Located at Băneasa Shopping City, one of Bucharest’s leading retail and lifestyle destinations, the new store in Romania introduces local guests to the brand’s innovative athletic and lifestyle products. Opening day on 5th June featured a high-energy in-store experience, including a live DJ, gifting activations, and local brand partnerships. Beyond opening day, lululemon will further build community engagement through studio partnerships and Ambassador-led experiences across Bucharest.

By mid-June 2026, there will be eight new lululemon store openings across EMEA in a six-week period. This includes two stores in Istanbul, in addition to the recently added pop-up store in The Bodrum EDITION with another store to open later this month in the prestigious Yalikavak Marina, all through the company’s franchise partner Fiba Retail. Additionally, a second lululemon store will soon open in Athens, Greece in partnership with Arion Retail Group, and last month, a new company-owned store in Birmingham, UK opened, becoming the brand’s 24th location in the country since launching in London in 2014.

Sarah Clark, Senior Vice President, EMEA, lululemon, said: “This year we’ve expanded our presence across some of the fastest-growing markets across central and eastern Europe and our launch into Romania is our latest milestone. Bucharest is such a dynamic city with an active wellbeing network, including local and international studios, health clubs, and holistic fitness experiences. The response from the local community during opening week has been exciting and shows the strength of the opportunity ahead.”

lululemon now has stores and a digital presence in 23 markets across EMEA through a mix of owned and franchised operations. This summer, there will be another new market entry through the company’s franchise model into Austria with the opening of a store in Vienna. India will follow later this year, bringing lululemon’s community-led approach and innovative products to even more guests around the world.

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Joining over 30 existing F&B operators across the scheme, the new 450 sq ft kiosk has been designed to complement the unique circular layout of the bandstand space on the Upper Orient, delivering a highly innovative and interactive retail experience for customers. Known for its customisable frozen yoghurt creations and loyal customer following, Frurt’s arrival further strengthens Trafford Centre’s position as a leading destination for exciting and trend-led food experiences.

The opening follows a wave of new food arrivals and upcoming launches at the centre, reflecting Trafford Centre’s continued investment in bringing viral and sought after brands to visitors.

Trafford Centre’s kiosk will introduce Frurt’s self-serve concept, designed to deliver an interactive and experience-led customer journey, alongside a newly enhanced premium toppings station and the relaunch of the brand’s Blue Biscuit edition.  The opening will also feature Frurt’s iconic life-size Green Spoon installation, with complimentary Frurt pots available for the first 150 customers, driving engagement and launch day footfall.

With a customer-first leasing approach, focused on delivering the brands and experiences visitors actively want, Trafford Centre continues to strengthen its appeal as one of the UK’s most in-demand retail and leisure destinations.

Shaza Khalil, Co-Founder of Frurt said: “As a Manchester born brand, opening at Trafford Centre is a major milestone for Frurt. The kiosk has been uniquely designed for the iconic bandstand location, bringing together our popular self-serve concept, premium new design and enhanced toppings experience.

Trafford Centre is one of the UK’s leading retail and leisure destinations, making it the ideal location to launch our first-ever shopping centre kiosk concept as we continue to expand into key locations across the UK.”

Bruce Gardner, Director and Head of Commercial Partnerships at Pradera, said: “Frurt’s arrival reflects the continued momentum across Trafford Centre’s evolving F&B leasing, as we continue to attract exciting, in-demand brands and exclusive concepts that resonate strongly with our visitors.

The launch of this new kiosk not only supports Frurt’s ongoing growth ambitions but further strengthens Trafford Centre’s position as a leading destination for forward-thinking brands thanks to its exceptional footfall and highly engaged customer base.”

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Designer Exchange, the UK luxury resale platform, is proud to announce the opening of its newest store in Newcastle on 11th June 2026, launching with a creative capsule developed in collaboration with Newcastle-based designer Corey Dixon and her brand Somebody Else’s Guy.

Representing a continued expansion for the brand, the new location brings Designer Exchange’s curated selection of pre-owned designer fashion to the heart of the city. The Newcastle store joins locations in Knightsbridge, Manchester, Birmingham, Cheshire Oaks and Madrid.

