New Look (company)

New Look Retailers Ltd
Private
Industry Retailer
Founded 1969
Taunton, Somerset,
United Kingdom
Founder Tom Singh
Headquarters Weymouth, Dorset, United Kingdom
Number of locations
 1,160 approx. (2014)
Area served
 United Kingdom
Ireland
Belgium
France
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait
Egypt
Bahrain
United Arab Emirates
Netherlands
Malta
Russia
Singapore
Thailand
Indonesia
Malaysia
South Korea
Poland
Azerbaijan
China
Russia
Germany
Bahrain
Saudi Arabia
Key people
 Anders Kristiansen, Chief Executive
Products Clothing Fashion
Revenue Increase GBP £1,147 Billion[1] (2008)
Increase £179 million (2008)
Number of employees
 30,000 (worldwide)
17,000 (UK)
Website www.newlook.com

New Look is a British global fashion retailer with a chain of high street shops.

History

New Look was founded by Tom Singh.[2] Since then the company has rapidly expanded and now operates across a chain of over 1,000 stores internationally, including Belgium, France, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, Romania, Malta, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, China, Germany, Russia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and Poland, and a staff of over 30,000. The group had a turn over of £1,147 million in y/e 2008 with profits of £180 million.[3] The company is owned by private equity groups Apax Partners and Permira, and founder Tom Singh.[4]

In 2008, New Look continued its expansion in the GBE and opened its largest store till then in Chicago One Shopping Centre. In February 2009, its 40th anniversary year, it opened its first store in Russia.[5]

In July 2010, New Look opened its 300th flagship store in Glasgow Fort Shopping Park. The store is a massive 18,000 sq ft (1,700 m2). It was built on the site of a former Borders store.

The largest New Look store in the world opened in Dublin, Ireland on 4 November 2010 located at the Jervis Shopping Centre.[6] It is the 29th New Look store in Ireland.

In 2004, after six years afloat, the company withdrew from the stock market and was taken back to being a privately owned business by founder Tom Singh and chief executive Phil Wrigley, and private equity investors Permira, Apax Partners and Quillian Investments.

On 26 April 2007, a fire occurred at a New Look branch in Oxford Street, London. The subsequent investigation revealed an extensive catalogue of failings relating to fire safety precautions and measures. The company subsequently pleaded guilty to criminal charges and on 25 November 2009, was fined a total of £400,000 with £136,052 costs.[7]

In 2010, the fines were upheld by the Court of Appeal.[8]

Promotions

In 2007 New Look launched its first advertising campaign for three years. The same year it used online advertising for the first time and launched its transactional website, which went live in December 2007 and currently carries womenswear, menswear, Generation 915 for teens, kids, footwear, accessories, lingerie, maternity, tall, petite and Inspire (sizes 18–26).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sunday Times, 29 June 2008.
  2. ↑ "New Look - Our Company". Newlookgroup.com. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  3. ↑ Sunday Times Top Track 100, 29 June 2008.
  4. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/jun/04/new-look-profit
  5. ↑ "Home". New Look. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  6. ↑ "Press Release - Biggest New Look Store Launches in Dublin". 24-7pressrelease.com. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "UK high-street firm New Look fined for serious breaches of fire safety | Fire News". TheBigRedGuide. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  8. ↑ "New Look Retailers Ltd v London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority [2010] EWCA Crim 1268 (16 June 2010)". Bailii.org. Retrieved 13 October 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to New Look (retailer).


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