Kath Lavery, Chair of Humber Business Week, said she plans to explore ways in which her organisation can support the sector by adding retail to its programme for 2015.

Kath spoke after a Make Fashion Your Business networking event at Caffè Nero in Hull’s House of Fraser store heard of exciting developments on the local retail scene.

Discussion was dominated by the recent takeover of House of Fraser by Sanpower Group, the Chinese department store operator. While management of the Hull store emphasised that the new owner’s plans are still under wraps, the expectation is that there will be significant investment.

Mike Rice, Director Responsible for Client Experience at Hull-based jewellers Hugh Rice, told of his company’s expansion during the last 42 years from a clockmaker’s business into a network of stylish retail outlets stretching across Yorkshire and employing around 200 people.

Fashion is key to the success of both businesses. Kerry White, Senior Sales Manager at House of Fraser in Hull, said: “Being aware of the latest trends in ladies fashions and beauty accessories is vitally important to our business.”

Mike Rice added: “We expanded from a trade manufacturing and repair business to embrace fashion in a way I would not have believed could be done. We are the third-largest distributor of Pandora in the UK because we spotted that opportunity.

“We expanded into St Stephen’s Shopping Centre seven years ago because we are a jeweller but we are also a fashion business.”

Kath Lavery noted the success of the event in attracting a full house of city centre business people from such sectors as law, accountancy and finance in addition to retail and hospitality.

She said: “This is HullBID’s big week and it is a real tribute to the role that retail plays. In any vibrant city you need a vibrant retail economy and fashion is at the heart of that.

“The takeover of House of Fraser is good news for the company and for Hull and we look forward to hearing more about their investment plans. The expansion of Hugh Rice is also exciting, and we are beginning to get a snowball effect from one big announcement after another.

“I want to try and get retail more involved in Humber Business Week because of its importance. Fashion is hard these days because there is so much internet shopping so it is important to have events like this to bring people together and remind them that getting out to the shops is a lot of fun and supports the local economy.”

Kathryn Shillito, HullBID City Centre Manager, said: “The event was a huge success because it brought together people from a great variety of city centre businesses and shared with them some of the good news stories that we have in Hull.

“I am delighted that Kath found the presentations so interesting and clearly sees the potential of our retail sector. This was our fifth Hull Fashion Week but it is not just about one week; we want people to think all the time about what the city centre retailers have to offer and we would welcome the opportunity to add that message to Humber Business Week.”

Humber Business Week is now in its tenth year and will present a record 67 events between Monday 2 June and Friday 6 June – including HullBID’s next networking gathering at the Holiday Inn Hull Marina Hotel on Wednesday June 4. For full details visit www.humberbusinessweek.co.uk

Pictured: Guests at the Make Fashion Your Business networking event at House of Fraser