Retail Focus Magazine November 2017

retail focus

November 2017 : £6.75 #93

November 2017/issue 93

retail focus WWW.RETAIL-FOCUS.CO.UK

Louis Vuitton Paris : Browns East Shoreditch : Fenwick Bracknell : Retail Exchange podcast : Shopping centres: Technology : Restaurants, bars and cafes : Focus on digital display: Q&A with Bridget Lea, O2

BACK TO ITS ROOTS

Paris welcomes Maison Louis Vuitton Vendôme

Louis Vuitton Paris : Browns East Shoreditch : Fenwick Bracknell : Retail Exchange podcast : Shopping centres : Technology : Restaurants, bars and cafes : Focus on digital display : Q&A with Bridget Lea, O2

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contents

CONTENTS Back to its roots

24-26

Inside Maison Louis Vuitton Vendôme, a new gem at 2 Place Vendôme in Paris, newly designed and reinstated by architect Peter Marino.

36 The Retail Exchange

46 In & Around: LinkStreet

52 Shopping centres

40 Technology

48 Bars, cafes & restaurants

on: 67 Focus Digital displays

7

24-34 Project Focus

8

Leader

Louis Vuitton, Paris : Browns East, Shoreditch : Fenwick, Bracknell

Diary

10-14 News 17-18 Window shopping

45

Does discount have to look cheap? Asks Stuart Geekie, managing director at HMY Group (UK).

Inspiring window displays from around the globe.

20

Top of the POPS

23

Karl McKeever It’s time to hit the reset button, says Karl in his column this month.

Opinion

46

In and Around...

LinkStreet. Birmingham’s hidden gem for discovering pop-ups and fledgling brands starting out.

The podcast for the retail industry Listen on www.theretailexchange.co.uk Download and listen later, wherever you are

56-64 Products Products and services for the retail industry.

74

Q&A Bridget Lea, director of stores, online, multi-channel and supply chain at O2, discusses the brand’s store of the future roll out.

leader

welcome November ‘17 ‘Louis Vuitton has opened the Maison Louis Vuitton Vendôme, a new gem at 2 Place Vendôme in Paris, designed and reinstated by architect Peter Marino. The new location marks the fashion house’s return to where its story began more than 160 years ago, when a young Louis Vuitton opened his first store. Find out more about the design on P24-26.

Shoreditch has welcomed Browns East, a new sensory experience designed by Brinkworth (P29-30). It is Brown’s first bricks and mortar store to open in more than 20 years and is an augmented retail environment, which will be ever changing and flexible, offering a reason for its customers to keep returning for new experiences.

We also look at the interiors of Fenwick Bracknell at Lexicon Bracknell, a new green retail and leisure development in Berkshire (P33-34). The design,

by RFK Architects, BDP and HMKM, takes inspiration from the development’s location within Royal Forest.

An increase in cultural food experiences in recent years has led to a host of dining experiences, adding theatre to eating out. For example, London will soon welcome its first avocado bar on Henrietta Street in Covent Garden. Read about some of the latest dining experiences to launch on P48-50.

The latest Retail Exchange podcast asks the question, are we reaching saturation point with seasonal retail promotions? In this episode, broadcaster Ben Bland sits down with senior industry thinkers to discuss whether we are reaching saturation point with seasonal retail promotions, what more retailers can do to keep things exciting and fresh, and the secrets to maximising shopper engagement and amplification beyond the four walls of the store (P36-38). You can download the latest episode and previous discussions at www.theretailexchange.co.uk, and do drop me a line if you are interested in taking part in future podcasts.

Lyndsey Dennis Editor

Editor

Publisher

Lyndsey Dennis e. lyndsey@retailfocus.co t. +44 (0)7500 138 810

Lee Cullumbine e. lee@retailfocus.co t. +44 (0)845 680 7405

Get more from Retail Focus online!

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Account Manager

Terry Clark e. terry@retailfocus.co t. +44 (0)845 680 7405

Adam Potter e. adam@retailfocus.co t. +44 (0)845 680 7405

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Social media For subscription enquiries please email: subscriptions@retailfocus.co Retail Focus is published 12 times a year by Retail Focus Promotions Ltd, Yeomans, Bassetts Lane, Woodham Walter, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6RZ. No part of Retail Focus may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without permission. Please

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7

diary

DIARY

Retail Design Collective New York City 4-8 December 2017 A collection of the world’s top visual suppliers will come together in New York to showcase the latest and greatest visual products and trends in intricate showroom settings. Retailers, visual merchandisers, designers or anyone in the retail design industry will benefit from attending. The show forms part of Market Week and also includes a Holiday Window Walking Tour

by WindowsWear, The tour offers insights into how the city’s retailers create their window displays while exploring NYC’s most iconic fashion retailers. Explore the latest concepts on display, while gaining insights from designers. shopassociation

www.shopassociation.org/ retail-design-collective/

Retail’s BIG Show Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City 14-16 January 2018 NRF’s Annual Convention & EXPO earned the nickname ‘Retail’s BIG Show’ years ago, and because the name was so appropriate it stuck. The three-day event offers unparalleled education, 510 exhibitors spanning two expos totalling 21,832 sq m, more than 300 speakers and plenty of networking opportunities.

NRFnews

nrfbigshow.nrf.com

8

ARCHITECT@WORK Olympia London 24-25 January 2018 More than 100 leading international architectural suppliers will showcase new products, as well as the latest innovations in surface solutions, lighting technology, interior and exterior fixtures and fittings.

The theme for 2018 is light; the SCIN Gallery will preset the LIGHT FANTASTIC exhibition, exploring how light reveals itself and affects our interaction with materials.

ATW_INTL www.architect-at-work.co.uk

Retail Shopfitting and Display Summit Radisson Blu Hotel, London Stansted 5-6 February 2018 Register for the Retail Shopfitting & Display Summit and you’ll have the opportunity to meet innovative and budget-saving suppliers who will help with your projects for 2018 and beyond.

Face-to-face meetings with suppliers who match your requirements.

RSDSummit www.retailshopfittingsummit.co.uk

news

NEWS Liberty unveils revamped womenswear department Liberty has relaunched its womenswear department – the final part of an eight month refurbishment programme at the Regent Street department store. As part of a new masterplan, Daytrip redesigned both the menswear and womenswear departments, set across three floors of the iconic building. The aim was to reinstate the character and legacy of Liberty whilst maintaining a playful and eclectic store environment for its loyal customers.

Likening the store to an historic stately manor, Daytrip aimed to enhance the residential quality to the Liberty shopping experience, creating an eclectic home with multiple rooms, each with character and unique idiosyncrasies, filled with a mix of old and new furniture. An informal arrangement in which customers feel comfortable to explore and discover.

The womenswear department is elegant, comfortable and confident.

The main arrival space is a high atrium flooded with natural light. This ‘Great Hall’ is adorned wih double height curtains of Liberty floral velvet and an oversized rug that was woven and hand-finished as a

re-imagined version of an archival Liberty print. This space becomes a dramatic backdrop for exhibits and installations by brands such as Loewe this Autumn.

New hanging rails were inspired by the details of the carved staircase, presented in a crisp, modern way with one ‘hero’ garment facing the customer. The

rooms feature carefully curated furniture assemblages of found furniture, oriental rugs and reupholstered seating in block velvet or satin tones, Liberty fabrics and painterly florals by Rubelli. Artist Rob Phillips of SHOWstudio has painted a series of nudes in a washed style directly onto the walls and canvases.

Habitat continues roll out of Mini stores Habitat is to launch four further new Mini Habitat stores within Sainsbury’s supermarkets in York (Monk’s Cross), Manchester (Cheadle), Newcastle (Heaton) and London (Wandsworth), taking the total to 10. The 185 sq m stores will follow the same footprint as the brand’s six current Mini store-in-store formats as Habitat looks to create a network of regional touchpoint stores to help support its multi-channel growth strategy.

With more than 60 per cent of sales now being made online through the www.habitat.co.uk website, further investment in smaller footprint concession formats is aimed at expanding Habitat’s brand awareness with Sainsbury’s customers as well as helping to increase online shopper confidence by allowing customers to touch and feel the quality of the products in convenient store locations.

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news

Technogym launches concept space at Harrods Gym equipment and fitness brand, Technogym has launched its first ever interactive UK concept space at Harrods in London. The new space has been upgraded to more than 162 sq m and relocates to the third floor of the department store after an eight year tenure. Following the launch of Technogym’s Milan flagship earlier this year, the new Harrods space has been designed to showcase key product lines in an interactive, luxurious setting.

The new space is designed not only to cater for an increasing demand for the best shoppable fitness and wellness products and services, but also to provide visitors with an interactive experience in store. The space is aimed at enthusiasts of all levels who enjoy practicing sports in a commercial gym or at home, with the interior representing a wellness oasis in the heart of Harrods, combining aesthetic with function in a design unique to the Technogym brand.

Technogym will use the space to display the newest and most advanced products on the market. Brand experts will be on hand at all times to guide consumers through creating their dream home wellness space based on their needs and requirements.

On selected dates in November, Technogym professionals are offering personalised consultations, including the opportunity to undertake a lifestyle analysis and have a tailored fitness and training programme created with a Technogym master trainer.

Mailbox in Birmingham unveils new homewares section Mailbox in Birmingham has opened a new homewares section on level one. Heal’s and MADE.COM are the headline brands of the 1,858 sq m Homewares section, designed as the ultimate destination for homewares in Birmingham. For Heal’s, this is the first opening in the Midlands in its 200 year history.

Marking the first showrooms in the Midlands for both Heal’s and MADE.COM, the brands will be joined by a collection of other homewares, furnishings and accessories retailers including Danish brand BoConcept; Wesley Barrell; Italian smart design experts, Calligaris, famous for giving design lovers the opportunity to create bespoke pieces of stylish, practical furniture since 1923; and The Design Quarter.

The latter will feature a design-led, curated collection of contemporary furniture, including upholstered handmade furniture brand, Content by Conran and SITS. The new Homewares at the Mailbox offering will complement existing names on level one, including Kitchen Gallery SieMatic, Castle Fine Art and Fine & Country. Lighting specialist iLite is also set to open in the Autumn and will feature brands such as Swarovski, Foscarini, Masiero, Diesel, Flos and Schonbek.

The Heal’s showroom has been designed by Office Twelve and features a simple yet sophisticated interior, featuring unpretentious materials in eye-catching contemporary forms to complement the brand’s edited collections. Every moment of the showroom customer journey is designed to delight visitors with carefully curated displays and touchpoints.

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news

In brief...

Retail display installation specialist CJ Retail Solutions has appointed Colin Chapman as its new managing director. Chapman will be responsible for developing and implementing the strategic growth of the business as it looks to expand its offering and grow the business globally.

Propability has launched a sister company called Flourish Trading, supplying faux flowers, ribbon, seasonal event decorations, off-the-shelf props and floristry sundries to business to business customers. Headed up by Suzanne Cano and based in South London, alongside the Propability workshop, Flourish Trading’s warehouse is fully stocked and open to wholesale customers in the floristry, events and retail industries.

Sock and underwear brand Happy Socks has opened its latest store on King’s Road, Chelsea. To date, Happy Socks has opened pop-up shops throughout London, in addition to its flagship in Seven Dials, providing a unique space for fans who adore the brand’s vivid pops of colour and unique patterns.

Coach opens South East flagship at Bluewater New York design house Coach has opened its first boutique in the South East at Bluewater in Kent. Designed by the brand’s in-house design team, the new 162 sq m Coach store is located on the Lower Guildhall adjacent to House of Fraser and features a modern, luxury interior. Leather furniture and bespoke fittings showcase the full range of men’s and women’s products available and provide a seamless, premium customer journey.

Joining Coach is Alex and Ani, the American symbol-based fashion jewellery brand, which launched its UK debut standalone store at Bluewater last month.

Bringing its statement American style to the UK for the first time, Alex and Ani’s 82 sq m store is next to Pandora on the Lower Thames Walk and was designed in-house.

Offering the brand’s creative collection of jewellery, the store embodies the retailer’s modern look and feel, featuring elements from its Rhode Island heritage.

Majestic Wines launches refreshed store format

Vans x Karl Lagerfeld collaboration rolls out American skate fashion brand Vans has launched its premium collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld globally. Designed by Tan Lang of Vans and produced by IPOS, the central display zone in De Bijenkorf’s flagship store in Dam Square Amsterdam features Karl Lagerfeld’s signature monochrome aesthetic and the Vans’ checkerboard print. Four interconnecting lightboxes illuminate the campaign logo and imagery. This focal display, just under 2m high, was accompanied by premium shaped acrylic plinths on a high quality mirrored base that display the limited edition shoes and apparel.

12

Majestic Wines has unveiled a new store format at St Johns Wood, alongside refreshed branding, a new logo, colours and uniforms. The concept store is fully shelved, discarding the masses of cardboard that used to merchandise the branch. The focus is on creating an immersive shopping experience, with wine tasting stations positioned on the wooden shelves featuring Waterstones’ style product recommendations.

The store features a dedicated wine Lay & Wheeler area, its first retail outlet since its closure of its Colchester shop in 2009. Enigmatic machines within the Lay & Wheeler room are free to use and showcase some of the best wines available. A large tasting bench is the nucleus of the branch, where customers can pull up a stool, taste, chat and read about wine.

The store will be hosting a range of events to reach out to consumers across London.

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30/09/2016 16:47

international news

international

NEWS Paris welcomes new Galeries Lafayette store

Largest adidas Originals flagship opens in Chicago adidas Originals has opened its biggest worldwide store to date — Originals Chicago, a new flagship located in the heart of Chicago’s Wicker Park neighbourhood. The 461 sq m space is designed to generate a localised, community-centric experience that pays homage to the pulse of the city’s streets.

The store offers consumers the best of the adidas Originals brand while spotlighting native creators and the impact they have on their surrounding communities.

Inspired by the city and reinforcing the

brand’s commitment to Chicago’s Wicker Park streetwear enthusiasts, the store features custom artwork and installations created by Chicago natives POSE and Tubsz. Chicago-based non-profit organisation iPaintMyMind will showcase work from a range of up-and-coming local artists on a continuous, rotational basis.

A Community Wall will provide customers with an interactive way to share and learn about upcoming local events, shows and product releases.

