Retail Archives - Page 2 of 6

Smiggle Opens Up Colourful Treasure Trove

Jun 172016

With thanks to Jessica Murphy, Senior Account Executive, Citrus:Mix.

A rainbow of colour will be unveiled in Bon Accord this week as one of Australia’s most popular and fun stationery stores opens its first store in Aberdeen.
Melbourne based Smiggle, is set to open its 61st store on Friday (June 17), bringing a treasure trove of brightly coloured stationery, gadgets and gizmos to the city centre.

The quirky children’s brand opened its first UK store in London in 2014 and is dedicated to creating original, fun and affordable stationery.

The brand’s products are focused on bold colour, quirky graphics, good value, innovation and most of all – giving fans the tools they need to have fun.

These offerings will be brought to life for Aberdeen consumers, with promises of bright backpacks, popping pencil cases, scented stationery, gadgets and gizmos and lots of goodies to deck out your desk.

Craig Stevenson, manager of Bon Accord & St Nicholas, said:

“Smiggle is a hugely popular brand and we are delighted to welcome the store to Bon Accord. Excitement has been building prior to the opening and the store is looking incredibly eye-catching.

“We are sure that Smiggle is going to become a fast favourite with youngsters, who will enjoy their fun range of stationary and accessories. We have been working hard to enhance our offering to young people, and the introduction of Smiggle, along with previous additions of JoJo Maman Bebe and Scallywags are making us a go to destination for the younger generation.”

Smiggle is known for introducing limited edition product assortments in a variety of colours, making them highly sought after, and stocks everything from bags and lunchboxes to accessories, gadgets and more.

Managing director of Smiggle, John Cheston, says:

“We’re thrilled to be opening our 61st store here in Aberdeen. There really is nothing like Smiggle anywhere else on the high street – and it will be great to see the public’s reaction when the doors open on the 17th.

“It’s important for us to inject fun into everything we do – from product design to store design, we will always focus on delivering to our fans the most original and playful stationary possible. We look forward to welcoming families in our store who know of the brand and are excited for our arrival, as well as introducing the colourful world of Smiggle to new fans in the area.”

Bon Accord & St Nicholas are at the heart of Aberdeen city centre’s retail sector, offering 840,000 sq ft of prime space and home to around 100 stores. Scotland’s largest Next, Aberdeen’s only Topshop and Topman standalone store as well as the City’s largest New Look and River Island are among the key retailers.

The centres, which attract an average of 275,000 visitors a week, are owned by BMO Real Estate Partners and managed by specialist retail agency Savills. For further on the centres visit www.bonaccordandstnicholas.com.

Magnet Sets Up Shop On Historic City Street

Aberdeen City, Articles No Responses »

May 192016

With thanks to Jessica Murphy, Senior Account Executive, Citrus:Mix.

The regeneration of one of Aberdeen’s most historic shopping zones has continued with the addition of one of the UK’s biggest kitchen specialists.

Magnet has opened in the former Cash Converters store, owned by Bon Accord & St Nicholas, at 139 George Street, this week.

Adjacent to Bon Accord and immediately opposite the city’s John Lewis department store, the showroom occupies a prominent location.

Craig Stevenson, manager of Bon Accord & St Nicholas, said:

“Magnet joins a line of established names like John Lewis and Jo Malone on George Street, further building on the revitalisation of the area. This is a fantastically positive step as the hard work to improve and brighten up the thoroughfare continues. The showroom is looking great and we are delighted to welcome Magnet to the area.

“Aberdeen’s retail offering has always been incredibly strong, and particularly in the current climate it is crucial to keep momentum going. We are proud of our track record in attracting leading shops and big names to Bon Accord & St Nicholas, which in turn encourages people to spend more time in the city centre. It is vital that we continue to look at ways to enhance this and we look forward to playing our part in the months and years ahead.”

Teresa McLeod, branch manager at the new Aberdeen Magnet Retail Store, said:

“We’re really excited to increase Magnet’s footprint in Aberdeen with the launch of a new showroom.

“Our St Machar Road showroom has been a hub for locals looking for new kitchens for a number of years, and I’m sure the people of Aberdeen will find the new showroom just as impressive.

