Luxury fashion retailer Harvey Nichols has announced the opening of its first store in Kuwait, with the help of the Middle East franchise operator Alshaya. The store will cover over 10,000-square metres of retail space and will stock Harvey Nichols' most popular brands and designer names. The store will also house the signature Fifth Floor Restaurant concept, which was originally created for the Knightsbridge flagship but is now synonymous with the Harvey Nichols name. The store is set to open its doors in spring/summer 2011 (Source).
For all you guys who love Polo & Tommy, you’ll be thrilled to know that British Brand Hackett is now open in Kuwait at The Avenues (Phase II). The home of authentic British Menswear and style, Hackett , has a worldwide reputation for producing high quality, unique and distinctive, menswear and kid’s clothing. Hackett’s clothes offer a selection of formal wear including dinner jackets, business clothing such as ties, suits, shirts and trousers, smart casual, rugby shirts, designer polo shirts to accessories including belts, scarves, wallets, and travel bags. And here's an interesting fact, Hackett is the Official Clothing Partner of the Aston Martin Racing . So you will also find Limited edition 'Aston Martin Racing by Hackett' products available in store. These Aston Martin Racing products make ideal gifts for Formula 1 racing fan, or an Aston Martin owner.
Comments
Not that exciting.
What would be exciting, in terms of fashion retail giant would be Selfridges and Bergdoor & Goodman.
Still, I'd be very happy if Harvey Nichols came to Kuwait but ONLY if the markup is reasonable. Otherwise, thank God for online shopping!
What are all the multibrands going to do?
I mean there is literally EVERY brand imaginable available in Kuwait already/ what is left for HN?
Or will they be taking most brands away. If they stock similar to the HQ in London than not much will be left for the original retailers in Kuwait. be it ostoura, othman, 4, etc
don't they stock rick owens and margiela? Some of Harvey Nichols' best selling brands
I do favor local concept boutiques than department stores.
I find it exciting in Kuwait to have such stores as Al-Othman, 4 and Villa Moda.
And in Jeddah such as Sid, Life, and other flagships.
And the internationally famous DNA Boutique in Riyadh...
These concept stores are all developed locally by locals, and it is essentially better business for your home town than big name international deprtment stores.
I think it is better to support them and always, constatly give them justifiable suggestons for imporvements, they usually highly appreciate that.
BUT
the Kuwaiti customer is known to be one of the most spoilt in terms of consumerism and i believe the combo of that and the fact they want to keep the KD INSIDE Kuwait rather outside when everyone travels to London, NY or Paris is what makes it so attractive for outside brands to team up and settle in kuwait.
it is consumerism at its best which personally i find quite sad.
i think that the local retailers have done a great job with setting up great stores.
i mean a little bit of good taste (the money is already there so that is not an issue to set up a shop) and pops up another cupcake shop, contemporary boutique, "hip" restaurant, you name it. kuwait has it ALL. walking down marina mall i feel like on oxford street already "cringeworthy" i tell ya
now all that is missing is a bit of knighsbridge. oh sorry i just remembered, we have that too now with Harvey Nichols rolling in TSK TSK
so sad!
You're about the Kuwait consumer being the most spoiled, in marketing it is known that for example, most Kuwaitis and people from Najd (Riyadh) often prefer a sales person's help in dressing them and making choices for them, and essentially all they have to do is just buy. While for the example the Jeddah consumer goes into a shop knowing exactly what they want and go for it, sometimes if not often ignoring most suggestions by sales personnel. A little study I've done myself to prove :-)
Just to show you the different attitudes by different people in more or less the same region.