Apple opens in Chicago Apple’s latest store has opened in Chicago, located at the intersection of the Chicago River and North Michigan Avenue’s ‘Magnificent Mile’. Apple Michigan Avenue cascades down from Pioneer Court to the river’s edge, creating new connections between the city and the river. The project reflects Apple’s commitment to the cities and communities it inhabits, and is the result of a close collaboration between the brand’s design team led by Sir Jonathan Ive, chief design officer, and Angela Ahrendts, senior vice president of retail and online stores alongside Foster and Partners.

Intended as a gathering place for the local community, the store will host year-round ‘Today at Apple’ programming, building on Chicago’s city-wide initiative to enliven the Riverwalk area.

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Galeries Lafayette has unveiled a new flagship store at the heart of the new extension to the Carré Sénart shopping centre in Paris. The fresh store concept is intended to be experience-led, fully omni-channel and firmly anchored in its local environment on the edge of the Forest of Sénart.

Spread over two floors, the store is based on standards of hospitality and services that provide a harmonious blend of physical and digital innovation, with comfortable relaxation areas, intuitive signage and sleek, modern furnishings. Remaining loyal to its strategic positioning, Galeries Lafayette offers a selection of prestigious brands spanning fashion, beauty, accessories, shoes and leather goods, in many cases some as the exclusive retailer within the shopping centre.

genesis-display.com

visual merchandising

visual merchandising

INSPIRING WINDOW DISPLAYS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

Marks and Spencer Marks and Spencer unveiled a series of windows as part of the retailer’s Wool Week campaign. With a focus on oversized balls of yarn, individual concepts were developed for mens, womens, childrens and home ranges. Individually coloured to match designed pantones, more than 9,500 balls using 250m of wool were hand produced in less than five weeks. Barthelmess worked in collaboration with the in-house creative team to produce and deliver the scheme across the brand’s flagship stores.

Photography: Melvyn Vincent

Reiss Reiss launched its Autumn/Winter 2017 window concept in collaboration with Blacks Visual. The Perspective scheme was composed of a reflective mirror floor with angled campaign imagery creating a perspective of depth in the window space. The opal acrylic light box glowing through the centre enhanced the perspective of the image. The muted tones of the large campaign graphics and the sea landscape reflected the brand’s image of sophistication. HOL Group supplied bag stands, shoe stands and vanity hangers.

Hackett London For Hackett London’s Autumn window scheme, inquisitive British animals have been put in the spotlight, encapsulating the contrast between city and countryside. Red squirrels, a fox and badger have all been 3D printed, cast and flocked to interact with Hackett’s latest collection of gentlemen’s accessories. Delivered across all European stores, Harlequin designed, produced and installed the scheme across 27 sites.

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visual merchandising

Tory Burch For Autumn, Tory Burch has launched a series of windows at its flagship London stores. A soft glow has been added to the backdrop of the stores with a 3D-lit effect scheme. Layers of laser-cut and etched oak were assembled to create a nostalgic farmhouse scene, which was inspired by Tory Burch’s own Hamptons family home. Features include intricate woodwork to reflect the illuminated windows, trees and cascading vines. As Tory Burch gives Londoners a glimpse into her iconic Southampton lifestyle, passersby are greeted with the warmth of embedded lights hidden between the oak layers, adding a depth of contrast and drama to the window. The window design was created by Tory Burch, and adapted and produced by Seen Displays for the Regent Street and New Bond Street stores.

Schuh For its Autumn/Winter ‘17 campaign on Oxford Circus, schuh has unveiled a window scheme featuring foaming washing machines gobbling up shoes and impossibly high stacks of laundry. Across all stores, a variety of POS is displayed, in-store screens play video and social media feature stings. The window scheme was designed and directed in collaboration with Roar Creativity. As the team approached its 20th seasonal campaign for schuh, they began to reflect upon 10 years of their working relationship and created the most successful formula — ‘urban, fun, colourful and footwear focused’.

Fenwick x Barbour Barbour took over Fenwick Newcastle’s Northumberland Street windows for the launch of its Autumn/Winter ‘17 collection. As Barbour is a brand synonymous with the British countryside and with roots in Newcastle’s South Shields, Fenwick Newcastle was the ideal place to celebrate the changing of the seasons. Designed in collaboration with Millington Associates, the windows begin with a living wall and bespoke umbrella installation flowing through the air. Large visual graphics sit behind the scheme adding to a perfect Autumnal mood, while mannequins wearing the Barbour AW17 collection pose on a leaf scattered lawn. There’s even an adorable dog mannequin in a little Barbour wax coat.

Christian Louboutin

Photography: Melvyn Vincent

For the launch of its Fall/Winter 2017 collection, Christian Louboutin has installed fully mechanised ringing telephones at the brand’s Mount Street store. Finished in bright colours, including vivid purples and shocking greens, the glamorous phones shake and buzz as if they are actually ringing. These curious objects are mounted onto sleek panelled walls, surrounded by whimsical telephone books called ‘The Louboutin Directory’. The windows were designed in collaboration with StudioXAG.

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See more window schemes at

www.retail-focus.co.uk/vm

High society is now launched and showing at our London showroom.

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pop

TOP pops of the

Company: arken P-O-P International

Client: Superdrug

Display title: Superdrug Skincare Displays

Sector: Health & Beauty

Location: UK-wide

The brief: Keen to deliver uplift within the skincare category in line with its successful cosmetics in-store upgrade, Superdrug challenged arken P-O-P to create a premium category display capable of delivering a true ‘destination’ area, befitting of exclusive brands. The aim was also to allow Superdrug to reduce stockholding volume while increasing sales through a display that encourages browsing and aid the shopper journey — promoting a ‘step routine’ skincare regime to tempt shoppers to trade up and buy connected products, along with their usual products. Previously displayed on shelf racking around the store perimeter, the plan was to move the category onto mid-store custom designed carcasses to enhance the skincare offer in-store.

The solution: Named POPAI Awards 2017 ‘Permanent Display of the Year’ Gold winner, the display has delivered double-digit sales uplift since launch. Incorporating custom-built Melamine faced MDF carcasses to clearly define multiple skincare brand areas in a modular fashion, its changeable promotional hotspot also allow for inter-changeability and flexibility.

The carefully considered layout also offers buying and logistical cost savings. By the end of 2017, Superdrug will roll out the concept to 150 more stores.

www.arken-pop.com 20

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Media and Industry Partners:ted

column

Karl McKeever

Time to hit ‘reset’ It is time to hit the reset button. I’m not talking about complex five-year retail transformation strategies designed to find a new sense of purpose and better engage customers in the face of evolving shopping behaviour — though, clearly, many retailers have lots of big-picture thinking still to do. And not as a knee-jerk reaction as the end of the year fast approaches (there’ll be plenty of time for the whole ‘New Year, New Start’ resolutions thing, come January). No, I’m talking about a different kind of reset.

I’m sure it’s not passed you by, but ‘reset’ seems to be the word of the moment at present, attracting a good deal of media attention, largely thanks to Topshop. Dubbed ‘Project Reboot’, the retailer’s decision to temporarily close the vast majority of its stores in order to overhaul its merchandising before the start of Christmas was hailed by some journalists as an ‘unusual step’. For Arcadia, yes, but as with many good ideas, the old ones are often the best.

In truth, closing the store in order to launch the new season is a practice first started decades ago by Next. Though the rapid and seamless transition from one seasonal promotion to another may make sense from an operational perspective — delivering fundamental change in-store while the store is trading is almost impossible — the decision by most retailers to manage stores’ metamorphosis under the cover of darkness has never been more at odds with the need for retailers to create more of an experience and ‘theatre’ around the store environment.

There’s much to be said for adopting the ‘(re)build it and they will come’ approach. In many respects, the idea alone that a retailer is bold enough to close its stores is also something that is likely to resonate well with shoppers. To steal a quote from another well-known industry voice, resets also afford retailers a valuable opportunity to ‘remerchandise rather than muddling through’.

In December last year, US health retailer GNC shuttered all 4,464 stores for a one-day reset designed to ‘leave [its] old, broken model behind’.

Done well, resets create excitement amongst shoppers and store teams alike. Think of the buzz that surrounds new store openings and you quickly start to understand the all-round benefits. Just look at the interest and queues that the recent launch of Arket on Karl McKeever is founder and managing director of visual merchandising and brand delivery consultancy Visual Thinking.

Email Karl at karl@visualthinking.co.uk karlmckeever www.visualthinking.co.uk

Regent Street drew. Parent company H&M understands this (and executes it) better than most — its collaborations with the likes of Kenzo and Erdem are able to lure shoppers to Oxford Street at 3am.

Supreme is another great example. Its store ‘Drops’ always pull the Gen Z shopper crowd hungry for its latest collections. Topshop’s Gucci-inspired ‘Merci Mon Cheri’ tee may have sold out when it came out in May, but it was a far cry from the frenzy generated and enjoyed by H&M. Given that ex-Burberry chief merchandising officer, Paul Price is now installed as Topshop’s CEO, the introduction of resets comes as little surprise. In recent times, its rivals have outflanked Topshop, with the Instagram generation willingly seduced by the ability of H&M, and online competitors such as Boohoo, to whip up a sense of interest and intrigue.

Large-scale merchandising resets of a store’s products can also prove complex, and completing them successfully requires merchandisers to have knowledge, project-specific training and clear retail communication if they are to deliver on plan and reach 100 per cent execution. Managed well, however, resets provide the perfect opportunity to do just that, helping retailers to quicken the pulse of shoppers and conjure up both short- and long-term anticipation around what they can expect from the retail environment. What’s more, retailers can quickly recoup any revenue loss associated with closing the store for a day.

But a cautionary word of warning: if you do it, the spotlight will be firmly on you to get it right. If you want the transformation from pre- to post-reset to cause shoppers to stop in their tracks, you had better make sure the end result is damn good. Fail to deliver something with genuine newness, and well executed, and you will have no hiding place amongst the criticism you will open yourself up to – especially in a world hungry for instant gratification and driven by instant ‘likes’ (or not, as the case may be). Shuttering stores for a day only to reveal more of the same, no matter how solid your merchandising principles, just won’t cut it.

Whether Topshop’s reset will prove to be an outstanding success, only time will tell. As a wider concept, however, borrowing from the past could be just what is needed to ensure visible change in store is delivered with real impact, providing a greater sense of future optimism for a good number of retailers in the here and now. It makes you wonder why retailers have been so slow to embrace the idea.

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project focus

LOUIS VUITTON 2 PLACE VENDÔME, PARIS Design: Peter Marino Architect Opening date: October 2017 Store size: 3,500 sq m Louis Vuitton has opened the Maison Louis Vuitton Vendôme, a new gem at 2 Place Vendôme in Paris, newly designed and reinstated by architect Peter Marino. The location marks the fashion house’s return to where its story began more than 160 years ago, when a young Louis Vuitton opened his first store.

Travel goods, fashion and jewellery have been part of Place Vendôme and its neighbourhood for more than 300 years, and it was in these streets that Louis Vuitton learnt his craft and where he founded his first store in 1854. Opened in October, the new store reunites Place Vendôme and the House’s traditional métiers. couture, readyto-wear, jewellery, watchmaking, leather goods, shoes, fragrances, accessories, and artisanal workshops are brought together, all in one place.

This venue is very symbolic for Louis Vuitton as the Place Vendôme — just like the Château of Versailles — is one of the most beautiful examples of French artistry of the 17th Century. Both designed and built by architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, Place Vendôme and Versailles share a heritage that today remains important to the brand.

These two beautiful examples of French artistry embody the type of elegance and dedication to craft that is today the realm of Louis Vuitton. As the worthy heir to this tradition, it was only natural for Louis Vuitton to establish workshops and showcase its creations at the heart of Place Vendôme, thus ensuring that the legacy continues for future generations.

The Maison is situated in two hôtel particuliers — classic Parisian townhouses — which, over the years, have been home to courtiers, nobles, aristocracy, the occasional princess and the future emperor Napoléon III. Architect Peter Marino has now returned these two buildings to their former glory. Floors have been returned to their 18th Century grandeur, ceilings to their original heights (nearly five metres on the first floor), and the façade, designed

by Hardouin-Mansart, has been sensitively restored. Throughout the Maison, Marino has blended the old and new, employing techniques and materials that reference

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Photography: © Louis Vuitton Stéphane Muratet

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French history and craftsmanship, while carefully integrating ultra-modern designs.

Behind the original façade, the Maison has been designed to be open and filled with light. The extensive use of glass, lightcoloured stone, artisanal wall coverings, and parquet and stone flooring give each floor its own unique character, while remaining part of a coherent whole.

On the ground floor, natural light from the many windows and doorways illuminates the leather goods, accessories, textiles, fragrances and, on the Place Vendôme side, jewellery and timepieces.

The men’s department is located upstairs on the mezzanine, with leather goods, ready-to-wear including the formal offer, shoes, travel items and accessories displayed on leather-lined shelving.

The stairs, which continue to the first floor, provide high levels of contrast: 18th Century design in stone completed with ultra-modern high-tech glass balustrades suspended by stainless steel cables. On this first floor are women’s ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories, presented in an airy, high-ceiling space with richly intricate Versailles parquet.

On the second floor, travel-related items — from Louis Vuitton City Guides and travel

books to luggage — share space with the Objets Nomades, a collection of designer travel and home related objects, offered for the first time in France on a permanent basis. There is also a hot-stamping desk and a Savoir-faire corner, the latter being the House’s first permanent space offering demonstrations of Louis Vuitton’s traditional know-how to clients. On the Place Vendôme side, the second floor hosts the

Appartement, where clients can be invited for private viewings of the collection.

The Maison Louis Vuitton Vendôme will be home to two working ateliers, representative of the House’s ancestral savoir-faire. The haute joaillerie atelier, hidden away discreetly under the eaves, is where Louis Vuitton’s jewellers will transform precious stones into the House’s most exclusive high jewellery. In the Atelier

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Rare & Exceptionnel, celebrities and the House’s most prestigious clients will have the chance to discover pieces from the latest collections. These can then be fitted and customised by the atelier’s in-house artisans, who will also be available to fashion exclusive red-carpet gowns.

