Property News - Radice unveils Zara-style M&S home outlets

M&S homewares supremo Vittorio Radice gave delegates at the Birmingham BCSC conference a glimpse of the new home store under construction beside the MetroCentre in Gateshead.

Radice said the home stores will take their cue from retailers such as Zara, where the ambience of the store creates an exclusive image that is belied by the price point of the goods. He has commissioned minimalist designer John Pawson to design the Gateshead pilot shop.

Despite the high design values, Radice said the construction cost of the property is in line with other M&S outlets.

Radice said the store will be entirely self-service, and the price point may well be lower than the present M&S furniture offer. The Gateshead store is on schedule to open on February 25.