Fortnum & Mason to auction rare artifacts

Fortum & Mason, arguably London's most luxurious department store, in association with Bonhams, is to auction some of its store's treasures in September as part of its 300 th anniversary celebrations. The sale will auction exquisite pieces from The Fountain Restaurant, where collectors can find historical gems such as chandeliers, fixtures, paintings and other one-off items. Bonhams will further host a series of celebratory exhibitions featuring highlights from Fortnum & Mason's prestigious art collection this autumn.

The exhibition will travel to five Bonhams locations across the UK, commencing in Edinburgh on 31 August 2006, followed by dates in Leeds, Knowle, Chester, and Bath, before transferring to Bonhams' Manhattan salerooms in New York on 13 November 2006. The Fortnum & Mason Collection is normally housed in the famous store at 181 Piccadilly, London, but due to extensive refurbishment of the building, the safety of the paintings became paramount.

Proceeds of the auction will go towards the store's ongoing refurbishment.

www.fortnumandmason.com
www.bonhams.com
29 May 2007

Fortnum & Mason in revamp

Luxury department store Fortnum & Mason is reinvigorating its fashion floors and will further introduce a new perfumery and accessories department, set to open early May. Representing the best of British, the retailer, which have held Royal Warrants since the 1800s, is a treasure trove of exquisite products, ranging from food, to beauty to accessories. The refreshed accessory department will be brimming with new and exclusive lines that will complement time-honoured favourites, such as Lulu Guinness, Philip Treacy, Wilbur & Gussie and J & M Davidson.

The arrival of Anya Hindmarch bags- a staple amongst London's fashion set – promises to be met with particular glee by those browsing the department. Her recent “this is not a plastic bag' campaign has been a hit with London celebs, and is a snip at just

The jewellery department has long been one of the store's very best kept secrets but there is little doubt that with the opening of the new second floor it will be stepping into the spotlight. Contemporary designers such as Nathalie Costes have been selected – her signature being a long string of colourful beads which guarantee to add a dramatic twist to an outfit. Alongside designers such as Sarah Ross, Lalique and Jewellery by Divine – each item chosen for its individuality.

Elegant hats, umbrellas, fans, gloves, scarves and fabulous lingerie will be available in abundance on the new Second Floor. Fortnum & Mason was established in 1707 as a grocer's shop. Since then they have come to define the essence of British luxury.

www.fortnumandmason.com
27 February 2007

Fortnum & Mason facing tough losses

Sales are down and costs are up at the infamous department store. Recently the company reported a trading loss of £1.3m.
Sales are down 3.1% on 2003/4 which is due in part to the closure of certain departments ahead of the £24m refurbishment of the Piccadilly store, which begins early in 2006. A new international strategy has shifted the focus to a smaller (but growing) number of exclusive partnerships. Additionally, investments in product development, brand packaging and a new website (www.fortnumandmason.co.uk) have pushed the year's profit figures into the red.

Commenting on these first results since her appointment as managing director in February this year, Beverley Aspinall said “We have entered a period of change designed to equip Fortnum & Mason for the future, and this exciting vision requires high levels of focus and investment.

“We have set about revitalising the way in which we work with like-minded partners internationally; we have created a fantastic new website which after three months is already trading 30% up against last year; and we have just announced how we are going to be spending £24m on the flagship store in Piccadilly in time for the company's 300th anniversary in 2007.

“We have completed an in-depth review of the business and the core strengths that support it, and have entered a period of vigorous rejuvenation and investment. We are positioning Fortnum's as a fountain of ideas for food, wine, celebration and entertainment for those who seek the very best.
“Fortnum & Mason is a fabulous business known the world over – the management of the company and customers alike are fortunate that Fortnum's has been owned by the Weston family for over 50 years and that they are investing in it so significantly as it enters its fourth century.”

