Harrods celebrates ‘Way In' 40th

This month ‘Way In', Harrods cutting edge department is celebrating its 40 th anniversary. Customers can expect a series of limited edition products from brands such as Sass & Bide, Jean Shop and Fender and receive presents with any purchase from Mikey, French Connection, Karen Millen. Coast offers a necklace and earring set with any purchase over 150. All packed up in the limited edition shopping bags with the redesigned Way In keyhole logo.

The young fashion department Way In targeted on 16-30s year old and was launched on 7 th June 1967 . It stocked trendy men's and womenswear, shoes, jewellery, cosmetics, greeting cards and books. To appeal to a younger crowd Way In had its own juice and sandwich bar with live DJs playing records, which were available in the music shop.

Ten years later the department made the headlines with stocking the bound breaking French string bikini. In 1987, architect Eva Jircna revamped the fashion floor with modern neon lighting and a high-tech interior. The last two decades American brands proved to be very successful and a wider range of labels like All Saints and Warehouse were offered on the shop floor.

For its 40 th anniversary Way In hosts several events for its costumers. On August 25 th Karen Millen's new collection is showcased and on September 6 th a celebration evening is taking place in conjunction with fashion magazine Glamour, featuring live DJs and the latest collections.

Image Dance Wearmoi
www.harrods.com/wayin/home.html
21 August 2007

Harrods launch designer kidswear

Luxury department store Harrods has opened a new designer room, but this time for children. Upscale brands such as Armani Junior, Dior, Ralph Lauren and D&G Junior are displayed in a new 2,000 sq ft retail space.

Kirsty Vinten, childrenswear general merchandise manager, said the sector has been growing very healthily at Harrods for the past eight years and the retailer wanted to expand space and put premium brands together in one room. "The idea was to create a mini-me department for people who are shopping for womenswear and menswear at Harrods," Vinten told WGSN. "Two-to-10 year olds is the key market for us, which is why we focused on that age group."

Harrods will be relaunching its babywear department during spring/summer 2008 as this is another area growing very strongly. Vinten says babywear grew 40% last year and is already up 35% this year.

www.harrods.com
24 May 2007

Fayed awards himself £72m dividend

The owner of Harrods, Mohammed Fayed, has paid himself and his family a £72 million dividend as sales of luxury goods increased. Sales for the year came in at £513.5 million, up from £492.3 million the year before, pre-tax profits gained 17 percent to £22.3 million. Sales of fine jewellery rose 11 percent, women's wear sales gained 9.3 percent and beauty products climbed 7.8 percent.

Last year, Fayed paid himself a £39 million dividend, signifying a marked increase in his payout this year. Still, the company claims that refurbishments are on track and investments “running into the tens of millions.” Contrary to expectations, the London bombings had little effect on the results, despite the fact that Harrods is a major tourist destination. Fayed said he was “excited about the prospect of a very successful year with our key Christmas and January sale periods still to unfold.” The strong results run contrary to the overall retail market, with experts predicting a tough trading environment over the holidays. However, analyst Richard Ratner at Seymour Pierce said that the luxury goods sector was proving more resistant to a downtown.

www.harrods.com
30 November 2006

7 For all Mankind at Harrods

Tonight sees the official opening of the 7 For All Mankind shop-in-shop in Harrods. The famed jeans label opened the concession - which is operated by retail partner Joseph Ltd - in September, but today both chief executives of the European and US businesses will be in attendance. Covering 47 square meters, the shop exudes a relaxed Californian atmosphere, with architectural details of brick and wood. Shoppers can try on the jeans with the help of strategically placed mirrors, through which they can easily see their rear view and choose the fit that suits them best.

Exclusively for Harrods, the label has designed the ‘Black Lightening' jean. With a price tag of approximately €230, the black denim jeans feature lightning logos embroidered on the back pockets, gold buttons and have the same legendary cut that the brand became famous for. The line will be launched as a limited edition, with only 500 jeans for sale. A spokeswoman for the brand could not reveal whether other similar openings are in the pipeline.

