Retail Focus December 2017

retail focus

DECEMBER 2017 : £6.75 #94

December 2017/issue 94

retail focus WWW.RETAIL-FOCUS.CO.UK

Christmas windows : Sonos: Adidas Originals : Dolce & Gabbana : Trends : Beauty : VM Supplement : VM & Display Awards : Retail Exchange podcast : In & Around Circus West : Q&A with Treasure Evans, Missguided

new for old

Dolce & GabBana reveals new look on old bond street

CHRISTMAS WINDOWS: SONOS : ADIDAS ORIGINALS : DOLCE & GABBANA : TRENDS FOR 2018 : BEAUTY ROUND-UP VM SUPPLEMENT : RETAIL EXCHANGE PODCAST : IN & AROUND CIRCUS WEST : Q&A WITH TREASURE EVANS, MISSGUIDED

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contents

CONTENTS New for old

32-33

‘The baroque poetry of nature,’ says French designer Gwenael Nicolas when describing the refurbished Dolce & Gabbana store on Old Bond Street.

35 Trends for 2018

40 Beauty round-up

43 VM Supplement

68 The Retail Exchange

& Around: Circus 72 InWest, Battersea

on: 88 Focus Materials & Finishes

7

24-33 Project Focus

Leader

8

Diary

11-14

News

Sonos, Seven Dials : adidas Originals, Shoreditch : Dolce & Gabbana, Old Bond Street.

17-19 Window shopping

65

20 23

Top of the POPS Karl McKeever Can retailers make Christmas feel special again in store? In Canada, it seems they can, says Karl.

Opinion Catherine Marson at Styles&Wood argues that building flexibility into design is key to futureproofing stores for changing customer trends.

Inspiring window displays from around the globe.

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In and Around...

Circus West. A new community-based village at Battersea Power Station.

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

77-86 Products Products and services for the retail industry.

94

Q&A We catch up with Treasure Evans, retail visual manager at Missguided, recently voted Most Innovative Person in VM.

the loNg-term effects

F Ca er

When you think of cancer, you may not think of it as a long-term condition. However 65% of cancer survivors say they’ve had to deal with long-term side effects during and after treatment. These long-term effects – such as persistent hair loss, depression, fatigue, nausea and loss of confidence – can impact their everyday lives, including at work.

Each year, almost 120,000 people of working age are diagnosed with cancer in the UK, and with survival rates improving and people retiring later, this figure is set to rise. 85% of people in work when they were diagnosed with cancer say that continuing work is important to them.

However, 47% of people had to give work up or change roles, highlighting the importance of ensuring that the right support and advice is available early on to prevent staff falling out of work.

However despite the need for this support, line managers are often ill equipped to offer the right level of information to help manage employees affected by cancer.

Organisations urgently need to develop a health and wellbeing at work strategy that recognises the needs of rising numbers of employees with long-term conditions. This is why Macmillan has developed Macmillan at Work, which offers workplace training, consultancy and resources to help HR and line managers support people affected by cancer.

a positive impact not only on wellbeing and helping to preserve livelihoods of those with long-term conditions, but also benefits organisations in retaining knowledgeable staff, as well as fostering a positive work culture and loyal workforce.

The building blocks of a good health and wellbeing at work strategy include policy, training and support programmes that raise awareness and address the needs of employees, and ensuring that relevant staff (such as line managers and HR) are equipped to support colleagues affected by cancer.

To find out about the expert training, guidance and resources Macmillan provides, visit macmillan.org.uk/atwork You can also email the team at workandcancer@macmillan.org.uk or call 020 7840 4725.

Evidence shows health support in the workplace can help prevent people falling out of work due to ill health. Remaining in work can have Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). MAC15903_2017

MAC15903 Employee Benefits ad_297x210mm.indd 3

29/03/2017 10:07

leader

welcome December ‘17 ‘For some, 2017 may be remembered as the year of AI, specifically Chatbots. The technology is revolutionising the way brands and retailers interact and engage with customers. But it’s not the only trend driving change in the retail sector. In this final issue of 2016, we ask a selection of industry experts for their thoughts on trends and predictions for 2018 (P35-38).

2017 can also be remembered for the continued boom in beauty experiences. With MMUK MAN launching the first male-only makeup store early next year, this will be a key sector to keep an eye on in the year ahead. Read about some of the recent beauty openings on pages 40-41.

In our latest episode of the Retail Exchange podcast, industry thinkers discuss how to achieve greater collaboration, what needs to change, and where responsibility for driving new ways of working should lie (P68-70). You can download the full episode and others at www.theretailexchange.co.uk.

Visual merchandising teams across the globe have worked their magic to transform stores and windows for the festive season. We bring you highlights of Christmas windows across the UK in our regular Window Shopping article (P17-19) as well as global schemes in a special VM & Display supplement starting on P43. This also includes a review of the 24th VM & Display Awards, which took place in November. Fashion retailer Missguided, which opened its first UK standalone store in November 2016, walked away with the most awards of the night, clinching trophies for Best Outstanding Feature/Prop, Best Instore Branding and Most Innovative Person in VM — read our interview with winner Treasure Evans on P94.

Everyone at Retail Focus wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2018!

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!

Production & Web

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

www.retail-focus.co.uk

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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address all enquiries to the editor at the above address. The opinions expressed in Retail Focus are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.

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diary

DIARY

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. NRF 2018 brings the retail community together to experience the latest trends, technologies and solutions.

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. The Innovation Lab allows visitors to demo the latest and greatest in retail tech, as well as hear from cutting edge solution providers through educational sessions.

NRFnews

nrfbigshow.nrf.com

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 present the LIGHT FANTASTIC exhibition, exploring how light reveals itself and affects our interaction with materials.

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

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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

Surface Design Show Business Design Centre, Islington, London 6-8 February 2018 The 2018 Surface Design Show will once again have a packed programme of events designed to inspire and engage featuring new ideas and firm favourites refreshed, including the Opening Night Live Debate and ever popular PechaKucha Evening – a fun presentation of inspirational slides. surfacethinking www.surfacedesignshow.com

news

news

NEWS Covent Garden welcomes new Kent & Curwen store concept Kent & Curwen, the fashion brand by creative director Daniel Kearns and business partner David Beckham, has unveiled its new store concept in Floral Street, Covent Garden. The transformation of 12 Floral Street was undertaken in collaboration with Parisian architectural practice, architecture + associes. The brand now resides in a Victorian building originally built as the Adelphi School for Boys in 1860.

The brand, which likes to view a heritage aesthetic through a modern lens, decided to enhance the building’s history with the addition of aged and distressed wood panelling, hand-blown green glass

screens and white-washed brick walls.