To mark the opening, Somebody Else’s Guy has created a limited run of one-of-a-kind pieces, reworking pre-loved Designer Exchange luxury garments with independently sourced vintage football shirts sourced via the secondary market, with the iconic black and white stripes adding a local touch. Rooted in the city’s deep connection to football, the collection brings together luxury resale and fan culture in a uniquely Newcastle way. The pieces will be available exclusively in-store.

The Newcastle opening reinforces Designer Exchange’s commitment to circular fashion through a trusted, buy, sell and exchange model. All items are authenticated prior to resale, offering customers confidence in every purchase, while extending the lifecycle of luxury products. Customers can also sell directly to Designer Exchange, receiving an immediate cash offer. The store will feature a curated selection of handbags, accessories and ready-to-wear from brands including Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Miu Miu.

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The new 2,400 sq ft MINISO store, located on the Lower Mall, offers shoppers an extensive selection of toys, plush collectibles, stationery, homeware and snacks. The store features sought-after collections from popular merchandise ranges alongside MINISO’s hugely popular blind-box ranges, delivering a fun and engaging shopping experience to Merry Hill’s family demographic.

MINISO’s arrival at Merry Hill further strengthens the scheme’s distinctive retail offer, highlighting its ability to attract exciting and diverse brands. As the go-to destination for the West Midlands and the surrounding catchment, and one of the UK’s top 10 super-regionals, Merry Hill welcomes nearly 15 million visitors each year, offering brands unrivalled visibility and a powerful platform to launch within the region. MINISO’s opening reflects the momentum behind the destination following its acquisition by Redical, whose ongoing investment strategy is focused on enhancing the scheme and attracting additional sought-after retail, leisure and lifestyle brands.

Alistair Winning, Leasing Manager for Redical commented: “Obtaining exciting brands like MINISO is an important aspect of our leasing strategy for Merry Hill, as we move into its next chapter under Redical ownership. It is crucial that we provide our guests with a variety of popular and unique retailers that represent our diverse demographic, keeping visitors coming back for more. MINISO’s opening does exactly this, and reinforces Merry Hill’s stellar reputation through the continued curation of best-in-class retailers.”

Saad Usman, Chief Operating Officer at MINISO, added: “Merry Hill was the logical choice for our next opening, with its impressive catchment, high footfall, and quality retail line-up. Wherever we go, we want to create an experience, with a focus on playfulness, creativity, and expression, and Merry Hill’s all-day, experiential offer provides us with a strong platform to achieve this, so we already feel at home here.”

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Football legend and Marie Curie ambassador, Chris Kamara MBE, officially opened the first ever retail superstore for Marie Curie in Bradford last week.

Known for his vibrant personality and having been awarded an MBE in part for his dedication to Marie Curie, Kamara cut the ribbon on Friday 5th June and welcomed locals through the door to the charity’s largest retail store to date.

He has been an ambassador for Marie Curie since 2010, passionately supporting the charity’s mission after his mother Irene was cared for by the charity after being diagnosed with breast cancer. His advocacy is inspired not only by his own experience, but also his commitment to helping others navigate difficult life journeys.

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The store, which opened in early March, provided a programme of activity before, during and after the TCS London Marathon.

During that time, more than 29,000 people have visited the 5,000 sq ft experiential space which is spread over three floors.

The store was designed to further demonstrate the retailer’s publicly stated position of being the most physically present digital retailer in its space.

To date, instore gait analysis has seen 1,900 runners assessed whilst 30 events were held, including launches by Nike, Asics, New Balance and Adidas, with many attended by high-profile athletes.

These included multiple Olympic gold medallist Sir Mo Farah, Olympic gold medallist triathlete Alex Yee, three-time London Marathon winner Paula Radcliffe, 1,500m world indoor champion Georgia Hunter-Bell, half-marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo and European 10-mile record holder Emile Cairess.

The store engaged with more than 20 London-based running communities, while 12 weekly run clubs helped establish the location, making it both a hub and a store.

The retailer’s Couch to £5K initiative, designed to encourage new runners into the sport, proved successful while activations with local running clubs reached a further 3,100 runners. Social media activity relating to the store also generated a total reach of 8.6m people.

