LOOKFANTASTIC is opening a new pop-up shop at the Trafford Centre this week, and shoppers can get up to 25% off their favourite brands.
For just three days only, the online beauty retailer – which was founded in 1996, and offers over 850 premium brands – is bringing its Summer Beauty Destination pop-up to the UK’s third largest shopping centre.
The pop-up shop will give shoppers the chance sample some of it best-selling summer products through a custom-made and built-in conveyer belt that’s set to be bursting with haircare, skincare, body care, sun care, and makeup.
Shoppers will be able to try out a range of top brands such as Drunk Elephant, Tan-Luxe, ICONIC London, Sol de Janeiro, La Roche-Posay, Beauty Works, Grow Gorgeous, Color Wow, Redken, Olaplex, Moroccanoil, NARS, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and so many more.
There’ll also be the chance to shop products from luxury Parisienne haircare brand, Christophe Robin, that you won’t be able to find anywhere else.
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Online beauty retailer LOOKFANTASTIC is opening a new pop-up shop at the Trafford Centre this week / Credit: LOOKFANTASTIC
“As the ultimate online beauty destination, we’re bringing the LOOKFANTASTIC experience to life at Trafford Centre,” said Keely Gough – General Manager at LOOKFANTASTIC.
“Being global players in the online beauty space for over 26 years and partnering with the world’s best beauty brands to serve millions of returning customers, providing an immersive shopping event is a fantastic opportunity for us to bring the LOOKFANTASTIC experience to life on the high street.
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“Our pop-up shop will provide a fun and engaging space for customers to experience and purchase a range of best-selling brands… [and there’s also be] special guests in attendance, as well as the hottest in-store discounts and product samples.”
Shoppers will be even be able to take home beauty freebies, and visit the selfie station for the chance to win a year’s supply of beauty products too.
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Shoppers can get exclusive offers and up to 25% off some of their favourite brands / Credit: Trafford Centre
The LOOKFANTASTIC in-house Pharmacist and beauty experts will be at the space to share expert advice, give out some product recommendations, tips, and tricks, and there’ll even live DJ entertainment from Hannah Lynch, Chaise Simon, and Shenice to put people in the holiday mode while they shop for summer essentials.
That’s not all either, as the first 100 customers to make a purchase at the LOOKFANTASTIC pop-up shop will also receive an exclusive LOOKFANTASTIC tote bag filled with a beauty box and branded merchandise – including summer holiday essentials such as a beach ball, fan, and a water bottle.
“We are excited to welcome LOOKFANTASTIC to Trafford Centre,” said Bruce Gardner – Director of Brand Experience at Trafford Centre.
“Featuring a unique blend of specialist face to face beauty advice, as well as an exciting conveyor belt display of products and instant win prizes, this activation is innovative and engaging for our customers.”
LOOKFANTASTIC’s Summer Beauty Destination will be at the Trafford Centre from Friday 15 – Sunday 17 July, and will be open from 11am – 8pm every day, except on Sunday when it closes at 5pm.
A huge free careers festival geared towards young creatives is coming to Manchester this week
Daisy Jackson
The Catch22 TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International are hosting a careers festival in Manchester this week, designed to empower young creatives.
The huge free event on Thursday 3 April will take over Aviva Studios, offering everything from speed mentoring to CV clinics to expert talks.
Attendees will be able to have a free headshot taken, meet employers and like-minded creatives, and generally get a feel for how to build a career in the creative industry.
The Career Festival will boost Manchester’s creative future by supporting the next generation of creators, investing in their skills and confidence.
It’s all geared towards young people aged between 16 and 24 who face challenges in finding sustainable careers within the creative industries.
On the day, attendees will be able to receive one-on-one career advice from top industry professionals in speed mentoring sessions, learning from experts in marketing, media, production and more.
They’ll also be able to network with organisations, training providers and employers including Crew gal, Walk the Plank, and Gate Films.
Expert talks will give advice on how to break into the industry, while a CV clinic will help to hone CVs into a stand-out that’ll get a foot straight in the door, along with free headshot portraits.