The masculine aesthetic is further enhanced through industrially welded raw steel fixtures and clothes rails reminiscent of vintage school gymnasium equipment, created using reclaimed oak with brass detailing. The green and cream tile detailing that adorns the walls is a subtle nod to the traditional pie and mash

shops of old.

‘The intention was to suggest the heritage of the building as well as the brand, highlighting our influences and inspirations, without being in any way pastiche,’ says Kearns. ‘We have created a space that feels traditional yet modern, luxurious yet grounded — it matches the product which follows the same ethos.’

Boden that required us to get closer to the brand essence than is normally possible, to truly reflect it in every choice of material, every nuance of the experience. In this store, Boden creates its own home from home — the result is a subtle and elegant interpretation that gives the brand a platform for future growth,’ says David Dalziel, creative director at Dalziel & Pow,

behind the store design.

Found furniture brings an authentic domestic feel, together with hand-painted finishes and dark wooden flooring. Wit and humour are fed into the space through communications, joined by cheeky pops of colour, engaging lifestyle imagery and elements of surprise.

Boden opens first physical store Mail order and online clothing retailer, Boden has opened its first physical store, located in Duke of York Square on King’s Road, London.

The concept invites customers to shop ‘at home’ with Boden in a Georgian house setting bursting with an eccentric British vibe, inspired by Johnnie Boden’s unique style and personality. The Duke of York Square area is an elegant and historic address for Boden’s bricks-andmortar debut, placing an aspirational target audience on its doorstep.

‘The launch of any established online brand into physical space is a challenge; a challenge to represent the brand in a way it hasn’t needed to consider since its inception. At

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Flash to gonews here

Full details of Boxpark Wembley unveiled New CGIs have been unveiled showing the extent of the new Boxpark location planned for Wembley Park. The new casual dining and event destination will be located directly on Olympic Way (known to fans the world over as Wembley Way) in the heart of the 85-acre Wembley Park site. It will mark a significant step forward for Wembley Park as it looks to grow its reputation as a cultural destination as well as for Boxpark, which will be delivering its biggest premises to date.

The 4,645 sq m site will include 27 independent food and beverage operators, arranged around a covered event space that can be transformed from a casual dining experience to a performance space. Unit sizes will range from 46 sq m to 167 sq m and will create a new dining and cultural hub for those living in, working at and visiting Wembley Park.

Boxpark Wembley is set to open in late 2018, and will in the coming months begin the process of letting the units to an array of talented traders from across London.

ESCADA expands UK portfolio German luxury women’s clothing retailer, ESCADA has opened two new stores, one on London’s Sloane Street and the other in Bicester Village in Oxfordshire. rpa:group worked in collaboration with interior designer Fran Hickman to provide full project management and architectural support services.

The new 160 sq m Sloane Street store has opened further along the same street on which an already successfully trading ESCADA store is situated. The 165 sq m Bicester Village store has seen ESCADA taking occupancy of a new unit, with the requirement for

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Bottletop opens new store on Regent Street British ethical fashion brand, Bottletop has opened its latest store at 84 Regent Street. Marrying industrial design with contemporary art, Bottletop set out to create an entirely new kind of environment through the development of its flagship Regent Street retail concept; a concept that speaks to the heart of its values, collection, story and core materials — raw metal and certified Amazon zero deforestation leather.

The design is inspired by the sculpture of a can minus the ring pull created by Turner Prize winning contemporary artist Rachel Whiteread for Bottletop, a tongue in cheek play on the negative space of the metal not used in the Bottletop designs.

Bottletop co-founder Oliver Wayman set out to expound and multiply this concept to create a metal canopy, which could frame and support the presentation of the collection and alter the sensation of the space; to enable the customer to truly feel like they had entered a new world —­ the world of Bottletop.

More than 2,700 cans were individually suspended in the space over a 10-day build, each individually treated and hung at length that were precise to the millimetre. Shelving is wrapped in certified zero deforestation leather from Sao Matheus Farm in Alto Floresta while consoles were wrapped in repurposed sheet aluminium.

The design vision for the space is completed by flooring made from upcycled rubber tyres, a bespoke in-store scent from renowned perfumer Timothy Han, and a series of bespoke playlists from record producer Mario C, the visionary behind Beastie Boys and Bjork recordings, who produced the Bottletop Band album featuring Carl Barat (Libertines), Matt Helders (Arctic Monkeys) and Gruff Rhys.

the construction of a mezzanine level to accommodate stock.

Design inspiration has been taken from ancient Japanese artistry, combined with the classical designs of British architect and furniture designer Robsjohn-Gibbings. The interior blends delicate gold wall designs with Art Deco-inspired furniture. The walls feature gold leaves cascading down, each one hand painted to give a unique ombre effect. The space has been styled with colourful objects d’art, as well as inspiring literature, to give an engaging and chic feel.

news

Kate Spade opens first standalone store outside London Joe Browns enters the physical retail market Fashion brand Joe Browns has opened its debut physical store at Meadowhall in Sheffield. Located on Meadowhall’s High Street, the 371 sq m space immerses customers in Joe Browns’ colourful world and brings to life the bold online persona of the brand and its mantra, ‘Be Remarkable’. The eclectic space was designed by creative agency, Dalziel & Pow and is full of interesting visual pieces and inspiring content such as hand-painted illustrative statements.

‘I’m absolutely delighted with the store, I think we’ve achieved what we set out to do, which was to create an impressive three dimensional version of our catalogue.

It crystallises our brand in a physical space perfectly,’ says Simon Brown, managing director and founder of Joe Browns.

American fashion design house, Kate Spade New York has opened a store at Bluewater in Kent, the brand’s first standalone store outside of London. Designed by Househam Henderson, the 148 sq m boutique is located on the lower Guildhall next to Coach and opposite Michael Kors. To accommodate the new store, English lifestyle brand, Aspinal of London has relocated to a 120 sq m unit on the upper Guildhall adjacent to Jo Malone.

‘The premium retail experience provided by Kate Spade New York extends Bluewater’s appeal among affluent guests.

This latest opening joins a stellar line-up of aspirational and premium brands within the scheme. The launch clearly shows strong demand from high-end US brands to secure a foothold in Bluewater, following in the footsteps of Michael Kors and Coach,’ says Robert Hardie, senior portfolio manager at Landsec, co-owner and asset manager of Bluewater.

This opening marks the brand’s fifth location in the UK, in addition to speciality stores in London on Regent Street, Covent Garden, Sloane Square and Westfield.

