21 September 2007
RIYADH -- The UK's favorite fashion chain, New Look, has made its foray into Saudi Arabia with its first store at the popular Hayat Mall in the capital city. The new 21,498 square feet store, which will offer for the first time the real European fashion wears for Saudis and expatriates of all age groups, was inaugurated amid great fanfare marked with laser shows and ingenious choreography of colors, songs and sounds.
"The New Look store brings to Riyadh the real European fashion for the first time," said Neelesh Bhatnagar, CEO of Al-Bandar Trading here on Wednesday night. The opening ceremony was attended by a number of top executives, fashion and retail industry representatives and newsmen. Vittal Prabhu, Al-Bandar's chief operating officer, Mofareh Abdullah Al-Jahbali, Al-Bandar's general manager and Mukesh Goswami, general manger for New Look's Saudi operation, were also present.
Bhatnagar said "a total of 14 New Look stores at a cost of millions of riyals will be opened in Saudi Arabia before March 31 next year."
Al-Bandar's counterpart Dubai's Landmark, which has franchise rights for New Look in the Middle East, has in fact announced a plan to open 40 stores in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Jordan. "The technical support for operating these stores will be provided by the UK's New Look headquarters," said the CEO.
Spelling out the salient features of the new store, Steven Hubbard, general manager of New Look (Dubai-based Landmark) said "this store is offering a full selection of New Look ranges including ladies wear, footwear, accessories, fashion wear for teenage girls, menswear and kidswear." "It has brought to the Saudi gentry the latest fashion trends and designs affordably, and the new collections will come every week," said New Look's General Manager Mukesh Goswami.
"Growing as fast as its teen customers, New Look retailers sell apparel, lingerie, shoes, and accessories in the Middle East, the UK, Belgium and France," said Al-Bandar executives. New Look targets teens (pre-teens) and their mums with budget-priced clothing. Most of its products are private label. Since its launch in the UK in 1969, New Look has developed a range of affordable fashion that has made it the UK's third largest women's wear retailer and the largest footwear retailer.
With over 550 stores across the UK, 16 in Ireland and seven in France, New Look has teamed up with Al-Bandar to expand in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East countries. In addition to high fashion for the style conscious customer, New Look's range provides trendy yet comfortable fashion for everyone, mainly for young generation. In France the firm operates some 230 Mim stores following its buyout of the Mim chain there.
RIYADH -- The UK's favorite fashion chain, New Look, has made its foray into Saudi Arabia with its first store at the popular Hayat Mall in the capital city. The new 21,498 square feet store, which will offer for the first time the real European fashion wears for Saudis and expatriates of all age groups, was inaugurated amid great fanfare marked with laser shows and ingenious choreography of colors, songs and sounds.
"The New Look store brings to Riyadh the real European fashion for the first time," said Neelesh Bhatnagar, CEO of Al-Bandar Trading here on Wednesday night. The opening ceremony was attended by a number of top executives, fashion and retail industry representatives and newsmen. Vittal Prabhu, Al-Bandar's chief operating officer, Mofareh Abdullah Al-Jahbali, Al-Bandar's general manager and Mukesh Goswami, general manger for New Look's Saudi operation, were also present.
Bhatnagar said "a total of 14 New Look stores at a cost of millions of riyals will be opened in Saudi Arabia before March 31 next year."
Al-Bandar's counterpart Dubai's Landmark, which has franchise rights for New Look in the Middle East, has in fact announced a plan to open 40 stores in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Jordan. "The technical support for operating these stores will be provided by the UK's New Look headquarters," said the CEO.
Spelling out the salient features of the new store, Steven Hubbard, general manager of New Look (Dubai-based Landmark) said "this store is offering a full selection of New Look ranges including ladies wear, footwear, accessories, fashion wear for teenage girls, menswear and kidswear." "It has brought to the Saudi gentry the latest fashion trends and designs affordably, and the new collections will come every week," said New Look's General Manager Mukesh Goswami.
"Growing as fast as its teen customers, New Look retailers sell apparel, lingerie, shoes, and accessories in the Middle East, the UK, Belgium and France," said Al-Bandar executives. New Look targets teens (pre-teens) and their mums with budget-priced clothing. Most of its products are private label. Since its launch in the UK in 1969, New Look has developed a range of affordable fashion that has made it the UK's third largest women's wear retailer and the largest footwear retailer.
With over 550 stores across the UK, 16 in Ireland and seven in France, New Look has teamed up with Al-Bandar to expand in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East countries. In addition to high fashion for the style conscious customer, New Look's range provides trendy yet comfortable fashion for everyone, mainly for young generation. In France the firm operates some 230 Mim stores following its buyout of the Mim chain there.
M. Ghazanfar Ali Khan
© Arab News 2007
