Matalan, Nobody’s Child and Majestic add stores

Matalan expands store estate

Matalan is opening four stores this month, adding almost 100,000 square feet to its estate. Around 40 staff will work at each location.

The retailer opened a 30,000 square foot store at Brooke Retail Park in Clacton and a 22,000 square foot store at Aylesbury Shopping Park on 7 November. Later this month it will open a 17,000 square foot store at Springhill in Bangor, Northern Ireland, and a 27,000 square foot full-price store at Mendalgief Retail Park in Newport. The Newport opening replaces a nearby clearance store.

The new sites feature changes being rolled out across the wider Matalan estate. These include brighter interiors, simpler layouts and improved visual merchandising, which the retailer says help customers find products more easily.

The same approach is being used in Hull, where the store is due to reopen later this month after redevelopment. Improvements include a modern two-floor layout, better navigation, upgraded lighting and signage, and refreshed fitting rooms and checkout areas.

Matalan said the programme is already producing results, with Derby becoming its most successful store opening so far. The retailer said its investment over the past two years has focused on making stores easier to shop, better at presenting products and more attractive for customers.

Nobody’s Child opens first outlet

Nobody’s Child will open its first outlet store at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth in early December.

The 1,300 square foot boutique will sell a selection of products at discounts of up to 50%. It has been designed as a new outlet concept for the brand, using reclaimed and vintage furniture and fittings sourced by its in-house team.

The retailer said the store will bring a different approach to the traditional outlet format while keeping the brand’s existing look and feel. The opening marks a new stage in the company’s growth plans.

The business is continuing to expand its store network. It already has stores in London, Bath, Bluewater, Brighton, Cambridge, Harrogate, Leeds, St Albans and Windsor.

Majestic returns to Ealing

Majestic has opened a new store on St Mary’s Road in Ealing. It is the retailer’s 30th new store since coming under its current ownership in 2019.

The 2,550 square foot shop was created from a former National Tyres garage. It stocks more than 1,000 wines, alongside beers, spirits, soft drinks, low and no alcohol options and snacks.

The opening brings Majestic back to Ealing two and a half years after its previous local store closed following redevelopment of that site.

The new shop will also support Majestic Commercial, which supplies pubs, bars and restaurants and works with more than 4,200 hospitality venues across the UK.

The store forms part of a £4 million investment programme covering shop refurbishments, recent openings and further locations planned for early next year. Majestic said store experience remains central to its growth strategy, with customers continuing to value expert advice and opportunities to taste before buying.

What RHR thinks

We believe these three announcements point in the same direction. Retailers with a clear offer are still investing in stores, but they are choosing their locations and formats carefully. Matalan is opening new sites while refreshing existing stores, Nobody’s Child is testing a new outlet format, and Majestic is expanding a model built around in-store advice and tasting.

We believe stores need to give customers something they cannot get online, whether that is an easier shopping experience, a distinctive environment or expert service. We expect retail parks and outlet destinations to continue attracting brands, and more digitally led retailers to use stores to support growth.

We also believe opening before Christmas shows confidence in peak trading. Every new store creates jobs in its local area. We expect carefully targeted store investment like this to continue into 2027.

What this means for hiring. Matalan’s four new stores, with around 40 staff at each site, are likely to create opportunities for store managers, sales assistants and customer service teams. Nobody’s Child and Majestic’s new locations may also increase demand for store-based retail roles as they expand their physical presence.