Mary Katrantzou arrives at Selfridges Greek fashion designer, Mary Katrantzou has launched her new fashion collection at Selfridges Oxford Street with a bespoke concession on the second floor. FormRoom collaborated with design company, Studiofibre to manufacture and install the concession. Working with Studiofibre’s concept of creating a temporary garden oasis within Selfridges, the pop-up draws

inspiration from the recent ‘Creatures & Creations’ exhibition at Wadeson Manor to which Katrantzou displayed three couture dresses.

A bespoke wire-framed bird cage was built to encapsulate a single mannequin as a sculptural focal point in the store.

Surrounded by intricate handcrafted birds and wooden floras, the textured world of

Mary Katrantzou has been brought to life.

Bespoke faux marble plinths present each mannequin as statuesque fashion displays within an ornate garden.

FormRoom crafted the plinths from MDF, then painstakingly hand-painted them to replicate the luxurious marble finish.

Engraved golden plaques, infilled with contrast colour on the Mary Katrantzou branding, complete the installations.

FormRoom also built three bespoke, large-scale fabric panels to use the Selfridges wall space to maximum visual effect. Each panel was upholstered in authentic Mary Katrantzou peacock fabric.

Signage was fastened to the panels using a combination of tailor’s pins and velcro to secure in place over the duration of the pop-up. The pop-up is open until February 2018.

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international news

international

Hunter opens third global standalone store in Toronto

NEWS

Fendi partners with Printemps for Christmas Fendi has taken over the pop-up space in the atrium at Printemps this Christmas. The Paris department store’s trademark style and a reconstruction of its illuminated facade is on show opposite a show-stopping reproduction of the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, Fendi’s head office in Rome.

The city’s unique ambiance is faithfully recreated, thanks in no small part to the use of the iconic Piaggio Ape. In a nod to this year’s Christmas travel theme, an Ape can be found in the centre of the atrium showcasing a selection of Fendi products like a travelling store.

The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana is recreated in 3D, complete with fluorescent lighting, and its arcades full of mannequins and adorned with numerous decorative bulbs that provide poetic emphasis for the monument’s design. The centre of this setting is occupied by the Fendi Wonders, giant puppet versions of the brand’s famous bag charms, animated by the puppeteer Jean Claude Dehix. A giant articulated puppet sits atop the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, while two others play in the branches of one of the Christmas trees at the walkway level. Three smaller Fendi Wonders play together along the Printemps facade.

British wellington boot and footwear brand, Hunter has opened its third global standalone store in Toronto. Set within Yorkdale Shopping Centre, this location is the brand’s first store in North America. The 260 sq m space was developed

by Hunter’s in-house retail design team and demonstrates the brand’s commitment to North America as one of the company’s largest markets.

The interior architectural style, anchored by a singular and focal moment, reveals the sky and exposes the space to the elements, with the store’s internal envelope acting as a protective canvas to the external landscape lining the perimeter of the space. Visitors ‘look out’ from the contemporary barn architecture onto a backdrop of the Scottish Highlands — the birthplace of the Hunter brand.

In addition to this, in-store weather elements will be changed seasonally.

The shopfront is reminiscent of a contemporary greenhouse, giving the sense that the sky is surrounding customers upon entry, where they are immediately immersed into the brand world of Hunter.

American Girl unveils refreshed New York store design Doll retailer American Girl has revealed a new store design for its 3,437 sq m New York flagship at 75 Rockefeller Plaza.

Designed by FRCH Design Worldwide, the design features new innovative brand and store experiences crafted around the iconic equity of American Girl with a stronger connection to the character’s storyline.

The new experience starts at 51st overlooking Rockefeller Center — girls are greeted with an expansive storefront where they are invited to step into the story of American Girl. The journey unfolds in layers of experience to

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immerse her in the expanding world of the brand. A carefully scripted journey allows her to engage with American Girl in experiences that are tailored to her and her doll. For the first time, girls and their dolls can get matching hairstyles, mini

manicures, and even ear piercing. A new Create Your Own Design Studio allows girls to create a doll that matches her style and spirit, using new technology that takes personalisation and customisation to a whole new level.

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visual merchandising

Inspiring window displays from across the UK

Selfridges This year, Selfridges unveiled its ‘With Love From’ windows in two parts — the first run in October followed by the second half in November. The retailer chose to celebrate the magic of the cities the retailer calls home — London, Birmingham and Manchester. The With Love From theme also expresses, in its simplest form, the most profound reason to gift: love. The Oxford Street windows tell the story of a jubilant Christmas parade. Festive floats created in MDF are decorated in luxurious Christmas embellishments reminiscent of the spirit of London’s most famous parades and carnivals transport a cast of characters as they merily dance, sing and wave at the crowds.

Thousands of metrs of ribbon in red, white, midnight blue, ivory, silver and gold were laid out by hand in different designs to produce unique fringing for each float. Propability worked alongside the Selfridges VM team to bring the first run of windows to life.

Bentalls Bentalls unveiled a ‘Truly British Christmas’ in the windows of its Kingston upon Thames department store. The windows display an array of iconic objects from HRH the Queen’s crown, a London red bus, a black cab to Union Jack-clad hot air balloons. The oversized props have been created with the help of Visual Impact and the in-house team. The mannequins have taken on the theme too thanks to makeovers by Artywigs and Rootstein. Union Jack graphics create frames to all the windows, produced and installed

by Graphica Display.

John Lewis John Lewis unveiled farting and snoring festive windows and is inviting Londoners to explore Moz’s House at its Oxford Street store.

The 2017 campaign involves a boy called Joe who befriends a noisy monster (Moz) under his bed. The windows show Moz playing in different rooms in the house — hiding in the wardrobe, under the sofa, behind the bed, in the bath and asleep in the kitchen. A number of moving parts were incorporated, including the wardrobe door opening and closing, Moz’s tummy moving up and down while sleeping, bubbles in the bath, and Moz peeping out of the fireplace. Passersby can tickle Moz’s feet to make him laugh. The windows were designed in collaboration with Harlequin Design.

Photography: Melvyn Vincent

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visual merchandising

Photography: Melvyn Vincent

Marks & Spencer Marks & Spencer’s Christmas windows were revealed to coincide with this year’s TV advert, featuring perennial favourite Paddington Bear in ‘Paddington and the Christmas Visitor’. The window scheme depicts scenes from the retailer’s Christmas advert. A gold Paddington Bear tipping his hat takes centre stage, surrounded by presents. The windows were conceived and visualised by Marks & Spencer’s in-house windows team and realised by Harlequin.