www.7forallmankind.com
25 October 2006

Anything possible at Harrods

Harrods is launching a new Anything Is Possible At Harrods initiative to take advantage of its shopping space and promote is 330 different departments. The iconic department store will offer customers the chance to see their dog get married in an official wedding ceremony, take a cooking lesson with the first head chef of the Ritz Paris, or join in a trunk show from designers like Versace, Michael Kors and Lulu Guiness. For a mere £12 you can take a tour of the food halls and sample all the different goodies available. Or you can have anything you wish wrapped by the store’s Wrapology department. The initiative is set to run form 10 September to 21 October. On Tuesday, however, the festivities kicked off with the unveiling of a dress made entirely of wrapping paper, designed by Basso & Brooke. It symbolizes what Wrapology is capable of. “By putting our print on paper people can interact with us even more closely and share our designs through a different medium,” Vogues reports the duo as saying.

www.harrods.co.uk
16 August 2006

Harrods launch Bodymetrics

Shoppers who have trouble finding clothes that fit perfectly or have a have a penchant for bespoke quality should head to Harrods. The luxury department store will launch a made-to-measure tailoring service using Bodymetrics software, which produces a digital virtual replica of the customer.

Designer brands Vivienne Westwood, Nick Tentis and Holland Esq. will be the fist labels on offer from September. But be warned, the computer never lies. You may find the measurements are not as low as you'd hoped they be. Service prices start at £750.

www.harrods.com
25 July 2006

Harrods at Heathrow

Terminal 5 is set to be the new luxury wing of Heathrow, with Harrods possible opening a small format store. The company is understood to be the favourite to take a 12,000 sq ft site that airport operator |BAA has as the retail centrepiece of the development. Property sources have been told about plans for he high-profile unit and said Harrods was in pole position to open its first store selling fashion outside of Knightsbridge in London. BAA is understood to have also considered the likes of Selfridges and Harvey Nichols for the store, although neither is thought to still be in the running.

BAA UK Airport Retail managing director Colin Hargrave confirmed the group was in talks with Harrods, but would not reveal the format of the store. Hargrave said, as quoted in this week’s Drapers Record: “Harrods is an important business partner of ours and we have Harrods stores in a number of our terminals already,” he said. Harrods’ existing g airport stores are small and sell gifts and souvenirs, but the T5 store has been conceived as fashion-led.
BAA’s retail team is in discussion with a number of fashion retailers over 200,00 sq ft of retail space at the terminal, although non have been signed. Gordon Ramsayis opening a restaurant in Terminal 5 and the retail offer is likely to be similarly upmarket. Luxury accessories business Tod’s and US chain Brooks Brothers are also understood to be in discussions to take space in the development, which is due to open in spring 2008.
BAA appointed former Selfridges designer womenswear buyer Hazel Curry as head of category fashion and accessories in November 2004. Part of her remit has been to look at ways of offering space to smaller fashion brands that could not support their own airport stores.

16 June 2006

Harrods creative director departs

Susanne Tide-Frater has resigned as creative director of Harrods after 18 months in the post. The former creative director of Selfridges, Tide-Frater joined the luxury department store in September 2004.

Tide-Frater, who has already left the company, will continue to work on several projects for the coming season.

Harrods will not find a replacement for the role, rather creative direction will fall under the responsibilities of the store’s general managers.

19 May 2006

Ralph Lauren opens in Harrods

Harrods in Knightsbridge have opened a shop-in-shop for Ralph Lauren, the preppy American lifestyle label. The 3,000 sq ft space is dedicated entirely to womenswear and is called the Ralph Lauren Collection. The range, exclusive to Harrods in the UK, also features the Ralph Lauren Black Label, which is new this season.

Harrods further stocks Ralph Lauren Blue Label, Ralph Lauren Polo Jeans as well as menswear, childrenswear and homewares.

Harrods appoints new Managing Director

Michael Ward has been appointed the new Managing Director of Harrods, the luxury department store in Knightsbridge. Ward joins from private equity firm Apax where he was a partner in the retail and consumer practice.

Ward has previously been chief executive of Lloyds Chemists, and group finance director for Bassett Foods and HP Bulmer Holdings.

Ward replaces Richard Simonin who left his role as chief executive of Harrods in January last year.

Possible strike at Harrods

Iconic London department store Harrods may suffer a strike if it does not agree to talks over workers' pensions. Worker's union Amicus, which represents about 100 engineers and maintenance workers, warned that the store would face a “damaging” strike, accusing it of closing its salary pension scheme to members without proper consultation.

The union said that if the engineers and maintenance staff went on strike, it would result in the closing of the store.

