Department stores that have served as the traditional anchor for a countless number of malls across the United States are facing hard times, and there’s a pretty good chance that things will get worse before there’s anything resembling a turnaround in their future. As Philly.com reports, there’s an overseas retailer that seems pretty happy to gobble up some of the space these retail giants used to occupy, and they may just be getting started.
Ireland-based Primark is a discount fashion chain that offers clothing and accessories for all age groups, as well as assorted housewares. The company operates more than 300 stores across the United Kingdom and Europe, and has begun making some headway in the northeastern United States. Ironically, Primark is branded as Penneys in Ireland, very similar to JC Penney, which is one of the major US brands that has been facing loads of pressure, along with Macy’s and Sears.
Primark’s first United States location opened in Boston’s Downtown Crossing last year, followed by a location in Pennsylvania’s King of Prussia mall. Additional locations will soon follow in the Willow Grove Park Mall in Pennsylvania, and Connecticut’s Danbury Fair Mall. Also in the pipeline are stores in two New Jersey locations at the Freehold Raceway Mall and the American Dream mall.
So far, reaction to the Primark brand has been positive, and sales are pointing to the retailer being on the right track to continue expanding its US footprint.
“It has been very encouraging. We have gotten very positive customer feedback. Footfall and sales densities have increased steadily as awareness of the Primark brand continues to grow,” Breege O’Donoghue, Primark’s group director of business development, told Philly.com.
The traditional shopping mall anchors have endured a well-documented range of problems, including declining sales, a failure to adapt to the times, and pressure from shareholders to consolidate their footprints. Primark is primed to help fill the void left by departing department stores, and analysts have noticed.
“Primark is coming to America at a perfect time. Primark can make its name in the U.S. because it offers the absolute lowest prices around, yet still manages to stay on the edge of fashion and design,” James Cook, Jones Lang LaSalle’s Americas director of research and retail, is quoted as saying last year.
The company’s marketing slogan calls for “Amazing Fashion, Amazing Prices,” and they appear primed to make their mark in the US retail sector.
