Republic uses music to stay in tune with young

The store, opposite Harvey Nichols, is to become a music venue as well as a store, showcasing artists and bands from around the Leeds area and all over the North.

Republic’s retail director Simon Singleton said: “We want to be synonymous with music. Over the weekends we’ll have DJs and live music on some Saturdays throughout the month. We want to encourage local emerging talent.”

The Leeds store celebrated its opening with a launch party featuring pop stars Tyler James, Angel and Jess Mills, the daughter of MP Tessa Jowell, as well as a DJ set from Ibiza Rocks’ DJs.

Republic’s chief executive Paul Sweetenham said: “We’re very excited to have launched the new Republic in the heart of Leeds where the brand first began over 25 years ago.

“We have welcomed a number of new brands to the stable and have developed partnerships with music labels to create a genuine fashion and music offering like no other before.

“The Leeds store launch is just the beginning.”

Mr Singleton said Republic had made a conscious decision to choose an imposing building for its flagship store, which dates back to the 1870’s, rather than take space in one of the new shopping schemes.

“We decided that opening in the Trinity Leeds scheme would be too ‘vanilla’,” he said.

“Instead of traditional, plain, ‘vanilla’ malls we want Landmark buildings. It’s great to go back to our roots in Leeds.”

The new store features 40in touch screen technology so shoppers can access the retailer’s entire range of merchandise.

Republic believes that both “clicks and bricks” (Internet shopping and instore shopping) will have a vital role to play in its future.

The new Leeds store will become the first of a chain of e-commerce stores.

“It will be a multi-channel store with leading technology,” said Mr Sweetenham. “We see a combination of larger, more prominent stores combined with an e-commerce channel.”

When it comes to “click and collect” (ordering online and picking up merchandise from a store) Republic believes the store that hands over the goods should be recognised in the transaction process, so the store benefits from the transaction rather than sees it as another chore that just boosts internet sales.

As part of a store refurbishment programme, Republic’s Meadowhall store in Sheffield is to be refitted before the end of October.

In addition White Rose in the south of Leeds will have a minor refit and the group is looking to relocate its store in Hull.

The new store in Leeds will employ 48 staff and is expected to become one of Republic’s top three performing stores – the other two being Meadowhall and the Trafford Centre in Manchester.

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