Suit Direct has confirmed ambitious plans to expand its store estate, with the potential to open up to 50 new locations across the UK in the coming years.
The formal menswear retailer, which currently operates over 30 stores nationwide, has renewed its partnership with Savills to identify prime sites and support the next stage of growth.
Amanda Argent, Retail Director at Suit Direct, explained:
“That’s when we embarked on the journey of going onto the high street with a full-price proposition. We then engaged with Savills, who did a piece of research to support us in finding the locations we should be targeting.”
“We did go through a rapid amount of openings post-Covid, taking advantage of empty units where other retailers had collapsed. That has changed significantly now. Some of those stores worked really well, some were on short-term leases so we have lost them now, and some we still have,” she adds.
Since the collapse of Debenhams in 2019, Suit Direct has shifted from concessions to a mix of outlet and full-price stores. Today, the business runs multiple outlet stores and over 30 full-price locations across high streets and shopping centres. The brand’s focus remains on occasion-led suiting — weddings, proms, race days and formal events — alongside an expanding lifestyle range.
Argent added:
“Confidence and credibility are really important when you’re buying a suit for key moments in your life. That’s definitely a unique selling point for us.”
Michael Lockhart, Director of National and In Town Retail at Savills, said:
“I think Suit Direct’s product range has evolved over the last couple of years. It’s a very different product we’re selling today compared to pre-COVID-19, and I think that’s a key strength of the business: we are agile to consumer spending habits, fashions and tastes.”
Lockhart continued:
“Nothing is off the table; if there is a good story from a business case point of view and we feel that opening a Suit Direct in that location will ultimately generate a profitable store, then we’ll look at it. We’ll consider any opportunity on its merits.”
“It’s an exciting time for Suit Direct,” Lockhart concluded. “As we open more stores and people become more aware of the brand, we are increasingly getting more landlords coming to us.”
“It was a bit of a struggle in the early stages; we were probably seen as below the likes of Hawes & Curtis or Moss in the brand hierarchy, but now we are having landlords come to us, which is a testament to Amanda and her team and the hard work they’ve put into changing the perception of Suit Direct in the market.”
“It’s a really positive story and a well-capitalised business. We’re out there wanting to take bricks and mortar stores, there’s a strong online platform, and we’re investing in store fit-outs.”
“The message we want to convey is that we want to engage with landlords to learn and see new opportunities.”
Suit Direct’s expansion plans are focused on top-tier retail destinations with strong footfall, with target locations including Liverpool, York, Leeds, Reading, Edinburgh and London. The brand is seeking units between 1,200 and 1,800 sq ft, with a minimum of 500 sq ft of back-of-house space.
With investment in premium shop fit-outs, a strengthened online platform and growing brand recognition, Suit Direct is well-positioned to continue its momentum in the UK menswear market.