Primark has shops at both ends of London’s Oxford Street
(Picture: Getty Images)Black Friday is famous throughout the world as day of bargain hunting and deal chasing. This year, one of the UK’s favourite retailers has used it to announce some major spending plans of its own.
Primark, the discount fashion house, will invest £140 million in its chain across the country, which includes stores at each end of London’s Oxford Street. It will open at least four new shops and create of 850 jobs.
The new outlets will take the company into Bury St Edmunds, Craigavon, Sailsbury and Teesside Park. In Bradford and High Wycombe, it will move to higher profile locations. It will also refit its existing stores, including new LED lighting to reduce its carbon footprint.
Having long depended on traditional in-store sales, Primark has this year made more use of the internet. While it does not offer home delivery, it has a stock checking facility and is running a trial of click and collect in 25 stores in the north of England and Wales.
The cut-price, fast fashion chain is making the investment at time when the cost-of-living crisis highlights its appeal to hard-pressed consumers. Selling slim-fit jeans for as little as £8 and two-pack T-shirts for £6, it now has over 190 stores in the UK, including one at each end of London’s Oxford Street. It employs 30,000 people nationwide and is part of the Associated British Foods conglomerate.
Paul Marchant, chief executive at Primark, said: “Busy towns and cities benefit us all – we want to see thriving high streets and shopping centres where people come together and enjoy spending time. Through today’s investment, we’re playing a part in ensuring that UK retail continues to grow and thrive and give people another reason to visit their local high street.”
