Popular fashion chain to open 10 new stores and upgrade 30 more branches

Daily Mirror

2 hours ago

The fashion and homeware retailer has not published a full list of new locations, but revealed it wants to expand its footprint in London, Essex, Hampshire and Northern Ireland
Matalan has announced plans to open ten new and relocated stores this year as part of a £25million investment.
The fashion and homeware retailer has not published a full list of new locations, but revealed it wants to expand its footprint in London, Essex, Hampshire and Northern Ireland.
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Matalan will also upgrade 30 existing stores, including improving layouts and store designs, for example by relocating services such as fitting rooms and tills, plus easier-to-use self-service checkouts in larger checkout areas.
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Some of its recently refurbished stores include Croydon, Linwood, Bristol Filton, and Dumfries. It marks the first phase of a long-term plan to modernise its store estate over the next three to five years, and comes after the retailer secured £25million of additional funding from investors last month.
Matalan will also use the new funding to invest in the launch of a new app. Matalan has around 230 stores across the UK and 50 international branches.
James Dorling, Matalan's Property Director, said: 'Matalan storefronts have been a fixture of UK communities for 40 years, so it is only right that bricks-and-mortar retail remains at the centre of our transformation programme.
'With ten exciting new store openings and extensive refurbishments across our estate, this investment marks a step-change in our strategy – creating a better, more seamless shopping experience for our loyal existing customers, while also introducing the Matalan brand to new consumers.'
But in less good news, Matalan recently recalled three children's clothes products over fears tots could end up getting strangled. The retailer pulled its blue shark rash vest and shorts, its seersucker swimshorts in blue and boys tie dye swimshorts.
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If you've purchased one of these products, you should return it to your nearest Matalan for a full refund. You won't need your receipt to get your money back. These items were on sale from January 12, 2025 until March 17, 2025.
In a recall notice published by Matalan, the retailer said: 'It has come to our attention that the above Boy's swim shorts do not meet our usual high standards for quality and safety, as there is high possibility of Entrapment and Strangulation with the draw cord.
'As customer safety is our highest priority, we are immediately recalling these swim shorts. If you've bought any of the swim shorts shown above, please do not use the product and return it at your earliest convenience to your nearest Matalan store where our staff will be happy to give you a full refund.
'You will not need to produce a receipt to claim a refund. If you have bought the above for someone else or know someone who has one then please let them know immediately about this notice.'