Employees at Debenhams in Gloucester have been left wondering whether their jobs are safe after the retailer announced the closure of up to 50 stores this morning. After previously identifying just 10 branches, the company has now decided that a third of their department stores will be shut down, putting 4,000 jobs at risk across […]
BUSINESS
Digital high streets: the future of retail?
Cheltenham High Street’s McDonald’s branch is currently undergoing a refurbishment, but will reopen with more than just a lick of paint. Set to open its doors again on 23rd October, the fast-food branch will feature brand new digital elements with the aim of making the experience of ordering food much easier. Free standing self-service kiosks […]
Urban outfitters set to open late October
Urban Outfitters has set a date for opening its first store in Gloucestershire. The global streetwear brand will open its doors with a launch party on 23 October, as one of the largest shops in the refurbished Brewery Quarter. We can't wait for this! @UrbanOutfitters opening in #Cheltenham 23/10 – coming to @TheBreweryChelt adding to […]
Flagship John Lewis opens its doors in Cheltenham
John Lewis has unveiled its £23m store in Cheltenham. The retail group opened its doors to the public at 7:30am on Thursday, with the department store expected to channel business back into the town centre. Kevan Blackadder, head of Cheltenham’s Business Improvement District, said the opening was good news for all businesses. He said: “I […]
Coast clothing to go into administration
Popular fashion brand Coast is the latest high street chain finding itself in hot water, with 24 stores across the country set to close and a further 300 jobs put at risk. Despite the brand’s high street stores closing, department store branches will remain trading following a “rescue deal” by sister brand Karen Millen, a move that […]
What do the people of Cheltenham think about the new John Lewis store?
Today is the day the much-anticipated John Lewis store opened its doors to Cheltonians. We have had a sneak peek of the new £23m store which will offer the latest in high-end fashion, cutting-edge technology for the tech-savvy and it will be a haven for all the makeup lovers with loved brands such as Charlotte […]
John Lewis announces charity benefit
John Lewis has announced the first three local charities that will benefit from its Community Matters scheme. The charitable scheme allows Cheltenham customers to decide which of the three charities they would like to support by donating tokens provided after shopping. The scheme will run for 12 weeks from Thursday 18 October 2018 and will finish towards the end […]
Exclusive: John Lewis floor plans revealed
Department store John Lewis announced plans for a new store back in 2015, and it’s finally opening on Thursday 18th October. With a combined investment of over £30m from John Lewis, BlackRock and Cheltenham Borough Council, the High Street store will provide “more convenient access to [John Lewis’] inspiring products and great service”. What will the new floors look like? These exclusive plans for the […]
Diversity is changing the face of companies
More than half of firms in the FTSE 100 do not have any directors from an ethnic minority on their board, latest government-commissioned research shows. Of all the firms in the FTSE 100 index, only seven have boards where more than a third of directors are from ethnic backgrounds – and most of them have links to South […]
One size doesn’t fit all – Should local boutiques offer a full range of sizes?
It is no secret that high street shops use petite models to display their latest seasonal clothing ranges. Since 2010, clothing brands have started using a lot more plus-size models and using them in advertisements. Larger chains such as H&M are starting to use plus-size models and produce larger clothing items, but why are local […]