THE North East "deserves the class" and is just "what we needed" according to excited shoppers as Harrods makes its debut in the North East today.
The first shoppers through the door at Harrods H Beauty in the Metrocentre hailed the store as they rushed to stock up on luxury goods.
Opening inside the former House of Fraser, the Knightsbridge-based retailer is hoping the high end beauty store will provide a big hit with the region.
Read more: First look inside Harrods' H Beauty in the Metrocentre - and see what's on offer
From luxury names such as Dior, Tom Ford, Creed and La Mer, Harrods has said the store offers unrivalled products and "in store services" and an experience like no other.
Two of the very first shoppers, Nadia Mahan and Melissa Wharton of Sunderland, said the North East had been forgotten about when it comes to premium products for "too long."
Makeup artist and content creator, Ms Wharton said: "It’s incredible, I feel like it’s just what we needed.
Read more: Inside the luxurious champagne bar inside Harrods Metrocentre - and what's on offer
"It’s nice to try different brands that we’ve never tried before. I think this is what people want.
"For gifts, for people to treat themselves especially after the pandemic, and to have girly days out.
"When it was first announced I was so excited, I felt like something was missing from the Metrocentre - we deserve the class."
Inside, shoppers are treated to thousands of products, experienced stylists, beauticians, click and collect and even its very own champagne bar.
Harrods first unveiled plans for the new store towards the end of last year to much anticipation and surprise.
At the time, Metrocentre bosses said the opening of what is the fifth Harrods H Beauty offering in the UK would be a huge moment for the shopping centre.
Opening to the public on Tuesday (June 14), The Northern Echo had been given a sneak preview the night before.
Mia Collins, Head of Beauty at Harrods, said: "This means that people in the North East now have a place where they can shop so many beauty brands.
"H Beauty is unique and is a store the size of a department store but all it does is sell beauty products, it's dedicated to beauty.
"We're really dedicated to giving people the same space and shop those brands.
"We've have some of the most fabulous make-up artists the North East has to offer, so genuinely we are here to enrich people's lives."
Ms Collins explained why the big name brand had decided to open a store in the North East following openings in the likes of Edinburgh, Bristol and Milton Keynes.
She said: "The North East has got some of the most avid and sophisticed beauty consumers in the world, and at least anywhere in the UK, and we're really proud of what we're delivering with H Beauty.
You can view The Northern Echo's pictures of the new store here
"For us it was about bringing those two things together, it's the most discerning beauty consumers with what we, in our humble opinion, is the best beauty retail concept in the country, so honestly there wasn't a place more logical or more natural to be."
Harrods H Beauty in the Metrocentre is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 9pm, Saturday from 9am to 7pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm.
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