LONDON (Commodity Online): Harrods is a name famous with shopaholics. With almost all celebrities in the world visiting the renowned departmental store at Knightsbridge, Harrods has been a name flaunted by all those who went to shop there.

The glitzy clientele it boasts of included Hollywood stars, princes and princesses, business tycoons, Nobel laureates, scientists and almost all sorts of people who have money.

Now, those who shop at Harrods have another reason to feel good about the store. Because, Harrods has started selling gold bars and coins over the counter at their store from October 15.

In a sign that the credit crisis has left his gilded customer-base largely untouched, Harrods owner Mohamed Fayed has teamed up with Produits Artistiques Métaux Précieux (PAMP), the Swiss refiner, to sell gold in the store.
 
Aimed at private investors, the gold will be sold at the Harrods Bank branch on the lower ground floor of the West London store.

Poor interest rates and falling property prices have left wealthy investors looking for alternative asset classes to put their money into.

Harrods saw the opportunity to help individuals buy physical gold in a prudent manner.

Harrods stock the full range and are now the only location in London where investors can purchase a 12.5kg gold bar off the shelf.

Harrods, famed for its gold and green livery, has never sold bullion before.