Art plays an important part in the store's interiors. The brand’s full product offer sits alongside a selection of contemporary artworks, some specially commissioned. The 33 works, representing artists from six continents including Laurent Grasso, Yan Pei Ming, Stephen Sprouse, Serge Alain Nitegeka and Paul Nabulumo Namarinjmak, are on show throughout the space.

The Louis Vuitton archives have chosen two historical trunks to display at the Maison. The first is a Library Trunk, a style originally designed by Gaston-Louis Vuitton (1883-1970) for his personal use.

This example was ordered in 1933 by Mrs. W., a celebrated journalist, playwright and Hollywood screenwriter, and has space for books and a typewriter. The second piece is a 1917 Steamer Trunk, a recent addition to the House’s archives. Its presence in the Maison is fitting: its original owner, Mr. O., was one of Paris’ most admired and influential jewellers for more than two decades and for many years was based nearby at 16 Place Vendôme.

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BROWNS EAST SHOREDITCH, LONDON Design: Brinkworth Opening date: October 2017 Store size: 371 sq m

London fashion boutique Browns has opened Browns East, its first bricks and mortar store to open for more than 20 years. Situated on the corner of Club Row set just off Redchurch Street in Shoreditch, the store is a gateway into the Browns universe and the first incarnation of the Browns Nomad project. Housed in a former print factory, the two-storey concept store complements the flagship store on South Molton Street, first established in 1970. Designed

by Brinkworth, Browns East offers an entirely new concept for its customers in a gender-neutral space.

Browns East is an augmented retail environment, which will be ever changing and flexible, offering a reason for its customers to keep returning for new experiences and to see and buy the Browns edit. The Browns Nomad concept will see the retailer implement its pioneering take on semi-permanent, roaming retail concepts.

This initiative will reinvent the retail experience by creating unique concepts that are tailored to the city and neighbourhood, with the distinctive Browns DNA at its heart.

‘Browns has a strong heritage in innovation; from the time we first opened our doors in 1970, Browns has showcased pioneering designers. We’ve blended our love of fashion with incredible in-store experiences and we’ve always ensured that we change and evolve with our customers. In creating the overall Browns Nomad concept and opening Browns East, we’ve gone back to our roots, with innovation at the heart. The store will have new elements that are tied to emotion and identity — it’s truly a sensory experience,’ says Holli Rogers, CEO of Browns. ‘The moment you walk in you will feel something — through the people, the product, the design, the areas within the space and the events that will take place. Coupled with this, we are innovating with technology which will make the shopping experience in Browns more personal and

‘The store will have new elements that are tied to emotion and identity – it’s truly a sensory experience.’

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convenient for our customers. The vibrancy of East London is great; it’s a neighbourhood of immense creativity and boldness. Opening a store here is an exciting move with a new view on what retail looks like.’

The retailer has partnered with Farfetch’s Store of The Future team to create a pioneering mix of technology and in-store experiences that will continue to evolve to meet customers’ needs.

‘In this amazing new retail space, our engineers will work alongside the sales associates to really get to know the Browns East customer, and to see how they are interacting with the products and services. Insights will be constantly gathered by our team to adjust the technology. This iterative approach will allow us to shape the connected store retail experience, where we believe technology is there to enhance and to augment the customer experience in subtle, magical ways,’ says Sandrine Deveaux, managing director, Store of The Future, Farfetch.

Brinkworth helped to create an intriguing and playful environment. Set over two floors, the design was treated as a series of installations, with sculptural forms punctuating the open nature of the building. Juxtapositions of materials, finishes and colour are unexpected, imaginative and bold.

Browns East also has strong eco credentials; floorboards originally laid at the BBC and walked on by Winston Churchill have been carefully preserved and utilised in the ground floor space, while striking fixtures and furniture have been fashioned from 100 per cent recycled plastics.

‘We re-addressed the use of this charming building and

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introduced a set of tools in the form of freestanding elements that facilitate varying retail moments. This approach enables Browns East to be an exciting and ever-changing host to their Shoreditch community,’ explains Adam Brinkworth, CEO and founder of Brinkworth.

A zone in its own right, The Entrance will regularly be handed over to independent creatives for their own commercial ventures, allowing Browns to further support and champion fresh talent and emerging business in a meaningful way.

The Cafe features a marble-clad bar, run by Fatties Bakery.

Browns East is Fatties’ first and only retail stockist. The staircase is home to a curated selection of artwork in the form of The Gallery.

An event space called ‘The Table’ will host intimate customerfacing gatherings, workshops and Q&As by partners, brands, collaborators, influencers and inspirations across multiple creative industries. Twin Magazine as launch partner, will host The Table’s inaugural sessions.

The Focus is where Browns activates its current obsessions, with a brand new look and feel with every new drop. First up is It’s Ksubi x Travis Scott, a collection of which Browns is the exclusive European stockist.

BeBox will kick off a diverse schedule of immersion takeovers in The Immersive Experience Room. Combining guided dynamic meditations with progressive light and sound technology in a highly innovative and inspiring space, the BeBox experience is open to all, whether new or experienced in meditation.

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FENWICK

THE LEXICON, BRACKNELL Design: RFK Architects, BDP and HMKM Opening date: September 2017 Store size: 7,432 sq m

Fenwick has opened its first department store for 14 years as part of the £240 million regeneration project in Bracknell, Berkshire – The Lexicon. Fenwick Bracknell spans 7,432 sq m with the largest area dedicated to beauty than any other Fenwick store compared to footprint. The retailer has committed £20 million to create a high-end shopping experience featuring three floors of the most sought-after fashion, beauty and accessory brands.

Fenwick has brought more than 30 flagship brands and concessions under one roof, including international designers such as Coach, Kate Spade New York and Max Mara, luxury beauty brands La Mer, Nars and Jo Malone London and premium high street names including All Saints, Ted Baker and Jigsaw.

In addition to its strong fashion and beauty collections, Fenwick invites customers to dine until late in the evening at its signature Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, Fuego, complete with private roof garden. Shoppers can also indulge in a range of beauty services from a designer fragrance area to luxurious beauty rooms and an Aveda Blow Bar. RFK Architects was the lead architect on Fenwick Bracknell, and worked closely with BDP, the landlord architect, on the shell and core, as well as concept designer HMKM for the retail fit-out as well as the own-bought shopfit.

From the start the Lexicon Development’s aim has been the Greening of Bracknell. Bracknell’s location within Royal Forest is historically significant, however the brutalist architectural approach to the town made little reference to the heavy wooded surrounds.

The facade design not only creates an icon building for the

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Fenwick department store; the perforated aluminium cladding panels are designed to provide a dappled natural light to the interior which is reminiscent of sun on the forest bed through the tree canopy overhead. At night the facade is backlit and the perforations light up like the stars. A slow pulsing movement of the dynamic lighting reflects the movement of the leaves in a gentle wind.

Large areas of glass align the main pedestrian shopping street — this provides clear views into the activities of the beauty hall. With the retail landscape changing — and the growth of consultation — beauty halls have become a lively and interactive/social space.

Clear views in versus static window displays therefore enliven the city street and make the store interior part of its surroundings.

At first floor ‘the Bridge’ protrudes to abut the adjacent Toyshop unit. This provides a Fenwick presence along the perpendicular vista as well as completing the enclosure of the street scape. The bridge has an external seating/dining area for Fenwick’s Fuego restaurant on the second floor. The terrace is protected by a stretched sail to give an ‘Ibiza’ ambience but also a clear sign from afar that this is a place to enjoy.

The ground floor is home to beauty, accessories, menswear and men’s accessories. A Mason + Rye cafe on a raised platform overlooks the store and provides direct access to an external terrace on the edge of the development which catches the sun.

The first floor houses womenswear, women’s shoes, hosiery and lingerie. The second and top floor has childrenswear, toys, bed and bath, and cookshop leading into the Fuego restaurant.

A glass express lift takes customers from street level straight into the restaurant for out of hours dining.

RFK Architects worked hard with the landlord team on the levels to insert an additional floor. As a result, Fenwick has three levels of retail compared to Marks & Spencer that only has two.

The third floor truly enriches the customer experience as a full department store.

Centrally there is a clerestory lit atrium. The escalators are offset to the side to maintain clear sight lines across the store but also to provide a clear space for visual merchandising and a vertical display frame which houses digital screens surrounded by artificial plants that reflect the Bracknell Forest ferns.

‘With the launch of our first new department store for 14 years, we have endeavoured to create an experience that will have an instinctive appeal to the Berkshire customer who doesn’t always want to travel to London to shop. We have invested heavily, with £20 million to fit out the store alone, so it’s a momentous occasion for us. The store will feature Berkshire’s best and most comprehensive offer of premium beauty products and services. We look forward to welcoming our customers to enjoy the breadth of our fashion offer and to dine out with us until late into the evening,’ says Hugo Fenwick, group trading director at Fenwick.

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‘we have endeavoured to create an experience that will have an instinctive appeal to the Berkshire customer’

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MAXIMISING SEASONAL SUCCESS Are we reaching saturation point with seasonal retail promotions?

Text: Lyndsey Dennis

Panel:

Ben Bland Host

Simon Millington Owner of Millington Associates

It can seem hard to find a time of year when there isn’t actually a seasonal promotion or discount. But is the calendar becoming simply too crowded, to the point where those sales lose their impact? In this latest episode, broadcaster Ben Bland sits down with senior industry thinkers to discuss whether we are reaching saturation point with seasonal retail promotions, what more retailers can do to keep things exciting and fresh, and the secrets to maximising shopper engagement and amplification beyond the four walls of the store.

If there are so many promotions, is it perhaps doing more harm to retailers?

‘People are becoming a lot more savvier. I think most retailers are aware that when people enter their spaces they’re actually looking at products and they might be experiencing the brand, but they’re also finding out, through their mobile phones or through any kind of net access, where they can find that product cheaper as well.

When you look at certain brands constantly on sale, maybe it’s almost worth thinking whether that’s almost a strategy; it de-values their products, but do they always want to send that message across in terms of their products are affordable essentially,’ says Moe Krimat, strategic creative director at Seen Displays.

‘If we go with this idea, that some shoppers are becoming de-sensitised to season promotions and sales because there are just so many of them, how do retailers combat that?’ asks Bland.

‘People are physical beings, they have desires, we all like things that are exclusive. For me, it’s engaging in that story, it’s engaging in that theatre which is so important,’ says Simon Millington, owner of Millington Associates. ‘You look at a brand like Supreme which is a small skate brand but they’re doing limited

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Moe Krimat Strategic creative director, Seen Displays

Tom Philipson Managing director and co-founder of YourStudio

collections; they’re doing things called drops where they drop the product, the kids go online, they find out what’s going on, it’s so quick, they go and buy it. It’s really inspiring; it reminds me of the old Rave scene — phone up this number, go to a field... Who’d have thought that could exist again really with the internet as it is.’

‘I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there. That excitement in creating a buzz around a sale rather than it just being at this time of year we have a sale, so we have a sale. I think some of the sports brands are doing really clever ways of doing sales. Nike — if you run on Sunday you get promotional offers on a Sunday. They understand that their customer is outdoors, they’re out doing stuff, being physical. They want all-year-round little special offers for

‘Brands need to look at all the culturally relevant events going on in the year.’

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being loyal customers and I think that’s where it’s going,’ believes Philipson, managing director and co-founder of YourStudio.

Krimat agrees. ‘I think this term we’re using for a seasonal or promotional perspective is actually becoming redundant. Brands need to look at all the culturally relevant events going on in the year. Essentially, sales are actually bi-products of the stories they put out and if you’re connecting with your audience in a way that is relevant to them, say for example in Supreme’s case, they’ve created this following, this community that’s almost tribal, and where that goes next is actually quite interesting because they keep collaborating with more brands and it opens more markets and demographics, more exposure.’

Examples of retailers with a good campaign or in-store experience ‘The US outerwear brand called Rei. They did a Black Friday campaign; they thought, we don’t want our customers coming in shops on a bank holiday. They put together an amazing campaign which was called Opt Outside and they created maps for customers to go walking on. They gave suggestions of where they should take their family. It was a really brave thing to do and they saw no financial decrease in their turnover from it, but they saw an increase in customer loyalty,’ says Philipson.

‘I think Cos is a really great example of someone who, quite early, broke away from it’s typical retail perspective, becoming one of the only retail brands that took part in Milan Design Week and it’s something that now has everyone following suit. As a brand they find architecture and design one of their biggest influences 7 of style,’ and their consumers are very well in tune with that type adds Krimat.

‘You have to have the unexpected.’

Black Friday – we’ve found retailers actually opting out of it, what do you think went wrong?

‘I think the customer rebelled against it and just saw through that it was another way for people to get panicked and frenzy and think I need to get this deal. I think it’s the customer rebelling,’ believes Philipson.

‘It’s a very American sort of concept; in the US they engage in that fully, the idea of bargain consumption, spending and all that. I also think it got a lot of bad press; you’ve got these images of people fighting and grappling over a washing machine or whatever it was in Dixons, so it just didn’t feel very British really,’ says Millington.

Creating new seasonal promotional events Philipson references Pride. ‘There was almost a Pride wash on social media and brands picking up on Pride as a time in the calendar where they can really connect with the customer and show they have hidden depth. Tesco did pre-Pride events; they have London Gay Men’s Choir come and sing, pop-up bars selling rainbow cocktails and just being a bit more playful and fun with it

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and having that creative connection with the customer.’

‘I believe in this world we live in now, you have to have the unexpected; I think retailers need to give the customer a space to make up the story themselves and I think that’s very exciting. I think that gives a lot of respect to the customer as well, so you’re not just feeding the whole time,’ believes Millington.

‘I think the unexpected and the idea of something innovative as well as novel, to put out there, for customers to actually engage with the story, I think is a very important part of it. In terms of the timings, generally we see brands needing to actually have this more sophisticated level of empathy; when they understand the demographic and their audience they need to understand why there are patterns and essentially maybe that’s what kind of dictates,’ belives Krimat.

‘Seasonal campaigns are important, whether it moves away from that and goes into more like we were talking about — a broader platform like fashion shows, design, all those sorts of things... but there is still a big generation within the retail market that engages in this kind of calendar. This is probably where you’re getting this kind of transitional period within retail, this lack of what is it? What is retail? What is retail going to become? The Business of Fashion came out with a statement that retailers actually, in the end, should be charging customers to go into stores and I thought that was absolutely spot-on,’ says Millington. ‘Really?’ asks Bland.

