Copyright dailyrecord
Scottish fashion fans shoppers have been treated to some exciting news recently. Popular chain River Island has just opened the doors to a brand new revamped store. The high street favourite has officially relocated its site based in the Glasgow Fort to a larger, more modern 13,616 sqft unit. The move marks a milestone for the brand, as it is the largest ever in the country. Previously found beside Marks and Spencer and Mamas & Papas, the new and improved River Island is located next to fellow retailers Superdry and BPerfect. Its larger shopping space is said to provide more fashion inspiration and choice under one roof. Designed with River Island's signature style in mind, shoppers at the Glasgow Fort store can expect a large selection of womenswear, menswear, and kids' clothing, alongside features including interactive fitting rooms and seamless self-checkouts. River Island has become a staple on the high street, with popularity for its trend-led fashion collections that have been designed entirely by the firm's in-house team based at the West London head office. Privately owned by the Lewis Family and founded by Bernard Lewis in 1948, the beloved fashion chain has gone on to operate over 250 stores across 125 countries, with a strong online presence also boosting its popularity. However, the company has been hit with some difficulties lately, with plans confirmed to close a total of 33 stores across the UK following mounting heavy losses due to a slump in trade. Among the list of locations said to permanently close are six across Scotland, with its branch based on Edinburgh's iconic Princes Street officially shuttering for good on September 5. Like many high street retailers, River Island's bosses said that it was struggling following a switch from in-store shopping to online, alongside higher costs of running stores. Gemma Scarfe, Digital & Marketing Director at River Island said: "We’re thrilled to be opening our biggest Glasgow store at Glasgow Fort. This exciting new space means we can showcase even more of what River Island has to offer, giving customers a fresh and elevated shopping experience." Phil Goodman, Centre Director at Glasgow Fort, said: "The opening of a new, larger store comes at the perfect time, with fresh season collections arriving and customers looking for the latest style inspiration. "River Island has always been a popular choice with visitors, so we’re excited to see the new space come to life as the brand’s largest Scottish store to offer shoppers even more of what they love." The arrival of the biggest River Island in Scotland is another exciting addition to the Scottish high street, as we have reported on multiple other openings that have managed to fight against the wave of closures also happening. There's been multiple openings for Glasgow alone recently, with luxury dessert brand Snowflake Gelato making its Scottish debut at the Braehead Shopping Centre last week, while lifestyle brand Oliver Bonas confirmed a new opening for Silverburn, marking its sixth in Scotland . Meanwhile, budget supermarket giant Lidl has revealed that it would like to open 66 new stores across the country as part of its expansion plans, with a mix of town centres, retail parks, and standalone sites included on the list of locations.
