Member Article

North East referral network introduces Scandinavian retailer

A trio of North East businesses have been working together to successfully launch the first UK store of a Scandinavian retail giant in Newcastle International Airport.

Airport Retail Group (ARG) is renowned across its home country of Norway and Northern Europe for offering high quality fashion brands such as Hugo Boss, Lyle & Scott, Eton, Tommy Hilfiger and GANT. Its strategy is to open stores in prime airport locations to reach style conscious business and family travellers.

Spearheading its ambitions to expand into the UK market, ARG has just opened its first UK Airport Fashion store in Newcastle International Airport with the help of three highly respected regionally-based businesses – law firm Hay & Kilner, accountants Ryecroft Glenton and PR and marketing consultants Karol Marketing Group.

Each appointed through a succession of referrals, the trio provide a full range of business development services which has successfully introduced ARG to the UK marketplace.

Steven Fallon from ARG said: “We chose to open our first UK store in Newcastle International Airport as the North East population reflects the demographic of the rest of the UK. We have ambitions to roll out our successful formula of providing high quality fashion to discerning customers within the UK’s executive and family markets.”

Ryecroft Glenton was appointed by ARG first following recommendation by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and is responsible for monthly bookkeeping, payroll, VAT advice and month end information.

Deborah Graham, partner of Ryecroft Glenton added: “It’s been incredibly exciting to have been involved in launching the first ARG store in the UK and working with the team at concept stage right through to seeing the doors open. We have a wealth of specialist retail knowledge and are delighted to be leading such a great team of local businesses in working together to advise ARG on the demands and requirements of the UK marketplace.”

Speaking on its appointment by ARG, Neil Dwyer,head of the employment service group from Hay & Kilner said: “Our specialist team is guiding ARG through complex UK employment regulation and necessary contractual documentation and will be advising on managing HR issues. We were introduced to ARG by Ryecroft Glenton and we subsequently approached Karol Marketing Group as we were aware of their extensive experience of multi-national brands and retail knowledge. This referral network has worked incredibly well and we are pleased to be able to advise and support ARG in its first venture into the UK.”

Located airside (past security) in Newcastle International Airport, between Accessorize and Duty Free the luxury store offers a large selection of designer fashion brands for men, women and children as well as a host of accessories and travel items.

Karol Marketing is responsible for marketing and raising awareness of the store through PR activity, retail promotions and in-store merchandising, which will be shaped to support the brand with its expansion plans.

Stefan Lepkowski, managing director of Karol Marketing added: “We are excited by the opportunity to influence direction over ARG’s strategy for expansion across the UK and into wider Europe. It is an honour to have the opportunity to support such a unique and fast growing company on its first venture into a new marketplace in the UK.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Hayley Ford .