‘I think Supreme is such an interesting brand because their shop window is their line of people queuing up,’ continues Millington. ‘They’re giving tickets out and they’re creating a queue.

I’m not saying retailers do this, by all means, but it’s the idea that they’re bold enough. They’re so spot-on in their branding, they know exactly what they want, what their customer wants; in fact their customer has created their brand as well in many respects — that’s

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‘All generations at the moment have that fear of missing out.’ really important. I think brands have to be a mirror to the customer’s desires as well.’

‘Just creating that buzz and that idea that there’s something going on, I think that all generations at the moment have that fear of missing out. We did an installation for Topshop which was a water slide going through the whole shop and people could come and ride it, but there was a queue constantly and people were joining the queue not really sure what it was for, because we’re British and we love to queue,’ adds Philipson.

‘Exactly, that’s exactly it, you looked at that piece and said “What does that do? Is it a product? Is there a new jacket? What is it?” No it’s just a slide, you get on it and you enjoy it and come off with an endorphin rush. Potentially you’ll love that brand, you might go and buy something, but you’ll certainly go and it’s a 360 degree experience,’ says Millington.

‘I think really getting under the skin of your customer and really getting to grips about their mindset; how they’re feeling, what stage in life they are, and do something that’s tailored to them but not necessarily just in store but looking at how it might expand online, expand across everything. I think that’s really important,’ concludes Philipson.

You can download the full podcast at www.theretailexchange.co.uk

Flashtechnology to go here

TECH: WHAT’S NEXT? What’s the next phase of retail’s tech innovations?

Cate Trotter, head of trends at Insider Trends, looks at the new concepts coming to retail in the near future and those which are already pushing these technologies even further.

We’re all familiar with the idea of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and the ever-growing raft of other new buzzy technologies. But what’s the next step for these developments now they’re part of our lives? What happens when you go beyond digital advertising screens? What is the next phase of AR? How do you seamlessly combine the physical and digital?

AR – interactive projection mapping Interactive projection mapping may sound like something from a sci-fi novel, but it’s very much within retail’s reach. Projection mapping lets any real-world object or surface become a canvas for digital display by projecting video content onto it. Interactive projection mapping takes this a step further with displays that respond to user movements.

Lightform is one company leading the way in projection mapping. Its aim is to create tools that connect the physical and digital worlds. The result is the world’s first computer for projected AR. The system 3D scans a scene and then overlays digital effects and filters. Lightform continues to monitor the scene and adjusts itself to any changes, such as movement of products. The system is designed to plug-in to any projector. This makes it a cheap and flexible option for retailers looking to add AR in their stores.

Sony is also getting in on the act with the Xperia Touch projector. The portable system can turn any flat surface, such as a table, floor or wall into a touchscreen. The projected displays are interactive meaning they can respond to user gestures. Initial uses include games, recipes, social media messaging and more.

The Xperia Touch can also be used to watch online videos, which means that retailers could use it to project digital content onto

different surfaces. For example, a digital advert onto a wall or changeable navigation signs on the floor.

Retailers could use projection mapping tech to change the perceived layout of the store based on the movements a customer makes. Or it could be used to show colour options for a particular product. A kitchen and bathroom supplier could use it to project example designs and layouts onto a table when discussing options with clients.

As AR grows in prominence, developments like these are sure-fire ways of changing how digital interaction is brought into the physical retail space. Particularly given that bricks-and-mortar retail is all about experiences that you can’t get elsewhere.

Beyond beacons – the next wave of digital adverts You’ve probably also heard a lot about beacons, Google’s Physical Web, NFC and more. Compared to all of them, FM radio seems incredibly old hat. Yet, the University of Washington has been exploring new ways to connect people and objects through the use

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technology

Main: Lightform is one company leading the way in projection mapping. Right: The Xperia Touch projector can turn any flat surface, such as a table, floor or wall, into a touchscreen.

Below left: Perch Interactive unit for Coravin at Bloomingdales, New York City.

of FM radio signals.

The FM Backscatter project makes use of a technique called ‘backscattering’ to transmit information. This means it reflects ambient FM radio signals that are already in the air, such as from radio transmissions, and encodes them with additional audio and data. This doesn’t impact the original radio transmission, but can be decoded by FM receivers, such as those in cars or smartphones.

This opens up a wealth of advertising and marketing opportunities as the system uses virtually no power. The University

claims that it could run for several years on a single coin-cell battery. Traditional beacons on the other hand require a much larger power source, which may not make them ideal for every scenario, such as outdoor advertising.

Possible uses being explored in the project include posters that transmit snippets of music and even clothing that sends out information on the wearer. For retailers, the technology could really boost outside advertising efforts by offering an interactive element.

Wearables are another key sector with huge potential. Customers who are looking to get fit, for example, may well find data collected by their clothing incredibly useful.

So often, seeing is believing. We’re used to digital advertising screens whether that’s in stores, shopping centres, public transport or other key people traffic spots. This familiarity means it can be easy to tune them out. Giving customers the ability to get more from an advert or tap into exclusive, additional content may actually help drive them towards a purchase. There’s also a simplicity to the FM Backscatter project and a sense of security that comes with using a proven technology — even if it is for another purpose.

Physical meets digital – interactive in-store displays The idea of physical objects being able to trigger digital actions isn’t a new one, but it’s still hard to find many good examples.

Perch Interactive is one company focusing its efforts in this area.

Its digital/physical hybrid display options offer many of the benefits of online shopping within a real-life display unit. Customers can pick up an item and instantly see more information or options for it on the responsive touchscreen. For example, picking up a beauty product might trigger tips or reviews, or a shoe might trigger different colour options.

The system also collates real-time information about customers, from engagement time to number of interactions, and helps retailers to analyse behaviour. The digitally-powered displays mean that new campaigns and content can be changed over quickly to help retailers see what is working for them.

One of the main reasons customers continue to visit physical stores to shop is the ability to touch, pick-up and feel products before they buy. Solutions like Perch Interactive help maintain that.

They also enable customers to guide themselves further down the path of making a purchase.

Choice paralysis is also a very real concern when shopping. It can be hard to pick from the many different options available when from the outside there doesn’t seem to be much difference between them. Makeup, skincare, wine and tech are all examples of this. By triggering more detail or a customer review or a piece of advice when a product is interacted with, retailers can help customers differentiate between what’s on offer.

The scope for interactive displays that go beyond just digital screens continues to grow. Imagine a display with a built-in smart mirror. When a customer picks up an item of clothing the system automatically shows them what that item would look like on them.

Or what if picking up one item from one display triggered digital wayfinding directing customers to another complementary item on another display. Retailers could combine this with questions about what a customer is looking for to offer a digital, personal shopping experience.

More to come The rate of innovation is continuing to speed up and retail is not immune to this. Technologies that take hold with consumers and in other industries are also impacting the retail business. It’s one thing to be prepared for that and to incorporate these developments into store models where they offer a customer or retailer benefit, but it’s another to be thinking about what the next iterations or applications of these technologies will be. And as these examples show, it’s still just the beginning. www.insider-trends.com

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opinion

Does discount have to look cheap?

Stuart Geekie, managing director at HMY Group (UK), discusses the rise of the discount retailer and how they can compete with traditional retailers when it comes to store design.

As a nation of bargain hunters, we love nothing more than shaving pounds off our weekly shopping bill, so it’s no surprise that discounters are storming the retail market.

A GlobalData report highlighted that between 2012 and 2017, there was a 75 per cent increase in total market value and discounters are now worth £23.9 billion, with this expected to steal an extra £9 billion worth of sales from the total retail market over the next five years. Data from Kantar Worldpanel in October also highlighted that the Big Four supermarkets all lost market share recently, as discount grocery giants Aldi and Lidl both continued to flourish.

This isn’t to say that traditional retail and multiples are failing, but it’s a clear indication that the U-turn in consumer behaviour favours the discounter and that they are more present than ever before.

Much of the reasoning behind the discounters’ success story is down to a real shift in consumer behaviours and perceptions. During the financial crisis in the UK, consumers turned to discount stores to save money on essentials.

Fast forward to 2017 and, although where you shop has historically been a social signifier, it’s become more widely acceptable and typical of consumers to shop for value. Now that we don’t have to compromise on the quality of our much-loved products, it’s a no-brainer to save money where we can.

However, we can’t ignore the misconceptions still hanging over the discount sector and much of this lies in beliefs around the shopper’s in-store experience and brand loyalty.

As traditional retailers begin to leverage technology and roll-out innovative store concepts, how can discounters polish up their stores to compete?

Get the look When it comes to shopping for essentials, most people will want to whizz through the aisles with their trolley and tick off their list as quickly as possible, so making the in-store experience as slick and as uncomplicated as possible is essential.

Retailers should steer clear of the ‘junk sale’ look that is often associated with discount stores and, instead, take inspiration from the larger retailers.

Overhead signage will make it crystal clear to shoppers where they can find each item on their list, and they’ll be able to see at a glance where they need to head next.

Avoiding the ‘stack, pack and rack’ theory is also key — high shelving can be overwhelming for shoppers and could also mean that quality stock is missed due to being out of reach and out of sight.

Instead, consider ‘capsuling’ ranges to pick the most popular and relevant items for customers, therefore saving the need for super-high displays.

A touch of tech It may be a slightly more traditional way of thinking, but the phrase ‘eye-line is buy-line’ is still very relevant in today’s market. As such, technology can be used to shake this up and draw shoppers into a specific range or product category on the shelf. For instance, virtual reality (VR) planogramming is beginning to find its way into the early stages of store design and there’s no reason why discounters can’t grab a slice of the action, too. This technology allows us to see a proposed shop floor layout as it’s being designed, giving both retailers and suppliers an

insight into what the shopper will see and feel.

From AI assistants and immersive digital experiences to virtual products and digital in-store displays, technology is set to create another transformation in shopping habits. As discounters continue their bid to dominate the retail market, they will recognise the need to adopt new concepts to keep up with the innovation we are starting to see in other stores.

Go online Discount retailers should also think about the pull of online shopping and why consumers may choose to shun the store in favour of the web. It presents a huge opportunity for discounters to target convenience-driven shoppers in a cost-effective way through an e-commerce platform. An increasing number of people opt for the ease of internet shopping and, since offering online options is proven to not burden profit margins, discounters shouldn’t miss out on this segment of consumers.

Introducing mechanisms like ‘click and collect’ will give shoppers the ease of online shopping and a clear similarity to the conventional retailer, while bringing them into store to, hopefully, build trust with the brand.

Whether it’s a store makeover or simple tweaks to store fittings, remember to keep the consumer’s needs in mind — they’re visiting your store for a reason, so give them a reason to come back and share their experience with others.

www.hmy-group.com

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linkstreet

linkstreet Located on the connecting route between Bullring and Grand Central, LinkStreet enjoys access to Birmingham’s busiest shopping experience.

Following its refurbishment in 2015, LinkStreet has become an established pop-up retail space connecting the iconic Bullring and Grand Central. ‘Providing the ideal venue for urban retail, lifestyle and F&B brands to showcase their products in a dynamic pop-up style environment, LinkStreet is inspired by innovative retail destinations such as Carnaby Street and Seven Dials,’ says Iain Mitchell, commercial director at Hammerson.

It’s constantly evolving offer brings contemporary and niche new brands to the Bullring Estate. With high footfall from Bullring and Grand Central, LinkStreet is a great starting point for independent and start-up brands looking to build their presence in Birmingham, the UK’s second largest city.

‘From the outset, the space has attracted new and innovative brands, including Pretty Green, Ben Sherman, Irregular Choice, Trapstar, Vincent Van Doodle and Religion Clothing. Previous pureplay online retailer, MADE.COM also took the opportunity to open a pop-up to build a physical presence in a prime retail destination, a trend we’re seeing more and more across the portfolio. In terms of its dining offer, we’ve welcomed the first Cereal Killer Café outside London, and popular vegetarian diner, Not Dogs,’ says Mitchell.

Text: Lyndsey Dennis

Retail neighbourhoods

LinkStreet is set to welcome a trio of brands over the festive period. Local jewellers, Summer & Silver, currently based in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, is occupying a unit until the end of the year, offering a selection of contemporary silver jewellery.

London-based luxury urban fashion and accessories brand, Total Black has opened a pop-up that provides a range of unisex fashion items that have featured in fashion bibles such as Vogue and Glamour. In addition, open until the end of the year is ENESS Cosmetics, with the brand showcasing its range of natural and vegan cosmetics and toiletries.

We are continually liaising with a range of brands to ensure the tenant mix at LinkStreet is evolving. The flexibility of the space is hugely appealing to a range of retailers, including those that are looking to try a new, regional market, online retailers keen to invest in physical space for the first time, and established names seeking to build a greater brand presence with a creative and experiential pop-up store. As such, we look forward to welcoming an ever-more diverse range of brands to LinkStreet to engage and entertain our shoppers,’ says Mitchell.

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Text: Lyndsey Dennis

APPETITE An increase in cultural food experiences in recent years has led to a host of dining experiences, adding theatre to eating out.

London will soon welcome its first avocado bar on Henrietta Street in Covent Garden. Designed around a relaxed Californian vibe, avocado lovers can expect living plant walls, natural materials and high quality fresh ingredients. As restaurateurs think of new niche dining experiences, many quirky concepts are popping up.

Sybarite has revealed images of YEN, a restaurant specialising in soba overlooking the River Thames at 190 Strand. YEN will follow in the footsteps of its sister restaurant in Paris and will offer traditional Japanese cuisine. Guests will be able to enjoy the art and theatre of the twice-daily noodle preparation thanks to a bespoke glass space on show to all the restaurant.

Chinatown has welcomed ICHIBUNS, boasting an eclectic Tokyo rock ‘n’ roll interior designed by Noriyoshi Muramatsu of Tokyo’s Studio Glitt and inspired by 50s and 60s Japanese subcultures and the all-American diner. Walls are lined with working Japanese pachinko machines and craft beer cans.

Displays include Japanese Manga comics, vintage newspapers and traditional fishing flags, whilst a DJ takes the stage within a converted Daihatsu micro van.