The Catch22 TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International careers festival. Credit: Mark Crayden Photography
And the whole time attendees will be surrounded by other creatives, building a network that could launch them towards their next big opportunity.
The TikTok Creative Academy, delivered by Catch22 and funded by TikTok, is a free employment program designed to provide vital support to young people aged 16-24 seeking to enter the creative industries.
It’s been specifically targeted towards young people who experience barriers to employment, whether that’s because of challenges like mental health and limited educational attainment, or involvement with the criminal justice system.
The programme itself has a free employment course, offers targeted supports, and opens the door to the industry, fostering networking and career development.
The Catch22 TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International careers festival. Credit: Supplied
It also offers practical skills development and emphasises creative abilities to help young people thrive.
Quote from TikTok Creative Academy Senior Service Manager, Hilda Dotsey: “At Catch22, we are acutely aware of the challenges that young creatives face when it comes to finding sustainable employment in the creative industries and we are about to mark the 1000th person supported into work, training or further education through TikTok Creative Academy.
“With lack of industry insight and experience cited as one of the key barriers to quality creative careers, it is fantastic to be partnering with Factory International once more.
“This event, which celebrates our third year of delivering the programme, will open up pathways for Manchester youth, linking up the next generation of creative talent with industry experts and Manchester’s top creative voices.”
The Catch22 TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International: Career Festival will take place at Aviva Studios from 1pm to 4pm on Thursday 3 April.
You can find out more about Catch22 and the services available HERE.
Inside The Black Friar as Salford pub unveils incredible floral display
Daisy Jackson
Spring has really sprung in Salford – legendary pub The Black Friar has just revealed a sensational makeover, with gigantic flowers sprawled across its frontage and a new seasonal menu to go with it.
The historic pub is celebrating the changing of the seasons with both a striking floral installation and a menu that celebrates spring and Salford in equal measure.
Most Mancs will by now have spotted the 4,000 flower-strong installation that now adorns the front of The Black Friar, with bright pink, yellow and purple flowers spilling from a gigantic pink tap.
And all those florals continue inside, with the pub’s Tavern – previously a cosy winter hideaway – now filled with trailing blooms and woodland installations, just off their award-winning garden.
Cheshire-based artist Kelly Louise Chapman is the woman behind this sensational transformation of the much-loved gastropub.
As for the pub’s kitchen, they’ve crafted a new very seasonal and very British menu, with plenty of nods to Black Friar’s Salford roots.
There are dishes like a Boddingtons braised ox cheek (the pub still proudly displays its Boddingtons sign outside), aged beef tartare, butternut squash and ricotta tortellini, and pan-roasted cod fillet.
Spring small plates at The Black Friar pubDelicious spring drinksInside The Tavern at The Black Friar
A popular item from the Valentine’s Day menu – the Cornish crab vol-au-vent – will be sticking around on the spring menu, along with an enhanced grill section that includes a lamb Barnsley chop cooked over coals.
Then for desserts, you’ll be spoilt with a banoffee knickerbocker glory, and passionfruit panna cotta.
And for drinks (because this is a pub, after all), The Black Friar has put together a range of seasonal drinks like a rose sangria sharer, and non-alcoholic sodas like kaffir lime and coconut.
Ben Chaplin, head chef at The Black Friar, said: “This new menu is all about celebrating the best of spring produce.
“We’ve carefully crafted each dish to highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients and bold flavours, adding new depth to our offerings while still delivering the comfort that will always be associated with The Black Friar.
“My top recommendation and personal favourite dish is the Slow-Cooked Boddingtons Braised Ox Cheek.”
Neil Burke, owner of The Black Friar, commented: “We wanted to bring a taste of spring to The Black Friar, inside and out. This floral installation will transform the space and bring sunshine and smiles, whatever the weather!
“My top recommendation on the new menu is the Cumbrian Spiced Lamb Scotch Egg. It’s EXCEPTIONAL.”
To find out more about The Black Friar and to book a table, visit HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
13th July 2022 