“We have recently launched some brand new kitchen ranges for 2016, plus a range of exciting kitchen innovations, which we can’t wait to showcase to new and existing customers in the local area.”

Orchard To Burst Into Life In City Centre Garden

Aberdeen City, Information 2 Responses »

May 132016

With thanks to Jessica Murphy, Senior Account Executive, Citrus:Mix.

A leading business organisation has kicked off their campaign to enhance the beauty of Aberdeen by planting a fruity addition to a popular city centre greenspace.

Aberdeen Inspired is hoping to build on its success in last year’s Keep Scotland Beautiful initiative, which is celebrating 50 years of community environmental improvement.

The organisation is planting five apple trees in the Roof Garden on top of St Nicholas shopping centre, with the help of Plan A, a group set up by Marks and Spencer to help protect the planet by sourcing responsibly, reducing waste and helping communities.

Gary Craig, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said:

“Aberdeen Inspired is passionate about creating a more vibrant and appealing city centre and we believe efforts like this make all the difference to achieving that.

“The Roof Garden itself is a fantastic example of community groups and businesses coming together to transform an area and make it attractive for all ages and has been received very well so far. Planting the orchard is a further step in keeping that momentum going and will we hope be enjoyed by residents and visitors to the greenspace.

“We have been delighted with our success in Keep Scotland Beautiful in previous years and this orchard is one of many initiatives we have planned to keep that momentum going and continue trying to make a difference to the aesthetic of the city. This alongside the continuation of our floral enhancements, Adopt an Area projects and creative lighting scheme will continue to make a big impact in the city centre.”

Administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful, a member of the RHS Bloom Federation, Beautiful Scotland recognises the efforts of local authorities and communities which work tirelessly to improve their local cities, towns and villages.

Aberdeen Inspired achieved silver gilt status in the competition last year, as well as retaining the crown in the BID category.

Carole Noble, director at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said:

“Keep Scotland Beautiful is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and we are delighted that Aberdeen Inspired is taking part in Beautiful Scotland to help us celebrate.

“For half a century, local authorities and communities have been working together and we sometimes forget the massive impact that a clean and green environment has on people. But, there is ample evidence that a good local environment can deliver a broad range of associated benefits in terms of physical and mental health and wellbeing, community cohesion and civic pride, and the creation of economic opportunities.”

Aberdeen Inspired is the banner under which the Aberdeen BID (Business Improvement District) operates. It is a business-led initiative within the city centre in which levy payers within the BID zone contribute.

Proceeds are used to fund projects designed to improve the business district. Further information on the work of Aberdeen Inspired is available at www.aberdeeninspired.com

Comments enabled – see comments box below. Note, all comments will be moderated.

Range Of Events Planned For Roof Garden

Aberdeen City, Information No Responses »

Mar 242016

With thanks to Jessica Murphy, Senior Account Executive, Citrus:Mix.

The sound of jazz will emanate from a city centre roof garden this weekend as an exciting programme of events gets underway.

Bon Accord & St Nicholas will host a number of performances for Jazz On The Green – part of the Aberdeen Jazz Festival running from March 16 to 20 – at the greenspace near the St Nicholas centre.

A range of jazz acts will perform in the bandstand in the roof garden on Sunday March 20, uniting the city centre in a celebration of jazz, blues, funk, soul, R & B, swing, bop, vocals and big band, with free admission for all.

Work on improved seating, lighting, flower provision and a brand new children’s play area was completed last year to breathe new life into the greenspace – and it is hoped it will become a popular destination within the city centre.

Plans are in place for an Easter Egg hunt within the roof garden and events will continue throughout spring and summer.

Craig Stevenson, manager of Bon Accord & St Nicholas, said:

“We are delighted to be playing a part in the Aberdeen Jazz Festival, which is always a fantastic and lively event. This will be a great chance for the public to come along to the enhanced roof garden and see how it has been transformed in the past year. The bandstand within the roof garden is a great performance area and event space and I am sure the talented jazz performers will draw the crowds in.

“A lot of hard work went into transforming the area and we want it to be a space for the people of Aberdeen to enjoy. We are looking forward to finalising a wide range of exciting events throughout spring and summer and welcoming people to the garden throughout the months to come.”

