, M&S intends to maintain its reputation for providing an exceptional shopping experience by placing stores in prime locations that will potentially inspire and excite customers.
The strategic expansion of flagship stores in Bristol and Bath marks a significant step in M&S’s effort to enhance customer engagement through better store placement.