It will question its members this week about the possibility of a strike ballot against Harrods owner Mohamed Fayed. Amicus said that it has offered a number of alternatives to solve the problem, but Harrods refused to negotiate and was planning to implement a new scheme.

www.harrods.co.uk
13 March 2006

Harrods open Louis Vuitton concession

Luxury department store Harrods has opened a Louise Vuitton concession this week. The 2,000 sq ft space is in the International Designer Room, where other brands such as Chanel, Prada and Gucci have their concessions.

The first Louis Vuitton concession was opened in Selfridges in 2004.

Harrods has been revamping its fashion offer and is becoming more direction and forward, rather than just luxe and high-end. The Harrods menswear floor is seeing a complete overturn of its brands, which now include Raf Simons, Dior Homme, Missoni and Balenciaga.

Luxury brands support Harrods

The iconic London department store Harrods reported a 20 percent rise in pre-tax profit for last year, thanks to the strong performance of luxury brands. The store said that it was confident

Harrods owner Mohammed Fayed said that the rise in pre-tax profit from £19.9 million to £23.9 million and a sales increase to £492.3 million from £472.5 million last year was due to a better mix of brands and further investments in the store.

“With our busiest two months of the year still to come, we are already outperforming last year,” Fayed told the FT. He said that women's wear and men's wear sales rose 9 and 5 percent respectively last year and were experiencing “comparable uplifts” for the year to date.

Harrods has added a new luxury room and has increased the amount of opening hours of its food hall. The opening of its new in-store French patisserie, Laduree, two weeks ago has proved to be a great success. Another in-store restaurant is in the pipeline for next year, bringing the total number of cafés and restaurants to 25.

Harrods has, however, admitted to having been affected by the July bombings, but said that “confidence is returning”.

www.harrods.com
4 December 2005

It may be an odd preoccupation, but many a pet owner dreams of that perfect peacoat or cashmere cardigan….for their pet. And retailers are only stimulating this eccentric hobby. For its Truly British celebration, Harrods is holding a Pet-a-Porter event, during which dogs will be dressed by big designers like Vivienne Westwood, Philip Treacy, Sara Berman and Ronit Zilka and will trot down a 60 foot runway. A brochure featuring all the “mutt-haves” will be launched as well and to celebrate the event, guests will be served champagne, canapés and doggy bags.

The event will take place on 15 September, from 8-10 pm. Tickets are available at £25 through Liz Westcott on 020 7225 5662.

www.harrods.co.uk
5 August 2005

Goddess Di Milo

The weather isn't what it should be and we all deserve a little pick-me-up. Time to head up to the first floor of Harrods for a visit to the Jasmine Di Milo boutique. August sees the space that the label shares with other hip brands like Aimee Williams and Carlos Miele playing host to Ingrid Col lins, bespoke perfumier, who will create your signature scent, Geri Sullivan, astrologer and tarot card reader, who offers a blue-print reading service.

Extra goodies include plenty of champagne and jasmine and mint tea. The first 100 customers were presented with an LA Psychicgirl Protection Pendant to bring them “fun, fashion and a whole new level of spiritual awareness”.

8 August 2005

By Appointment

Harrods has stepped up its top service by introducing a new By Appointment department. This personal shopping division caters to the shoppers every whim, from beauty to fashion, accessories, fine jewellery, furniture, art, antiques, crystal and sports.

By Appointment, which opens this Thursday, will be run by Sukeena Rao and a team of personal shoppers. They intend to build personal relationships with their clients and assist them in all their needs.

The new department is located on the first floor of the Knightsbridge store and provides a luxurious space for various events like trunk shows, private viewings and product launches. The services of a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce will even be available, if required. "By Appointment will showcase the range and diversity of Harrods product offered," said creative director of the store, Susanne Tide-Frater. "Clients will be assured complete discretion and every opportunity to indulge themselves. It will be personal in the true sense of the world, located in an amazing environment, where service is paramount."

www.harrods.com
15 June 2005

Former Harrods boss in legal dispute

Former Harrods chief executive Richard Simonin has launched a legal action against the London store and its flamboyant owner Mohamed al Fayed. Simonin was at one stage credited with almost doubling the store's profits to £20m during his brief tenure. After his sudden departure in February, Simonin is now claiming £300,000 in damages.

Harrods said the action is 'groundless'.

