Primark marks 50 years in Scotland with ‘Preemark’ rebrand

Primark is celebrating 50 years on Scottish high streets with a ‘Preemark’ rebrand, paying tribute to how many Scots pronounce the retailer’s name.

The branding will feature in all 21 Scottish stores from 21 to 24 August, with full store takeovers in Hamilton, Edinburgh Princes Street and Glasgow Argyle Street. The remaining locations will showcase themed window displays.

The anniversary also honours Primark’s first Scottish store in Hamilton, which opened in August 1975 and remains the smallest in the UK at just 9,300 sq ft. Celebrations will take place in-store for both customers and staff.

Primark’s expansion in Scotland began with steady growth in the 1990s, including stores in Motherwell and Clydebank, and accelerated in the 2000s following the acquisition of Littlewoods in 2006. The Inverness branch, opened the same year, remains the most northerly Primark in the world.

The retailer has also built a cult following in Scotland with localised products, from velour tracksuits and gold sequin dresses to Saltire beach towels, Edinburgh-themed T-shirts and Scotland Euros merchandise.

In the past three years, Primark has invested over £20m into its Scottish stores, with upgrades in Clydebank, Hamilton, Stirling and Irvine. All Scottish stores now offer self-checkouts and the Click and Collect service. A further £9m investment is planned over the next two years.

Primark operates 197 stores across the UK, including 21 in Scotland, and employs 30,000 staff. The retailer attracts 2.3 million people to UK high streets each week, with every £10 spent in-store generating an estimated £3.60 in additional local spending.

Gavin O’Reilly, area manager for Primark Scotland West and Cumbria, said: “Our loyal Scottish shoppers have been instrumental to our success over the last 50 years, so we thought it was high time we acknowledged it in true Primark style. It’s a proud moment for all our stores to be celebrating our milestone together with a fun ‘Preemark’ nod, which is simply what we know our Scottish shoppers and colleagues are calling us every day anyway.”

Kari Rodgers, UK retail director at Primark, added: “The high streets and fashions have changed a lot over five decades in Scotland, and Primark has been there every step of the way. There is such pride in our stores in Scotland and our customers feel it too, so it’s fantastic to be celebrating such an important milestone together.”