Harrods Italian fashion house, Dolce & Gabbana has collaborated with Harrods this year, drawing inspiration from traditional Sicilian puppet theatre to create the window displays on Brompton Road and Hans Crescent. The leading characters are the puppets of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana who narrate the world of Dolce & Gabbana and all the inspirations that animate it, with displays to fit the following themes; Perfumery & Cosmetics, Let’s Party, The Family, Traditions, DG Millennials, The Italian Kitchen, Eyewear, Watchmaking, Men’s Tailoring, Italian Beauty, Teatro Alla Scala of Milan, The Future, Women’s Tailoring and Harrods’ Exclusive Accessories.

Harvey Nichols For its Christmas 2017 campaign, Harvey Nichols is focusing on spreading positivity with high energy celebratory visual displays.

Inspired by the vibrant colours from the Autumn/Winter 2017 fashion shows and pre-Spring collections, the displays have been designed to delight customers and spread a positive message during the festive period by using a vivid colour palette, innovative lighting techniques and an upbeat sentiment. The windows are brimming with star shapes and motifs. The high-tech lighting scheme includes 382 rotating mirror balls and 5,370m of LED lighting, 3,555 vinyl stars and hanging decorations, and each window has a metallic foil, sequin and holographic background to create a dazzling riot of colour. Luxurious gift ideas are displayed within giant festive baubles and playful Christmas tree silhouettes are visible throughout.

Fortnum & Mason Fortnum & Mason returns this Christmas with its Together We’re Merrier festive campaign. Whilst last year’s creative execution focused on bringing together friends and foes to celebrate the yuletide, this year the department store showcases its belief that amazing things can happen when we all pull in the same direction. It also pays tribute to the myriad of helping hands that make Christmas possible and intends to remind guests and customers that the season is a time best done all together. To illustrate this message, Fortnum & Mason has brought together a cast of many diverse characters starring in one continuous narrative of different key moments of the holiday, from the popping of the champagne cork and dressing the tree, to the opening of an advent calendar. Each and every intricate character has been meticulously hand-sculpted and painted by sculptors and makeup artists.

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visual merchandising

Fenwick Newcastle The windows at the Newcastle branch of Fenwick celebrate Paddington Bear. The ‘Love from Paddington’ theme was inspired by the late Michael Bond’s beloved bear, depicting scenes from the best-selling Paddington Bear books. From his first meeting with the Browns at Paddington Station, to tea in Mr Gruber’s antiques shop and all manner of scrapes in between, Paddington’s adventures are portrayed in a series of charming vignettes. In the final scene, Paddington welcomes in Christmas by helping Jonathan and Judy decorate their tree in time for the festive season.

Liberty The iconic rooftops of Liberty have been recreated in the department store’s windows, under a midnight sky with twinkling starry lights and a warm, cream moon. The nostalgic setting has been bought to life with modern rope lighting against a backdrop of rich green foliage, including ferns and fragrant eucalyptus.

The Liberty design team took inspiration from ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ by Clement Clarke Moore, encapsulating the excitement and suspense of the moment just before Christmas day. Moving elements, include a pulley rope and weather vane, showcase bi-weekly changing products dispersed throughout the display and intricate details ensure a fathful reflection of the iconic London scene. A grotesque gargoyle recently discovered by the maintenance team on the Liberty Tudor rooftop has been replicated at the base of the display, while the iconic golden mayflower weathervane spins in the foreground.

Debenhams Debenhams’ windows have been designed around the retailer’s 2017 Christmas campaign, You Shall... Find Your Fairytale Christmas.

The concept is a modern Cinderella story and each of the windows on Oxford Street emulate parts from the story. One window houses a giant shoe that is a replica of the shoe Ellie loses on the train on the TV advert. Another is a giant clock where the couple meet at the end of the story as the clock strikes 12. All the windows are interactive on the front of Oxford Street, and when you press the hand print on the glass the hands on the clock move. A decal saying ‘Will the clock strike 12’ has been applied. Debenhams worked with Kat Von D on replicating the brand’s giant Christmas palette, which when shoppers press the hand print the doors open and they find their perfect colour. In another window, four girls turn when you press the glass. The giant shoe has been the show stopper as when you press the glass hundreds of lights activate in the shoe dazzling the watching crowd. Finally, giant fragrance bottles turn on command of pressing the button on the glass. Debenhams worked in collaboration with Tenn, PLANarama, Replica, Artywigs, Woerner, and Rare Basic.

See more window schemes at

www.retail-focus.co.uk/vm

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pop

TOP pops of the

Company: Harlequin Design

Client: Michael Kors

Display title: Fall pop-up

Sector: Fashion

Location: Galeries Lafayette, Paris

The brief: Create an eye-catching, on-brand, larger-than-life display to celebrate the launch of the new lock on the classic Michael Kors Mercer bag. The pop-up display was part of a global campaign for Michael Kors to launch a new style of lock — the lock is iconic to Michael Kors products in the past and moving forward. The classic Mercer bag features the new lock, which was the main focus of the pop-up.

The solution: As part of the brand’s fall campaign, Harlequin produced the pop-up at Galeries Lafayette, as well as a series of window displays featuring mini locks which were a nod to the product. Harlequin designed every element in the display, including two giant locks and one locked-shaped cabinet to house an embossing machine, used to to emboss customers’ initials into the bags.

An acrylic door was fitted on the back of the cabinet to lock away the machine at night, and the drawers featured a push open mechanism. The giant locks each took three days to build, and were then sanded smooth before being sprayed. More than 3,000 mini locks were displayed both sides of three 18mm acrylic panels to frame the area, highlighting product under the iconic Galeries Lafayette chandelier. The display was in place for two weeks in the ground floor accessories area.

www.harlequin-design.com 20

@retailfocus

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WOULD YOU LIKE FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS WITH SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES ON THE UK HIGH STREET…?

5th & 6th February 2018 – Radisson Blu Hotel, London Stansted The Retail Shopfitting & Display Summit brings together all corners of the retail industry for two days of one-to-one business meetings and invaluable networking opportunities.

The Summit puts you in front of senior Visual Merchandisers, Shopfitting and Retail Managers who: • Have specifically asked to meet with you • Would like to discuss your products and services • Are proactively sourcing new shopfitting and display service providers This event is much more focused than a traditional expo by offering corporate speed dating.

No time wasted, and no hidden costs.

Find out more by visiting retailshopfittingsummit.co.uk or contact Courtney Saggers on: 01992 374088 or c.saggers@forumevents.co.uk

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Media and Industry Partners:ted

column

Karl McKeever

Canada makes merry ‘It’s Christmaaaasss!’… in my best Noddy Holder voice. And that means we once again get to listen to him belting out these oh-sofamiliar words every time we walk into a store or switch on the radio.

