prabhu
The West Midlands is experiencing a wave of commercial vitality, with significant developments in retail and industrial sectors. Merry Hill shopping centre in Brierley Hill is set to unveil a transformative Marks & Spencer (M&S) store concept, backed by substantial investment, while Solihull-based Likewise Group reports strong progress towards its £200 million turnover target. These milestones highlight the region’s dynamic economic landscape, blending premium retail experiences with robust growth in specialised industries like flooring distribution.
M&S’s New Vision for Merry Hill
Store Expansion and Modernisation
Merry Hill, a prominent shopping destination in Brierley Hill, West Midlands, will host a new 93,000-square-foot M&S store concept, slated to open in late 2025. This follows a significant investment from M&S and Merry Hill’s owners, managed by Sovereign Centros from CBRE. M&S, a fixture at the centre for 35 years, will consolidate its two existing units—one for womenswear, kidswear, beauty, and food, and another for menswear, furniture, and a café—into a single, expansive space adjacent to Primark. This unified store will serve as a flagship anchor, reinforcing M&S’s long-term commitment to Merry Hill.
The new store will feature an expanded fashion range, covering womenswear, menswear, and kidswear, alongside larger home and beauty departments. A revamped, larger food hall and a standalone M&S café, a first for Merry Hill, will enhance the shopping experience, aligning with consumer demand for integrated retail and dining. Graeme Jones, executive director at Sovereign Centros, stated, “Merry Hill has undergone a transformation in recent years, and M&S’s investment ensures we continue that momentum. As a key anchor tenant, M&S will deliver an exceptional experience for our visitors.”
Merry Hill’s Ongoing Evolution
Merry Hill, one of the UK’s largest shopping centres with over 200 shops, a retail park, cinema, and food court, has benefited from a £50 million refurbishment since 2020, upgrading its exterior, entrances, and parking facilities. Anchored by retailers like Harvey Norman, Primark, Asda, Next, and leisure operators like Hollywood Bowl and XF Gym, the centre has seen recent store upgrades from H&M and Next. The forthcoming Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension, expected in late 2023, will improve accessibility, reinforcing Merry Hill’s role as the ‘strategic town centre’ of Dudley Borough, a status it has held alongside Brierley Hill since 2008.
New additions, including Costa and Bensons for Beds in the lower retail park, set to open later in 2025, complement community initiatives like the monthly Artisan Market and charity bake sales. These efforts, supported by co-founder Mark Robinson of Ellandi, Merry Hill’s owner, position the centre as a family-friendly lifestyle hub, serving a catchment area of 2.8 million within a 45-minute radius.
Regional Retail Dynamics
M&S’s investment reflects broader UK retail trends, where shopping centres are enhancing offerings to attract customers seeking premium, experiential shopping. The new store’s focus on fashion, home, beauty, and dining responds to these demands, though challenges like understaffing at the current M&S café, noted by some customers, must be addressed to ensure a seamless launch. Merry Hill’s growth contrasts with its historical impact; a 1993 study noted that its opening reduced retailing in nearby Dudley, Stourbridge, and Halesowen, though larger centres like Birmingham and Wolverhampton were less affected. The new store aims to solidify Merry Hill’s regional dominance.
Likewise Group’s Flooring Success
Sales Growth and Profitability
At its annual general meeting on 27 June 2025, Likewise Group, a Solihull-based floor coverings distributor, announced significant strides towards its £200 million turnover goal. Chief executive Tony Brewer reported a 10% increase in gross sales revenue on a like-for-like basis for the first half of 2025 compared to 2024, driven by its core businesses, Likewise Floors and Valley Wholesale Carpets. Despite a subdued market, the group has gained market share through expanded point-of-sale displays in flooring retailers and contractors.
Brewer noted, “Higher sales volumes are driving improved profitability each month, positioning us to meet market forecasts for 2025.” Investments over the past four years in logistics, product range, and distribution have begun to deliver, with Brewer crediting the company’s 600 employees: “Our teams are driving this progress, and we’re grateful for the support of our suppliers, customers, and shareholders.” The group’s interim results for the six months ending 30 June 2025 will be released on 9 September 2025, with voting outcomes from the AGM announced later on 27 June.
Logistics Investments
To support increased sales, Likewise is enhancing its logistics infrastructure. New capacity in Glasgow strengthens the Likewise UK network, while an agreement to expand processing at Valley’s Derby Distribution Centre will be operational in Q3 2025. These upgrades complement the company’s 10 regional distribution centres, including key hubs in Birmingham, Newcastle, and Manchester, ensuring efficient delivery to retailers like Carpetright and Tapi. This focus on logistics mirrors strategies of competitors like Headlam Group, which prioritise distribution to maintain market competitiveness.
Market Position
Likewise’s growth aligns with resilient demand in the UK home improvement sector, particularly for flooring, despite economic challenges. The company’s strategy of increasing point-of-sale displays and partnering with retailers has bolstered its market share, with a turnover of £123.6 million in 2023 projected to climb significantly. However, rising material costs and economic uncertainty pose risks, requiring ongoing operational efficiencies to sustain profitability.
West Midlands’ Economic Vitality
Contrasting Fortunes
Merry Hill’s retail investment and Likewise’s progress contrast with recent challenges in the West Midlands, such as the collapse of PLM Global in Nottingham, which resulted in all jobs lost on 25 June 2025 due to a decline in orders. This juxtaposition highlights the region’s diverse economic landscape, where retail and distribution thrive alongside vulnerabilities in tech hardware. The West Midlands’ resilience is further evidenced by initiatives like the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s 20-year partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority to develop fusion energy skills at West Burton, set to create 6,500 jobs by the 2040s.
Regional Synergy
Merry Hill’s transformation strengthens Brierley Hill’s role as a retail hub, supported by improved transport links and a diverse tenant mix. Likewise’s logistics enhancements bolster the West Midlands’ supply chain infrastructure, serving national retailers from its Solihull base. Both initiatives create jobs—Merry Hill through retail and leisure roles, and Likewise through its 600-strong workforce—driving economic activity. The region’s connectivity, skilled labour, and consumer demand underpin these successes, positioning the West Midlands as a commercial powerhouse.
Challenges and Opportunities
Merry Hill must ensure the new M&S store delivers a seamless customer experience, addressing past concerns like café understaffing. Likewise faces challenges from market volatility and cost pressures but benefits from its strategic investments. Both companies leverage the West Midlands’ economic strengths, though recent budget changes, including tax and wage increases, require careful financial management to maintain growth.
A Bright Outlook
Merry Hill’s new M&S store concept, with its expansive offerings and café, will elevate the centre’s status as a premier retail destination in the West Midlands. Likewise Group’s progress towards £200 million in turnover underscores its leadership in flooring distribution. Together, these developments highlight the region’s ability to blend retail innovation with industrial growth, fostering a vibrant economic future through strategic investments and community engagement.
