SHEIN, the online retailer that’s saved many-a-birthday night out or hen do with its inexpensive fashion range, is going to pop up in Manchester next week.
The global fast fashion giant is teaming up with Klarna to visit the city centre on 23 September.
But this won’t be your average retail experience. The two businesses will have an enormous, bright pink bus parked up at Spinningfields Square.
There’ll be loads of freebies, like makeovers and snacks, and the chance to win prizes.
Inside the In Pink We Trust tour bus, there’ll be the chance to experience the world of SHEIN – something that’s normally solely online.
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The brand will showcase everything from knitwear to denim to partywear and accessory collections inside a luxurious walk-in wardrobe.
Then outside, a terrace area will be a haven for homeware, with SHEIN’s new home decor and appliances on display.
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The SHEIN x Klarna bus tour is coming to Manchester. Credit: Publicity picture
The first 100 visitors will receive a complimentary goodie bag filled with pink presents.
And there’ll be luxury pampering experiences available in the custom-built Glam Stop, from complimentary manicures to hair styling sessions using the SHEGLAM range.
To fuel your shopping? It’s free popcorn and candy floss from a pop-up sweet stall.
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SHEIN and Klarna will also install a Spin to Win and a retro arcade grabber, with tech gadgets and beauty buys up for grabs.
HELLO! magazine’s Fashion Monthly Editor Jill Wanless will host a Trends at Twelve talk to show how she’d style up her favourite SHEIN looks.
The whole thing will be soundtracked by DJs Kat Brown Sugar, Emma Rose, and Latoya Reisner.
SHEIN x Klarna’s In Pink We Trust tour bus will be in Manchester at Spinningfields Square from 10am to 5pm on 23 September.
One of Manchester’s biggest vintage shops to close after a decade
Daisy Jackson
One of the biggest and best vintage shops in Manchester has announced its imminent closure.
Thrift Shop, which is part of the legendary Cow Vintage family, has said that the landlord of its store has ‘chosen not to renew our lease’.
The beloved vintage shop has been in its spot just off Piccadilly Gardens for a decade, with colourful rails stuffed with pre-loved denim, coats, dresses, accessories, and more.
Ahead of its closure this week, Thrift Shop has announced details of a major closing down sale, aiming to get rid of all its stock.
Initially touted as two for £10 on all thrift items, they’ve now slashed prices even further and are offering three items for £10.
That does exclude their ‘premium’ items, where you can snap up big labels like Carhartt and Levi’s.
Sharing the sad news of its closure online, Thrift Shop Manchester wrote: “We are gutted to announce the closure of beloved Manchester store.
Thrift Shop Manchester is throwing a huge closing down sale
“Last week we found out our landlord chose not to renew our lease after over ten years in this unit.
“To bid our farewell, we’re doing a MASSIVE closing down sale to get rid of all stock !!!! All Thrift items will be 2 for £10 until our last trading day on 30th May!!
“We’ve absolutely loved serving you for all these years, so long, farewell and, as always, get thrifty.”
In the comments, fellow independent retailer Thunder Egg – which just had to move out of its Oldham Street store (but is still in Afflecks) – commented: “So sorry to hear this, retail landlords in Manchester are absolutely in their sh*tbag era right now.”
Thrift Shop Manchester will close for good on Saturday 30 May.
Demolition and regeneration plans for former Manchester shopping centre to begin next month
Emily Sergeant
Plans to demolish and regenerate a former shopping centre in a Manchester suburb are set to kick off from next month.
Following planning approval at the end of 2025, major plans to transform the former Chorlton Cross Shopping Centre into a ‘thriving’ new destination to live and shop are set to commence with demolition in the next couple of weeks.
If you’re unfamiliar with the plans for the new Chorlton neighbourhood, they include 262 one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, all with access to outdoor space through balconies and gardens, 53 affordable homes – with 49 of them being available for social rent – and around 3,500 sq metres of public open space with fully walkable routes and outdoor seating areas.
A mix of flexible retail spaces, including a new ‘Makers Yard’ suitable for smaller start-up businesses will also be included, alongside new tree planting.
Phase one of the project will involve the dismantling the former shopping centre and neighbouring Graeme House buildings.
According to developers, the first step will be to close the precinct car park at the end of this month, before new hoardings are installed around the site to close the area off to pedestrians and vehicles for safety reasons.
The demolition work is expected to begin in mid-June, and be completed by August.
Where possible, materials from the existing buildings will be reused during construction of the new neighbourhood in a bid to help reduce the number of vehicles needed to remove materials from the site.
“Demolition marks another major milestone for the project, which will completely transform the former shopping centre,” commented Georgina Lynch, who is the managing director at Manchester-based developers, PJ Livesey.
“Our demolition contractor will carefully manage any issues throughout the work, and we will continue to stay in regular contact with local residents and businesses as the demolition progresses.”
Daisy Jackson -
14th September 2023 
