Sosandar is preparing to open its third store in the renowned Metrocentre, aiming to strengthen its presence in the retail market.
- The store, located in the bustling Platinum Mall, will join high-end brands like Jo Malone and Hobbs.
- Scheduled for an October launch, it aims to tap into the lucrative Christmas shopping season.
- Sosandar’s strategy targets top-tier locations where their customer base is robust, as evidenced by previous stores in Chelmsford and Marlow.
- Long-term plans include expanding to 50 stores within five years, with further sites under negotiation.
Sosandar’s strategic move to open a store in Newcastle’s Metrocentre marks its third physical store, following two recent openings in Chelmsford and Marlow. The new store will be situated in the Metrocentre’s Platinum Mall, a prestigious area that hosts high-end brands such as Jo Malone, Harrods’ H Beauty, and Hobbs. This expansion is part of Sosandar’s calculated effort to cement its position in top-tier retail locations.
The new store is slated to open in October, strategically aligning with the Christmas trading period, which is vital for retail sales. Sosandar’s leadership aims to capitalise on this peak shopping season to gain maximum visibility and consumer engagement. This opening follows the successful launch of its first two stores, which occurred in September, showing a rapid rollout strategy by the brand.
According to Ali Hall and Julie Lavington, co-CEOs of Sosandar, the decision to open a store in Metrocentre is based on stringent criteria. They emphasise that Sosandar prioritises thriving locations where its customer demographic significantly over-indexes, and Metrocentre meets all these prerequisites. Their comments underline a meticulously planned expansion strategy.
Ben Cox from CBRE, representing Metrocentre’s asset managers Sovereign Centros, regards Sosandar’s entry as an affirmation of the Metrocentre’s prominence in the North East and its overall strength within the UK. This endorsement reflects the anticipated positive impact of Sosandar’s presence on the shopping centre’s status and foot traffic.
Sosandar’s ambitious expansion plan includes a goal of establishing a total of 50 stores over the next five years. Currently, several potential locations are in advanced legal negotiations, with further sites identified for review. This bold growth ambition illustrates the brand’s confidence in its market position and future potential.
Sosandar’s new store in Metrocentre represents a strategic step in its broader ambition to expand across premier retail destinations.
