Iconic interiors brand announces plans to open new store as part of Hanningtons redevelopment
15 June 2018: Habitat has announced it is to launch a new Brighton city-centre store in October 2018. At 6,500sqft it becomes Habitat’s third largest store in the UK and forms part of Redevco’s redevelopment of the old Hanningtons department store on North Street. This marks the first new major stand-alone city-centre store that the brand has opened in 10 years.
Designed by the Habitat Design Studio, the new store design will be housed across two floors on ground and basement levels of 23-25 North Street, and will offer around 3,000 Habitat products across furniture, lighting, textiles and accessories. The new store will feature striking wrap around store-front windows leading onto The Lanes and will include an installation and events space which will house regular workshops, talks and installations from local collaborators.
“Habitat opened one of its first stores here back in 1969 so we’re thrilled to be returning to a city that has a lot of historical love for our brand,” comments Clare Askem, Managing Director of Habitat. “Returning to Brighton’s high street has always been a passion project for me so we’re delighted it’s the first new high street store that we’re opening and in such an important new development. This city has always had its own unique atmosphere which we wanted to make central to our return so we’re thrilled to be working on a collaborative project with local artists from the area to launch a celebratory collection of products especially for Brighton for when we open in October.”
Redevco started redeveloping the 1.3 acre site, which includes the former Hanningtons department store or ‘Harrods of Brighton’, in February 2017. The masterplan for Hanningtons Estate includes the creation of a new Lane, a new entrance to the Lanes from North Street, premium residential and office accommodation and the reconfiguration of existing shops to provide exciting new spaces for retailers, restaurants and cafes. Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.
Andrew Foulds, Portfolio Director at Redevco comments, “Our vision for the North Street element of Hanningtons Estate was to extend the premium retail offer already found in East Street and attract completely new brands to Brighton. There are few brands that are as well-known or quintessentially British as Habitat. Launched by Sir Terence Conran in 1964, the retailer has always led the way with affordable, contemporary and stylish homeware.”
“It complements existing retailers such as Cath Kidston, Kurt Geiger, Flying Tiger, Sandro, Maje, Bobbi Brown and White Company perfectly. We also have deals with other exciting brands in solicitors’ hands, not just for North Street, but for the smaller units within the new Hanningtons Lane. Here the mix will be smaller, quirky but premium retailers, mixed with local names that Brightonians will be familiar with.”
June is LGBT Pride Month, and to mark the occasion Rainbow Cities have created a guide to the most LGBT-friendly cities in the UK.
The Government has announced details of a new £8 million fund, designed to improve the productivity and performance of small businesses in England.
Boosting national productivity and increasing workers’ earning power forms a key part of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy. To address the country's productivity challenge, the Industrial Strategy focuses on the five foundations of productivity:
The Business Basics Fund, operated by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in partnership with Innovate UK (IUK), will help businesses, charities, trade bodies and public sector organisations to support small businesses in adopting tried and tested technologies and management techniques. The aim is to unlock £100 billion of untapped benefit to the economy.
Once the projects are launched, the Government will then work with leading experts to evaluate the effectiveness of each project in boosting productivity, helping to inform future policies.
The programme will have a total budget of £8 million over its lifetime. There will be a total of £2 million available in the first call.
Small Business Minister Andrew Griffiths said:
"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, with more than 1,000 new businesses starting up every day, and it is vital that we support them to grow through our modern Industrial Strategy.
"The Business Basics Fund will test new and innovative ways of supporting small businesses to take advantage of technologies and management practices – giving small business leaders the tools and support they need to continue to thrive."
Details about the funding available, the application process and further guidance can be accessed via IUK's online Innovation Funding Service.
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Additionally, many companies expect their suppliers to have carbon footprint data or ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems. Others are more visionary, wanting detailed strategies in the circular economy or aligning to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
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