To celebrate 50 years on the high street in Scotland, from today, Primark has given its 21 stores there a special makeover.

In homage to how the fashion retailer is referred to locally, temporary ‘Preemark’ signs and window displays have been installed – inspired by a social media debate earlier this year.

Primark opened its first store in Scotland in Hamilton in August 1975, which to this day retains the title of the smallest Primark store in the UK.

Across its current store portfolio in Scotland’s towns, city centres and retail parks, Primark employs over 2,637 people.

Over the last three years, Primark has invested more than £20 million across its stores in Scotland, with a further £9 million planned over the next two years.

This year has seen Primark refurbish its stores in Clydebank, Hamilton, Stirling and Irvine, introduce self-service checkouts and roll out click and collect to all stores in Scotland.

It was 30 years ago this year that Primark opened its store in Motherwell, followed by a store in Clydebank in 1999. Then, from 2001, there was a wave of new stores in quick succession across Stirling, Braehead, Aberdeen and Dundee, before Primark opened its first Glasgow store on Sauchiehall Street in 2002.

Another wave of openings came in 2006 when Primark acquired Littlewoods, with a further six stores added to its Scottish portfolio in six months. In the same year, the value retailer opened in Inverness – “the northernmost Primark in the world”.


Over the years, some of its most popular products in Scotland include velour tracksuits – popular in the early 2000s – as well as a gold sequin dress and Saltire beach towels. Made exclusively available for Scottish shoppers, the retailer has produced a line of Scotland-themed pyjamas, Edinburgh-themed T-shirts and, more recently, Scotland T-shirts for the Euros.

Kari Rodgers, UK Retail Director for Primark, said: “The high streets and fashions have changed a lot over five decades in Scotland, and Primark has been there every step of the way. As we’ve evolved to meet this change in demand, our commitment to offering people great quality clothing at affordable prices is stronger than ever.

“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. Over the last three years we’ve invested more than £20 million in our stores across Scotland and we’ve a further £9 million planned over the next two years to improve our stores and support the future of Scottish retail.”


Ewan MacDonald-Russell, Deputy Head of the Scottish Retail Consortium, commented: “Primark’s 50th birthday in Scotland marks a vote of confidence in Scotland’s high streets and retail destinations.

“We know vibrant and successful town and city centres depend on an interconnected eco-system comprising the full range of retail options from small independent retailers to national chains.

“Those larger businesses help drive footfall to those high streets as well as support the local community – providing vital employment. It’s important that Scotland continues to attract investment from businesses like Primark to ensure our high streets remain economically sustainable.”