// Frasers Group opens first multi-brand store in Portsmouth
// Launch comes one day after Flannels announces ambitious 17 store expansion plan
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group will open a new multi-brand store in Portsmouth this Saturday in the Cascades Shopping centre.
Going against the grain of the majority of retailers who are looking to reduce their exposure to bricks and mortar stores, the 51,000 sq ft shop will feature Frasers’ new premium design.
It will also be the first to house Sports Direct, USC, Evans and GAME, as well as a Belong Gaming Arena, all under one roof.
“We are really proud to open a new retail destination in Portsmouth. Our next-generation stores offer customers the biggest brands in sportswear, sports equipment and fashion, all under one roof,” Frasers Group head of elevation Michael Murray said.
READ MORE:
- Flannels’ new Birmingham store marks start of 17-store expansion
- Frasers Group insists it did not break furlough rules despite allegations
“As we continue to grow throughout the UK, our ethos and commitment remains the same; we offer customers the biggest and best brands and unrivalled product choice.”
Yesterday Frasers’ Flannels group announced the opening of a new 12,000sq ft store in Birmingham.
It also revealed the group will open 17 new stores between now and the end of 2021, spearheaded by Murray.
The new Portsmouth store will also be the first to feature Sports Direct’s inclusive mannequins and a sustainability feature wall highlighting the current range of eco-friendly products on offer.
“This is a major part of Sports Direct’s brand elevation strategy that will see a huge investment in a number of new stores, while upgrading and improving existing ones across the UK. This is the strategic vision of the business as it aims to meet the demands of an ever more sophisticated consumer who is increasingly looking for only the very best brands and an enhanced shopping experience,” Murray added.
The launch comes as Frasers’ Sports Direct business faces criticism for allegedly asking some furloughed shop managers to shift stock from stores to depots at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic due to online demand.
Frasers Group has reportedly insisted that it did not break the rules after staff alleged that the group encouraged them to work while on the furlough scheme.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette’s free daily email newsletter
