Jigsaw to close luxe emporium The Shop at Bluebird this weekend

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jan 21, 2020

The Jigsaw-owned luxury multi-brand store The Shop at Bluebird is to close on Sunday, a further sign of the challenges in the UK retail sector at present.

The company has posted a notice sharing the news on its Instagram account saying: “After 15 wonderful years, The Shop at Bluebird will be closing on Sunday 26th January. We are so proud of everything we’ve achieved: the loyal customers who became our friends, the exceptional brands who became our partners, a neighbourhood boutique known for its unique fashion finds. There is one week left to shop the final pieces in the sale so please come and visit us in Carriage Hall. Thank you for all your support”.

As well as being another pointer to the tough times in the UK at the moment, it’s also a sign of the particular challenges that Jigsaw itself is facing. Despite The Shop at Bluebird operating in the relatively buoyant luxury sector, its owner’s well-publicised problems have included the need to renegotiate rents for its store chain, leadership team changes and other issues. 

The Shop at Bluebird was founded by Jigsaw’s co-founders Belle and John Robinson and derived its name from its location above the Bluebird Cafe on the King’s Road. While there it established a reputation for a quirky mix of big-name and indie designers with a curated offer that championed labels from all over the world. 

It moved to Carriage Hall in Covent Garden a little under two years ago. While buying director Claire Miles put together a strong product mix of both fashion and lifestyle goods, and while the new store was beautiful to look at, it rarely seemed as busy as it needed to be. And its position away from the busiest part of Covent Garden may have made it harder for it to compete for a global traveller’s attention. The presence of Jigsaw product in the store also seems a little incongruous.