New Look

Retailer goes European with private equity support

Private equity investment has propelled New Look from a domestic UK high street retailer into a rapidly expanding European fashion brand.

New Look was acquired by private equity firms Permira and Apax in April 2004, since when it has added more than a million square feet of floor space. The company’s workforce has grown by 50%, from 12,400 people in 2004 to 18,600 by 2008.

In that time New Look has also developed innovative new product ranges by working with designers such as Giles Deacon (British Fashion Designer of the Year - 2006).

The trading outlook for the UK and European high street has been extremely challenging for the past 18 months but New Look has bucked the trend thanks to a dynamic retail strategy. It has been one of the best performing fashion fascias on the UK high street. More than a third of British women and girls bought an item from its womenswear ranges last year.

International expansion is still progressing well with the opening in February 2009 of a franchise store in Moscow.

Region/sector: UK and Continental expansion / retail