Fashion
Matalan says revamped store see higher sales, names director of international
Published
December 8, 2025
Matalan’s store refresh programme is clearly having an impact with the retailer saying in an update on Monday that the customer response is exceeding its expectations, as well as announcing the arrival of a new director of international.
It has completed all 30 of the 2025 planned revamps within the year, as part of its £25 million investment in its physical estate that’s intended to drive the business’s transformation.
And it’s clearly worth the money as the refreshed stores are generating higher footfall and are outperforming the wider estate by 14% in terms of sales, “well ahead of expectations, with customer satisfaction scores up significantly”.
It means the company is now planning to accelerate the number of refits next year to 40, which is 10 more than it had planned.
Updates to the stores include simplified layouts and better signage, with fitting rooms and tills relocated to central, more accessible areas. There are also plans to roll out new self-service tills early next year, as well as self-serve click & collect.
The interiors are also “brighter and more inviting interiors, thanks to upgraded LED lighting and expanded visual merchandising, all spearheaded by Matalan’s newly appointed head of VM, Fran Theanne”.
And it’s been investing in car parks, new signage and improved external lighting to increase visibility on retail parks as well.
Plus many of the refreshed stores feature new concession partnerships to complement the retailer’s own “newly elevated core ranges”. Those partnerships include womenswear brands Little Mistress, Blue Vanilla and Quiz, with others to follow.
As mentioned, the store investment programme is costing the company £25 million. It will renew its entire estate with the programme running for three to five years, although the speed seen so far suggests it could be at the lower end of that timescale.
Chief retail officer Katherine Davis said: “We’re listening and investing in what matters most to our customers. The results speak for themselves – higher footfall, happier shoppers . This all ladders up to delivering a better experience for our customers – as well as our colleagues on the shop floor – and winning market share, which is central to our ambitious business transformation.”
Meanwhile, Steve Ridehalgh has joined as director of international, reporting to Davis.
He’ll be responsible for the business’s international growth strategy as part of the second phase of its turnaround. That means a focus on opening new markets and building franchise partnerships.
He joins with significant experience in overseas expansion and franchise development, having been responsible for the global expansion of Oasis and Warehouse. He was most recently franchise director at Debenhams and then partner at PartnerWise Franchise, advising retailers on global strategy.
He began his career with Alshaya Group in Saudi Arabia and then oversaw international ops at BHS.
Copyright © 2025 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.
Published
December 8, 2025
Boss is further deepening its role as a patron of the international art scene and as a partner of Art Basel. At the inaugural Art Basel Awards Night in Miami Beach last week, the fashion house presented the Boss Award for Outstanding Achievement for the first time. The 2025 award goes to the artist Meriem Bennani, whose multimedia practice is renowned for its innovative, humorous, and critically engaged storytelling.
The Moroccan-born New Yorker works across a variety of artistic media, including video, sound, animation, sculpture, and large-scale installations. She is known for combining humour, pop-cultural aesthetics, and digital language in her narratives to create immersive, playful yet incisive works that resonate with audiences.
The prize was presented by CEO Daniel Grieder and creative director Marco Falcioni. The award will continue to recognise artistic practices that open up new perspectives and spark relevant social dialogue.
“I am deeply honoured to have my work recognised by such an iconic brand that has long championed innovative art that speaks to a wider public. This award inspires me to continue creating works that challenge perspectives and celebrate the beauty of collective experiences,” said Meriem Bennani at the award ceremony.
The highlight of the ceremony was the installation of an immersive catwalk entitled “1995–2025: 30 Years of Arts Sponsorship,” which spotlighted the brand’s arts patronage over the past three decades. Milestones included the “Paper Suit” by artist James Rosenquist from 1998, which marries the timeless craftsmanship of tailoring with the ephemerality of paper. Also featured were the Hugo Boss Prize, awarded for many years in collaboration with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and Museum, and a retrospective of the Hugo Boss Asia Art Award, launched jointly with the Rockbund Art Museum in Shanghai.
“Art has been an integral part of our DNA for over 30 years, and our partnership with Art Basel takes our commitment to a new level. We are proud to present the inaugural Boss Award for Outstanding Achievement to its first recipient, Meriem Bennani. This award marks the beginning of an exciting journey, and we look forward to shaping the future of art together,” said CEO Daniel Grieder.
“Fashion is an integral part of our everyday lives and serves as a bridge between the individual and society, often blurring the line between functionality and art. From our beginnings to our latest fashion show, Hugo Boss has been committed to the dialogue between fashion and contemporary art, as it continues to inspire innovation, creativity, and forward-thinking ideas,” added creative director Marco Falcioni.
The Boss Award is endowed with $100,000 and supports both future projects and a charitable initiative of the laureate’s choice. The award is open to living artists working across all media, with a particular focus on emerging talents who are shaping discussions within and beyond the art world.
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