House of Fraser closures cut points of sale for Fossil Group and others across the UK

House of Fraser announced yesterday that it intends to close 31 out of its 59 shops as the only option left to stop the entire operation collapsing. The company’s chairman Frank Slevin said: “Our legacy store estate has created an unsustainable cost base which, without restructuring, presents an existential threat to the business.” The largest House of Fraser to close is on London’s Oxford Street, where it occupies one of the most valuable retail locations in the country. If the plan is approved, 2,000 House of Fraser employees will be made redundant, along with 4,000 people in brand and concession roles. One of the biggest concession partners is Fossil Group, which runs the watch business for House of Fraser under the Watch Station brand name. Watch Station sells many Fossil Group brands, including Emporio Armani, Michael Kors, Fossil and Skagen alongside watches from competitors such as Hugo Boss, Daniel Wellington and Storm London. Fossil Group declined . Source