‘We are currently in discussions with a number of exciting home-grown and international brands with the aim to transport the very best experiences to Chinatown London and across the Shaftesbury villages,’ says Julia Wilkinson, group restaurant and strategy executive at Shaftesbury.

Central Cross, a new 4,459 sq m mixed-use development, is a key space currently being curated in Chinatown. It will include three large restaurants fronting Newport Place, all with external seating, as well as four smaller café units.

This year, Seven Dials has welcomed independent coffee shop, Boki; a new English café concept from Barbary and Palomar founders Layo and Zoe Paskin named Jacob the Angel; and iconic American burger concept, Shake Shack at Cambridge Circus.

‘In recent years, we have witnessed an increase in cultural food experiences, driven by London’s inherent cultural diversity as well

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as its growing status as one of the restaurant capitals of the world.

Shaftesbury’s villages are great examples of this and cater to a vast range of tastes. Each area places a greater focus on experience and creative dining that take you beyond other restaurant offers in the capital. Popular dining experiences at these locations include enjoying a Whole Fry Sunday roast at Chick ‘n’ Sours in Seven Dials, barbequing fresh cuts of meat at the table at Olle in Chinatown, or watching a traditional Taiwanese tea brewing ceremony at XU on Rupert Street, all offering customers a unique dining experience, which is now almost as important as the food,’ says Wilkinson.

restaurants/cafes/bars

London has welcomed Bloomberg Arcade, a new food hub at Bloomberg’s new headquarters in the Square Mile, designed in collaboration with Foster + Partners. The new food hub features 10 eateries and spans across two buildings.

Shoreditch Village is a 13,935 sq m mixed-use and public realm scheme, which when complete will provide warehouse-style office space, flexible retail space and a street market, all surrounded by an open and inviting, south-facing public realm. Mamarosa has signed up for the development, following its location beneath the W Hotel in Barcelona.

Further afield in Oslo, dockside dining, dim sum and DJs are all on the menu at Hakkasan’s new Nordic venture called Ling Ling, with a lighting scheme by Nulty Lighting.

‘Long-drop pendants hang over tables for intimacy, and a prominent preserved tree is brought to life by a backlit coffer above that accentuates its height and creates dappled shadows through the leaves. Outside, lighting has been integrated into the planting and the pergolas to create a cosy atmosphere,’ says Emilio Hernandez, associate lighting designer at Nulty Lighting.

of the scheme. DesignLSM worked on the scheme, injecting the brand’s playful persona into the scheme.

‘The F&B industry has evolved rapidly over the last few years.

Dining has become much more social and the traditional rules and times of day associated with eating no longer apply,’ says Jennifer Burns, lead designer on the Fancy Crab project by DesignLSM. ‘Recently we have seen an increase in the number of ‘experienceled’ concepts or pop-ups, tie-ins with brands or media “institutions” – Game of Thrones banquets or theatrical dining pieces such as Dinner with The Twits.’

‘People are looking for dining experiences that engage all of their senses, enhance their knowledge and satiate their curiosity and sense of adventure,’ says Burns.

Lewis Allen, director at Portland Design agrees: ‘We’re seeing more concepts where the dining experience has been made in some way extra-ordinary as brands seek ways to attract and engage customers in future relevant ways. Multi-sensory experience is key to this. Whether in fine and casual dining formats where food preparation is entertainingly open and dishes are more visually

Left: Opening this month, YEN will specialise in soba overlooking the Thames at 190 Strand in London. Right: The mixed-use Shoreditch Village development will include a host of restaurants.

Below from left: ICHIBUNS in Chinatown boasts an eclectic Tokyo rock ‘n’ roll interior; Designed by DesignLSM, Fancy Crab in Marylebone features a huge wall graphic that captures diners as soon as they walk in; Dockside dining, dim sum and DJs are on the menu at Ling Ling in Oslo.

‘Back indoors, a galvanised metal conduit installation is a real eye-catcher. Punctuated with light it forms a framework and feature throughout the dining space.’

He notes the increase in contemporary versions of classic or retro designs as a trend. ‘This involves darker palettes with the occasional colour to “pop” and a lot of brass, bronze and stone finishes being used. Whilst these may be passing trends, the use of classical materials means that they are likely to have longevity.’

Fancy Crab seafood restaurant in Marylebone encapsulates the provenance of the Red King Crab into the interior and branding

seductive, or fast casual concepts like Pret A Manger where despite the need for speed the customer service is always engagingly warm and friendly. Also, digital tools are creating new challenges and opportunities. As many customer shopping missions move online, the question of what will attract customers to shopping malls, high streets and department stores is becoming urgent. The evidence is that customers want less shopping and more experience from their shopping journeys. F&B experiences are now key to retooling commercial spaces by helping to attract customers who are hemorrhaging to online services.’

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restaurants/cafes/bars

Restaurant and Bar Design Awards Highlights from the 2017 Restaurant and Bar Design Awards in October.

Best Overall winners

UK & International Category Winners

International Category Winners

Leisure

Europe bar

Björk, Hemavan, Sweden by Murman Architects

ADAM&Co, Amsterdam, Netherlands

by TANK

Outside

Australia & Pacific bar

Colicci, London by Mizzi Studio

Beta Bar, Sydney, Australia by DS17

Luxury

The Americas restaurant

Best Overall UK Restaurant

Collins Room, London by Robert Angell Design International

Duck Duck Goat, Chicago, United States

by AvroKO

Fucina, London by Andy Martin Architecture

Pop-Up

Asia bar

Best Overall UK Bar

Coppa Club, London by Inhouse Design

JIS, Sapporo, Japan by The Wholedesign

The Escapologist, London by Finch Interiors

Ceiling

Middle East & Africa bar

UK Category Winners

Gold on 27, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

by Keane

Lock Stock & Barrel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates by Broadway Interiors

Standalone Restaurant

Nightclub

Australia & Pacific restaurant

Clerkenwell Grind, London by Biasol Design Studio

LEXY, Zürich, Switzerland by Dyer-Smith Frey

Murals & Graffiti

Piccolino, Mount Waverley, Australia

by Hachem

Restaurant or Bar in a hotel

Mi Chola, Aspen, United States by Davis Ink

Asia restaurant

Eneko, London by Casson Mann

Colour

Rhoda, Hong Kong, by Joyce Wang Studio

London Restaurant

Nanan, Wrocław, Poland by Buck Studio

Europe restaurant

Fucina, London by Andy Martin Architecture

Lighting

Restaurant or Bar in a heritage building

Shade Burger, Poltava, Ukraine by YOD Design Lab

Lost & Found, Knutsford by Concorde BGW

Piccolino, Mount Waverley, Australia

by Hachem

Restaurant or Bar in another space

Identity

Nando’s Putney Kitchen, London by Fusion DNA

The Penny Drop, Melbourne, Australia by Pop & Pac

Fast/Casual

Surface Interiors

Nelson’s Diner, Newbury by Prosper

The Penny Drop, Melbourne, Australia by Design by Golden

Best Overall Bar Westlight, New York, United States by Studio Munge

Best Overall Restaurant The Penny Drop, Melbourne, Australia

by Golden

Best Overall UK winners

Pub No 197 Chiswick Fire Station, Chiswick by Red Deer Architects & Box 9 Design

Multiple Restaurant

Middle East & Africa restaurant Urbanologi, Johannesburg, South Africa

by Haldane Martin

The Americas bar Westlight, New York, United States by Studio Munge

Café Vyta Santa Margherita, Florence, Italy by COLLIDANIELARCHITETTO

Obica, St Paul’s, London by Superfutures

Bar or Club The Escapologist, London by Finch Interiors

London Bar The Kitty Hawk, London by Russell Sage Studio

Below left: Best Overall Bar — Westlight, New York, United States by Studio Munge.

Below right: Best Overall Restaurant — The Penny Drop, Melbourne, Australia by Golden.

Restaurant or Bar in a retail space Wallpaper* Bar + Kitchen, London by Virgile + Partners

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Image courtesy of Appear Here

The all new Stormforce Forester 01462 672 000

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shopping centres

BROADENING HORIZONS : SHOPPING CENTRES

Eating and socialising is becoming as much of a reason to visit a shopping centre as buying goods, resulting in a host of leisure extensions.

Text: Lyndsey Dennis

Retail property developer, Hammerson is collaborating with Middlesex University students to design the shopping centre of the future. The Product Innovation competition will see students compete to design a new concept to enhance the shopping centre of the future. But what will the future of shopping centres look like? 2017 has seen a number of new shopping and leisure destinations opening, as well as plans unveiled for extensions and refurbishments. Here goes...

White Rose leisure extension Design: The Harris Partnership Opening date: July 2017 White Rose shopping centre in Leeds unveiled its 5,574 sq m retail and leisure extension in July, comprising six restaurants and a bespoke woodland-themed outdoor play area. ‘The Village’ extension will also include an 11-screen IMAX Cineworld multiple that opens this month. A raft of upsizes and refreshed stores have also been underway including Next, Superdry, New Look, River Island and Build-A-Bear. In partnership with Morgan Sindall and Leeds City Council, White Rose has strengthened the mix of facilities at the centre, which celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this year, to ensure customers can enjoy a full-day leisure, dining and retail experience.

Westgate Oxford Design: BDP and Chapman Taylor Opening date: October 2017 Westgate is a new 73,400 sq m, £440 million retailer quarter to the south west of Oxford city centre, boasting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. The development includes more than 100 stores, 25 restaurants and cafes, a boutique cinema and rooftop terrace dining. The design is based on individual buildings integrated with the streets of Oxford by a network of covered streets, lanes and arcades which are all naturally ventilated. Glass roofs designed by BDP let in maximum daylight and are both elegant and complementary to the architecture of the different blcoks without overwhelming them.

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The Lexicon Bracknell Design: BDP and Chapman Taylor Opening date: September 2017 The Lexicon Bracknell is a new 53,883 sq m, £240 million retail, leisure and dining development in the heart of Bracknell.

The scheme includes the first, new build, full line Fenwick department store to be opened in 14 years (read more on Fenwick on P33-34). A key concept for the scheme and public realm design has been ‘the greening of Bracknell’ to transform the character of the existing town.

Westfield London expansion Design: Sheppard Robson Master planners: Leonard Design Architects, Allies and Morrison, and Glen Howells Opening date: March 2018 Phase 2 of a £600 million transformation is currently underway at Westfield in White City, providing an extra 68,748 sq m of shops, restaurants and leisure space, as well as 1,500 new homes within the wider development. This will make it the largest shopping centre in Europe. The retail expansion — which includes a 21,367 sq m John Lewis anchor store — provides 70 new retail units and kiosks in the first phase, and also includes a major new restaurant wing and additional retail units improving the connection between the retail and the existing public realm.

shopping centres

intu Trafford Centre extension

intu Broadmarsh redevelopment

Design: Leach Rhodes Walker Opening date: 2019

Design: Benoy Opening date: Spring 2020

Two new floors are on the way at intu Trafford Centre as part of a £74 million transformation. The development will create an extra 10,219 sq m of retail space at Barton Square, which will be covered with a giant glass roof. Primark has signed up to anchor the expanded and refreshed space. The unit will incorporate space previously occupied by BHS Home and is set to open in 2019 as work on Barton Square completes. Other brands already in place include SEA LIFE Manchester, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre and Next Home.

As part of a £250 million programme of works to transform the south of Nottingham city centre, intu is gearing up for an exciting redevelopment of intu Broadmarsh that will transform the centre to deliver a compelling retail and leisure destination that complements the rest of Nottingham. intu plans to deliver a contemporary design, improved pedestrian routes and connections to the wider city, and significantly enhance the public realm. intu Broadmarsh will be reinvigorated with new places to shop, eat, relax and play, from daytime to evening.

intu Watford extension Design: Leslie Jones Opening date: 2018 Work is underway on a £180 million extension at intu Watford.

The extension will be anchored by a 10,498 sq m Debenhams store and expand the centre’s existing fashion and lifestyle offer, where other retailers include John Lewis, Kurt Geiger and MAC, strengthening intu Watford’s appeal among its prosperous catchment population. Around two thirds of the extension is now let with Hollywood Bowl, Cineworld and a range of family friendly restaurants such as TGI Friday, Las Iguanas and Byron among leisure brands who have also signed up for space.

intu Lakeside extension Design: 3DReid Opening date: Winter 2018 A £150 million leisure extension is taking place at intu Lakeside in Essex, which will create 20,903 sq m of cafes, restaurants and new leisure activities. A key feature will be a 4,645 sq m Nickelodeon interactive entertainment centre with a large variety of adventure zones, dedicated space for the younger members of the family, numerous attractions and Nickelodeon-themed rooms ideal for birthday parties and family get-togethers.

Meadowhall leisure extension Design: BDP Opening date: Early 2021 Meadowhall in Sheffield will receive a £300 million extension that will transform the centre’s leisure offering. The extension will integrate with the front of the existing centre featuring dining and entertaining options, a new cinema, café court, gym, open-air terrace and space for leisure, event and community use. The 30,650 sq m Leisure Hall will feature a large glazed roof and house restaurants, a cinema, gym, café court and open-air terrace allowing visitors to dine outside.

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show review

THE NEW DYNAMIC DISPLAY

Kendu In-Store Visual Solutions presents Flowbox, an international award-winning dynamic display for stores

Flowbox is the new generation of LED displays that combines a high-quality printed tension fabric system with motion effects and dynamic animation for engaging in-store displays. Exclusively designed and developed by Kendu In-Store Visual Solutions, Flowbox is the latest innovation for in-store visual communication specifically tailor-made for the retail sector.

The dynamic display provides stores with endless creative VM options by creating an interplay between static display and motion effects using digital programming. Each of the LED lights can be individually programmed using advanced RGB LED technology in order to create different lighting effects including subtle tonal variations, continuous colour changes and even action-based animation. The chosen effects come programmed on an SD card that is inserted manually into the Flowbox meaning it is easy to update. Flowbox’s ability to create unique and dynamic atmospheres makes it the ideal visual communication tool for both inside the store and in shop windows.

