House of Fraser plans to set up shop out of town in bid to boost revenues
DEPARTMENT store chain House of Fraser is understood to be drawing up plans to open out-of-town stores.
House of Fraser has hired property agency DTZ to find out-of-town stores as precious city centre space becomes more difficult to find.
It would be the first time that the department store has opened stores outside city centre or shopping centre sites.
In October 2007 it was reported to have been considering opening smaller format stores called HOF.
According to reports this week the department store is considering opening in locations with the correct catchment area where it doesn’t already have a town or shopping centre store.
The size and format is not clear although Debenhams and John Lewis have both opened smaller store formats to combat the mothballing of property deals in town centres.
House of Fraser recently launched plans to breathe new life into the Biba label, which it bought in November last year.
Biba concessions will open in 61 House of Fraser stores nationwide by Spring. House of Fraser will look to return the brand to its roots, described by chief executive John King as “fashionable clothing at an affordable price”.