House of Fraser is to open a new format click-and-collect store in Aberdeen next month.

The department store group, which has not had a presence in Aberdeen since 2002, will open the 1,500 sq ft shop at Hammerson’s Union Square shopping centre.

A House of Fraser spokesman said the “entirely new store concept” will form part of its “growing multi-channel offer”.

The spokesman declined to say what the format will be called, how it will look or what it will be used for precisely, although sources told Retail Week it will be used predominantly for click-and-collect purposes. The average size of a traditional House of Fraser store is 100,000 sq ft.

It is expected that if House of Fraser rolls out the format, it will seek to open in locations where its web sales are strong and where it does not have an existing store presence.  The retailer has considered locations including include train stations.

In an innovative move for a landlord, Union Square owner Hammerson has been examining the opportunities that multichannel retailing provides. In its half year update on Monday, it told the City that it has been looking at initiatives including providing space for retailers’ click and collect offers.

For more information, see Retail Week’s Friday issue.

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