More UK retail work in store

Two retail chains looking to strengthen their position in the high street have announced their intention to refurbish store interiors and open new sites.

French Connection and Debenhams are carrying out a total of 17 store modernisations this year.

Din Associates will be responsible for all French Connection’s interiors work. A French Connection spokeswoman comments: “We are refurbishing the five stores up to the standards of the Regent Street and King’s Road branches.” Both were designed by Din Associates.

The chain, which has 29 existing sites in the UK, nine outlets in the US, and one each in Norway, Japan and Taiwan, is seeking more sites in Europe and the US.

Meanwhile, Debenhams has a shortlist of interior designers for its new store in the White Rose Shopping Centre in Leeds, and for modernisations to a dozen existing sites.

A spokeswoman for Debenhams declines to confirm who is on the shortlist, although Fitch designed the interiors for the most recent store which opened in Crawley in November. Fitch will only say that it is working on a number of projects for Debenhams.

It is understood that Debenhams, which is owned by the Burton Group, is also considering opening new stores in Inverness and Barrow-in-Furness, as well as expanding its site at Romford.