There is something both reassuring and wearying about his ubiquitous strain. For many people, Noddy et al really do signal the start of Christmas. And yet Merry Xmas Everybody was released back in 1973. That’s 44 years ago.

Despite this, listening (or singing along) to Slade, The Pogues or Wizzard, provides a reminder that the art of the Christmas song seems to have disappeared. Where are all the new Christmas songs?

Retailers could learn a lesson or two from the way we view these festive songs. For me, window displays aside, there is so much more that retailers can and should be doing to bring a sense of imagination and playfulness to the festive in-store experience through VM, while still harnessing our nostalgic love of tradition.

Can retailers make Christmas feel special again in store?

In Canada, it seems they can. My visit to Toronto last month provided a spirited reminder of how a festive obsession can be turned into an all-out spectacle, with retailers pulling out all the stops to deliver a jaw-dropping, premium visual merchandising offering which creates a shopper experience full of seasonal joy.

Take the newly renovated Sherway Gardens Mall, for example, featuring gorgeous, larger-than-life size stags and reindeer, and baubles enveloped in white lights to provide a truly magical feel.

No other decorations were used — these were enough.

Nordstrom was another shining example. Its folk theme was added to every focal point. It made full use of space, was easy to navigate and a pleasure to shop. Elsewhere, Pottery Barn delighted with incredible Christmas tables, using intricate attention to detail and showing off spectacular VM skills. The whole store felt like the spirit of Christmas; trees encrusted with beautiful decorations and an impactful red and white theme. It was true VM heaven. As for Williams and Sonoma — wow, just wow. Beautifully dressed tables, stunning displays; delivered with absolute effortless impact.

In short, I think the Canadian retailers have delivered Christmas to another level, one that we simply aren’t used to in the UK. Here, 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

many retailers fall into the trap of cramming every single shelf with product, reusing old garlands and trees year after year — by comparison with Canada, it looks tired and tacky.

Retailers must consider that, with seasonal promotions featuring all year round on the calendar, shoppers are nearing saturation point. But Christmas is arguably the most important time of year for retailers to focus on the experiential side of shopping.

While the Canadian shopping environment is one that’s stress free, expertly delivered, spacious and relaxed, offering a truly magical experience, shopping at Christmas in the UK is invariably stressful as we wade through shelves full of products nobody wants or needs. The VM focus is almost always on decadent dressed window schemes, rather than the all-important in-store elements that help to bring Christmas to life throughout the shopper journey.

Perhaps retailers’ attention has been diverted too much by the aptly named Black Friday? Originating in the online world, it has infiltrated the physical retail store, serving only to perpetuate the all-too familiar ‘race to the bottom’ that has seen margins and profits eroded. Suddenly retailers are fighting to offer the lowest prices, regardless of branding or shopper experience..

Which brings me back to Christmas. By focusing carefully on creating an emotional connection with shoppers and not giving into the temptation of driving sales at the cost of reputation, retailers can become a beacon of best practice for others to strive to emulate.

One such example is John Lewis, which has become renowned for embracing the spirit of Christmas through its now-iconic advertising. This high-end retailer has moved away from the notion of selling a product, instead choosing to focus on the emotional side of the season. For me, the game changer was the little boy desperately waiting for Christmas... so he could give, rather than receive, his presents. What retailers need to do now is find ways to weave more of that ‘magic’ into how Christmas is brought to life for shoppers, and not just consumers.

It’s time for retailers to make a New Year’s resolution to commit to doing something different next time. Who is going to be game changer next Christmas? I for one am hoping that the end of 2017 will not only mark the passing of one year into the next, but also the start of something new – pushing things in new directions to keep shoppers engaged and inspired. Let’s make 2018 a year to remember, for all the right reasons.

Until then, I’d like to wish all Retail Focus readers a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

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project focus

SONOS

EARLHAM STREET, LONDON Design: Inhouse Store size: 241 sq m Opening date: November 2017 Consumer electronics company, Sonos has opened a European concept store in London. Located on Earlham Street in Seven Dials, the 241 sq m space has been designed to replicate the home environment and showcase how Sonos fits seamlessly into any home environment. The store is inspired by the brand's flagship in New York, designed by Partners & Spade, and features state-of-the-art Listening Rooms — two acoustically-tuned, houseshaped structures designed to emulate a real multi-room home listening space.

Guests will be able to stream their personal

music to one or both rooms and create their own unique sonic adventures.

'Our vision was simple — we know the best place to experience Sonos is in the home. We also think that once you’ve experienced our whole home sound system, it’s pretty obvious how awesome it is to have music throughout your home,' says Omar Gurnah, director, global retail marketing at Sonos. 'Given that, our challenge was to find a way to bring that same experience to life in retail. So details like the innovative design of our store, the bespoke listening rooms, and the recruitment of our store team, are all focused on giving our visitors the opportunity to listen to music

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and experience Sonos as you would at a friend’s house.'

In keeping with Sonos’ meticulous attention to detail, the sonic and visual elements of the London concept store are tied to the city’s own artistic culture, and have been inter-related from the outset, designed to complement the listening experience. Vibrant textures that improve the overall acoustics, custom bevelled glass walls to reduce bounce, hand-woven rugs and bespoke bookshelves have all been carefully installed to help improve the sound.

Every space within the store has been sonically tuned by Sonos sound engineers,

overseen by Sonos sound experience leader, Giles Martin. This includes the store’s custom built Listening Rooms, the smallest, audiophile spaces in London.

The Listening Rooms have been designed to look and feel like the ultimate home. For launch, Sonos worked with London-based artists Camille Walala and Neil Raitt. Inspired by their experiences of using Sonos in their own homes, each artist has taken a Listening Room and added their own perspective, with bespoke signature prints that cover the walls and ceilings. Next year, Sonos will open up the Listening Rooms to further artists, providing them with a canvas to express their

project focus

'We’re always inspired to collaborate with creative talent who are doing interesting things.'

creativity, creating an evolving environment to discover and experience Sonos. The basement space has been designed to host listening events, screenings, cultural talks and installations. The first of these events celebrates David Bowie.

'There’s a lot of consideration that goes into every design aspect of the Sonos brand. We’re always inspired to collaborate with creative talent who are doing interesting things in their area of work. So when the opportunity arose to create a totally fresh approach to the interior of the Listening Rooms we knew we wanted to create a space that was fun, inspiring, homely and aligned to our interior sensibilities,' explains Gurnah.

