Manchester Arndale’s Superdrug has just reopened after an extensive makeover, which has seen the popular high street health and beauty retailer double in size.
The huge new store is still in the same spot as before (opposite the former Topshop) but has now grown into a neighbouring unit and spans 6,300 sq ft.
Superdrug’s refurbishment has included adding in a brand new beauty studio, with services including a nail bar, brow bar and even piercing.
The business has also created an extra 12 jobs for the local economy.
Inside the modern new shop are brands including NYX, Maybelline and Rimmel, as well as cult favourites like Revolution, e.l.f. and Starface.
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Superdrug’s own lines of beauty, haircare and skincare are also on offer (many of which have gone viral for being affordable dupes of luxury items), like its Studio London by Superdrug range.
Haircare in Superdrug. Credit: The Manc GroupCult favourites like Starface pimple patches are on sale in the new-look Superdrug. Credit: The Manc GroupThe new Superdrug’s perfume counter. Credit: The Manc Group
The shelves are well-stocked with other best-selling ranges including B. Skin, Me+, Vitamin E, Optimum and Naturally Radiant.
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Manchester-based fashion giant Missguided also has its line of beauty products on sale.
For several months, Superdrug’s Arndale shop has been partly surrounded by hoardings while the refurbishment took place.
The boards have finally come down and the doors thrown open today, Friday 10 February.
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Nail treatments on offer at the beauty studio inside the new Superdrug. Credit: The Manc GroupThe beauty studio inside the new Superdrug. Credit: The Manc Group
A new fragrance counter has opened in time for Valentine’s Day, with premium brands like YSL, Viktor & Rolf, Giorgio Armani, Prada and Valentino sold with Superdrug promotions.
There are even better deals on offer for anyone who signs up to Superdrug’s Health & Beautycard, which unlocks member prices, birthday treats and a loyalty points scheme.
Nigel Duxbury, property director at Superdrug, said: “We are so pleased to be announcing the exciting re- opening of our Manchester Arndale store.
“With a wide range of popular health and beauty brands, a luxury fragrance counter, and a professional Beauty Studio, we’re confident that our customers will love this enhanced shopping experience.”
It’s good news for the Arndale too, on the same week that sadly saw beloved brand Homesense announced its departure from the shopping centre.
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New retailers have also been found for the former Topshop unit, with Clarks and Gilly Hicks set to move in.
Elsewhere, brands including Flying Tiger, Miniso and Sports Direct have all taken up new units too.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Shopping
Eyewear brand IOLLA are offering one-to-one glasses styling sessions at Hatch
Danny Jones
Our favourite eyewear brand IOLLA has just celebrated it’s first anniversary since opening up right here in Manchester and as part of the birthday celebrations, they’ve opened up an exclusive glasses styling pop-up event over at Hatch.
While glasses manufacturers started out in Scotland, Mancs have had the pleasure of their innovative eyewear offerings and expertise from their showroom on St Anns Square for over 12 months now and although you always get a very bespoke and personalised experience from their flagship English store, they’re always looking to branch out further.
So that’s why they’ve decided to set up a one-of-a-kind ‘Style Session’ over Hatch with the hope of spreading the word at the beloved independent trading village before it closes at the end of the month.
Known not only for its food and drinks vendors, student nights and live music but countless indie businesses selling clothes, vintage goods, beauty services and more. Now, for the rest of this week only, you can even sort yourself some glasses or shades to suit your style perfectly.
Credit: The Manc Group/IOLLA
The temporary ‘Style Station’ in Hatch is giving customers an insight into the brand’s ethos by displaying glasses on hangers, grouped together by style and shape to show how you can build your eyewear wardrobe and have different glasses for all looks and occasions.
Whether it’s a regular pair for the office or something more flashy for a night out, customers will get the chance to experience a one-to-one consultation session to find the right frames for the occasion with one of the brand’s experienced stylists.
Just like no two faces are the same, every combination of handmade IOLLA frames and lenses is unique, and choosing the perfect pair relies on the perfect balance of fit and style to suit your face shape.
With a range spanning prescription and non-prescription, as well as glasses and sleek shades in all the same style, IOLLA offers an option for everyone.
The limited-time-only pop-up is running from 12-7pm until Sunday, 24 September exclusively over at Hatch, but don’t worry if you don’t manage to find the time to make it over before the end of the week as you can always head to their St Anns Square showroom to try-on the collection of IOLLA glasses.
The best part is, it doesn’t matter what pair you pick: they all cost just £85 with no added fees and no unnecessary hassle. Did we mention that all their designs are completely unique, made with high-quality materials and handmade? Well, they are and that’s why we love them.
While we have your attention, we’re absolutely gutted to see Hatch as we know it shutting down but when we were last there, we thought we’d put together a fun little guide on how to spend the perfect day there.
Show this place and all of its amazing traders some love whilst you still can.
Featured Image — IOLLA/The Manc Group/Hatch (via Instagram)
Shopping
30% of Brits have apparently already started doing their Christmas shopping
Emily Sergeant
A new survey has revealed that 30% 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 September just a bit too early to start? Apparently not for three in 10 Brits.
According to a new survey by American Express – of which some 2,000 people nationwide took part – a surprising 30% of adults who celebrate or shop for Christmas in the UK have already started buying things for the festive period.
Presents for others were the most-common items already in the basket, but while gifts may be the obvious one, that’s not all.
30% of Brits have already started doing their Christmas shopping / Credit: Freestocks (via Unsplash)
As well as this, some have also admitted to grabbing things like wrapping paper and gift bags, Christmas cards, and decorations too.
Not only that, but as festive food and drink becomes a more common occurrence on shop shelves nationwide, and with many of the UK’s leading supermarket chains having already released their Christmas menu offerings this year, a good chunk of the survey respondents have also owned-up to buying themed snacks with long sell-by dates.
Nearly four-fifths (79%) also say they feel it’s important to support local businesses when doing their shopping for the festive season.
Presents for others were the most-common items already in the basket / Credit: Pxhere | Kerkez (via iStock)
And when it comes to money, among those survey respondents who have started their seasonal spending, it was revealed that they have already spent an average of £94 on gifts, but closer to £110 when taking into account everything else they’ve bought.
Speaking on the survey results, Andrei Ciripitca – who is the Vice President at American Express – called the festive period “an important time for businesses and shoppers alike”.
Daisy Jackson -
10th February 2023 
