York | Archive | 2001 | May | 23
From the Evening Press, first published Wednesday 23rd May 2001.
HIGH street giant Marks & Spencer has signed up to become a major retailer in the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet's new phase of discount shopping.
The York outlet confirmed today that M&S is to take up a 9,000 sq ft unit in its new phase three development, where customers will be able to snap up cut-price bargains from July 12.
Products on sale, at discounts of 30 per cent and more, will be a mixture of excess stock and products from previous seasons' lines.
Marks & Spencer will join GAP, which will occupy 10,000 sq ft, and around 18 other as-yet-unnamed stores, in the new phase three section which has a total area of 48,000 sq ft.
Norma Middlemiss, manager of the designer outlet, said: "I'm happy to be able to announce that Marks & Spencer will be opening with us in our new phase three.
"I think having Marks & Spencer will attract customers from far and wide as they don't have very many factory outlets in the country."
A spokesman for M&S said it presently had three outlet stores in Kent, Cheshire and Scotland, and the York opening would be part of a new phase of four more such ventures. He said: "Since we began trading, our outlet stores have exceeded expectations and given us confidence to expand our operation. This is a growing part of the York retail scene and we're delighted to be involved in it.
"On sale will be products we would normally have in our sales.
"We can now take stock out of the stores to bring in new fresh lines.
"By the end of the January sales, for example, the stores can look a bit tired with a mixture of new and old stock and this will allow us to move out all the old stock and give us a clear selling space for our high street store, while offering some fantastic prices at the outlet."
The news came as Marks & Spencer bosses announced the company will be moving its corporate headquarters to west London in 2003 as its annual profits fell by £76 million to £81 million.
The retailer is moving its head office to Paddington, west London, after 44 years at Baker Street, in London's West End.
Marks & Spencer chairman and chief executive Luc Vandevelde said the move would help to encourage the "creativity" of the staff.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008