We’re experts at guiding retail outlets in developing commercial space that provides an enhanced shopping experience. As such we’re always pleased to see those retail outlets that we’ve not worked on having the same attention to detail laboured into their delivery.
Aveda, the international, ethical beauty brand have now got more than a little presence in Leicester, with the biggest independently owned Aveda salon in Europe in Leicester’s Highcross shopping centre.
Called Form, it is the result of a partnership between local, Leicestershire couple Holly and Nigel Shaw, and Aveda. With a 4000 square foot space to fill, the design and layout of the building were always going to be crucial to its success.
Aveda have a very strong brand image, tending towards a stripped down, almost elemental approach to their salons, with plenty of wood, stone, glass and metal on display:
a design ethic that fits with their philosophy and business practices.
Nigel and Holly have incorporated elements of this design into their salon. They also endorse the beliefs that sit behind it, sourcing renewable materials from Ghana, and dealing directly with local people in the spirit of fair trade. They have managed to meld their own distinctive style and the instantly recognisable Aveda brand together harmoniously and with beautiful results.
Their belief in fair trade also extends to their customers. The salon is fully wheelchair accessible, and has packages that cater for all ethnicities and ages. Their inclusive policies are sure to bring them plenty of repeat custom.
In recent months, both Selfridges in Birmingham and Highcross shopping centre in Leicester have hosted catwalk events. Selfridges gave over one of their restaurant spaces to the likes of Stella McCartney and Dolce and Gabbana. Leicester went one step further, with a whole week of fashion based events happening in and around the city. READ MORE
Moroccan restaurant, Souk Medina, in London’s Covent Garden (www.soukrestaurant.net) has come up with an entirely novel and yet appropriate way to use their pavement space. They have turned it into a Bedouin tent.
The extra space gives potential customers time to peruse the menu, unpressured by other pavement users who might ordinarily jostle them. It also gives a taste what to expect inside and sets the scene for an eating experience outside of your standard, English fare. READ MORE
Vinopolis, the wine merchants who brand themselves as ‘London’s Wine and Spirit Tasting Destination’ launched their first ever live comedy club night this summer. Dubbed ‘The Laughter Lounge’, comedy evenings showcase four top comedians paired with an extensive bar and food menu to offer a perfect night out. READ MORE
At Design4Retail we supply and create interiors that emphasise and strengthen your brand image while delivering impeccable contemporary style and functionality.
It doesn’t take a lot to transform a place, just a bit of imagination.
For example, the commercial space you have might not be as big as the space you want. What do you do? There are various ways you can get around this. You can use clever storage solutions like hanging things from ceilings, using shelves as room dividers and knocking down walls, or simply knocking through into next door, all of which can be really effective, although the next door thing might be a little illegal.
Another way of doing it is to appropriate your pavement space. Awnings do this to a certain extent. They can advertise your business, provide shelter for sun dazzled or rain soaked would be customers, and give shade so that your window display gets seen without any pesky glare obscuring all your hard work. Outside tables displaying wares also do this, although unless you have a flower shop or an antique shop this is basically an invitation to shoplifters.
If you need advice on improving your retail store or commercial property give us a call, we’ll be more than happy to have a chat.
Lighting is key when taking shop design into consideration. If you cannot see the product, how can you be expected to buy it? Harsh lighting in clothing stores can age customers who wish to look youthful. Gloomy lighting in restaurants can mean customers can’t tell if they’re eating oxtail soup or drinking the finger bowl.
Lighting can also be used aesthetically as a design statement. Frozen ice cream shops, Snog, use their rippling, candy coloured ceiling lights to create a total fairyland wow factor. Cocoon, (www.cocoon-restaurants.com) an award winning, pan – Asian restaurant off Regent Street in London, has taken the traditional oriental paper lantern and given it a contemporary twist to create a stunning window display. READ MORE
The Original Cookware Company, based in St. Martin’s Square in Leicester has doubled in size after moving two doors down from their original site. Their first shop was half the size of the new premises and in facing the challenge of their new store development they have made the most of its abundant space, creating a treasure trove of culinary delights, which have been thought-fully displayed throughout. READ MORE
Innovative designers turned restauranteurs, Pablo Flack and David Wad-dington, owners of Bistrotheque restaurant in London created one of the first pop up restaurants with their Narnia inspired dining experience in 2006. Since then they have honed their craft at the Royal Academy in 2008, and in July of 2010 they did it again on the roof of the Westfield shopping centre car park in East London. READ MORE
Vintage clothing store, Blackout II on Endell Street in London’s Covent Garden (http://www.blackout2.com/ ) has a perfect, storefront to showcase the fashion treasures that await the eager shopper within. Not only do they specialise in high quality, vintage fashion finds, they display them on vintage mannequins.
Take this marvellous 1940’s hat, perfectly styled on a marvellous 1940’s head:
READ MORE
Clemens en August, the German couture line, have invented a new concept in exclusive retail events. They do not have a shop. They do not stock their clothing in other people’s shops and even to shop online you have to register and obtain an exclusive password. It’s hard to imagine how the glamorous people like James McAvoy and Lily Allen actually get hold of their outfits in order to rave about them.
What Clemens en August do is take their clothes on tour. Rather than follow the dictates and seasons of the fashion season they gear their collections around the art calendar, touring their clothes round the world’s major art galleries and stopping for only three days at a time in each location. They claim that it allows them to offer their clothes at a significant discount to their discerning fans. But it is also an incredibly clever marketing ploy. READ MORE