The centres, which attract an average of 275,000 visitors a week, are owned by BMO Real Estate Partners and managed by specialist retail agency Savills. For further information on the centres visit www.bonaccordandstnicholas.com

Picture Credit: “Inside the Bon Accord centre – geograph.org.uk – 1241608” by Stanley Howe. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Commons

Comments enabled – see comments box below. Note, all comments will be moderated.

Whisky Festival Reveals Plans For New Festival

Aberdeenshire, Articles, Featured No Responses »

Mar 242016

With thanks to Leanne Carter, Account Manager, Tricker PR.

Plans for a brand new festival that will bring Speyside’s whisky producers together under one roof for the first time were highlighted at a major tourism conference on Wednesday.
Organisers of the world-class Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival outlined their proposals for the event to delegates attending the Moray Speyside Tourism Summit.

Festival manager Pery Zakeri (pictured) said the three-day event taking place in the area’s capital town of Elgin from September 9 – 11 would deliver a boost to tourism businesses, bringing more visitors into the area at a time when the traditional summer season is drawing to a close.

The new event will feature up to 28 different whisky distillers from the region, along with local beers and gin and a wide range of food producers. There will also be a whisky retail shop organised by renowned specialist outlet, The Whisky Shop Dufftown.

Visitors will buy a ticket to attend one of four different sessions over the course of the weekend. Entry to each session will be limited to just 300 people, and demand is expected to be high when tickets go on sale later this year.

Festival manager Pery Zakeri told delegates at the conference,

“This is a brand new weekend for Moray Speyside and we are hoping to attract a new, younger audience that will be different to the audience we attract to the May festival.

“We are looking to draw in people from Inverness, Aberdeen and the rest of Scotland and the UK, and while there might be an international audience, it will have more of a local focus in the initial years.

“It’s a unique event that will drive tourism to the region, and one that will add to the local events calendar and whisky events calendar.”

Although different whisky brands have been working together as part of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival for almost two decades, all of the activities for the that event tend to take place in their own distilleries.

This will be the first time that the area’s distillers will come together on their own doorstep under one roof. Elgin Town Hall has been selected as the location because it is the central point in Moray Speyside with good transport connections for road and rail, delegates at the Alexander Graham Bell Centre in Elgin were told.

Organisers believe the smaller, centrally located event will appeal to those who want to enjoy and learn more about Speyside’s whisky but do not want to plan a five-day itinerary for a major event like the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

It comprises over 400 different events from distillery tours and tastings and from ceilidhs to comedy, and events are staged everywhere from Kingussie in the south to Forres in the west and Buckie in the east. The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival takes place from April 28 to May 2.

Commenting on what the new event will offer, Pery told the conference,

“There will be world class whiskies, local gin and craft beers and of course a range of food producers. But the main thing will be the chance to meet Speyside’s whisky stars in one place at the same time.”

Tickets for the September festival are expected to go on sale in June this year and will be available at www.spiritofspeyside.com

£2million Refurbishment For Loch St Car Park

Aberdeen City, Articles No Responses »

Mar 172016

With thanks to Phil Moar, Account Manager, Citrus:Mix.

One of Aberdeen’s most popular city centre
car parks is to undergo a £2million
refurbishment.

Bon Accord & St Nicholas’ Loch St car park, which on average welcomes over one million users a year, has been earmarked for a number of innovative improvements that are set to enhance the parking experience for those visiting the centre.

A fresh parking surface, brighter energy efficient LED lighting as well as the grouping of both disabled and parent and children spaces to the same location on each level are all part of the plans.

Funded by centre owner BMO Real Estate and managed by specialist retail agency Savills, work on the car park is expected to be completed by the end of October.

Craig Stevenson, centre manager at Bon Accord & St Nicholas, said:

“We’re delighted to be working with both BMO Real Estate and Savills to enhance the car park experience for our loyal customers in what is a significant refurbishment project for the centre.

“We want customers to get their visit to Bon Accord & St Nicholas off to the best possible start and we appreciate the role that a bright, modern and accessible car park plays in an individual’s shopping experience.

