The Trafford Centre has today welcomed a brand new River Island store – and it’s absolutely massive.
With high-tech changing rooms, an in-store coffee tuk tuk, and a huge selection of the high street brand’s clothing, the old Topshop unit has been completely transformed.
River Island’s brand new concept store spans 21,000 sq ft and has opened its doors for a weekend-long fashion event over this weekend.
One of its major selling points is the high-tech, interactive changing rooms, which detect which items you’ve carried into the space with you.
Then, if something’s not quite the right size or fit, you can use the touch pad in your changing room to request a new size, without having to traipse back across the huge site.
The changing rooms look beautiful too, decorated with pink floral wallpaper on walls and ceiling, plus huge black-lit mirrors to see your new outfit from all angles.
The changing rooms in River Island. Credit: The Manc GroupOutside River Island in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupAccessories display. Credit: The Manc Group
Back in the main store and everything’s split neatly into three departments – women’s, men’s, and kid’s.
The largest space has been stripped back to brick, with natural drapes, plants, and soft lighting suspended from the industrial ceiling.
There are boho rugs chucked about and marble tables displaying River Island’s huge range of accessories.
And on the men’s side of things, the seating has been taken from a car, and coffee tables are made from engines.
The new Trafford Centre shop was launched today with the help of Louise Roe, a fashion journalist and broadcaster, who hosted a styling workshop.
Menswear at River Island. Credit: The Manc GroupComplimentary floral bouquets from The Bud & Pot. Credit: The Manc GroupMenswear at River Island. Credit: The Manc Group
Gemma Scarfe, digital and marketing director, said: “We are extremely excited to announce that River Island is opening a brand new store in the Trafford Centre.
“Manchester has been on our radar for some time; it has continued to receive huge investment over the last few years and has cemented its position as a world-class city.
“We’re delighted to have identified a new, larger retail space that will deliver a fun and refreshing shopping experience to our loyal customers as well as complement the thriving city.”
Bruce Gardner, brand experience director at Trafford Centre, said: “River Island is a high street giant and hugely popular brand with our visitors, so we’re really excited to see their stunning, vibrant new store open in a new location here at The Trafford Centre.”
As part of River Island’s launch weekend, shoppers who spend more than £75 will be able to take home a complimentary flower bouquet from The Bud & Pot.
River Island’s new store is open now at the Trafford Centre.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Shopping
Aldi is looking for people to send FREE wine to in exchange for reviews
Emily Sergeant
Consider yourself a wine connoisseur? Well now’s your chance to get sent some freebies and put your skills to the test.
Wine tasting and reviewing used to just be the domain of qualified experts, but now with the rise of affordable options, a new wave of wine lovers are taking to social media to share their passion for vino and make the experience more approachable, all while breaking down jargon in a relatable and engaging way at the same time.
So, in a bid to tap into this growing world of wine enthusiasts, Aldi is redefining its popular wine-lovers fan group and launching an all-new Winefluencer Club
The aim of the ‘club’ is to make wine tasting more accessible and fun for everyone.
Aldi is looking for people to send free wine to in exchange for reviews / Credit: Aldi UK
Aldi’s programme is designed to give passionate wine lovers the chance to share their reviews of the retailer‘s latest Spring / Summer wine range on social media.
The supermarket is looking for 10 wine connoisseurs to join the club, where they will receive free bottles from Aldi’s award-winning wine range in exchange for authentic social media reviews.
Over three months, members will uncover gems from Aldi’s new collection and provide valuable feedback that will help shape future wine selections along the way.
Beyond complimentary wine, club members will also enjoy a sneak peek at Aldi’s Autumn / Winter range before its September release too.
Applications are now open for the perfect vino-loving candidate / Credit: Simon Hadley (via Aldi UK)
“At Aldi, we’re embracing the changing world of wine,” explained Julie Ashfield, who is the Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK.
“With the launch of our Winefluencer Club, we’re not just offering great wine, we’re creating a community where passionate wine lovers can share their thoughts on the range. It’s all about making wine something that everyone can enjoy, no matter their level of expertise.”
To be in with a chance of landing the role, budding tasters simply need to send an email to winefluencerclub@aldi.co.uk with their full name, proof of age, links to their social media handles and follower counts, reveal their favourite Aldi wine and why, and round it off with 150 words explaining why they should be chosen.
Entries are now open, with T&Cs applying, and you have up until Tuesday 18 March to apply on the Aldi website here.
Featured Image – Matthieu Joannon (via Unspalsh)
Shopping
Flashbacks: The timelapse of the Trafford Centre construction that’s gone viral
Danny Jones
The Trafford Centre might look like some decadent Roman emperor’s palace or as if it was plucked from the heart of Ancient Grecian city, but as anyone old enough to remember it’s opening and/or construction will tell you, it seems strange to think its not even been around for three decades yet.
As Greater Manchester’s and one of the North West’s most famous shopping centres full stop, the iconic attraction first began being built back in 1996, when John Major was Prime Minister, Manchester United were still Premier League champions, Britpop was at its peak and George Michael was number one.
It’s fair to say that a lot has changed since then and although Oasis might be back come 2025, The Trafford Centre and surrounding area are pretty unrecgonisable compared to nearly 30 years ago.
All told, it took approximately 27 months to erect the neo-classical epicentre of all things shopping, leisure, food and fanciness – and here’s what the process looked like:
With the initial 14 million sq ft shopping centre being completed in September 1998 following approximately 810 days of work, The Trafford Centre debuted to the Manc public and beyond.
It took more than 3,000 builders to bring the 60 hectare site to life at the peak of construction and since then the plot has only grown bigger, bolder and more ambitious over time.
Present day, it has everything from cinema screens and a mini Legoland to a Sea Life location, multiple bowling alleys and countless other forms of entertainment beyond just rows of shops and restaurants – hence why it remains busy pretty much year-round.
Back then, British celebrities, popular local names of note, politicians, dignitaries and prominent figures from the retail industry got to visit as part of exclusive preview events in the days before its launch date.
You can see the spectacle and fascination surrounding the official opening event here:
Seems surreal watching this today but the construction of the Trafford Centre was a huge moment not just for 0161 but all of the North.
But of course, the entire complex itself has seen multiple extensions over the years, including massive developments such as Barton Square and The Great Hall.
At the outset, it cost more than £600 million to build The Trafford Centre; the major renovations mentioned above which took place in 2008 cost another £100m and the Trafford Palazzo revamp around a decade later came in at around £75m.
There has and always will be lots of money put behind this intruguing monument to modern consumerism, and big brands will continue to flock to open units within the huge expanse whenever they can: some of the most recent being Archie’s, Flying Tiger, Sephora, Tiffany, Gymshark and more.
We’ll admit the aesthetic still makes us double-take from time to time (though not as much as confused Londoners visiting for the first time), but it’s not like this part of the world hasn’t boasted plenty of other curiosities in the past…
Daisy Jackson -
6th May 2023 
