New Look Retailers Ltd

Type	Private
Founded	Taunton, England (1969)
Founder(s)	Tom Singh
Headquarters	Weymouth, England
Number of locations	600 + (2008)
Area served	United Kingdom Republic of Ireland Belgium France Saudi Arabia Dubai Kuwait Egypt Bahrain United Arab Emirates
Key people	Carl McPhail, Chief Executive
Industry	Retailer
Products	Clothing Fashion
Revenue	▲ GBP £1.147 Billion[1] (2008)
Operating income	▲ £179 million (2008)
Employees	30,000 (worldwide) 17,000 (UK)
Website	www.newlook.co.uk

New Look is an international fashion retailer with a chain of high street shops in Britain, Belgium, France, Republic of Ireland, and the United Arab Emirates.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Private ownership 1.2 Fire Safety Conviction 2 Market 2.1 Celebrity endorsement 2.2 Promotions 3 See also 4 References 5 External links 5.1 News items

[edit] History

New Look was founded in 1969 in Weymouth, Dorset by Tom Singh. Since then the company has rapidly expanded and now operates across a chain of over 600 stores internationally and a staff of over 30,000. The group had a turn over of £1,147 million in y/e 2008 with profits of £179 million.^[2]

[edit] Private ownership

In 2004 after six years afloat the company withdrew from the stock market and was taken back to being a privately owned business by founder Tom Singh and chief executive Phil Wrigley, and private equity investors Permira, Apax Partners & Quillian Investments.

[edit] Fire Safety Conviction

On 26th April 2007, a fire occurred at a New Look branch in Oxford Street, London. The subsequent investigation revealed an extensive catalogue of failings relating to fire safety precautions and measures. The company subsequently pleaded guilty to criminal charges and on 25th November 2009, was fined a total of £400,000 with £136,052 costs.^[3]

[edit] Market

The retailer's core audience is females in the 16-30 year old age bracket; however in 2001 the retailer diversified into men's clothing which has now been implemented into over 20% of the chain. Throughout the remainder of 2008 New Look continued its expansion and is due to open its first store in Russia before the end of the year.

[edit] Celebrity endorsement

New Look is renowned for its celebrity collaborations which have included Kelly Brook, Lily Allen, Fearne Cotton, Alexa Chung, Kimberley Walsh & Javariya AliBritish designer of the year 2006 Giles Deacon.

[edit] Promotions

In 2007 New Look launched its first advertising campaign for three years. The same year it used online advertising for the first time and launched its transactional website, which went live in December 2007 and currently carries womenswear, menswear, Generation 915 for teens, maternity, tall & Inspire (Sizes 18-26).

New Look Store - Exterior in Liverpool

New Look Store - Interior in Liverpool

New Look store inside the Merrywalks shopping precinct, Stroud, Gloucestershire

[edit] See also

• Top Track 100 - list of 100 largest private companies, New look is at no 32.

[edit] References

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[edit] External links

• New Look website

[edit] News items

• New Look moves 250 jobs to London in January 2009
• New HQ in Weymouth in August 2007
• Newcastle-under-Lyme in July 2004
• Going private in February 2004