Harvey Nichols’ Birmingham store is due to close in January, a move expected to cost at least 60 jobs, The Guardian reported on 8 October. The newspaper said staff were informed earlier that week.
The closure is part of a wider reshaping of the luxury department store chain under new owner Frasers Group. A separate report published by TheIndustry.fashion on 8 October also said the Birmingham store would close, although the accessible version of that report did not confirm the January timing or job estimate.
Other stores face changes
The Guardian reported that Harvey Nichols’ Leeds and Bristol stores will be rebranded as Flannels, another retail business owned by Frasers Group. TheIndustry.fashion had reported on 5 October that Frasers planned those conversions.
TheIndustry.fashion’s earlier report said the Manchester and Edinburgh stores would be retained and receive investment, while the future of the London store was under discussion with its landlord. Those details described plans reported at the time, rather than confirmed later outcomes.
Frasers Group did not respond to The Guardian’s request for comment on the Birmingham closure, according to the newspaper. The Guardian’s report said staff had been told earlier in the week.
Frasers acquired the chain in August
Frasers Group acquired Harvey Nichols out of administration in August, The Guardian reported on 13 August. The Guardian put the purchase price at £43 million and said about 1,000 of the chain’s 1,200 jobs were saved.
TheIndustry.fashion reported the price as £43.3 million and said the transaction covered six UK stores and more than 1,000 employees.
The Birmingham closure and wider changes to the store portfolio have been reported by two outlets. The January date and estimate of at least 60 jobs, however, appear in the Guardian report and are not independently confirmed by the accessible corroborating report.