Consumer & Retail
ICONIC RETAIL BRANDS
Home to iconic brands such as Alexander McQueen, Burberry and Harrods, the UK is at the forefront of international retailing.
Why choose UK consumer and retail
Value and quality
Products that are made in Britain are known throughout the world for their craftsmanship, creativity and quality. We make things that last.
Tech capability
The UK develops products using the latest technologies including augmented and virtual reality, predictive analytics and machine learning algorithms.
Established market
Our online retail market is well established and growing. Online retail sales hit £133bn in 2016, up 16% year-on-year.
UK centres of excellence
Throughout the UK there are thriving retail centres built on traditions and skills that often go back hundreds of years.
The Hatton Garden area has been the centre of London’s jewellery trade since medieval times. With almost 300 businesses and over 55 shops, it’s the largest and most concentrated cluster of jewellery retailers in the UK.
40% of the UK’s jewellery is made in the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter. It covers 300 acres and includes over 100 specialist jewellery retailers, workshops, designers and craftspeople.
Luxury in London
London has several locations known for luxury retail. Savile Row is famous for its traditional men’s bespoke tailoring thanks to brands like Gieves & Hawkes.
Old Bond Street and New Bond Street have long been associated with luxury fashion. The area is home to the flagship stores of Mulberry, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and Matthew Williamson.
The home of Dr Martens
Northampton is renowned for shoemaking and leather craftsmanship where famous names such as Dr Martens and Church & Co continue to thrive.
Heritage tweed and cashmere
The manufacture of high-quality knitwear and woollen apparel has long been associated with Scotland. The Harris Tweed is still woven in the Outer Hebrides by crofters in their own homes, using century-old methods.
Scottish cashmere, with craftsmanship perfected over 300 years, is another thriving brand built upon a traditional guarantee of quality and luxury. One mill in the UK carries out the entire cashmere weaving process from raw fibre to finished garment.