SportsShoes.com managing director, Brett Bannister, said: “House of SportsShoes has been a runaway success, delivering an amazing physical experience for our brand partners and community that embodies our position as unrivalled in running.

“From the athletes who appeared with us, to the run clubs that made the store their home and the first-time customers who we welcomed, House of SportsShoes has been a celebration of running culture.”

House of SportsShoes will officially close its doors on Monday 22nd June but the retailer is not going to rest on its laurels.

Brett added: “The relationships, insights and energy built through House of SportsShoes will help further shape our future physical activations.

We’re dedicated to ensuring we continue to provide outstanding experiences and the team is already looking at more new and innovative opportunities that will do just that.”

Over the past 18 months, SportsShoes.com has been involved in the delivery of more than 100 activation events across the UK and internationally.

These include Nike Test and Trial initiatives, Parkrun, RunThrough UK events, Kendal Mountain Festival and activations at nine marathons including Berlin, Amsterdam, Boston, New York and Osaka.

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• For Scots beauty fans, St James Quarter in Edinburgh opens on Thursday 9th July, followed by Silverburn Glasgow on Thursday 13th August 2026.

• Meanwhile, its new boutique formats will open on London Carnaby Street on 23rd July, followed by Old Spitalfields Market on 30th July 2026. 

Sephora UK has promised that it is set to be a ‘Sephora Summer’ as they reveal opening dates for their next four store openings.

With locations across Scotland and Central London, these new stores form part of Sephora UK’s broader retail strategy to bring its iconic ‘Temples Of Beauty’ to all corners of the UK whilst debuting its new small format boutiques for the first time.

Scotland fans will be pleased to hear that in St James Quarter Edinburgh will open on Thursday 9th July with 4,961 sq ft of retail space, while Glasgow Silverburn will open just over a month later on Thursday 13th August 2026 with 5,048 sq ft of retail space.

Both stores will be stocked with Sephora UK exclusives and selective brands, giving fans the chance to shop the likes of rhode, Haus Labs, Makeup by Mario, Merit Beauty, INNBeauty Project, Tower 28 and Half Magic for the first time ever on Scottish soil.

While Sephora UK will continue its commitment to rolling out large-format stores in key regional cities across the UK with a view to have 20 store locations open by the end of 2026, the new boutique style formats will open on London Carnaby Street on Thursday 23rd July and Old Spitalfields Market following a week later, on Thursday 30th July.

Through ongoing community listening, including in-store conversations, social engagement, and post-visit feedback, the boutique style stores was developed as a direct result of customer feedback, with the aim to deliver a premium beauty experience while fitting seamlessly into everyday life: quicker visits, curated edits, and expert advice without the time commitment of a destination shop.

This exciting new concept opens the door to reach new audiences based on their shopping behaviours, delivering a ‘pop-in’ experience reminiscent of the UK’s high-street culture.

A modern approach to retail, these intimate spaces continue to blend the thrill of discovery through a carefully curated selection of brands and products with the simplicity of a tailored, convenient visit.

Sarah Boyd, Managing Director of Sephora UK, said: “This summer marks a major milestone in Sephora UK’s journey as we continue to bring our unique beauty experience to more communities across the country.

We’re incredibly excited to be opening our first stores in Scotland, giving beauty lovers access to some of the world’s most sought-after brands and exclusive products for the very first time.

At the same time, we’re proud to be introducing our new boutique format in London,  a concept shaped directly by customer feedback and designed to complement the way people shop today.

Whether customers are looking for a destination beauty experience or a quick beauty discovery on the go, our ambition remains the same – to inspire, educate and empower through an inclusive and innovative retail experience.

We can’t wait to welcome customers through our doors and celebrate what promises to be a true Sephora Summer.”

Anne Ledgerwood, Estate Director at St James Quarter, said: “Welcoming Sephora’s first Scottish store to St James Quarter on 9 July is a landmark moment for the Quarter and for Edinburgh.

“Securing such an iconic global beauty brand for its Scottish debut reflects its position as the country’s leading retail destination and builds on the strength of our already diverse beauty offer.

Excitement is already building ahead of opening, and we’re proud to be introducing Sephora to Scotland for the very first time, bringing an exciting new experience for guests to discover this summer.”

