As many unexpected developments in retail appear during the lockdown, luxury department store Harrods will open an outlet branch at London's Westfield White City. After a historic first-ever shutdown for the store in 170 years, the reopening of the flagship store (reportedly on 15 June) will be followed in early July by the debut of Harrods Outlet, which will be selling discounted Spring/Summer merchandise and housing summer sales, which will also be available online. Harrods MD Michael Ward stated: "Harrods Outlet allows us to enable better social distancing across a larger footprint, move towards the new season decisively and confidently, and retail in a responsible way."Indeed, designed for social distancing, the open-plan duplex space will feature three-meter-wide walkways. For now the outlet is temporary, but might be an option for the Christmas time also.

Meanwhile, the Knightsbridge flagship will largely focus on new, full-price. The store has taken measures to welcome customers in the best conditions, meaning the main flagship will be able to put strict social distancing measures in place and also create the best possible backdrop for new collections that will be arriving. Technology will be used to monitor footfall so that it can control numbers inside the store at any time. And it will also convert its doors into specific entrances and exits.

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