Esprit opens in Liverpool

Lifestyle label Esprit has opened a flagship franchise store in Liverpool's Met Quarter, with a 4,300 sq ft unit trading across two floors. The store is part of an ambitious programme of franchise partnerships designed to make the brand a familiar name on the UK and Irish high street, and follows hot on the heels of the opening of a franchise store in Newbridge, Republic of Ireland, in April.

The two new openings bring Esprit's current UK standalone total to 22, with the company operating nine wholly owned stores alongside 13 franchises. August will see the opening of a 14th franchise store in Perth, Scotland, with company bosses hoping for a possible 10 further openings over the next 12 months. Having reported a strong start to 2006, Esprit's UK stores are now reporting double digit growth on like-for-like sales. Esprit is also planning on the further expansion of both its shop-in-shop concept, currently featured in over 30 UK department stores, and its wholesale independent business.