Harvey Nicks to create 200 jobs in Dublin
Luxury retailer Harvey Nichols is to create 200 jobs at its new boutique branch in south Dublin, it emerged today.
The upmarket store with top-floor bar and dining facilities will open in September as anchor tenant at the €650m Dundrum Town Centre.
The 32,000 square-foot outlet has been modelled on the Birmingham branch, but will also include a food hall and café.
A Harvey Nichols spokeswoman revealed company bosses were looking into the prospect of providing late-night bar and entertainment facilities at the centre.
“We want to offer the whole family of business, which includes hospitality. We’re not missing anything. We are looking to have something different to offer customers with some sort of music or entertainment,” she said.
It is understood the company is assessing licensing rules for the multi-million-euro shopping precinct.
The company’s first Irish branch will begin placing ads for sales, customer service and hospitality staff in the coming months. The hunt for a general manager and human resources chief has already begun.
It is hoped to have all staff in place by the end of the summer.
The Dundrum Shopping Centre, built on a l7-acre site, will provide employment for 3,000 people when all three phases are completed in 2008. The first phase is due to open at the beginning of next month.
It has been reported Harvey Nichols will fork out around €1.5m rent per year for the prestigious southside site competing in the luxury market with the likes of Brown Thomas.
The best of international retailers have signed up for the Dundrum development including H&M, House of Fraser, Marks & Spencer, Next and Penneys.
Many Grafton street stores are also joining the strong line up including Weir & Son Jewellers, Fitzpatrick Shoes, BT2, Monsoon, Principles and River Island.
Harvey Nichols is owned by Hong Kong entrepreneur Dickson Poon, who aims to transform it into a global luxury goods brand in its own right.
Other new stores planned for next year include outlets in New York and Dubai. Beyond its flagship London store, Harvey Nichols now has outlets in Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester and Riyadh.
