Over 70 jobs created at The Outlet

Thirty-five jobs are the result of the recent signing of Next Clearance which is opening in early December 2011. The high street retailer has been in shop fit mode at the scheme for the past ten weeks - also employing local contractors to fit out the large mezzanine unit.

The retail village has added Next Clearance, Mamas & Papas, Double Two and Brand Centre to its tenant list in 2011 - and these retailers and many more amongst the 55 stores at the scheme have recruited the additional staff in the build up to Christmas.

“Our retailers are preparing for Christmas by ensuring they are well staffed to cater for the busiest retail period of the year,” stated Chris Nelmes, Centre Manager of The Outlet.

“The opening of Next Clearance at the scheme is a real boost to both our retailers and shoppers in the area. The brand will complement our existing tenants and the sheer scale of the unit will attract shoppers from this area and beyond. Bringing Next Clearance to Banbridge is brilliant for the district.”

The announcement of Next Clearance followed the opening of Mamas & Papas earlier this year and means that the popular brand will join Gap Outlet, M&S Outlet, the Nike Factory Store, Jaeger, Timberland, and Armani Collections as a major anchor tenant at the scheme. The signing is a clear vote of confidence in the scheme, which unveiled new owners and a new management team earlier this year.

Chris continued: “Our retailers are excited by the arrival of Next Clearance and are clearly anticipating it will act as a key footfall driver to The Outlet, alongside our other established anchor tenants. The brand is an excellent addition to our tenant mix, particularly in terms of our family offering, and brings with it a very strong customer base.”

The Next Clearance retail offering will focus on childrenswear, homeware, menswear, and womenswear, and will be drawing clearance stock, sold at discount rates, from their 500 retail units throughout the UK and Ireland. The store is one of the largest leasing deals to take place in Northern Ireland in 2011 and will be the largest Next Clearance unit in Ireland.

The Outlet is the largest dedicated retail outlet centre in Ireland, and is home to over 55 designer and high street outlet stores, including exclusive brands available in no other outlet centre in Ireland. The location, 10 minutes north of Newry, attracts shoppers from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Sterling and Euro currencies are accepted throughout the scheme.