Frasers Group, the retail conglomerate owned by Mike Ashley, is making strides in expanding its premium-to-luxury Frasers department store concept. The company is venturing into the Republic of Ireland and will be opening two new stores in Cork and Kildare in 2022. These stores will be taking over former Debenhams units in the Mahon Point Shopping Centre and Whitewater Shopping Centre, respectively. This move presents a lucrative opportunity for Frasers as prime locations for upscale department stores are often hard to fill due to their substantial size. As a result of these store openings, it is anticipated that a considerable number of jobs will be generated.
The inception of Frasers Group’s Frasers concept stemmed from the acquisition of the House of Fraser chain back in 2018. Since then, the company has been diligently working on elevating the premium image of its Sports Direct chain and expanding its high-end Flannels chain. While the Frasers chain is still relatively nascent, with its first location opening in Wolverhampton earlier this year, the company firmly believes in the immense potential for growth. The decline of other department store chains like John Lewis and the demise of Debenhams have paved the way for a myriad of opportunities in the market.
The forthcoming Frasers stores in Ireland are set to offer an extensive array of brands across multiple categories, encompassing fashion, beauty, accessories, designer kidswear, and sports. Additionally, these stores will also feature dedicated Sports Direct sections. The opening of the Sports Direct locations is slated for later this year, followed by the introduction of the Frasers branches early next year. Frasers remains optimistic that its premium-to-luxury concept will strike a chord with Irish consumers and play a vital role in revitalizing the department store industry in the country.
Useful Links:
1. Frasers Group Official Website
2. Debenhams Ireland Website