“Work will only be carried out on one level at a time in an effort to avoid disruption for those coming and going from the facility; we look forward to welcoming visitors to the enhanced parking provision in the coming months.”

Throughout the programme of work, the car park will be open until 8pm instead of 11pm. On a Thursday only, it will be open until 10pm. The neighbouring Harriet St car park is unaffected by the works.

Bon Accord & St Nicholas are at the heart of Aberdeen city centre’s retail sector, offering 840,000 sq ft of prime space and home to around 100 stores.

Scotland’s largest Next, Aberdeen’s only Topshop and Topman standalone store as well as the City’s largest New Look and River Island are among the key retailers, as well as H&M and New Look. Bon Accord also boasts a boutique store line up with retailers including Jigsaw, Hobbs, Phase Eight and Jo Malone.

Picture Credit: “Inside the Bon Accord centre – geograph.org.uk – 1241608” by Stanley Howe. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Commons

Comments enabled – see comments box below. Note, all comments will be moderated.

Two New Stores To Open In Aberdeen

Aberdeen City, Articles No Responses »

Mar 112016

With thanks to Jessica Murphy, Senior Account Executive, Citrus:Mix.

One of Australia’s most popular stationery stores is set to open its first store in Aberdeen.
Melbourne based Smiggle will add a colourful splash to Bon Accord & St Nicholas in June, complementing the mall’s offering to youngsters.

The quirky and vibrant children’s brand is a treasure trove of brightly coloured stationery, gadgets and gizmos, stocking everything from bags and lunchboxes to accessories, gadgets and more.

A mainstay in Australia, Smiggle opened its first UK store in London in 2014 and has grown rapidly since then, with 42 stores now trading in the UK. It is known for introducing limited edition product assortments in a variety of colours, making them highly sought after.

Smiggle will move into the EE store in the Bon Accord mall, while EE will relocate to the former Build-a-Bear unit.

Cementing its reputation as a desirable location for retailers, Bon Accord & St Nicholas will also welcome UK’s biggest kitchen specialist, Magnet, to a shop at 139 George Street, adjacent to Bon Accord and immediately opposite the city’s John Lewis department store. The showroom is due to open in spring.

Craig Stevenson, manager of Bon Accord & St Nicholas, said:

“It is a fantastic coup for us that Smiggle has chosen to open its first Aberdeen store in Bon Accord & St Nicholas. The store is incredibly popular in Australia and throughout the UK and we are delighted to welcome the brand to Aberdeen. I am sure their playful and eye-catching range of stationery and accessories will appeal to young shoppers and the addition really does enhance our offering to children in the centre.

“We have introduced a range of family oriented stores in the past 12 months, from JoJo Maman Bebe to Scallywags, making us a great destination for the younger generation. We are looking forward to Smiggle opening its doors in the spring in what will be a colourful addition to Bon Accord & St Nicholas.

“Magnet is now also close to opening in a George Street unit close to the centre. This is an exciting addition for us which adds to our great line-up of retailers and further enhances our offering to shoppers.”

Comments enabled – see comments box below. Note, all comments will be moderated.

Bon Accord & St Nicholas Welcomes Scallywags

Articles No Responses »

Feb 192016

With thanks to Phil Moar, Account Manager, Citrus:Mix.

A popular Peterhead children’s clothes shop has expanded into Aberdeen with the opening of a second store.

Scallywags of Peterhead has opened its new outlet at 2 Schoolhill, adjacent to the Bon Accord mall, as demand for its range of baby and childrenswear clothes and toys continues to grow within the north-east.

The new premises are owned by Bon Accord & St Nicholas with the Scallywags brand the latest to join its growing range of retailers.

Its arrival follows the addition of JoJo Maman Bébé to the Bon Accord mall last year and helps enhance the centre’s offering as a go-to destination of choice for all things childrenswear.

Craig Stevenson, manager of Bon Accord & St Nicholas, said:

“Scallywags is already a well-established and respected brand here in the north-east of Scotland so we’re delighted to welcome it to Bon Accord & St Nicholas.

“I’m sure its range of baby and childrenswear will prove popular with shoppers to the centre and its arrival really does strengthen our children’s offering. From Scallywags to the Disney Store and everything in between, we feel we’re moving towards becoming a destination for families to shop within; there’s something for all to enjoy.”