Since its premiere showing at EuroShop in March 2017, Flowbox has received multiple awards and accolades in both the European and American markets including the IIDA GlobalShop Product Design Competition 2017 for ‘Best Signage Graphics’ and ‘Best in Competition’, Paris Retail Awards 2017 for ‘Best Store Solution & Design’, the inaugural Spanish APè Awards 2017 for the ‘Top 10 Best Digital Printing Applications’ and was a finalist at the ‘AIT Trend 2017’ at EuroShop.

Retailers can now create an exciting, engaging in-store atmosphere with Flowbox, the award-winning dynamic display system.

E: info@kendu.com T: + 44 (0)20 3735 5258 W: www.kendu.com W:www.flow-box.com

Above: Printed fabric displays come to life with Flowbox’s continuos animation.

Left: A dynamic display creates interest for shoppers both inside the store and in shop windows.

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products

FLOORING Karndean Designflooring Luxury vinyl flooring from Karndean Designflooring is featured as part of the new look Sandersons Boutique department store at Fox Valley in North Sheffield. Looking to create a beautiful store that offers a premium retail experience, the team behind the project opted for Karndean Van Gogh Country Oak and Aged Redwood as part of the store’s luxury design concept. The completed look features the striking blend of silver and charcoal grey found in Aged Redwood and the gentle, cool, mid-brown of the traditional Country Oak. While Country Oak was specified for the majority of the shop floor, the two were seamlessly brought together to create an eye catching design throughout the fitting rooms. ‘We wanted to create something unique with the customers in mind,’ says Lisa Fox, store manager at Sandersons Boutique. ‘The flooring is a key component of the design as it’s the backdrop to the fittings and merchandise, so it’s an important element when it comes to delivering an exceptional retail experience for customers. We really like the colour and the overall look of the Van Gogh products and they’re very smart, which is just what we wanted.’ The store team was also drawn to the hardwearing nature of the product; as well as clothes and homewares, Sandersons Boutique also features a tea room, in-house florist, nail bar, Benefit Brow Bar and a full diary of events, so wanted a floor that could handle it all and would be easy to clean at the end of a busy day with thousands of visitors coming through the store’s doors.

T. +44 (0)1386 820 104 E: commercial@karndean.co.uk www.karndean.com Twitter: KarndeanComm

Junckers

Forbo Flooring Systems

Junckers’ new floor, Hexparket by CarpEnter Cph & Hartmann has been laid throughout the showroom of bespoke kitchen design and manufacturing company, Multiform, where elgance meets time-honoured craftsmanship. Hexparket’s hexagonal staves are made in solid oak laid to form a striking geometric pattern. The graphic look and clean, sharp lines of the design compliments the architectural forms and high quality finish of Multiform’s celebrated Form 45 kitchen.

In response to the growing demand for a hybrid entrance flooring system, Forbo Flooring Systems has launched Coral Click; a new versatile modular matting system comprising durable PVC tiles with contemporary Coral Brush textile inserts. The new cost effective, off-the-shelf system can withstand heavy traffic and effectively removes dirt and moisture from the soles of shoes and wheel treads. The tiles, available with a choice of five colourways and two depths, contain no metal and are therefore ideal for use in retail premises with electronic-tagging systems.

T. +44 (0)1376 534 700 E. enquiries@junckers.co.uk www.junckers.co.uk Twitter: junckersfloors

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T. +44 (0)844 822 3928 E: info.flooring.uk@forbo.com www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/coralclick Twitter: forboflooringuk

products

Polyflor Vinyl flooring manufacturer Polyflor has added new wood effect designs to its relaunched Forest fx PUR flooring collection, incorporating the latest commercial interior trends into one of the company’s most popular sheet vinyl ranges. The expanded 18 design heterogeneous collection features nine new shades, including two parquet effect designs for dramatic statement floors as well as a selection of contemporary grey-toned oaks and rustic wood designs which add variety to the collection. The Forest fx range is available in a practical and resilient 2.0mm gauge vinyl sheet format with a 0.7mm wear layer, making it ideal for high traffic, heavy commercial environments in the education, healthcare, leisure, retail, housing and office sectors.

T. +44 (0)161 767 1111 E: info@polyflor.com www.polyflor.com Twitter: Polyflorltd

Havwoods Introduce the grandeur of French parquet flooring to interiors with the Versailles panels from wood surface specialist, Havwoods. Named after the famous Palace of Versailles, where in 1684 the iconic diagonal parquet flooring was introduced to replace the old marble covering, this surface is now synonymous with luxury and elegance. Havwoods‘ Versailles design is perfect for adding depth and intricacy to a space. Continuing the time-honored artistry of this historical pattern, customers can choose from six distinctive finishes including the deep rich tones of Antique and Drift, and the cool palettes seen in Eston and Unity.

T. +44 (0)1524 737 000 E: info@havwoods.co.uk www.havwoods.co.uk Twitter: havwoods

Howe Green

Forbo Flooring Systems

More than 80 of Howe Green’s 7500 Series Medium Duty Stainless Steel Floor Access Covers have been used in Westgate Oxford. The 7500 Series Floor Access Covers provide safe, easy access to underfloor services and high levels of performance for the heavily trafficked pedestrian area. The 7500 Series can withstand up to a five tonne pneumatic wheel loading. The covers have been infilled with various types of stone to blend seamlessly with the different hard flooring finishes used across multiple locations. The flush finish ensures the attractiveness of the flooring is not compromised and risk of slip and trip hazards is reduced.

Forbo’s Allura luxury vinyl tile planks and Tessera Arran carpet tiles have been installed at the new Reading branch of independent opticians and hearing specialist, Leightons, The floorcoverings have helped to create a spacious looking interior and minimise the spread of unwanted noise to the consultation rooms. SKK Design chose Allura planks in Light Rustic Oak for their aesthetics and durability in the main shop floor area, and selected Tessera Arran, a natural toned, multi-height textured loop pile carpet offering 23dB sound impact reduction for the audiology and consultation rooms.

T. +44 (0)1920 463 230 E. info@howegreen.co.uk www.howegreen.com Twitter: HoweGreen

T. +44 (0)844 822 3928 E. info.flooring.uk@forbo.com www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/retail Twitter: forboflooringuk

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products

SURFACES & FINISHES Armourcoat Armourcoat will be exhibiting at the Surface Design Show next February as the design industry showcases the latest innovative and exciting surface materials. Armourcoat will present an attractive range of hand-applied polished plaster wall finishes and the latest additions to their luxury Signature Collection. The company will also be presenting the new Armourcoat Acoustic Plaster System, designed to optimise the acoustics of interior spaces. Visit Armourcoat at Surface Design Show on 6-8 February 2018 on Stand 102.

T. +44 (0)1732 460 668 E: sales@armourcoat.co.uk www.armourcoat.com Twitter: Armourcoat

International Decorative Surfaces The Studio Collection of solid surface by Aristech offers exceptional creative freedom for design statements such as this 80ft U-shaped bar at the flagship Shoeless Joe’s Sports Grill in Ontario, Canada. With a design vision for the bar to take centre stage by day or night, by customers seated upstairs or down, the designers specified Tempest 8710 from the Studio Collection, one of the translucent effects that can be backlit. The versatility of the material for backlighting around the entire bar perimeter, coupled with its seamless aesthetic, helped create a strong architectural statement.

T. +44 (0)845 603 7811 E: info@avonitesolidsurface.co.uk www.avonitesolidsurface.co.uk Twitter: AvoniteSurfaces

Dulux Trade Dulux Trade has introduced a new tool set to inspire building owners and managers with colour and assist in the specification process. The Colour Schemer is easy to use and provides professionals with unprecedented access to an extensive range of colour schemes, tailored to meet the needs of a variety of market sectors. In just three simple steps, users of the Colour Schemer can select the relevant sector and desirable outcome, choose colour schemes and create specific designs that most suit the brief. A professionally designed moodboard to showcase the scheme is then available to download, allowing designs to be shared and presented easily to colleagues and/or building users. A key feature of the new tool is the ability to coordinate design specifications with the core colours of a project. By choosing a core colour, users can be assured that their chosen schemes will coordinate and complement existing fabrics, flooring or furniture.

T. +44 (0)333 222 7070 E. duluxtrade.advice@akzonobel.com specifier.duluxtradepaintexpert.co.uk Twitter: DuluxTrade

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Armourcoat At Decorex in September, Armourcoat presented a range of hand-applied polished plaster wall finishes and the latest additions to the Signature Collection. The company also launched its Armourcoat Acoustic Plaster System designed to optimise the acoustics of interior spaces. An array of global projects for an impressive list of international blue chip clients in the residential, hospitality and boutique retail sectors have established Armourcoat as a leading supplier of high quality surface finishes.

Armourcoat products are made from natural minerals including recycled Italian marble, and contain low or zero VOCs, with a full 10-year guarantee.

T. +44 (0)1732 460 668 E: sales@armourcoat.co.uk www.armourcoat.com Twitter: Armourcoat

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Mats and Floors

Flexible strip LEDs: made to measure

Our bespoke , tailor-made flexible strip LED kits make lighting your retail display roll out easy, saving your workshop time and money.

Our LED experts will design your kit so it arrives ready to plug in and play: • We’ll help you choose the right LED strip product • Products will be cut, soldered and connected to the desired • Power supplies can be added so it is ready to plug in and play All

LEDs are manufactured in Europe to the highest quality.

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TAMWORTH Email: sales.tamworth@perspex.co.uk Tel: 01827 263 900

CHELMSFORD Email: sales.chelmsford@perspex.co.uk Tel: 01245 232 800

WEYBRIDGE Email: sales.weybridge@perspex.co.uk Tel: 01932 356 900

www.perspex.co.uk

products

LIGHTING iGuzzini Illuminazione (UK) Palco Low Voltage is the result of research combining technological innovation in the field of LEDs with the study of materials, optics, and applications, in order to get the most out of each millimetre and eliminate anything superfluous. Akin in size to a human finger, Palco Low Voltage is technologically sophisticated. Its Opti Beam technology produces a clean beam, which totally overcomes the double-ring effect, besides offering extraordinary visual comfort. The miniaturised luminaire features spot, medium and flood distributions as well as multiple light cones. A wall washer version features excellent vertical distribution, while the framer versions of the luminaire create luminous geometrical shapes with clear contours. The luminaire is geared to accept two different accessories simultaneously, which ensures the beam can be perfectly targeted or adjusted.

T. +44 (0)1483 468 000 E: info@iguzzini.co.uk www.iguzzini.co.uk Twitter: iGuzziniUK

Reggiani The New York L’Occitane flagship incorporates contemporary interpretations of typical Provençal scenes into distinct shopping areas. Reggiani’s Yori luminaires help recreate these scenes within the store interior. The entrance and storefront windows incorporate Reggiani’s Yori projector with its high CRI LED light source to help direct attention to colourful product displays and emphasise the vibrant palette of the branding. Perimeter displays are evenly washed with light focused through ribbed glass lenses, while narrow beam reflectors accent floor podiums and signage.

T. +44 (0)20 8236 3000 E. reggiani@reggiani.co.uk www.reggiani.net Twitter: reggianilight

Feilo Sylvania

Crompton Lamps

Sylvania has designed and installed an innovative lighting solution at POD’s Chiswell Street branch in London. By taking a fresh approach and combining the latest products with the ground-breaking SylSmart wireless control solution, Sylvania has significantly improved the in-store customer experience.

Solutions used included track-mounted Concord Mini Continuum II LED linear luminaires, Concord Beacon XL Muse spotlights, Concord Beacon GOBO Projectors and Lumiance LED strip lighting, all of which were enabled by Sylvania’s groundbreaking wireless control system — SylSmart. Visit the company at LuxLive on 15-16 November at ExCel London.

When Clydebuilt Bar & Kitchen in Glasgow needed lighting to complement its stunning interior decor, Edmundson SLD Scotland turned to Crompton Lamps for inspiration.

Crompton’s LED Antique Filament Lamps were ideal for the project in terms of aesthetics and ambience. Crompton’s LED Spiral Filament Antique-Bronze Dimmable lamps offer the ideal solution for a retro feel with all the benefits of the latest in LED technology. The new spiral design extends the full length of the lamp and is enclosed in an antique-bronze coloured glass. They have the look and feel of a traditional spiral filament lamp creating a great visual effect, making them ideal for creating character in decorative installations. The LED technology incorporated in these lamps offers excellent energy efficiency, long life and dimming options that will create different moods and atmosphere.

T. +44 (0)800 440 2478 E: info@feilosylvania.com www.feilosylvania.com Twitter: FeiloSylvania

T. +44 (0)1274 657 088 E. lamps@cromptonlamps.com www.cromptonlamps.com Twitter: CromptonLamps

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products

SIGNAGE & GRAPHICS Graphica Display Graphica Display specialises in the design, production and installation of retail and commercial interior graphics and signage. From roll-outs to promotional displays, branding to exhibition and event graphics, Graphica Display has the solution for you. Find out more about the company at its new and exciting website: www.graphicadisplay.co.uk T. +44 (0)845 373 0073 E: sales@graphicadisplay.co.uk www.graphicadisplay.co.uk Twitter: graphicatweet

Anchor Magnets Attract is a multifunctional, double or single-sided magnetic display system, designed for use throughout a retail environment. The versatile nature of Attract allows it to be installed as a freestanding, wall-mounted or suspended unit.

Attract contains an internal magnetic surface housed within an elegant, sleek frame. The magnetic surface works in conjunction with printed ferrous media such as digifilm, which is overlaid onto the magnetic surface. Displays to be quickly and easily changed or updated, and promotional messaging to be added instantly.

T. +44 (0)114 244 1171 E. sales@anchormagnets.com www.anchormagnets.com Twitter: AnchorMagnets

Applelec NeonLux from Applelec is a new, neon-style LED lettering product suitable for internal and external applications due to its high IP67 water ingress protection rating. The range is an extension of Applelec’s luxury illuminated letter range and features embedded LEDs in a choice of LED and acrylic colour options. A wide variety of font styles and imaginative designs can be created with NeonLux, which features intense illumination whilst being a far more energy efficient LED product to glass neon. The highly polished finish of NeonLux replicates the effect of glass neon more faithfully than many other neon-style lettering products available.

