News: OUTFIT fitout planned for Parkgate

The Arcadia Group, the UK's largest privately owned retail group, are planning to re-brand their Rotherham outlet as an OUTFIT store.

OUTFIT is a chain of out-of-town retail stores offering a wide selection of contemporary, high-street fashion brands, all under one roof.

The new 19,000 sq ft store at Parkgate Shopping will be in the existing Burtons, Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Evans unit and Arcadia brands including Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge, Oasis and Warehouse will be added to the store.

It is estimated that the store will have an annual turnover of £5.6m and recruitment of staff is underway. Plans have also been submitted for new signage.

OUTFIT launched in Nottingham in 1995 and became part of the Acadia Group in 1999. Over the last five years the business has had a growth rate of 50% and further stores are planned.

The Arcadia Group has more than 2,500 retail outlets and enjoyed a total group pre tax profit of £133.1m for 10/11. They closed their Burtons and Dorothy Perkins store in Rotherham town centre earlier this year.

Discount retailer, Poundland, was the latest store to move to Parkgate Shopping, opening in November and British Land, the owners of park, are also proposing to make some minor amendments to the only vacant unit that is next to the Pure Party outlet.

Electronics retailer, Best Buy is still trading but they announced that it would close their 45,000 sq ft store by the end of the year as part of the decision to close all 11 of their UK stores.

Parkgate was recently named as the third best retail park venue in the UK in rankings released by retail consultancy, Javelin Group.

Arcadia Group website
Parkgate Shopping website

Images: arcadiagroup.co.uk