After buying House of Fraser last week, Mike Ashley has vowed to keep 80 percent stores open.
The Sports Direct (LON: SPD) owner, who bought the 59-chain department store just hours after its collapse, told the Sun that he hopes to keep most of the branches open.
“In a year’s time you can hold my feet to the fire on that,” he said, confident of his target.
Ashley also elaborated on his plans to make House of Fraser the ‘Harrods of the high street’.
“In Harrods you get some exceptional services. What we would like to do is introduce a ‘concierge click and collect’ at House of Fraser.”
“When you go online and say you want to collect goods in-store, you should be able to book a time, book a changing room and book a stylist. You get that kind of personal shopping service in a Harrods. There’s no reason why it couldn’t be rolled out nationally across House of Fraser.”
“The biggest and most important thing House of Fraser is missing is luxury brands”, and highlighted Gucci, Prada, Stone Island and Mallet footwear as brands that could be added to the store’s offering. It is not taking away but adding to it,” he added.
The department store fell into administration last week before being bought by Ashley in a £90 million deal. The group employs 17,000 people.
Following his purchase, there is speculation Ashley will carry out a merger between Debenhams (LON: DEB) and House of Fraser. Ashley has a 29.7 percent stake in the former.