Stefanel plots UK franchise stores

Italian womenswear brand Stefanel is looking to open up to 15 franchise stores across the UK and Ireland.
Love Brands, the brand’s distributor in the UK and Ireland, has teamed up with franchise consultant Peter Danby to recruit potential franchisees. They will work alongside John Lane from London-based retail property advisors Tienda to select locations.
The brand is looking at market towns including Canterbury, Windsor, Tunbridge Wells, Cambridge, York, Harrogate, Dublin and Bath.
Hugo Deane, director of Love Brands, said: “We want aspirational areas that will suit the mid to premium offer. We believe there are 10 to 15 store opportunities across the UK and Ireland but we’ll have to see how it goes. We plan on opening three or four stores within the next 12 months.”
In the UK, the brand has eight House of Fraser concessions and stores on Regent Street and Covent Garden in London.
It launched wholesale in the UK for spring 17 and has secured 25 doors. Wholesale launched in Ireland for autumn 17 with agent Nuala Henshaw.
Stefanel has 400 retail and franchise stores worldwide.