As Marks & Spencer launches its first Lifestore in Gateshead, Annie Roberts speaks to Vittorio Radice
By Rebecca Shipley
Bunking off work to celebrate the opening of a new store is a rare occurrence - the opening of Bullring might be one of the exceptions. For shoppers living in the Gateshead area it was the opening of Marks & Spencer's Lifestore.
For anyone who understands the science of getting people to spend their money, this is an experiment that might just work. Vittorio Radice, the Italian with the Midas touch in the world of retailing, has masterminded the lifestyle store which has a two-storey house at its heart.
He spent the late 1990s weaving his magic on the Selfridges store in London's Oxford Street and is now breathing fresh life into Marks & Spencer's home furnishings collections.
The room sets are the ideal place to showcase more than 12,000 items which launch Marks & Spencer into a new era of retailing. The aim is to secure a bigger share of the £20 billion home furnishings market.
The Gateshead store may well be the first of many. Other Lifestores are due to open - one in Kingston-upon-Thames in the summer and at Lakeside Retail park, West Thurrock in 2005.
Vittorio said: "Marks & Spencer lifestore is an exciting concept that breaks new ground. It represents our first step towards becoming a leader in the home market.
"We've designed the Marks & Spencer Lifestore to reflect the way we live now and capture the atmosphere and ecleticism of our homes. It's a brand new shopping experience that's all about individuality and accessibility. We're confident it has something for everyone."
To see more of the collection and to buy online visit the website at www.marksandspencer.com