Fortnum's forgets fashion

Fortnum & Mason may not have been a London destination for fashion, but it did offer an array of product from Missoni to Armani. New plans to modernise the Picadilly store will see its fashion offer removed altogether under new managing director Beverley Aspinall, who joined the business earlier this year.

A new central atrium will be created, and the fashion department replaced by an expanded food department. At the same time, new products such as Fortnum & Mason-branded gourmet ready meals will be launched. Most of the retailer's clothing offer will be dropped, with only lingerie and accessories retained.

20 April 2005

Fortnum & Mason @ Heathrow

Fortnum & Mason, the luxury department store, is set to open a new airport outlet at Heathrow Terminal Two this week. The new shop will offer favourite items from the retailer's classic range, including everyday essentials such as Royal Blend tea, English honeys, Rose Petal Jelly and the celebrated Rose & Violet creams.

For the traveller in search of a quintessentially English gift, the range will include tea caddies, Georgian-inspired Easter eggs and, naturally, the famous Fortnum & Mason Champagne Truffles.

The shop combines traditional Fortnum & Mason design cues with the clean lines of a modern retail space. The classic trademark on beautiful reeded glass featuring the clock from 181 Piccadilly takes up one whole wall of the new shop, contrasting brilliantly with the rich dark walnut of the floor and shelves.

Traditional afternoon tea is represented in the form of a table, complete with starched white table cloth, all carved from corian, and forming the centrepiece of the shop. The Fortnum & Mason experience will come alive through regular tastings and seasonal promotions, designed to reflect the ambience of the flagship Piccadilly store.

This March also sees the opening of a second Japanese Fortnum & Mason store in Nagoya, building on the success of its Tokyo outlet. Both openings are within flagship Mitsukoshi stores.

Beverley Aspinall, managing director, said: "Fortnum & Mason is one of the world's best-known brands and we have a clear strategy to develop our international business, enabling us to sell a wider range of products to an international audience both at home and abroad. It has been our ambition for some time to develop our own branded outlets in the international travel arena and we are delighted to be opening our first airport shop."

16 March 2005

Fortnum & Mason Open In Tokyo

Fortnum & Mason has opened its new flagship store-within-a-store in Tokyo. This has resulted from the joint venture between the upmarket London store and Mitsukoshi, Japan's leading quality retailer, first announced earlier this year. The new venture sees the launch of Fortnum & Mason Concept Shops in Japan. This first shop is located in the food hall of Mitsukoshi's newly extended flagship Nihombashi store. Plans are confirmed to open a second within the Mitsukoshi Nagoya store in the spring of next year.

This week's opening marks the first stage of Fortnum's international development strategy, devised to strengthen and grow its export business. The new approach will see Fortnum & Mason operating a smaller number of exclusive arrangements in its key markets, maximising brand impact and penetration, improving cost effectiveness and efficiency, and enabling Fortnums to sell a wider range of products abroad.

The new store, which adapts Fortnum & Mason's brand values for the Japanese market, will supply around 250 products, including teas, preserves, condiments and groceries, imported from the Piccadilly store. The new shops will also diversify the Fortnum offering to include a tea shop, bakery and take-away lunch service, as well as stocking products locally licensed and manufactured in Japan.

19 October 2004

Fortnum & Mason Director Resigns

Fortnum & Mason managing director Stuart Gates has resigned, citing health reasons. Finance director Les Collins and operations director Cathy O'Neill will split Gates' duties until a replacement is found.

Gates' departure comes at an important juncture in the 300-year-old retailer's history, because last month it outlined major international expansion plans. The first phase was the formation of Fortnum & Mason Japan (FMJ), with Japanese department store Mitsukoshi. Gates, along with Collins, was due to sit on the FMJ board, but the venture will be unaffected by his departure.

Profitability at the Piccadilly store was dented last year by the restructuring of its international business in preparation for the new overseas retail model. Fortnums believes the retail approach will be easier to control than the previous wholesale model. Sales at the Piccadilly store are running 8 per cent ahead in the financial year to July.

14 June 2004