Dawn Strachan, owner of Scallywags, said:

“We’ve been pursuing a second store in Aberdeen for quite some time and we’re delighted to have reached an agreement for the premises near Bon Accord & St Nicholas; we really can’t wait to get properly started in the city.

“Scallywags has been popular in Peterhead and I’d like to thank our loyal customers and staff for being such a central part of our success so far. While our store in Peterhead will continue to operate as normal, the new Aberdeen store is an exciting new chapter for us and we look forward to welcoming shoppers to the store for their first visit in the coming weeks.”

Range Of Films Planned For Bon Accord & St Nicholas

Aberdeen City, Articles No Responses »

Feb 112016

With thanks to Phil Moar, Account Manager, Citrus:Mix.

A series of insightful public information films which showcase the work of a number of Scotland’s leading charitable organisations is set to be shown in an Aberdeen shopping centre.

DFP Television is to stage a community roadshow within Bon Accord & St Nicholas for seven days, starting from Monday, February 22. A total of seven films will be shown within the Bon Accord mall with an aim of raising awareness to the north-east of their subject matter.

The work of St Andrew’s Children’s Society, Scottish Safety Camera Programme, NHS Grampian, Victim Support Scotland, Aberdeen Housing Partnership/Moray Housing Partnership, Home Energy Scotland and Guide Dogs will all fall under the spotlight.

In addition to the films, the DFP team and representatives from the organisations taking part will be available throughout the week to offer help and advice alongside handing out various information packs to those who require it.

Craig Stevenson, centre manager at Bon Accord & St Nicholas, is delighted to welcome the roadshow to the Bon Accord mall.

He said:

“We’re looking forward to welcoming both DFP Television and representatives from the organisations to the Bon Accord mall for what is sure to be a range of informative and insightful short films on some of the country’s most-loved organisations.

“At Bon Accord & St Nicholas, we are always looking at ways of adding to a shopper’s own experience and I’m sure the various subjects included in the films will strike a chord with many of our visitors. If we can help direct people to the correct support that they may require then we would be delighted to do so.”

Picture Credit: “Inside the Bon Accord centre – geograph.org.uk – 1241608” by Stanley Howe. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Commons

North East MSP Continues To Support To Local Shops

Aberdeen City, Opinion No Responses »

Jan 212016

With thanks to Sarah Masson.

Independent retailers have welcomed the support shown for their industry from Christian Allard, MSP. The North East MSP attended Scottish Grocers’ Federation’s event at the Scottish Parliament to coincide with the publication of their Scottish Local Shop Report 2015.

The report highlights the value of local independent convenience stores to communities with 87% of retailers currently involved in community activities.

The report also illustrates that there are more convenience stores per head of population in Scotland than there are in the rest of the UK and that convenience stores provide over 44,000 jobs, including valuable services such as post offices, bill payment services and ATMs.

The SNP MSP has always backed local businesses – acknowledging their importance to local economies throughout Scotland today. The North East MSP has praised the community value of local shops, recognising that they support local producers as:

“they make Scottish products accessible for everyone buy, eat and trust local.”

Scottish Grocers’ Federation Chief Executive Pete Cheema said,

“We were delighted that Christian Allard was able to join us at our event. The support of MSPs is vital in ensuring a prosperous and sustainable independent convenience store industry in Scotland.”

Commenting Christian Allard said:

“It is important that we recognise and support local businesses in our communities especially because local shops tend to be resilient to economic changes.

“Local stores are a large part of what our communities are made up of and this report provides the evidence that clearly shows the community value of local convenience stores in Scotland.

“The report crucially looks at the active role that local stores play in both urban and rural communities. They are constantly evolving and changing to meet the many needs of the people they serve. The independent corner shop is as much a part of the past and present as it is the future.”

Comments enabled – see comments box below. Note, all comments will be moderated.

[Aberdeen Voice accepts and welcomes contributions from all sides/angles pertaining to any issue. Views and opinions expressed in any article are entirely those of the writer/contributor, and inclusion in our publication does not constitute support or endorsement of these by Aberdeen Voice as an organisation or any of its team members.]

Older Entries Newer Entries