Member Article

Next unveils revamped Bluewater store

Clothing retailer Next has opened its upsized store at Bluewater, Kent, following a 10 month redevelopment.

The store has extended by 7,000 sq ft to 44,226 sq ft, bringing with it new ranges and product, allowing Next to completely reconfigure the store, significantly increasing the sales area.

In addition to new fixtures and fittings throughout, the store has revamped showrooms, a lingerie room and a petite offering on womenswear. Lipsy has also relocated to become a store-within-a-store, with its own entrance on the upper Thames Walk.

Commenting on the new store, a spokesperson at Next said: “We are very excited to be opening this extra space. It has been a long time since we had the store fully open and our customers have been very patient. The kids and home departments are even better than before and we have created in excess of 98 new jobs.”

The design, which has been developed in-house by Next in conjunction with Bluewater’s retail design and delivery team, relies heavily on the use of natural light. The southern elevation of the store contains a new section of full-height structural glazing, the first time the external fabric of Bluewater has been changed in this way.

Russell Loveland, Portfolio Director at Land Securities, co-owner and manager of Bluewater, added: “We are delighted to have worked closely with Next on this upsize, creating an exciting, refreshing and light new store. This new store is consistent with our strategy of ensuring Bluewater offers not only the very best mix of leading UK and international brands, but unique concepts.”

Next is the latest in a series of brands to invest in their stores at Bluewater, and follows redesigns by brands including Fraser Hart, Goldsmiths, The Body Shop and Hollister. In addition, Aveda, Kiko, STA Travel and Virgin Media have all opened new stores at Bluewater in the last three months.

CBRE and Time Retail Partners acted for Bluewater. Next dealt directly.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .