UK. The Nuance Group has extended its current retail deal with Center Parcs UK until 2018. As part of the new contract, Nuance is adding eight shops to its current portfolio and is rolling out a number of new speciality concepts. These include Just Kids, a children’s fashion and toy shop and The Store Room, a home and giftware concept featuring lifestyle brands such as Cath Kidston, Emma Bridgewater and Orla Kiely.
Following the news that Center Parcs is to build a fifth site at Woburn in Bedfordshire, Nuance has revealed that it will operate a further six new stores at this location when the development opens in 2014.
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The Store Room (above and below) is a home and giftware concept featuring a range of lifestyle brands |
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Center Parcs CEO Martin Dalby said: “We are delighted to be expanding our extremely successful partnership with The Nuance Group, and we are very excited at the prospect of working together when our new village at Woburn Forest opens in 2014.”
The Nuance Group CEO Europe Andrea Belardini said: “Having begun our collaboration with Center Parcs UK some four years ago, we are very pleased to be reaffirming our partnership through this new long-term agreement which will enable us to develop and deliver an evolving portfolio of unique retail experiences for the foreseeable future. Over the past two years we have made a significant investment in our speciality offering, and are using this knowledge to create an innovative and exciting environment that is reflective of, and supports, the exceptional leisure experience at Center Parcs.”
Nuance has had a longstanding presence in the UK, having gained a foothold almost 40 years ago when the company opened its first UK airport shop at London Heathrow. The company started operations at Center Parcs in 2008 with 16 stores across four UK locations (Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire; Elveden Forest, Suffolk; Longleat Forest, Wiltshire; Whinfell Forest, Cumbria) offering a range of fashion, sportswear, swimwear and sunglasses.
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Just Kids is a new concept being rolled out by Nuance across the Center Parcs retail estate |
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Following today’s announcement, Nuance will operate 30 stores spanning five Center Parcs Villages by 2014. The company’s UK business also operates duty and tax free shops, brand boutiques and concept stores at seven UK airports, employing around 400 staff across its UK retail operations and regional office near Southampton.
“The expansion of our Center Parcs portfolio also reflects our commitment to developing and investing in our UK operation. When you combine this with the dedication and professionalism of our local team, this ensures we will continue to provide our customers with an engaging environment and outstanding shopping experience,” added Belardini.
Nuance’s core and speciality business across Europe includes more than 200 stores in 36 countries. During 2011-2012 the Group will invest around CHF20 million in its European operations, refurbishing or developing more than 14,000sq m of retail space across its portfolio.
In the coming months Nuance will also debut a number of developments. These include a major transformation of its Portuguese operation adding four new speciality stores (Ralph Lauren, Montblanc, Ferragamo and Ermenegildo Zegna), complementing the new walk-through duty free store opened last month. Elsewhere, it will complete the refurbishment of Antalya’s T2 core and speciality offer and expand its flagship Zürich duty free offer by another 600sq m, adding luxury beauty boutiques and a confectionery shop-in-shop concept.
