Harvey Nichols slated for International expansion

Harvey Nichols, arguably the UK's most fashion-forward and decadent department store, has long been eyeing international cities for further expansion of its high-end retail offer. Russia, Poland, Lebanon, India, Indonesia and more than one country in South America have been added to Harvey Nichols' wish list of potential international sites. A spate of successive new openings of licensed stores is being planned for as early as 2007. With three stores in the UK, international expansion seemed the most strategic route for growth. Harvey Nichols will focus on emerging markets where it can be the premier fashion destination.

Patrick Hanley, the group's commercial director told Drapers: "We want to be the number one store, a highly focused fashion store, in key cities." America may have Barney's and Brazil may have Dazlu, however there are many cities that do not have comparable high-end boutiques to match the offer of Harvey Nichols. With current stores in London, Dublin, Leeds, Edinburgh, Hong Kong and Riyadh, the next store to be opened is a 135,000 sq ft boutique in Dubai later this month. In September a smaller store is due to open in Istanbul, Turkey, and Moscow and St Petersburg are on the list for 2008. In Jakarta, a store is planned for autumn and another in Beirut, Lebanon. Add India, Argentina and Chile to the list and the strategy becomes impressively ambitious.