An House of Fraser department store is decorated with Chinese New Year-themed window displays to welcome the Year of the Dog in the UK from Feb 12-22, 2018. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

The British department store group House of Fraser (HOF) decorated seven of its stores across the country with window and interior displays themed after the Year of the Dog from Feb 12-22.

The window displays featured peony and peach blossom decorations, red lanterns, Chinese knots and Spring Festival couplets. Thanks to the Chinese New Year window displays, customer flow of the two HOF department stores in London increased by 16.4 percent and 11.4 percent, respectively, compared with that of the previous week, according to the company.

Established in 1849, HOF is one of largest retailers in the United Kingdom, with 60 department stores across the country. In 2014, Chinese Nanjing Xinjiekou Department Store Co became the owner of the group following an acquisition of its 89 percent stake. Now HOF has 17,000 employees in the UK, making Nanjing Xinjiekou Department Store Co the largest Chinese employer in the country.

Initiated by the cultural department of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, Nanjing Xinjiekou Department Store Co will organize more Chinese New Year-themed window displays at HOF department stores in the major UK cities beginning this year. This is seen as a part of the company’s efforts to promote China’s cultural and creative industries and Chinese traditional culture in the United Kingdom.