T. +44 (0)1274 774 477 E. sales@applelec.co.uk www.applelec.co.uk Twitter: Applelec

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Signwaves Signwaves has expanded its café barrier range by introducing the cost effective stainless steel alternative, the Adfresco LT. The new stanchions (pole) and base offering has the same ‘top clip’ mechanism as the original Adfresco units, and is used in conjunction with the top cross rail for banner fit. To allow for further savings the new LT only comes with bottom bungee tethers to secure the banner into place. The Adfresco LT has a low profile base with a weight of 10kg, however it still benefits from being concrete filled and therefore provides superb stability.

T. +44 (0)1493 419 300 E: enquiries@signwaves.co.uk www.signwaves.co.uk Twitter: Signwaves_Ltd

products

VM & DISPLAY arken POP It was an outstanding successful night for arken POP at the POPAI Awards in October at the Lancaster London Hotel, with the company winning nine awards in total, including the overall top prize in the permanent POP sector — Display of the Year for its Superdrug Skincare display. arken POP has now achieved an astonishing 70 awards over the years of being involved in the awards.

T. +44 (0)1638 565 656 E: info@arken-pop.com www.arken-pop.com Twitter: arkenPOP

Andy Thornton The new Dr. Martens store in Camden tells the story of the brand’s spiritual home with images and artefacts from the mid 1900’s through to the present day, with select industrial-style retail display fittings sourced from Andy Thornton. Many visual merchandising pieces from Andy Thornton’s hugely successful Vintage Style Collection can be seen around the store, complementing the original brickwork and stripped pine flooring. This Post Office shelving unit, which incorporates multi wire-mesh compartments and is ideal for displaying various styles of the famous brand, blends seamlessly with the period arched metal window frames and original props.

T. +44 (0)1422 376 000 E: sales@andythornton.com www.andythornton.com Twitter: andythorntonltd

EML Retail Display Combining more than 35 years of knowledge, expertise, quality and enthusiasm in retail display, EML is a leading supplier to many major retailers, brands and resellers. The company prides itself on innovative design, high quality goods and exemplary customer service. The team would love the opportunity to have a chat with you about your display requirements. Using its talented design team and extensive in-house production capabilities means that big or small, bespoke or off the shelf, EML will work with you to provide your perfect stress-free display solution. Visit www.emlexpress.com to see how the company can help further.

T. +44 (0)1462 650 700 E: sales@emlltd.com www.emlexpress.com Twitter: emlexpress

StormDFX StormDFX was awarded ‘Display of the Year – Temporary’ at the POPAI Awards for its PG Tips Motorised Toaster Display for Unilever. ‘A clean, crisp and clear design with strong branding and moving parts to disrupt the shopper in-store. Designed to be sited in tea, cereal or bakery areas, the display o offers flexibility to the retailer and an emotional connection with shoppers. Simple yet effective!’ said the judges.

T. +44 (0)1773 546 724 www.stormdfx.com Twitter: Storm_DFX

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DELIVERING BIG IDEAS WITH AN EYE FOR DETAIL

BESPOKE PRODUCTION CREATIVE THINKING PROJECT MANAGEMENT INSTALLATION LOGISTICS

20 YEARS EXPERIENCE BRINGING CONCEPTS TO LIFE www.minkibalinki.com | +44 (0) 1980 625 386 | ntillett@minkibalinki.com

MODERN INFORMATION DISPLAY The professional way to display:

DURAFRAME® POSTER THE INFOFRAME

> > > >

Present information professionally Insert and exchange posters quickly thanks to the magnetic frame Attach to smooth surfaces such as walls and glass without tools POSTER SUN available for windows exposed to direct sunlight

TABLET HOLDERS Designed for retail professionals

> > > > > >

For all tablets 7”-13” Rotates 360° with lock-in points every 90° Smooth tilt angle adjustment Anti-theft protection Manufactured in Germany Models available: Floor, Table, Table Clamp, Wall and Wall Arm

www.durable-uk.com

September advert - Duraframe and Tablet Holders.indd 1

04/09/2017 16:45:17

digital displays

focus on DIGITAL DISPLAYS With technology innovations developing at an alarming rate, there are many systems retailers can utilise in store to help promote products and aid the customer experience. This month we bring you a host of digital display options, from tablets to LCD pods.

Digital takeover Westfield is replacing its traditional paper-based advertising furniture with a network of super-slim, freestanding, 75in LCD pods across its 17 flagship malls. These sleek high-bright pods were designed and manufactured in the UK and then assembled in the US by DOOH experts, Esprit Digital, and have been deployed in a variety of formats for both indoor and outdoor use. The first phase of this huge roll-out includes 147 double-sided indoor pods, 18 double-sided indoor tall pods, three single-sided indoor pods, one wall-mounted indoor unit and 54 double-sided outdoor units.

www.espritdigital.com

One size fits all Crystal Display Systems has launched the new N-series tablet, designed as an all-in-one self-service kiosk. Kiosk is not a new solution in the market, however, a flexible tablet that is modular based and allows customers to attach a functional module such as barcode, RFID or Magnetic swipe is not as available in the market, and so CDS prides itself on offering a new total solution to all kinds of kiosk applications. The N-Series tablet has many features and benefits; it embodies an option for attachments such as a magnetic card swipe, RFID readers and barcode readers that enables applications in system terminals, retail stores, restaurants, hotels, self-service kiosks etc.

www.crystal-display.com

The great outdoors International outdoor leisure brand Regatta has overhauled the visual merchandising strategy at its Manchester headquarters, with the help of Leach Impact. Regatta’s showroom is a regular destination for corporate customers, keen to be among the first to see what could soon adorn their retail shelves. The brand has invested in a 6.8m x 2.5m state-of-the-art bespoke display from Leach’s Product Wall Lite range. At only 65mm thick, the streamlined, wall-mounted system integrates eye-catching graphics with ultra-bright LED illumination and slick magnetic shelving, for maximum impact as soon as a customer arrives.

www.leachimpact.com

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digital displays Slimming look Available in three sizes from 43in to 55in, NEC’s new super slim design C Series displays are ideal for modern environments that are typically light and airy with a minimalist look. Capable of portrait and landscape orientation, the displays seamlessly integrate into the surroundings to deliver a compelling digital canvas.

Fresh content is crucial and with a powerful integrated MediaPlayer, the C Series processes media file formats including mp3, JPG, PNG, MPG and MP4.

The standalone solution requires no additional cabling ensuring a neat and seamless result with the only additional hardware required being a USB drive or MicroSDHC card. Autoplay settings allow content playback to be scheduled according to the appropriate time and date; useful in so many applications from wishing your customers a good afternoon, to promoting breakfast menu items.

www.nec-display-solutions.co.uk

Three amigos HL Display’s new iDisplay range offers a fully integrated proposition that is perfect for stores of all types and sizes. There are three easy-to-install and manage plug-and-play screens within the range. The iDisplay iShelf is a 7in shelf display that runs on batteries. It has a built-in motion sensor so the screen is only activated when shoppers are nearby, maximising battery life and creating interest at the shelf by responding directly to customers’ movements. The iDisplay 10.1in tablet is an interactive touchscreen display enabling full engagement between the product and the shopper. This is a fully interactive commercial display that operates on Android and uses capacitive touch. It features built in Wi-Fi and LAN and a host of integrated features that work on landscape and portrait format. AD’Display 10.1in provides a compact, all in one solution for running digital content in store. The AD’Display has all of the features of a tablet, such as an integrated media player, without the touch screen display, and is up and running literally straight out of the box, you just have to turn on the power.

www.hl-display.com

Float away Unibox offers the Magnetic concealed display system. When combined with the company’s tension fabric system, the magnetik ‘floating’ shelves enable the design of stylish, eye-catching product displays and promotions. Successfully amalgamating merchandise into graphic displays, Magnetik helps to showcase products, bolster retail sales and reinforce brand awareness. Undetectable from the outside, the system works in harmony with your fabric displays, without the need for unsightly fixtures or cuts. The Magnetik concealed accessory display system is built into new and existing Ledge 105 lightboxes.

www.unibox.co.uk

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EuroCIS: Unique in the whole world of retail. Allencompassing. Dynamic. Future-focused. Retail technology as the basis for success.

EuroCIS: Future lab and ideas stage. With highly specialised developers and solution providers.

EuroCIS: The No.1 destination in Europe for everyone who sees their future in retail.

EuroShop

Trade Fairs

The Leading Trade Fair for Retail Technology Düsseldorf, Germany · www.eurocis.com

Sponsor:

2017-10-26 EuroCIS 2018_Großbritannien_Retail Technology_86 x 262_Retail Focus_4c_6725

@retailfocus

www.ehi.org

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25.10.17 10:37

directory

DIREcTORIES

www.retail-focus.co.uk/directory Visit the Retail Focus online directory at www.retail-focus.co.uk to discover a comprehensive list of the UK’s leading retail suppliers. Each listing contains indepth company information together with inspirational images, video footage and informative press material. You can also link through to company websites and connect with suppliers through Twitter and Facebook.

The Retail Supplier Directory is divided into a number of categories, such as design agencies, point-of-purchase, lighting, props and surfaces, to make the site easy to navigate.

To feature in the online directory, contact Terry Clark on 0845 6807405 or email terry@retailfocus.co

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directory

Aluminium Fittings

Specialist Stockist of Aluminium Extrusions and Mild Steel Fittings for the shopfitting industry.

Extensive stock held of: *Slotted uprights *Aluminium slatwall *Perimeter Sections *Corner sections *Design and bespoke service.

T: 01273 582241 E: sales@diasystems.co.uk W: www.diagroup.co.uk S. www.twitter.com/DesignsinAlumin

Aluminium Fittings

Bespoke Display

Bespoke Display

Design Consultancies

Axis design, develop, manufacture and install bespoke retail display solutions.

We’ve worked with the biggest names on the high street, but approach every project in the same way, with the maximum thought for your brand, products and sales environment.

Spur Creative Workshop deliver unique visual merchandising solutions for retail brands. Boasting a wealth of experience in high quality prop making we create display concepts for window staging, POS and brand awareness campaigns.

We are a global retail agency. Visual Thinking develops strategy, skills, hearts and minds to deliver retail excellence and transform brand performance.

T, 020 3260 3888 E. info@axiseurope.com W.www.axiseurope.com/retail S. www.twitter.com/AxisEuropePlc

Bespoke Display

T 01892 890608 E: phil@spurcreative.co.uk W www.spurcreative.co.uk S: www.twitter.com/ spur_creative

Bespoke Display

T, +44 (0) 1788 543 331 E. mail@visualthinking.co.uk W. www.visualthinking.co.uk S. www.twitter.com/shoptactics

Design Consultancies

MicroSlat is a strong versatile 25mm fine pitched aluminium slatwall system.

With a bespoke range of components it can be used to build unique and interesting displays or add value to existing designs.

Original suppliers of display fabrics, textiles, PVC and polycarbonates for retail displays and exhibition stands since 1934 Backgrounds have been our background since backgrounds began and B Brown have more than 400 in stock.

Walker Bros (Elland) Ltd is an Engineering Manufacturing company specialising in sheet metalwork and plastic fabrication.

We supply precision metal and plastic products, components and light fabrications to a broad range of industries and markets throughout the UK and Europe.

IGNITION is an independent creative company Our multi-disciplined team work together to deliver exceptional retail and commercial environments, global exhibitions and brands.

T. 01325 351 276 E. sales@microslat.com W. www.microslat.com S. www.twitter.com/MicroSlat

T, 08705 340 340 E. customerservices@bbrown.co.uk W. www.bbrown.co.uk S. www.twitter.com/luvbbrown

T: 0 01422 310767 E: sales@wbelland.com W: www.wbelland.com

T, +44 (0) 1179 725168 E. victoria@ignitiondg.com W. www.ignitiondg.com

Audio Visual Integration

Anna Valley looks to help guide clients with their audio visual decision making by offering high end impartial advice and help manoeuvre them through the current “minefield” of different technology and services available to them. This process then enables them to have a clear vision of what they are actually striving to achieve within the budget available to them and then provides a full range of services in the delivery of that vision.

Bespoke Display

Hello Flamingo is a creative company for the retail and event sector, specialising in window displays, in store solution, POP ups, project management, design, manufacture and installation for bespoke projects at our fully equipped manufacturing workshop.

Brochure Holders

Design Consultancies

Brochure Holders International Limited is part of the global Taymar group recognised as a leading manufacturer of premium quality injection moulded leaflet holders and display solutions.

Committed to on-going product development the Taymar group offers one of the world’s largest collections of ‘clear view’ wall, floor and counter standing brochure displays.

We are TWO Visual, the retail agency specialising in visual merchandising.

Led by brand directors Jeanette Cheetham and Brendan Gordon we provide everything retailers need to make their brands visually dynamic, whilst improving team and commercial performance.

T: +44 (0)1473 229250 E: sales@brochureholders.co.uk W: www.brochureholders.com

T, +44 (0) 1858 414275 E. hello@twovisual.co.uk W. www. twovisual.co.uk S. www.twitter.com/TWO_Visual

T: +44 (0)208 941 1000 E: nick.shaw@annavalley.co.uk W: www.annavalley.co.uk/avintegration

T: 01273 585768 E: info@helloflamingo.co.uk W: www.helloflamingo.co.uk S. www.twitter.com/helloflamingo1

Balloons & Bunting

Bespoke Display

Climate Control

Display

No.1 Advertising Balloon Service: • Printed Latex and Foil Balloons • Helium Gas delivery and collection • Flags, Bunting and Banners • Promotional Sashes and T-shirts • Multi-store distribution nationwide

KSF provides retail merchandising display solutions to retailers, brands and trade customers from CONCEPT to COMPLETION via our global supply chain (China/UK/East EU) to deliver LOWER total cost of ownership. YOU’VE TRIED THE REST; NOW PUT US TO THE TEST.

Air Control & Development Ltd are Daikin, Mitsubishi and Toshiba accredited contractors, specialising in providing quality air conditioning, ventilation and overdoor heater installations, service & maintenance within the retail sector.

arken are a UK design and manufacturing facility creating bespoke poster display solutions. As well as our bespoke offer, we provide off the shelf products such as poster frames, light boxes, poster hanging systems, pavement signs, forecourt signs, all available in a range of colours and sizes.

