Hippy-chic fashion retailer East is eyeing up overseas markets to fuel expansion, as well as embarking on an aggressive opening strategy within the UK.
Its first international standalone will launch at the recently opened Dundrum centre in Ireland next year, and other European cities are also being considered. East development director and co-founder Jonathan Keating said: 'We are beginning to look abroad and are very interested in Ireland. It has been a booming industry for years - but hard to get into.' He would not say how many international shops are planned, but expects 80 to 90 standalone stores in the UK in three years. East's 45th store will open in Reading at the end of this month.
The 2,000 sq ft (185 sq m) outlet will carry the latest design, which Keating said has evolved organically. 'There is a lot of steel, wood and glass, but our clothing has so much detail and colour, so we have to be careful not to overwhelm,' he said.
The first concession opened at Brent Cross last month. By next February, East will have two more concessions at Fenwick department stores in Newcastle and Canterbury.
Since April 1, the retailer's sales were up 11 per cent on a like-for-like basis.
No comments yet