The world of megabrands:
Harrods: A thrilling shopping experience
Easter shopping, spring shopping, autumn shopping, winter shopping, in between shopping, after work shopping and of course Christmas shopping! Those who do not content themselves with flashy shop windows at home and seek the ultimate shopping experience instead, could jet to London for the weekend to shop at the famous Harrods – and lose their nerves in the process.
You have never been there? In London, yes, of course, but you could never motivate yourself to enter Brompton Road 87 – 153? You have definitely missed out on something! A thrilling shopping experience indeed! The department store with a long standing tradition located in the exclusive district of Knightsbridge is not only reputed to be one of the largest but is also one of the most exclusive stores in the world. This becomes obvious optically as well, day and night, when 12,000 lights illuminate the storefront, 300 of which are allegedly replaced every day…
A man, a word - Harrods
Harrods came to life – as is often the case – thanks to one man. In 1834, Charles Henry Harrod opened a small grocer’s shop in Stepney, East London, specialising in – tea. In 1849, the shop moved to its current location in Knightsbridge, where the legendary food hall with its art nouveau ambience still forms the heart of the department store. Subsequently, its miraculous rise began – the store space increased along with the product range that included soon not only fruits and vegetables but also medicine, perfumes and stationary.
The business prospered, but it had not yet claimed the fame that it enjoys today. Ironically, it became famous thanks to a tragic incident: On December 6, 1883, when the warehouse was fully stocked for the holiday business, a fire broke out and destroyed the entire building. This prompted Charles Digby Harrods to write a letter to his customers apologising for a brief delay in delivering holiday goods. And indeed: He kept his promise. Ever since Harrods has been synonymous with British reliability.
A label that promises the exceptional
Harrods has always embodied the exceptional: the first illustrated catalogue, the first escalator, the first end of season sale – and all that prior to the turn of the century.
It would take forever to list all the goods that have been or will ever be sold at Harrods: ranging from foods to pets, toys, clothing, furniture, sports gear and luxury items to real estate, banking services, yachts and airplanes, simply everything.
Every minute of the day there is a flurry of activity behind the characteristic terracotta facade during opening hours. 5000 staff members try to procure for everything their exclusive customers seek, while the famous green men at the doors – the keepers of tradition and morality – are busy with politely but determinedly keeping sightseeing tourists in check.
40 elevators that serve seven floors travel more than 64,000 km each year, which equates to crossing the earth one and a half times. 75 shop windows to press your nose against the glass, while inside 250 different types of cheese and 100 tons of chocolate are sold each year.
For the Egyptian escalator, which pays homage to ancient Egypt, even experts of the British Museum were consulted to ensure the authenticity of the images.
Celebrities go in and out here. Be it for a promotion tour or for pleasure. Kylie Minogue, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Eva Langoria or – recently – Michael Jackson, they all have been sighted here before!
No case of understatement
Fancy any more superlatives? Harrods is like a city within a city: 70 % of its energy is generated with in-house generators, the water is supplied by three wells that belong to the building, the deepest of which runs 150 metres deep. There are numerous restaurants, a bank, a dry cleaner, a travel agent, a fire department and much more.
Harrods was previously purveyor to the court of the British royal family. The reason that this status has expired goes back to differences with the current owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, millionaire and father of Dodi Fayed, who died in a fatal car accident with Lady Di. He had purchased the business with the long standing tradition in 1985 for 615 million British pound.
The royal warrants have disappeared from the facade, while a memorial fountain has been installed in the Egyptian staircase unit in honour of Di & Dodi.
No need to get disgruntled though, if you get exhausted from the grandeur, bustle and the emotional rollercoaster. After all, Harrods’ Christmas department is open year-round. You can count on Harrods – and a thrilling shopping experience is guaranteed!
Anna Voltren
