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
Stockport lad lands ‘world’s sweetest job’ as Aldi’s new Easter egg taster
Emily Sergeant
A young lad from Stockport has just landed himself the “sweetest job” in the world, as he’s been chosen as Aldi’s newest Easter egg taster.
It’s hard to see someone else live out your dream… but on the eve of what is undoubtedly one of the most chocolate and sweet treat-filled holidays of the year, a five-year-old from Stockport has been revealed the Aldi ‘Chief Easter Egg Tasting Officer’ for 2024.
And it really does sound like the “world’s sweetest job”, to be fair.
Little Levi Hallows has beaten hundreds of hopeful applicants to become the supermarket‘s newest recruit in-charge of easting Easter eggs.
As he assumes his new role, chocolate lover Levi will receive a selection of Aldi’s Easter eggs in exchange for reporting back his thoughts to the company’s Buying Team, and his feedback will be valuable, as it’ll help guide what goes on shelves for Easter 2025.
A Stockport lad has landed the ‘world’s sweetest job’ as Aldi’s new Easter egg taster / Credit: Aldi UK
The cracking job generated hundreds of special entries on social media from all across the UK, with applicants sharing videos as to why they were right for the role.
Levi caught the attention of the judges after submitting a video entry where he sang a song dedicated to the role of a lifetime, and can be seen holding his favourite Aldi chocolate bar and belting out the words: “Do you have a sweet tooth? I do! I’ve had it since I was a boy!”
As well as being a massive chocolate fan and having a long-time sweet tooth, Levi is also a budding Karate star, and has a keen interest in all things outer space too.
Levi says he’s “so excited” to have been chosen for the coveted role and “can’t wait to taste the eggs”, before going on to add: “My mum and grandparents are very proud of me, and I can’t wait to tell all my friends at school.”
Five-year-old Levi Hallows will give his feedback to help Aldi’s Buying Team curate their 2025 Easter collection / Credit: Aldi
The Greater Manchester youngster’s mum, Mary, says her son was “absolutely over the moon” when he was told he’d landed the job.
Julie Ashfield, who is the Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, added: “Our Easter eggs are hugely popular, but it’s important that we continue to amaze shoppers with innovative, fun products each year, and that’s why the role of our Chief Easter Egg Tasting Officer is such an important one.
“The feedback provided really helps our Buying Team create a bigger and better range each year.”
Featured Image – Aldi UK
Shopping
Someone is selling the life-size animal lanterns from Manchester’s Lightopia festival
Daisy Jackson
You can now buy yourself a life-size light-up zebra, as seen at Manchester’s huge Lightopia lantern festival.
In what is undoubtedly the most unusual Facebook Marketplace listing we’ve seen in a hot minute, someone is selling off a flock of the animal-shaped lanterns.
These huge glowing beasts flocked the fields of Heaton Park for several years as part of the Lightopia festival, which created beautiful installations in a family-friendly light trail.
Probably the most popular of all the installations every year were the animal sections.
Because who doesn’t want to be walking in the dark through the woods and suddenly be faced with a life-size illuminated bull?
Lightopia left Manchester for good in early 2023 (replaced last year by the Christmas at Heaton Park light trail, from the makers of Christmas at Kew), and we have actually been wondering what happened to all the massive lanterns that had filled the park.
Well, turns out they’ve ended up in what appears to be someone’s back garden in Bolton.
And now they could be yours, if you have a couple of hundred quid in the bank and an urge to have a big fake lion in your garden.
The animal lanterns for sale include a massive bull, a zebra, and a lion, though the lion’s rear end looks like it’s seen better days.
It’s not cheap to adopt a light-up wild animal though – they’re asking £300 each, but £350 for the bull, but are open to offers for a bulk buy, if you fancy starting your own very stationary zoo.
Someone is selling the huge animal lanterns from Manchester’s Lightopia festival. Credit: Facebook
The listing states: “These were part of Lightopia who ran lighting festivals throughout the year.
“All have internal lights (which will need checking).
“They will need some maintenance some the thin like plastic covering split or missing built on steal frames.
“Collection only you need big van I know a van man to.”
Brb, off to bring home a lion with a hole in its haunches.