'Camille initially came to mind because of her signature style of recognisable patterns that stand out; she’s someone we’ve wanted

to work with for a while. Thankfully she was excited to be involved with this project, and it also helped that she’s actually a Sonos user so totally gets the concept of what we’re trying to do in the space. To contrast the style of her bright colours and patterns, we felt Neil was the perfect match. He was actually recommended by the design team; a colleague went to art school with him and has been following his work, so there was a nice balance of providing a canvas for an established designer and emerging artist to create something new that complimented each other well in the store.'

The UK is a key market focus for Sonos. 'We want to provide visitors with an

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project focus

immersive way to experience our products, and the Sonos store is an opportunity to bring the Sonos experience to London for visitors to interact firsthand. We recently launched our first voice activated speaker — the Sonos One — so this is the perfect space to come and trial it within our space, with expert staff on hand for any questions in a relaxed home environment.

'Seven Dials is one of the most iconic and vibrant areas in London, and a shopping destination known for its trendsetting fashion and design goods. Our store location and ongoing collaboration with local artists provide us the opportunity not just to be in the neighbourhood, but truly be part of the neighbourhood, and makes our store a must-visit destination for Londoners and global visitors alike,' says Gurnah.

Sonos has further European concepts planned soon, including a new Berlin store in 2018.

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ADIDAS ORIGINALS HANBURY STREET, LONDON Design: Checkland Kindleysides Opening date: October 2017 Store size: 177 sq m

Shoreditch has welcomed a new adidas Originals flagship on Hanbury Street. The space will provide a destination for local creatives to meet, network and bring their ideas to life, connecting directly with the local community.

Designed by Checkland Kindleysides, the store will showcase and distribute handpicked drops, limited edition products and select apparel seasonally whilst also acting as an incubator of local subculture, showcasing projects from London creators via a perminant activation wall installed in the store.

The brand’s mission was to find a space truly devoted to the sneaker culture; an authentic and credible benchmark of the brand’s history, paving the way for the future of adidas Originals retail. ‘A location so interesting, we celebrate the history of the space itself, as well as our experiences and products that we fill it with. A clever and inspiring, holistically conceived retail entity, that triggers interest with every visit,’ says the global store environment team.

‘Rooted in the community, run and visited by it, the space becomes the platform for the brand to invite, interact, and exchange and co-create with the true sneaker culture of the city. A connection point where knowledge is shared and unique insights are provided. Each time you leave the Originals store you are personally

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project focus

richer than when you entered,’ continues the team.

Visitors will see British heritage engrained in elements of the store’s interior with reclaimed doors from The British Museum, a bespoke steel shoe wall and reclaimed flooring throughout the 177 sq m space, further establishing the store’s London relevance.

The concept really highlights the space it is in and is putting attention on the consumer and the product items. Product is selected to meet the needs of the consumer and is presented in a simple, direct way that leaves breathing space. The whole environment speaks for a more laid back atmosphere, where everyone is invited to come in, get informed, sit and exchange with others.

‘The space itself served as a canvas to get inspired and select the materials that would enhance the interior and create depth and interest. Always respecting the given circumstances and only adding what is really making sense and a difference.

The concept is to create a more home-like environment so that consumers can indulge in the product offer. The idea of localisation is also key within this store. All furniture is sourced within the UK and has its own story, like the doors from the National Gallery or the old reclaimed wooden floor,’ says the team.

‘This new concept store will provide a unique retail experience, combined with a platform to champion young local creatives in the East London area,’ says Barry Moore, UK brand director. ‘Reflecting the city’s originality and creativity, we want to provide an environment for our consumers to purchase the best of adidas Originals streetwear products, but also spend time and network within the space alongside other like-minded people and Originals collaborators.’

The brand has also opened an adidas Originals flagship store in Chicago.

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DOLCE & GABBANA Old Bond Street, London Design: Gwenael Nicolas Opening date: November 2017 Store size: 2,350 sq m ‘The baroque poetry of nature,’ says Gwenael Nicolas, president of multidisciplinary design studio Curiosity, when describing the refurbished Dolce & Gabbana store on Old Bond Street. The design is an ode to the city of London. Like an artist that would draw life size paintings, each room is a celebration of the beauty of nature: twisted, curved and exploded, the stones create unexpected compositions.

‘London is a city that suggests respect and admiration — a city of the extreme, from royalty to punk. The vision of London for Dolce & Gabanna is black and white, a monochromatic space that suggests dignity,’ says Reiko Miyamoto, director at Curiosity. ‘A sense of dignity is expressed through a monochromatic space, though ultimately powerful and empowering.’

The fully restored exterior façade preserves the building’s Baroque heritage, and is widely open to the street, designed to bring the energy of the street within the space and vice versa. The restored façade is characterised by a series of running balconies in dark wrought iron on the different floors embellished with gilded fittings.

The most striking feature is oversized black and white graphical stones that run throughout the boutique. The flooring looks like a powerful river carrying visitors from one space to the other. A curvaceous spiral staircase in black marble sits centre stage, with individually hand-crafted contrasting inlaid marble steps.

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The first and second floors both feature a cubical space dedicated to the fine jewellery creations and entirely faced in book-matched marble. Both areas are set in mirrored walls that create an optical illusion of lack of depth, making them seem as light as a sheet of paper.

As an ultimate contrast to the dynamic of the natural stone, the products are displayed in minimal framed displays like paintings, floating in a mix of diffused light.

Italian walnut creates the strength in the details of the displays.

The energy and light that always inspired the creators is a key element of this space. The lighting is designed by Barbara Balestreri to give the impression of floating

in the boutique; all shadows are diffused or erased from the space, creating an osmosis between the environment and the visitor.

The ceiling fixtures, which have been developed with FLOS, are reminiscent of an exploded chandelier where all the pieces still fly in the ceiling.

The three upper floors are the most precious part of the building. A delicate oval stairway connects the spaces in an uninterrupted sequence of marble wedges that compose the pattern of stairs: seen from above or below, the stairway conjures the impression of a silk ribbon. These three private levels, for the first time, house the brand’s extravagant Alta Gioielleria, Alta Moda and Alta Sartoria collections.

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trends & predictions

Retail 2018: Trends and

Predictions For some, 2017 may be remembered as the year of AI, specifically Chatbots. The technology is revolutionising the way brands and retailers interact and engage with customers, but it’s not the only trend driving change in the retail sector. So, as we prepare to close the door on 2017, we ask, what’s new and next for the industry?