Diarmuid Donohoe, Centre Manager at Silverburn, added: “Sephora opening at Silverburn this August is a really exciting moment for beauty lovers in Glasgow and the west of Scotland.

Bringing the very best global brands to our community is what drives us, and each new arrival reinforces Silverburn’s position as the go to destination for beauty, lifestyle and fashion in the city.

We know this is one our guests have been waiting for, and we can’t wait to welcome them to the new Sephora store this summer.”

Since opening its first store in 2023, Sephora UK’s store openings across the nation have become iconic, community-driven moments rooted in the cultural zeitgeist, filled with entertainment from local & emerging talents, curated queue experiences and delicacies from favourite local culinary hot spots – all of which will be a part of the grand openings when Sephora UK opens its four new doors.

Beauty lovers who are looking to attend opening days at any of the confirmed locations, can follow @SephoraUK on Instagram or to get the latest updates and timings on the opening programme, including updates on how to join the queue as process may differ per location.

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Following the brand’s UK expansion plans, Oliver Bonas has secured a prominent 4,000 sq ft space in Lakeside’s lower mall, adjacent to Office. The brand operates over 90 stores across the UK and Ireland, and has cultivated a reputation for its distinct, high-quality product range. As a top five out-of-town super-regional destination, Lakeside’s widespread customer base and extensive catchment of 7.2 million people will aid the brand’s strategic expansion plans to reach more customers nationwide. Oliver Bonas Lakeside will deliver the retailer’s vibrant design-led collections of women’s clothing, accessories, gifts, jewellery and homeware.

Robert Jewell, Managing Director of Asset Management at Pradera, commented: “The addition of Oliver Bonas to Lakeside further cements our position as a UK top five out-of-town super-regional destination, supporting our retailer’s long-term growth and bolstering their customer engagement. With access to a highly engaged and diverse catchment, Lakeside continues to attract best-in-class brands and come summer, we’re excited to add Oliver Bonus to our list.”

Sevda Cankorur, Head of Retail at Oliver Bonas, added: “Oliver Bonas has experienced significant growth and resounding success, spearheaded in part by our ability to continually identify the best-of-the-best locations in which to launch. Lakeside firmly sits within this classification as one of the UK’s leading lifestyle destinations, and we know we’re bringing Oliver Bonas to an audience that understands and appreciates our brand.”

Smith Young and LM are Lakeside’s retail leasing agents, and Metis and LM lead the leisure leasing. Pradera asset manages Lakeside on behalf of SGS UK Retail. Colliers acted on behalf of Oliver Bonas.

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Dalton Park, the North East outlet shopping destination, is set to welcome TFG London on 11th June, bringing three of the UK’s leading womenswear brands, Hobbs, Phase Eight and Whistles, to the outlet.

Occupying a prominent 3,337 sq ft unit, the new store will strengthen Dalton Park’s premium fashion offer, bringing Hobbs, Phase Eight and Whistles to the destination under one operator. Opening ahead of the busy summer trading period, the arrival will broaden Dalton Park’s womenswear and occasionwear offer at a key time for seasonal demand, with shoppers preparing for summer events, weddings, race days and special occasions.

The opening marks a significant enhancement to Dalton Park’s established fashion line-up. The addition of Hobbs, Phase Eight and Whistles marks the latest in a series of retail investments at Dalton Park and further strengthens its womenswear offer, bringing three established premium fashion brands to the destination under a single operator.

Nicky Lovell, Head of Outlets and Retail Business Development at Global Mutual commented: “The arrival of Hobbs, Phase Eight and Whistles is a significant addition to Dalton Park and reflects the continued appeal of the destination to leading retail brands.

TFG London brings three highly recognisable womenswear brands to the scheme, broadening customer choice and complementing our existing fashion offer.”

A spokesperson from TFG London, added: “Introducing Hobbs, Phase Eight and Whistles to Dalton Park as our first outlet store in the North East is an important step in our continued outlet growth strategy. The strength of the location, combined with its established fashion offer and loyal customer base, made Dalton Park a compelling opportunity for us as we continue to expand within the outlet sector.”

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