H&M has finally brought its popular Home concept to Manchester, opening a new store at the Trafford Centre.
The shop has been given a complete overhaul and has expanded, adding in an entire department for homeware as well as its usual fashion sections.
The new-look H&M has less products on display to create a ‘warmer, more welcoming interior and relaxed environment’, which the retailer says is a UK-first.
Shoppers will finally be able to get their hands on H&M Home products in person, with everything from real plants to bath towels on sale.
There’s a new nursery section filled with pastel-hued soft toys and furnishings, and walls filled with curtains, bedding and rugs.
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H&M has also collaborated with locals in Manchester, like interior stylist @thenorthernhome_, who was chosen to style the new store’s dining room section.
H&M’s expansion manager Chris Clare said that the brand would be partnering with local businesses across the coming months, ‘proving how committed we are to Manchester and our loyal customers there’.
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He added: “We are also adding the extremely popular H&M HOME concept to the Manchester shopping agenda – which we know is loved by those in the city and region.”
H&M U.K. & Ireland country manager Toni Galli said: “The store will feature an open façade with no windows, creating a welcoming, modern and meaningful shopping experience where style, creativity and culture are celebrated.”
H&M opened its first UK store in 1976 and now has more than 200 shops across the UK and Ireland.
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H&M is collaborating with locals in Manchester, like interior stylist @thenorthernhome_. Credit: The Manc Group
It will continue its sustainability mission at the Trafford Centre store, including its Garment Collection and Recycling service – shoppers can bring in unwanted clothes and textiles to be recycled, in exchange for a digital voucher and Conscious Points.
Toni added: “We are super excited to be offering our customers a brand-new store at the Trafford Centre this Spring.
“Our aim is to offer our customers a modern and meaningful shopping experience were style, creativity and culture are celebrated, and we are confident that our new store at the Trafford Centre will offer exactly this.”
Zoe Inman, centre director at Trafford Centre, said: “The H&M reopening and expansion is such an exciting opportunity for Trafford Centre, we’re delighted to house H&M’s first of its kind concept store and design across the world.
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“The expansion of bringing H&M HOME to the centre will enhance our customers’ shopping experience and strengthen the fabulous home and interiors offering.”
Featured image: The Manc Group
Shopping
Parents praise Aldi for new ‘inclusive’ dolls with birth marks, vitiligo, hearing aids, and more
Emily Sergeant
Parents are praising Aldi for a new range of inclusive children’s dolls that have visible birth marks, hearing aids, and more.
The budget supermarket retailer is known and loved for its range of limited-edition ‘Specialbuys’ on offer each week down its legendary middle aisle, with many flying off the shelves and selling out just as quickly as they arrive, and fans flocking to their nearest store to get their hands on a bargain.
But this week, one of Aldi‘s most recent ‘Specialbuys’ range has seen it receive plenty of praise from proud parents.
Shoppers have taken to social media to share their reactions to the retailer’s new range of Little Town Plush Dolls, which all represent those with a range of different health conditions.
With 12 unique dolls to choose in the inclusive range, some of the conditions represented include those with birth marks, vitiligo, hearing aids and cochlear implants, glasses, and many more – each setting you back just £6.99.
Complete with a magnetic dummy, these plush dolls are designed to encourage care and nurturing for little ones, Aldi says.
Having taken social media by storm since appearing in stores nationwide, one TikToker shared an adorable video of their little girl playing with one of the new dolls, and wrote in the caption: “Thank you for helping my daughter, amongst many others, feel seen. The birthmark/visible differences community is so proud, and so grateful. I hope you know how much of a positive impact you have made for so many children.”
Aldi has been praised for its new ‘inclusive’ dolls with birth marks, hearing aids, and more / Credit: Simon Hadley (via Aldi UK)
Another Instagram user also said: “A shout out to Aldi who are selling dolls for children who don’t usually get a chance to have a doll that looks like them.”
“Seeing yourself represented in a children‘s toy for the first time, and immediately buying it for your future children,” a third satisfied shopper also said on Instagram this week.
As with all Aldi ‘Specialbuys’, once the dolls are disappear from shelves, they’re gone forever, so if you’re keen to get your hands on one, you’ll need to head to your nearest Aldi as soon as possible.
Featured Image – Aldi
Shopping
A fifth of Brits have apparently already started doing their Christmas shopping
Emily Sergeant
A new survey has revealed that a fifth of Brits have apparently already started doing their Christmas shopping this year.
As much as many of us find ourselves running around the shops like headless chickens on Christmas Eve in a bid to buy all those last-minute gifts we forgot, on the flip side of that, we all know a few organised people who like to get their presents bought and wrapped well in advance so they can enjoy a relatively stress-free festive season.
But is October just a bit too early to start? Apparently not for 21% of Brits
According to a new survey by American Express, a surprising number adults who celebrate or shop for Christmas in the UK have already started buying things for the festive period.
A fifth of Brits have apparently already started doing their Christmas shopping / Credit: Heidi Fin (via Unsplash)
The survey found that, when it comes to present inspiration, nearly half (47%) of Christmas shoppers will be getting gifting ideas from their loved ones themselves, while more than half (56%) of the Gen Z age group surveyed claiming they’ll be looking to social media ads, and influencers and content creators, for suggestions.
There’s also varying responses when it comes to the type of presents people are planning to hand out this Christmas – with 87% of respondents saying will buy physical gifts, but 37% choosing to purchase experiences instead.
And it’s not just presents for others on the agenda either, as the research showed that almost a quarter (23%) are planning to get gifts for themselves too.
It’s all according to an interesting new consumer survey / Credit: Lore Schodts (via Unsplash)
Of course though, while many people have already got a head-start on Christmas shopping this year, it seems there’s a good chunk who’ll still be leaving it late.
Four in 10 survey respondents admitted they will probably only finish their festive gift shopping with just one week to go before the big day, while one in 10 (10%) did reveal they will likely risk leaving it until the day before they give them out.
“As we approach the festive period, it’s no surprise to see Brits getting prepared,” explained Dave Edwards, who is the Vice President of Demand Generation at American Express, “with more than 20% of respondents having already started their festive shopping.”