10 April 2005

Harrods by appointment

From June 1st, Harrods will launch its first personal shopping service for the discerning customer who may not have time to browse its vast array of product. The service, By Appointment, is free of charge and covers everything from fashion and jewellery to food, home furnishings and artwork.

Sukeena Rao, head of the 12-person shopping team and former head of personal shopping at Harvey Nichols, said By Appointment will be open to everyone - and there is no minimum spending requirement. "Customers make an appointment with one of our shoppers at the store, and can have everything wrapped and delivered on the spot," Rao said. A personal shopping suite, which is still under construction, will offer customers Krug Champagne and La Duree macaroons.

The store also will send particularly overburdened customers home in a Rolls Royce painted in Harrods' own shade of dark green. Rao said the store plans to extend the service to private viewings and trunk shows - as well as fist dibs on the season's hot items.

www.harrods.com
6 April 2005

Harrods A Personal Shopping Mecca

According to Drapers, Harrods is planning to offer an even more personal shopping approach in a bid to become the pillar of London department stores. The current personal shopping area of 781sq ft is to double to 1,558sq ft and will move to a new location on the first floor. The new space will house five personal shopping suites as well as two reception areas. Four IV, the design consultancy behind the Harvey Nichols stores in Manchester and Edinburgh, has been working on the project. It is being overseen by Harrods' personal shopping manager Sukeena Rao.

Harrods is spending around £500,000 on the improvements, which are due to be completed in May. Buying and merchandise director Nigel Blow said: "The whole service ethos is very important to Harrods, and we are always looking to take it to the next level. We are about more than just product and want to improve the environment that is part of the overall experience."

The changes are part of an ongoing overhaul of the store. The refurbishment of the menswear department will be completed this year, and the casualwear section on the ground floor will be extended, with more accessories being introduced. Like may luxury retailers, Harrods escaped the Christmas gloom that besieged many high-street operators, with sales in November and December up 5% on last year. Sales in December alone were up almost 10%, while the first day of the Sale was the most successful in Harrods' history.

www.harrods.com
drapersonline
24 January 2005

Harrods Celebrates Profits From Sale

Harrods has seen its most successful summer sale in the London store's history, taking GBP67.3m across the four-week promotion. The 4 per cent increase over last year's sale saw high demand for fashion, jewellery and accessories, with 'healthy double digit growth' in departments such as beauty, childrenswear, toys and food. The sale was opened by singer Christina Aguilera, whose appearance attracted hundreds of fans trying to catch a glimpse of the star as she browsed the exclusive store.

Harrods chairman Mohamed Al Fayed said: "Harrods' ongoing commitment to broaden its product ranges and further improve the shopping environment has contributed to these excellent results. We will always strive to find new ways of giving our customers the goods and services they want." Chief executive Richard Simonin said: Harrods has increased sales by 9.1 per cent since February 1 and is significantly gaining market share in London."

www.harrods.com
29 July 2004

Harrods Hits Out At Limited Store Card

Harrods has broken ranks with the rest of the retail sector by hitting out at the 'limited competition' in the store card market. The department store, owned by Mohamed al-Fayed, believes that long-term contracts with finance houses and the high cost of switching are major barriers to competition.

www.harrods.com
6 July 2004

Harrods Sees Rise In Profits

A higher demand for luxury goods has Harrods enjoying a run in profits Famous for its unlimited luxury goods offer, more high spending customers have seen the leading department store post a strong performance this season.

Pre-tax profits rose from GBP7m to GBP19.9m in the year to January 31, with record second-half trading at the landmark Knightsbridge store offsetting a tougher sales environment earlier in the year. Operating profit more than doubled to GBP33.4m on turnover of GBP472.5m.

Harrods said the business saw its strongest second half growth since the store was founded in 1849, with a year-on-year increase of 13 per cent in October alone. The store had suffered from the fall in visitor numbers after the terrorist attacks in the US, but has seen sales driven by greater demand for luxury goods, and insisted that only 25 per cent of its trade comes from tourists.

Harrods owner and chairman Mohamed al Fayed received a dividend payment of GBP27m. He said: "I am pleased to announce good progress for 2004 which has continued since the close of our financial year - with healthy double digit trading increases since last year. "This is testament to the unique Harrods brand and the quality of our employees who remain committed to giving our customers the products, service and shopping experience they have come to expect only from Harrods."

