A flagship store for charity fashion retailer White Rose, has been successfully secured and opened for business in less than six weeks thanks to a deal by leading East Midlands law firm, Nelsons.
The commercial property specialists worked around the clock to secure a 1,800 sqm unit on the upper floor of Nottingham’s Victoria Centre.
The shop marks a milestone for White Rose being its 15th location in the East Midlands – eighth in Nottingham and their first venture into the historic shopping centre.
The deal involved reviewing and meeting the requirements laid out by the shopping centre landlord and accounting for various units which required due diligence to ensure each element was covered within the required timeline, allowing the store to open in just six weeks.
Matthew Clarke, commercial property associate at Nelsons, said:
“White Rose has experienced major growth in the last few years, with an ambition to open a flagship store in Nottingham’s prime shopping destination of Victoria Centre.
“In retail, every day counts for trading to get a good flow of customers – even more so for pre-loved fashion. The client was appreciative of our efforts to get the deal over the line, giving them time to set up the shop floor ready for a busy opening weekend of sales.
“White Rose is a retail company that is still growing, and as a well-known regional brand it was a pleasure to be part of this next step in this journey.”
Matthew worked alongside partner and head of department Riaz Dudhia who has more than 17 years’ experience working in the retail sector. Collaboration on property deals plays a key role in the commercial property team’s success, ensuring clients get efficient and high-quality service.
“The level of detail needed for this deal was extremely important to the client, and part of our role is ensuring that even when deadlines are tight, we still provide gold-standard service,” Matthew added. “This type of accuracy and efficiency is what empowers our clients.”
Started in 2009 by two local university students with a focus on ‘recycled fashion’, White Rose aims to reduce the impact of fast fashion, minimising waste and its subsequent impact on the environment. It stocks a wide variety of pre-loved clothing, footwear and accessories covering a mix of high street and designer brands such as Zara, Topshop, Nike and Ralph Lauren.
Lee Reynolds, White Rose general manager, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring White Rose into the Victoria Centre. The centre has so much history within Nottingham, and we are excited to be a part of that. The new flagship store will give shoppers the opportunity to buy excellent second-hand fashion for a great cause. As we will be selling menswear and womenswear, we hope we are able to bring affordable, sustainable fashion to everyone.”
White Rose helps to raise essential funds for The Aegis Trust, a charity preventing mass atrocities and crimes against humanity worldwide.
The Nelsons commercial property team advises businesses across the East Midlands with acquisitions, leases and disposals, involving everything from large industrial units to smaller retail shops. The leading East Midlands law firm has offices in Nottingham, Derby and Leicester, and has been recognised in The Times’ top 250 law firms in 2022.
