British department store chain House of Fraser has opened its first standalone store in China, in Sanpower Plaza in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province.
Owned by Chinese conglomerate Sanpower Group, the House of Fraser China store spans six floors with more than 425,000 sqft (39,483 sqm) of retail space. It is introducing such brands as Cambridge Satchel Company, Peter Werth and Radley into the Chinese market.
House of Fraser chairman Frank Slevin says the chain will look to benefit from the strong demand by Chinese consumers for UK brands.
In September, the company described trading in the UK as “very challenging”. It said the retail sector there was facing significant change in “structural dynamics as consumers’ shopping habits and delivery expectations continue to evolve”.
“The opening of the store in Nanjing is a strong way to finish the year,” says Slevin.