UPDATED: Fashion store H&M set to open shop in Cumbrian town centre
Last updated at 12:32, Friday, 24 August 2012
Thirty jobs will be created when international clothing chain H&M opens in Workington town centre this autumn.
The fashion retailer will fill empty units opposite the Debenhams store in Risman Place, creating a mixture of part-time and full-time jobs.
The shop will sell women’s and children’s clothing across two floors.
Magnus Olsson, H&M’s country manager for the UK and Ireland said: “This will be our first store in West Cumbria.
“We hope that H&M’s business concept of fashion and quality will be well received by local residents.”
Martin O’Rourke, a director of Riddelltps Limited which manages Washington Square, said they had been working for several months with H&M to get them to the town.
He said: “We are always working hard to get new retailers to Workington.
“We certainly hope that this will bring more people in. They are a great name to have and a big pull for shoppers.”
The arrival of H&M means that the Washington Square development will be over 98 per cent full with only four or five small units left to fill.
Mr O’Rourke said they were in talks with other retailers to fill remaining empty units and they hoped to have one of them on board by next month.
H&M opened its first store in Sweden in 1947, selling women’s clothes.
It opened its first British store in London in 1976 and now has almost 2,600 stores in 44 countries.
On its website it says its concept is to “offer fashion and quality at the best price”.
Its quick turnaround of products makes it popular with shoppers.
It promotes instant fashion, with designs from the catwalk finding their way onto its shelves almost immediately.
The company’s larger stores sell clothes and shoes for women, men, teenagers and children, make-up accessories and homeware.
It has worked with a number of top fashion designers, including Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and Versace, and sells underwear designed by David Beckham.
First published at 12:39, Thursday, 23 August 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk
Lets hope they have a mens department because the one in Carlisle doesnt You have to go all the way to Newcastle.
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I don't want to be one to moan, but is there away for us to put it to h and m that maybe a men's department would actually be great and could actually strive as if you don't like Chav world (sports direct) and middle aged to old appeal (debahnams) there ain't anywhere to shop but yes it's great that there has been the opputunity for jobs
Posted by Whitehaven resident on 20 November 2012 at 01:57