Republic is to trial multichannel services from September as part of plans to accelerate the business following its sale to private equity house TPG for £300m.

The fashion retailer will work with its EPoS provider Torex and ecommerce platform provider Venda on the pilot in eight stores.

It will see the retailer compete with New Look and Aurora Fashions’ fascias, which also have multichannel service plans.

Republic head of IT Nick Rennardson said the vision is to offer more than click-and-collect, for instance taking orders in-store which could be delivered to a customer at home.

TPG bought Republic, which has 105 stores, from Change Capital. It posted annual sales of more than £200m in the year to January 31.

Change Capital is eyeing further opportunities in retail and fashion, with a pot of €200m (£166m) to spend on acquisitions. Managing director Steve Petrow said: “We’d probably like to see about five to six [acquisitions] in Western Europe.”

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