Without compromising its heritage and values, British luxury is at once in tune with the environment, cutting edge and innovative. In fact, British brands have been at the epicentre of embracing change. Supporting emerging talent is crucial to the sustainability of British luxury and Britain’s future as a whole. By championing emerging brands and those made in Britain, Bicester Village is able to significantly support British manufacturing at a time when it’s needed most.
Désirée Bollier, Chair, Value Retail (The Bicester Village Shopping Collection)
Love Letters from Britain is a new series of short documentary-style films uncovering the untold stories the UK’s most innovative luxury brands, produced for Walpole by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions and including stories supported by the Great Britain & Northern Ireland campaign. Please click here to see all the films.
To find out more, click the video above to watch the full film, and read on for an interview with Désirée Bollier, Chair, Value Retail (The Bicester Village Shopping Collection).
What was your motivation for taking part in the Love Letters from Britain series?
The opportunity to be part of a global series that tells the story of how British brands are leading the way in defining a new era of luxury was one not to be missed. It allowed us to showcase the best of British brands at Bicester Village, which is part of The Bicester Village Shopping Collection, as well the level of hospitality and services we offer to all our guests here in the UK and internationally.
Tell us more about your film and the stories that are being shared?
The film beautifully tells the story of how Bicester Village keeps the magic of shopping alive by curating opportunities to champion young British designers alongside global names in fashion and lifestyle. It also shows how we make our guests feel special here in the Village; it highlights our exceptional levels of hospitality and the true nature of forward-thinking retail.
It’s the combination of open-air shopping, beautifully presented boutiques, quality product, year-round savings and a genuine sense of warm hospitality that makes Bicester Village a compelling choice for our guests. The film portrays the stories of the people who deliver The Bicester Village Shopping Collection experience every day, showcasing the detail required to make guests feel welcomed and looked after.
Who features in the film?
Our guest-facing Hospitality team and their colleagues help make Bicester Village the destination it has become today. Taneka Chitsenga is part of our Welcome team and the personification of what we mean by hospitality.
Tori Campbell in the Guest Acquisition team describes the services that are available to our private clients and explains how The Apartment, our by-appointment space for special events, offers an extraordinary level of service for discerning guests. She explains, too, the Village’s Personal Shopping and Virtual Shopping services.
The film also features Helen Ridge, a member of our Leasing team, who speaks of the inspiration she feels being part of a business that’s contributing to both the economy and the creative life of Britain. Helen captures the extraordinary success story of Bicester Village, starting out in a muddy field in rural Oxfordshire to grow into a collection of 11 shopping destinations in Western Europe and China.
What do you think makes British luxury so special?
Without compromising its heritage and values, British luxury is at once in tune with the environment, cutting edge and innovative. In fact, British brands have been at the epicentre of embracing change. Supporting emerging talent is crucial to the sustainability of British luxury and Britain’s future as a whole. By championing emerging brands and those made in Britain, Bicester Village is able to significantly support British manufacturing at a time when it’s needed most.