Text: Gemma Balmford

Transparency, Cryptocurrency and Digital Store Fronts Josh Walker, journalist, The Future Laboratory Transparency has and will continue to be one of the most important values by which a brand is judged. With tools like blockchain making it easier for consumers to hold companies to account, brands are going to have to go to more committed lengths in proving their transparency. Due to the immediacy and authenticity it offers, live streaming is already providing a fantastic way for brands to not just prove their transparency, but build a narrative around products on offer.

With countries like Japan and Dubai making moves to release their own digital currencies, cryptocurrency is increasingly making its way to the mainstream. This is bound to have a huge influence on retail. Already, we’re seeing brands launching their own digital currencies as a new form of loyalty, offering consumers access to future perks, sales and events, and greater control in being able to trade them freely online.

Another trend we’ll be seeing throughout 2018 is brands pushing original digital store fronts to define and elevate their offerings.

Visual and audio cues will be used to replicate the multisensory nature of physical retail and create an immersive digital escape for consumers. Especially for visual-first Gen Z consumers, demand for experiential and immersive digital retail experiences will be high.

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trends & predictions Flash to go here

Play and Stay Lara MarrEro, strategy director and global retail practice area leader, Gensler UK Retail isn’t dying; retail is going through a metamorphosis. We’ve seen this happen a few times in history — the dot com boom of the early 00s being the last time retail experienced a massive transformation.

The biggest changes we’re seeing now are challenging the fundamental notion of what retail is. It used to be a place where people bought stuff. Now it is a state where a person experiences a brand and its offerings. As customers blur the lines, so must brands.

Brands have more of a responsibility to their customers, both their current customers and the customers they are trying to attract.

They need to respect and value their time, and ‘walk their talk’. If a customer feels that a brand is inauthentic or not considerate of their time, they will vote with their feet.

Some specific trends we’ve seen this year include:

‘The biggest changes we’re seeing now are challenging the fundamental notion of what retail is.’

Lara MarrEro, Gensler UK

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1. A Community of Individuals. 2017 saw the rise in physical retailers giving a voice to customers and providing them with a place to share their brand experiences via communities in retail environments.

2. Service-driven seamless experiences within the retail sector grew exponentially in 2017, blurring the boundaries between channels, putting service at the core of engagement.

3. The Menaissance. Euromonitor International found that men are now outspending women by 13 per cent and as such, many retailers have been focused on understanding their male customers, and creating spaces and experiences focused on men’s preferences and lifestyles.

These trends will continue to manifest themselves in 2018 and beyond. I also believe that small is the new large. As more and more people migrate into the city, the rise of local, more personal shopping experiences via highly curated and thoughtful product edits will be key.

Deloitte, in a recent survey, found consumption of ‘experiences’ has outpaced the consumption of ‘goods’, therefore I think the future of retail will encourage customers to ‘play and stay’ rather than ‘grab and go’. Programming and dayparting will be core to this; thinking of ways to create events and engagement in spaces to provide customers with a reason to go to a physical environment.

In the next few years I predict that more bricks and mortar stores will use the same targeting and personalisation offered online through investments in augmented and artificial intelligence.

trends & predictions

Retail 2018: Trends and

Predictions

Extreme Convenience Mariann Wenckheim, director, 20.20 Customers and retailers demonstrated astonishing resilience in 2017, despite the falling pound and squeezed household finances.

However, consumer confidence is finally waning and retailers must grapple with keeping prices the same, while maintaining quality.

Profits have already been hit hard and those without a strong online offer have little hope of driving up sales.

Going into 2018, Amazon will continue to raise the stakes on ‘extreme convenience’, while consumers look for personalised and meaningful alternatives to big stores. Bloggers and vloggers are increasingly swaying purchases and becoming ‘retailers’ for brands. As a result, traditional retailers have the opportunity to become the physical platform for these influencers or they need to become influencers themselves. Stunts like the ‘Ikea House Party’, which gave people a glimpse of future interiors design trends, are no longer just PR exercises, but a powerful way to reach customers via social media and real-life events.

Integration between online and physical retail has reached a point where brands can evaluate the role stores play in driving online sales. Undoubtedly, more shops will disappear. In the physical world, it’s no longer a numbers game but a question of quality, and the most successful stores are either super-convenient or else truly worth the experience. As fulfilment and low-cost retailers thrive, so too will those that are becoming ‘clubhouses’, ‘event spaces’ or ‘emporiums’.

Playable Stores Philip Handford, creative director, & Ola Handford, research & development director, Campaign Design In 2017, with an increasing number of sales happening online and via mobiles, retailers continued to develop a new role of physical stores, and venture into other ‘physical spaces’ to experiment with on-brand experiences.

In 2018 we will see a strong tendency which continues the split between convenience and quality of experience. This year we saw increased shift from ‘experiential’ to ‘transformative retail’, as predicted in the 1990’s by Pine and Gilmore (for example, ‘Today at Apple’, Nike Manila running arena). We will see more retailers follow this well-established route and explore their own brand offer through transformative experiences and experimenting how their physical presence can add value to online sales. That will lead to opening stores which are more ‘playable’, where customers will engage with products in a meaningful, fun way rather than well aesthetically designed stockrooms.

With many retailers being cash stranded and apprehensive to jump into new, untested models of retail, pop-ups will remain a key strategy to test ideas and new solutions. Physical spaces will increasingly become an extension of marketing strategies as well as sales points.

Retailers will experiment with the frictionless journey, connecting online with in-store. Farfetch OS will continue to lead the way. Also, customers will continue to take more photos in store. Retailers will start finding new ways to benefit from this tendency and designing more shareable stores. At the same time, with developments in image recognition technology, we will see mobile phones become a missing link to connect online and in-store.

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trends & predictions

Retail 2018: Trends and

Predictions

Personalised Conversations Katie Baron, head of retail, Stylus Retail has never been more omnipresent. 2017 was defined by live, on-demand, experiential and service-driven retailing. Some of the most exciting disruption however, derived from ‘chat-led’ commerce — chatbots and voice-activated AI, which is defining the future course of brand-to-consumer interaction.

Building on the desire for non-generic brand communications, we are starting to see voice communications being used to establish micro relationships between brand and consumer. This is key to understanding the subtler, non-retail aspects of consumers’ lives that are now necessary to servicing them holistically.

This will continue to evolve as an important trend for 2018.

Fostering personalised and often highly candid conversations, advanced bots and cognitive biometric tools will help retailers better gauge and respond to ‘live’ behaviours. This will enter a whole new dimension as software like Chinese-based Emotibot enables AI to respond to human signals like facial expressions, delivering more satisfying responses.

