Russell & Bromley eyes suburbs for new store locations

A shift in shopping habits towards more local shops has forced Russell & Bromley to rethink its retail strategy, as it begins targeting affluent suburbs across London and elsewhere.

Chief executive Andrew Bromley told The Times that the retailer would open future stores in “neighbourhood” locations.

He said shopping on main city streets and in shopping centres had “fallen off” in recent years as a result of the pandemic.

“Chelsea, for example, has gotten stronger as people are shopping closer to home and more locally”.

In a bid to reach more “local” areas, Russell & Bromley opened a new location in Canary Wharf in east London back in March.

The footwear retailer also opened its first overseas store on Dublin’s Grafton Street in May, with new stores in other cities in Europe and America expected to follow.