Sephora launches first Northern store with a bang, and achieves landmark trading results

On Thursday 16^th May, leading retail and leisure destination Trafford Centre proudly unveiled its new Sephora store – the first Sephora store in the North and the third in the UK.

The brand was welcomed to the centre with immense enthusiasm, as over 3,000 eager visitors queued to enter the store on opening day, with some arriving at 9pm the night before.

The grand opening saw live entertainment from the likes of DJ Mix Stress and Sweet Female Attitude entertain the crowds, as well as free coffees, juices, breakfast treats and branded merchandise.

Sephora cast members, the name given to those working in store, and VIPs flooded the entrance at 9.45am to cut the ribbon and welcome the first visitors into store. On opening day, the new Trafford Centre store closed 3^rd in the world for Sephora’s opening sales.

As a result of the opening, Trafford Centre saw footfall increase by 26.7%, in comparison to the same day last year, with footfall up 25.7% in comparison to the same week in 2023.

Trafford Centre’s membership and loyalty scheme, Pulse, saw sign ups increase by 85% up compared to the day before, with overall sign ups increase by 109% compared to the same day last year.

The new store boasts an expansive 500 square meters of sales floor space, providing an immersive and unparalleled shopping experience for beauty enthusiasts in the North. Boasting an extensive collection of coveted brands and an extraordinary product range that caters to the diverse needs of its customers, the Trafford Centre store is a treasure trove for makeup mavens and skincare aficionados alike. What makes the offering truly thrilling is the exceptional curation from the Sephora universe, presenting a stellar line-up of brands exclusive to Sephora UK.

To name a few of the exclusive brands that will be available, beauty lovers will be able to create the cult glossy look with Glossier, indulge in the artistry of Makeup by Mario, embrace the bold creations of GXVE by Gwen Stefani and, express themselves with Haus Labs by Lady Gaga. Plus, customers will be able to dive into the extensive and innovative Sephora Collection, Sephora’s own-brand offering that includes products across the makeup, skin, body and hair care categories. With this extensive and endless range of globally-beloved brands and products, Sephora Manchester is poised to be the ultimate destination for those seeking the latest and most coveted beauty products in the North.

Sarah Boyd, Managing Director, Sephora UK says: “We are thrilled that our grand opening at Trafford Centre has already proven to be such a success. The opening represents Sephora’s commitment to bringing the best in beauty to diverse communities across the country, recognising the pivotal role that major regional cities like Manchester play in shaping and influencing the beauty industry landscape. The Trafford Centre, known for its iconic atmosphere and diverse retail offering, is the perfect location for our flagship Northern store.”

Russell Loveland, Managing Director, Pradera Lateral – Trafford Centre’s Asset Managers, says: “We are very proud Sephora chose the Trafford Centre for its next location, which is its first store in the North of England.  Already, the results from the first week of trading indicate how the Manchester community have welcomed the arrival of the store. We look forward to seeing its continued success.”