T, 01494 774376 E. sales@b-loony.com W. www.b-loony.com

T: +44 (0)8450 944 699 E: ben.wang@ksf-global.com W: www.ksf-global.com S: www.twitter.com/KSFGlobal

T 01922 455523 E: info@aircontrol.co.uk W: www.aircontrol.co.uk S: www.twitter.com/AirControl123

T: +44 (0)1638 565656 E: info@arken-pop.com W: www.arken-pop.com

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directory

Display

Focused on our customer’s unique needs, with expert knowledge of the procurement market, and a firm grip on the entire visual merchandising supply chain, we are specialists in designing and delivering complex point of sale projects.

T +49 (0) 911 97 13 389 E: info-uk@barthelmess.com W: www.barthelmess.com

Display

Display - DIGITAL

FURNITURE

Internationally acclaimed, award winning unique magnetic wall system offers instant flexibility & creative choice to architects, interiors & store designers.

Since launching the magnIQ system in 2006 the response has been quite phenomenal. To date the system has won 13 prestigious awards and is now internationally recognised justifying the many years Rare Basic spent on research and development.

Crystal Display Systems is already a leading UK designer, distributor and value added reseller of flat panel display solutions. We have a vast array of media players, interactive displays, videowalls and shelf edge displays.

Our knowledge and expertise has also led to us being one of the European leaders in transparent LCD.

Spur Creative Workshop deliver unique visual merchandising solutions for retail brands. Boasting a wealth of experience in high quality prop making we create display concepts for window staging, POS and brand awareness campaigns.

T +44 (0)20 8348 9888 E: mail@rarebasic.com W: www.rarebasic.com S: www.twitter.com/rarebasic

T: +44 (0) 1634 292 025 E: info@crystal-display.com W: www.crystal-display.com S. www.twitter.com/CrystalDisplays

T 01892 890608 E: phil@spurcreative.co.uk W www.spurcreative.co.uk S: www.twitter.com/ spur_creative

Display

Display

Display - DIGITAL

FURNITURE

Durable have been one of Europe’s largest business supplies manufacturers for almost 100 years.

We’re pioneers in developing and producing innovative solutions designed for retail from literature displays and POS to signage and display solutions.

Spur Creative Workshop deliver unique visual merchandising solutions for retail brands. Boasting a wealth of experience in high quality prop making we create display concepts for window staging, POS and brand awareness campaigns.

We provide total end to end solutions encompassing all aspects of designing, implementing, managing and supporting multi-faceted marketing technology concepts and Digital Screen Media networks.

We create bespoke tailored solutions for retail, interiors, exhibitions, museums and 3D and we know one size does not fit all. Our teams are always ready for the challenges, big or small.

T 01892 890608 E: phil@spurcreative.co.uk W www.spurcreative.co.uk S: www.twitter.com/ spur_creative

T, +44 (0)845 481 8020 E. info@screenmediatechnology.com W.screenmediatechnology.com S. www.twitter.com/ScreenMediaTech

T: 01923 800666 E: info@stylographics.co.uk W: www.stylographics.com S. www.twitter.com/hellostylo

T. 01202 897 071 E. customeroperations@durable-uk.com W. www.durable-uk.com S. www.twitter.com/durableuk

Display

We are ICON. We create and deliver engaging brand and live experiences, particularly in the retail sector.

T: +44 (0) 20 7593 5200 E: enquiries@icon-world.com W: www.icon-world.com S: www.twitter.com/ICON_HQ

Display

EPOS

GRAPHICS

Providing Scotland’s signage, exhibition displays, digitally printed wallpapers, LED flex faces, light boxes and window graphics. Located in the centre of Scotland we are ideally situated to cover your requirements throughout Scotland. We can offer huge savings with an excellent, professional and prompt service

Offering an extensive range of EPOS hardware from world class suppliers such as Star Micronics, Honeywell and Posiflex, DED offer the complete EPOS hardware solution alongside a unique rewritable loyalty system.

Graphica Display print, produce and install retail graphics including till point graphics, window graphics, LED lightboxes, cut & printed vinyl and much more. Nationwide & Euorpean delivery and installation.

T: 0131 337 1237 E: info@specializedsigns.co.uk W: www.specializedsigns.co.uk FB: Specialized-Signs

T: 01797 320636 E: sales@ded.co.uk W: www.ded.co.uk S: www.twitter.com/dedltd

Display

Display

Impulse POP specialises in Point of Purchase display systems for the Retail sector.

We offer many years of experience in all aspects of retail design, with in house manufacture - including quick turnaround prototypes, or overseas manufacture, delivery, installation and retail merchandising.

Woodwood Group –Tx Frame UK are a specialist in tension fabric display systems and LED light boxes. We are able to deliver the highest quality service with a friendly but professional approach to ensure you receive the spectacular results you deserve.

Armourcoat is the world’s foremost supplier of polished plasters, sculptural effects and innovative surface finishes.

T, 01767 682756 E. sales@impulsepop.co.uk W.www.impulsepop.co.uk S. www.twitter.com/impulsepop

T, 01376 295 016 E. sales@txframe.co.uk W. www.txframe.co.uk

T. +44 (0)1732 460 668 E. sales@armourcoat.co.uk W. www.armourcoat.com S. www.twitter.com/Armourcoat

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Finishes

T: 0845 3730073 E: info@graphicadisplay.co.uk W:www.graphicadisplay.co.uk S. www.twitter.com/graphicatweet

GRAPHICS

We create bespoke tailored solutions for retail, interiors, exhibitions, museums and 3D and we know one size does not fit all. Our teams are always ready for the challenges, big or small.

T: 01923 800666 E: info@stylographics.co.uk W: www.stylographics.com S. www.twitter.com/hellostylo

directory

interactive displays

MANNEQUINS

pop/pos

signage

Crystal Display Systems is already a leading UK designer, distributor and value added reseller of flat panel display solutions. We have a vast array of media players, interactive displays, videowalls and shelf edge displays.

Our knowledge and expertise has also led to us being one of the European leaders in transparent LCD.

Rootstein Display Mannequins is a creative mannequin manufacturer and renovation specialist - delivering both ready-made and bespoke concepts for fashion retailers, globally.

Suppliers of innovative P.O.S display equipment and quality shopping baskets. In addition to our standard range of products we work with clients to create bespoke solutions to suit specific requirements.

Durable have been one of Europe’s largest business supplies manufacturers for almost 100 years.

We’re pioneers in developing and producing innovative solutions designed for retail from literature displays and POS to signage and display solutions.

T: +44 (0) 1634 292 025 E: info@crystal-display.com W: www.crystal-display.com S. www.twitter.com/CrystalDisplays

T: +44 20 7381 1447 E: sales@adelrootstein.co.uk W: www.rootstein.com/ S. @rootstein_

T: +44 (0)1924 468940 E: info@joalpe.co.uk W: www.joalpe.co.uk S. www.twitter.com/joalpeuk

T. 01202 897 071 E. customeroperations@durable-uk.com W. www.durable-uk.com S. www.twitter.com/durableuk

LIGHTING

LED Solutions are a specialist LED lighting supplier who can offer you a wide variety of bespoke lighting solutions for the sign, shop fitting and display industries.

T: 0116 262 5933 E: sales@ledsolutions.co.uk W: www.ledsolutions.co.uk S. www.twitter.com/ LEDSolutionsUK

Literature Display

Brochure Holders International Limited is part of the global Taymar group recognised as a leading manufacturer of premium quality injection moulded leaflet holders and display solutions.

Committed to on-going product development the Taymar group offers one of the world’s largest collections of ‘clear view’ wall, floor and counter standing brochure displays.

T: +44 (0)1473 229250 E: sales@brochureholders.co.uk W: www.brochureholders.com

Maintenance

Air Control & Development Ltd are Daikin, Mitsubishi and Toshiba accredited contractors, specialising in providing quality air conditioning, ventilation and overdoor heater installations, service & maintenance within the retail sector.

T 01922 455523 E: info@aircontrol.co.uk W: www.aircontrol.co.uk S: www.twitter.com/AirControl123

pop/pos

Harrison Products provide one the largest ranges of POS and Display componentry in the UK. We are able to supply off the shelf and customised products to suit your project. We pride ourselves on our industry leading service and super quick delivery options.

T: +44 (0)1451 830083 E: sales@harrisonproducts.net W harrisonproducts.net

pop/pos

Durable have been one of Europe’s largest business supplies manufacturers for almost 100 years.

We’re pioneers in developing and producing innovative solutions designed for retail from literature displays and POS to signage and display solutions.

T. 01202 897 071 E. customeroperations@durable-uk.com W. www.durable-uk.com S. www.twitter.com/durableuk

pop/pos

We are ICON. We create and deliver engaging brand and live experiences, particularly in the retail sector.

T: +44 (0) 20 7593 5200 E: enquiries@icon-world.com W: www.icon-world.com S: www.twitter.com/ICON_HQ

pop up

vm

Hello Flamingo is a creative company for the retail and event sector, specialising in window displays, in store solution, POP ups, project management, design, manufacture and installation for bespoke projects at our fully equipped manufacturing workshop.

GENESIS MANNEQUINS design and produce high-class and trend-lead shop window mannequins, busts and displays for the international fashion industry. Additionally we offer style, trend and product consultation as well as a comprehensive after-sales service.

T: 01273 585768 E: info@helloflamingo.co.uk W: www.helloflamingo.co.uk S. www.twitter.com/helloflamingo1

T: +49 (0) 5752 1803 0 E: info@genesis-display.com W: www.genesis-display.com S: www.twitter.com/GenesisDisplay

Retail Consultancy

vm

We are a global retail agency. Visual Thinking develops strategy, skills, hearts and minds to deliver retail excellence and transform brand performance.

Rootstein Display Mannequins is a creative mannequin manufacturer and renovation specialist - delivering both ready-made and bespoke concepts for fashion retailers, globally.

T, +44 (0) 1788 543 331 E. mail@visualthinking.co.uk W. www.visualthinking.co.uk S. www.twitter.com/shoptactics

T: +44 20 7381 1447 E: sales@adelrootstein.co.uk W: www.rootstein.com/ S. @rootstein_

slatwall

Specialist Stockist of Aluminium Extrusions and Mild Steel Fittings for the shopfitting industry.

Extensive stock held of: *Slotted uprights *Aluminium slatwall *Perimeter Sections *Corner sections *Design and bespoke service.

T: 01273 582241 E: sales@diasystems.co.uk W: www.diagroup.co.uk S. www.twitter.com/DesignsinAlumin

VM TOOLS AND TRAINING

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Q&A

bridget lee As part of The Retail Exchange podcast series, business journalist and broadcaster Declan Curry chats with Bridget Lea, director of stores, online, multi-channel and supply chain at O2 about the brand’s store of the future roll-out.

DC. You have a store of the future — you’ve been doing some thinking about what a store design should look like. Tell us a bit about what you’ve got?

BL. T hat’s right. If you think about mobile phone retailing, it’s been quite traditional, functional and transactional in the past, and what I wanted to create with the stores of the future was to turn the mobile phone stereotype on its head and create spaces that were inspirational, beautifully designed, where customers really wanted to spend time and learn more about technology.

DC Describe the store to me...

BL. O ur version of it is very much about attracting customers from the high street. We have an issue within our sector that footfall is in decline so it’s really important that we pull people into the store. Then in store, there’s something really exciting and compelling to do. We’ve done that by creating really interesting and inspiring windows to start. Within our store of the future we don’t necessarily lead in with phones and we definitely don’t lead in with price; we lead in with interesting technologies that customers are intrigued by, interactive windows that customers can touch, play and interact with. Then when we get the customers through the door, again, you’re not into a store straight away, you’re not into selling space, you’re into what we call an ‘inspire zone’, where customers can play, learn about new technology, interact with our gurus; it’s a very inspirational space. Once you’re through that space, that’s when you start to get into what would be seen as more selling space. We now have a large area in the middle; it’s a huge table where customers can sit down, interact, they can plug in their phones and charge, they can hot desk, have a meeting, or interact with our gurus and advisors. These stores are more about coming in, interacting with our people, learning more about connectedness, and hopefully being a little bit more inspired by technology.

DC. It’s not just the transaction, you need that social engagement.

BL. A bsolutely, and when we were looking at how to design those spaces, places where people wanted to come in and spend time, we actually didn’t look at other retailers, we looked at hospitality — we looked at hotels. Who were the people that were doing it really well, and what was it that they were doing that just made their customers very happy about spending time and drinking lots of expensive coffee, for example, when they’re having a meeting. In these stores, we serve coffee as well to people that are hot desking, but we also do use these as social spaces so our people in the stores have sessions with older people to teach them about technology; we have sessions with parents to teach them how to keep their kids safe online. They really are community hubs as well as more traditional stores.

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DC. What does the future of retail look like and feel like to you?

BL. I think in the future stores will definitely be more experiential.

There’ll be larger spaces with lots of experiences, where you can touch and feel the product, but I can also interact with great individuals that understand the brand and know how that brand can benefit me as a customer. I potentially will want to dwell more in those spaces as well, so I probably want a cup of coffee or a glass of water. And I also want to be able to shop in store but maybe save my purchases and continue to look online later on. So I think this whole multi-channel piece between shopping online and shopping in store will become a much more important factor in the future.

DC. Tell me about your role — director of stores, online, multi-channel and supply chain. It’s an enormous remit?

BL. I t is a really large remit and my role grew last year.

Predominantly my background is stores, so you know, bricks and mortar retailing is where I’ve spent most of my career, moving into online, and I’ve got a great online team. The multi-channel piece is really about how we blend all of the channels together and create that seamless shopping experience. Then supply chain was an additional bonus that I wasn’t sure I was going to get, but obviously it’s great having that within my remit too.

DC. I’m sure they’ll be hugely flattered because I know that the hotel industry looks at retailer for examples of how it can improve its offering.

BL.

Yes, and I think — and I’m not talking about all hotels — but I live in Manchester and I work in London a lot. I spend a lot of time in hotels, and I think those more niche hotel brands that are trying to do some different things, we certainly can learn from those people.

DC. That’s the key element isn’t it? It’s doing things differently from how they’ve been done before.

BL.

Absolutely, yes.

The full interview will be available to download from 27 November at www.theretailexchange.co.uk

Photo Credit: SLVHCS ‘Project Legacy’, New Orleans, USA © Sean Airhart/NBBJ