Oliver Bonas is a quirky lifestyle retailer founded in 1993 with nearly 80 stores in the UK. Selling jewellery, fashion and homewares, Oliver Bonas largely operates in high-footfall areas such as transport hubs, including train stations and airports across the UK. However, it avoids large city centres where stores could be overshadowed by bigger retailers. While its store portfolio is largely focused in London and the South East, expansion plans have meant its presence is beginning to grow elsewhere. The retailer has ambitions to become as recognisable for its designs as brands such as Cath Kidston. As such, its in-house design and buying teams have been developed in order to hone its brand identity. Oliver Bonas is also seeking to digitise its business, including investment in in-store tablets and creating Wi-Fi hotspots. International expansion is currently limited to online – Oliver Bonas operates transactional websites in the US and Ireland, but with the advent of Brexit, reliance on the UK market alone may change.
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