Harvey Nichols

Harvey Nichols is a famous British luxury department store that began in 1831 by Benjamin Harvey. Its biggest store is in Knightsbridge, London. The store sells special designer clothes for men and women, accessories, beauty products, fine wines, and luxury foods.

Today, Harvey Nichols has 14 stores around the world. You can find them in places like Hong Kong, Ireland, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. One store even has a restaurant inside the OXO Tower in London. The company is owned by Dickson Concepts, a luxury goods company in Hong Kong.

History

Harvey Nichols began in 1831 as a small shop selling linen in Knightsbridge, London. It was founded by Benjamin Harvey. After Harvey died, his wife Anne and his son-in-law James Nichols took over and renamed it Harvey Nichols & Co.

Over time, the store grew into a large department store. It was bought by different companies, including Debenhams and later Dickson Concepts. The store became well-known because it appeared in the BBC comedy series Absolutely Fabulous.

The company's leaders changed over the years. Stacey Cartwright became CEO in 2014, followed by Daniela Rinaldi and Manju Malhotra. In 2023, Manju Malhotra left after many years, and Pearson Poon took on a new role. In 2024, Kate Phelan became the first creative director for the brands.

Locations

The London flagship store is in Knightsbridge, close to another famous store called Harrods. In 1996, Harvey Nichols opened its first restaurant in London at the OXO Tower by the River Thames. That same year, they opened their first store outside London in Leeds.

The company wanted to grow in Scotland and chose a location in St Andrew Square, Edinburgh. The store there opened in summer 2002. After a big event in Manchester in 1996, the city was rebuilt. Harvey Nichols decided to open a big store there in 2002 on New Cathedral Street, next to Selfridges.

In 2012, they tried a smaller beauty store in Liverpool One, and it became a permanent place for them. Harvey Nichols has been at The Mailbox in Birmingham since 2001 and expanded the store there in 2013.

Controversies

In 2002, after opening a new store in Edinburgh, managers got a complaint. It was because staff tried to stop a homeless man selling a magazine outside.

In 2003, some people objected to an advertisement in magazines like Vogue, Elle, and Harpers & Queen. They thought the ad showed unsafe driving and might upset people connected to road accidents.

In 2013, Harvey Nichols started selling fur again in the United Kingdom after stopping for ten years. This decision received criticism about how animals were treated. The company said the furs came from reputable suppliers.