THE opening of New Look’s new store on Saturday marked the entrance of a major player from the ‘affordable fashion’ sector of the UK clothing retail market. ‘We change our styles on every single delivery and we get a delivery three times a week,’ said UK area manager Dawn Green.

‘Our customers shop with us more than any other fashion retailer. It’s not unusual for customers to come into the store three times a week.’

Ms Green said the clothes were influenced by the latest fashions. ‘Everything is led from the catwalk. We have in-house designers who ensure that the speed for clothes to enter the market is extremely fast,’ she said.

‘From the catwalk to the store could be as little as six weeks.’

New Look’s core market is for ladies aged 25-44, within which there is a ‘tall’ range, a larger range for sizes 18-26, maternity wear and accessories, jewellery and bags. It also caters for men’s fashion, which represents 25% of the Guernsey store, as well as children’s wear.

‘I think the big footwear section on the second floor has been the most popular so far. Maternity wear also seems to be attracting a lot of interest,’ said Ms Green.

The layout has been arranged so that the more modern items are located nearer the entrance.

‘The high fashion lines have done really well,’ she said.

‘All the trends are where you come in and it’s a bit simpler when you get to the back.’

Ms Green said she was surprised at the number of nine- to 15-year-olds coming to the store.

‘They’re coming here without their parents and showing real decision-making skills. They’re quite clear about what they want.’

Even with increased pressure on the High Street retailers to absorb growing costs and to meet challenges from Internet rivals, Ms Green remained optimistic for industry growth.

‘From a New Look point of view, we’ve been trading really well. It’s affordable fashion,’ she said.

‘As a business, we’re expanding at a rate of knots. We opened three new stores around the UK this week alone.’

And the store’s new opening in the Markets could also be of benefit to other local businesses.

St Pierre cafe owner Adriano Cristofeletto said he had noticed an upturn in business while other shops in the Mill Street area have welcomed such a store.

The Markets outlet is the only New Look store in the Channel Islands. There are 570 shops on the mainland and the company has recently gone international, opening outlets in Belgium, France and Dubai.