Luxury retailer chooses Birmingham for latest store

LUXURY British furniture and home accessories retailer, OKA, is to open its first store in Birmingham.

The retailer will set up shop at 20 to 22 Harborne Road in Edgbaston early in the New Year.

OKA, founded in 1999, is the brainchild of three British designers, Annabel Astor, Sue Jones and Lucinda Waterhouse.  Initially launched as a mail order interiors company, OKA has grown to include a network of UK stores.

The retailer has agreed terms with Calthorpe Estates to take 7,800 sq ft of retail space in a pair of newly converted period properties.

Mark Lee, chief executive of Calthorpe Estates said: “We are overjoyed that OKA has chosen Edgbaston Village for their flagship store in the Midlands. The high-end brand is the perfect fit and reflects our aspirations to establish a premium leisure and lifestyle location in the heart of Edgbaston, benefitting those that live in the area whilst attracting new visitors from far and wide.  

“OKA’s new store will provide the best of both worlds. It will have a large double-fronted open plan ground floor retail space, with a light and airy interior as a result of large glass doors and windows to the rear, attractive bay windows, combined with a modern yet traditional fit out on the upper two floors. The self-contained property will provide space for OKA to deliver its in-store services and showcase its product range.”

Annabel Astor said the Edgbaston outlet would be the 14th store in the company’s UK network.

“We are delighted to be opening in Edgbaston Village and to be working with Calthorpe Estates on this exciting new project.  Edgbaston Village was an obvious choice as we have a loyal and growing customer base in the surrounding area,” she said.

“The store will stock our entire range giving our customers the chance to see everything in person, from rugs to beds, tableware to lighting, mirrors and dining tables, all within our seasonal, signature room-sets which are a great source of inspiration to customers.’’

The store will offer an in-store interior design service and a ‘click and collect’ service.

To support the new opening, Calthorpe Estates has invested extensively in converting the property, upgrading the car parking space to the rear to provide 115 disabled and easy access car parking spaces.

Ralph Minott, director of development at Calthorpe Estates, added: “The transformation of the parade of period properties at 16-22 Harborne Road has been an ambitious regeneration project, it highlights what can be done to revitalise traditional buildings for modern use. Working collaboratively with Birmingham City Council’s planning team, we have been able to breathe new life into these early 1900’s properties, creating high quality eye-catching and market tuned retail space within a period environment.”

Calthorpe Estates used SPACE Retail Property Consultants for the retail strategy and letting of Edgbaston Village.

OKA was advised by SiteWorks Real Estate Services agents, which specialises in providing high-level services to retailers, developers and shopping centre owners.