Department store chain Selfridges opened its London flagship in 1909 and now operates three other regional outlets – two in Manchester and one in Birmingham. It was created by Harry Gordon Selfridge with the aim to make shopping a leisure activity and bring consumerism to the UK. The department store has focus on beauty and fashion, and is famed for its window displays, especially at Christmas. In 2019, Selfridges completed a £300m investment programme to overhaul and modernise its store, with a focus on drawing in younger customers, creating experiential retail and “authoritative category destinations”. Compared to London competitors Liberty and Harrods, Selfridges holds a more domestic customer base, reflected in its mix of luxury and mainstream brands, as well as regular pop-up stores within stores. It released its shoppable app in 2016, and relaunched its website in 2014, driving its multichannel capabilities. Growing the online business internationally is a key aim for its future.
Luxury fashion rental platforms Hurr and My Wardrobe HQ both unveiled pop-ups in two of the most famous department stores in London.
Selfridges boss Simon Forster has left the business after just over a year at the helm.
Department stores have suffered a dismal few years. Once-loved names such as Debenhams and House of Fraser are in the emergency room after their administrations and profits have evaporated at bellwether John Lewis.
Selfridges has posted an uptick in Christmas sales as demand for vegan food products and beauty services buoyed trading.
Patrick Blower’s take on Selfridges opening a permanent cinema in its iconic Oxford Street store – and what films it might put on screen.
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