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Karl Lagerfeld to launch first UK flagship Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld will open his first UK flagship store in March on London’s Regent Street. The store will be the latest addition to an international roll out of Karl Lagerfeld boutiques and will combine the brand’s aspirational and accessible luxury collections and iconic design aesthetic with cutting-edge digital technology. Spanning 250 sq m - the biggest European Karl Lagerfeld store to date the interior will encapsulate the distinctive essence of the Karl Lagerfeld brand. Throughout the space mirrors and walls of light will illuminate and enhance the collection on display. Modern black and white features will be juxtaposed against classic accents, all offset by shiny and matte elements. Beyond the fashion and accessories collections, the concept store will embrace Karl Lagerfeld’s affinity and connection to the digital world, doubling as a virtual window to the designer himself. iPad minis will be integrated into display racks, enabling visitors to explore the entire
collection online. Shoppers will be invited to use a digital guestbook on Karl iPads, where they can view the latest collections and news, watch videos, surf Karl.com, and take photos of their favourite items. To further engage consumers and invite them to connect with the multifaceted brand, fitting rooms will be equipped with photobooths. Built-in touchscreens will allow shoppers to photograph their looks and apply various Karl-inspired filters to their photos, which can then be shared via Facebook, Twitter and email. Pier Paolo Righi, CEO of Karl Lagerfeld, comments: ‘I am thrilled to announce the opening of our flagship store at this
landmark location to showcase the world of Karl Lagerfeld. Opening on Regent Street provides us with an exceptional opportunity to position our brand in this important market. London is one of the world’s leading cities when it comes to retail and this location offers a unique brand mix. Our London presence will be a fantastic representation of our brand’s aesthetic, and it showcases our cool, accessible-luxe collections in a cutting-edge environment.’ Karl Lagerfeld has also opened stores in Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Antwerp, Shanghai and Beijing. The London flagship boutique will open on Friday 14 March.
Samsung & Carphone Warehouse collaborate on new European store concept Samsung Electronics has signed a ‘preferred partner’ agreement with Carphone Warehouse to operate more than 60 Samsung stand-alone stores across Europe. The agreement follows the opening in 2013 of three stand-alone stores in Spain, operated by Carphone Warehouse. The new stores will be rolled out in the next three months across seven European markets: UK, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and the Netherlands. The stores will have a ‘premium look and feel’ and will sell Samsung mobile communications products across Samsung’s full range of mobiles, tablets, laptops and wearables.
The new customer experience will merge retail and technology innovations, such as Carphone Warehouse’s assisted sales tool and connectivity platform using Samsung branded tablets. Andrew Harrison, chief executive officer of Carphone Warehouse, comments: ‘We are delighted to have been chosen as Samsung’s preferred European partner for their store roll-out. Our Connected World Services business will combine Carphone Warehouse’s retailing expertise and systems with one of the world’s biggest brands and will help us make even more lives better through connected technology.’
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