Changes initiated by new chief executive Richard Simonin included a revamped womenswear offer, featuring designers including Jonathan Saunders, Gharani Strok and Sophia Kokosolaki, and the introduction of new fashion brands like Rock & Republic. Vera Wang and Oscar de la Renta were introduced to the revamped evening wear department.

The second half of 2004 will see a complete overhaul of the menswear departments and a new international Room of Luxury, offering fashion accessories from brands including Jimmy Choo, Marc Jacobs, Valentino and Dolce & Gabbana.

www.harrods.com
21 June 2004

May is Magical At Harrods

Luxury retailer Harrods has launched the Harrods Fantasy Gardens promotion. The store will see a radical transformation for the month of May, with a magical garden complete with unicorn to complement the mood.

www.harrods.com
29 April 2004

Latest Harrods Director To Quit

The latest Harrods director, Xenia Carr Griffiths, who has been on the board since 1996 is to leave the luxury Knightsbridge store. In a similar bid, David Riddiford, merchandising director of Selfridges is leaving at the start of May to work for Lane Crawford, a Hong Kong department store. Selfridges has seen a string of executive changes since it was acquired by Canadian billionaire Galen Weston last year.

26 April 2004

Harrods Group Sees Profits Plummet

Pre-tax profits for Harrods Limited, the group that owns the London department store as well as concessions at London airports, saw a dramatic 68 per cent fall in pre-tax profits to GBP7 million in the 52 weeks to February 1 2003. Sales rose slightly from GBP458 to GBP461m. Harrods attributed the fall in profits to a world downturn affecting tourism and travel.

8 January 2004

Harrods Not For Sale

Selfridges owner Galen Weston may be eyeing Harrods to add to his growing department store interests, but Mohamed Al Fayed is not prepared to negotiate his prize asset. At the launch of Selfridges' superbrands room last week, Allan Leighton, a board director of Weston\s Canadian group George Weston, said the billionaire would be likely to look at the store if it were to come up for sale.

Weston wants to add to his portfolio which includes Brown Thomas in Ireland and Holt Renfrew in Canada. This week Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed told Drapers Record: "Harrods is the jewel in my crown, my pyramid, and I am here to stay. When I am gone Harrods will remain in Fayed family ownership and they will take over where I have left off. There is no price I would accept to sell Harrods because it is not for sale.

27 November 2003

Harrods Buyers Launch New Label

Two of Harrods' top buyers have left the Knightsbridge department store to set up their own fashion label. The brand, called Milla, is to be launched for spring 04. The duo teamed up with Paul Dass, brother of CCDK boss Barry Dass, who will be responsible for the label's production. The 35-piece collection will go on sale form September 1.

14 August 2003

Harrods to replace Rigelman

Harrods is close to appointing a new managing director, the fourth person to hold the post in less than three years, after Max Rigelman left in April due to "personal reasons and family circumstances." Rigelman's replacement is believed to be Richard Simonin, a member of the board at German designer brand Escada. One other possible candidate is Hamleys chairman Simon Burke, who is departing Hamleys following the Baugur buyout.

Harrods has suffered recently because of its exposure to the tourist trade as well as the other problems in central London, including the arrival of the traffic congestion charge.

23 June 2003

Harrods up for grabs?

Rumours that Harrods, the notorious Knightsbridge store owned by Mohamed Al Fayed, is for sale continue to circulate and be denied. Whoever takes on the luxury retailer will need a long-term strategy to return it to its former glories. At present the store stocks some of the best brands known to man, but lacks vision, and the overall retail environment does not do them justice.

A series of mis-investments has created a store without focus. Only seriously wealthy entrepreneurs have displayed interests in Harrods, but who might the next owner be? According to the Rich List printed by The Times earlier this year, Philip Green from Arcadia is one of the few to make a viable candidate.

19 June 2003

Rigelman leaves Harrods

After just four weeks on the job, Max Rigelman has quit as managing director of Harrods. Rigelman is the third managing director to leave the luxury Knightsbridge department store in just over two years. Harrods have stated that group finance director Steve Davie will assume the role of acting managing director of Harrods until a replacement is found.

Rigelman, who was also chief executive of footwear brand Kurt Geiger, replaced Marty Wikstrom, who left in March this year. Kurt Geiger was put on the market in February this year, but any sign of a sale was discarded following Rigerman's appointment at Harrods. Crispin Mardon, their former finance director, is now managing director of the footwear business.

May 2, 2003