Service-led retail also gained momentum in 2017. Governed by support, advice and additional activities, we started to see smart brands creating imaginative temples to complement product-led services. With 40 per cent of event spaces in London having closed in the last five years (London Mayor, 2017), these spaces offer critical added value to retailers going beyond-brand commercial engagement.

This ties into a broader issue that will influence retail in 2018.

As consumers become as knowledgeable as sales associates, a hard sell will feel increasingly out of touch. Combine that with the booming desire for experiences, and retail grounded in ‘un-consumption’ or ‘low-transaction’ will increasingly underscore brand success. Opportunities to learn, test, connect and also influence others will become as valuable to brands and their consumers/fans as physical product.

The Emergence of Full Retail Ecosystems Cate Trotter, head of trends, Insider Trends 2018 will be the year when leading brands fully start to link information across channels. This is about much more than ordering online to collect in store, and vice versa. Some examples of how retail ecosystems can be optimised, boosting experiences and retailer profits, include: • Digitally recognising a customer as they walk into a store, and pinging the assistant with everything the brand knows about that customer, in order to personalise and optimise the service they’ll receive.

• Letting assistants add information from their conversation to the customer’s profile after the customer has left, to further improve the online experience.

• Letting customers ping requests to stores ahead of time. Items that they’re interested in can be waiting for them when they arrive at the store.

• Encouraging in-store assistants to phone customers or ping customers personally with updates that are genuinely useful.

• Offering in-store perks to customers who use the brand’s app to check into the store.

• Encouraging customers to complete in-depth profiles to help the brand provide much more meaningful in-store and online recommendations.

• L etting customers assess their precise skin tone or body shape in-store, to take them quickly to the precise item that will suit or fit them online.

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Flash beauty to go here

BEAUTY BOOM This year has seen many beauty concepts and flagships launched, and 2018 looks no different with many more planned, including the first male-only makeup store.

In Euromonitor’s ‘Reimagining Growth in the Global Beauty Industry’ report, the market intelligence specialist recognises dynamic brands fuelling this category growth, including Nyx, Urban Decay and Kiko Milano, as well as a plethora of niche labels such as Milk Makeup and Too Faced. Nyx and Kiko Milano grew via retail network expansion, supported by in-store digital technology to enhance the consumer experience. Here is our pick of some of the most recent beauty experiences...

Text: Lyndsey Dennis

<Beast Launched in 2016, Beast is changing the way men shop for beauty.

The brand opened its first physical store in October on Earlham Street in Seven Dials, designed by Nirvana CPH. The 130 sq m store is spread across two levels and stocks a range of products, including fragrances.

>Too Faced Too Faced has opened its first global flagship on Carnaby Street.

The 54 sq m store is designed to offer a truly unique Too Faced experience. Fitted out with bespoke décor elements that bring the brand pillars to life, including peach and chocolate features modelled after two favourite scented collections, as well as a Union Jack wall complete with the brand’s signature pink and gold hues, the store is a photo-worthy moment for sharing on social media.

The brand will host special promotions and events at the store throughout the year.

<Birchbox Birchbox has launched a pop-up in Carnaby Street, designed to showcase the Birchbox personal touch, expanding on the brand’s ‘Build your own box’ pick ‘n’ mix station. The store features a gift wrapping station and Wishing Tree where customers can add their Christmas wish to the tree and also record gifs to ‘Share the love’. Birchbox is about building the beauty company of the future and was passionate about building a warm, inviting space where people love to shop for beauty. The concept and layout were designed by Your Studio and Stylo created the graphics.

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beauty

>Aesop Australian skincare brand, Aesop has opened its latest store in Chelsea’s Duke of York Square. Designed alongside Snøhetta, the interior has been inspired by the exhilarating scenes of classic James Bond films, and takes advantage of capacious dimensions to create dramatic, clearly defined forms and contrasts in materials.

Walls of earthen render washed in pale rose are a nod to the masonry prevalent in this part of the city, and provide an earthy, textured element, with materiality and colour palette shifting from rough to smooth and light to dark respectively. An existing column stands central in the space, anchoring 12 silhouette-like arches that curve up and across to the store’s perimeter. These sweeping structures create zones of intimacy around a large circular demonstration sink, measuring 4.2m in diameter, which seems to hover in the space, inviting visitors to experience an Aesop product consultation. Duke of York Square has also welcomed new stores from Nars and Dermalogica.

<Shiro Japanese skincare brand, shiro has opened a West End flagship store at 63 Monmouth Street in Seven Dials. The 89 sq m store is set across the ground floor and basement levels. The international skincare brand places a focus on enhancing natural beauty using simple methods and natural ingredients sourced from Japan, such as sake kasu, a natural by-product of the sake production process.

>Aritaum Opened in October, Aritaum’s Myeong-dong flagship in Seoul offers a playground for beauty inspiration and guidance. Designed by Dalziel & Pow, it empowers customers to become their own makeup artists with editorial displays offering ‘top 5’, ‘best sellers’ and ‘new crushes’, along with ‘how-to’ guides.

One to watch in 2018 The UK is set for a retail first as beauty brand MMUK MAN plans to open its first male-only makeup store in Brighton early next year. Online fashion site ASOS already stocks 12 of the brand’s core products.

With makeup counters specifically for men predicted to arrive within five years by

L’Oreal boss Vismay Sharma, the Brighton-based company look set to further steal a march over its competitors and shift the plate tectonics of male beauty, far quicker than any of us could have anticipated. ‘Opening our first bricks-andmortar store is a symbol of how modern

day men are fine tuning their grooming needs and are no longer worried about the perceived taboo surrounding them wearing makeup’ says Lucy Atkinson, a company spokesperson. ‘This major development is indicative of how the landscape of beauty is rapidly evolving.’

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VM focus WWW.RETAIL-FOCUS.CO.UK/VM

Making a statement Global Christmas schemes

News VM & Display Awards 2017 Products and services

genesis-display.com GENESIS ad for retail focus 01-18.indd 1

19.12.17 10:33

Flash to go here

Welcome The VM and display industry

came together in November for the VM & Display Awards to celebrate and recognise the best in the industry. Held at The Bloomsbury Big Top in London with host Louie Spence, the awards highlighted and rewarded projects and individuals across 20 categories, including the third ever Retail Focus Readers’ Choice Award.

Fashion retailer Missguided, which opened its first UK standalone store in November 2016, walked away with the most awards of the night, clinching trophies for Best Outstanding Feature/Prop, Best Instore Branding and Most Innovative Person in VM — you can read our interview with winner Treasure Evans on P94.

Macy’s was the first department store to feature Christmas window displays and has been enchanting generations of spectators since the early 1870s. A trip to New York earlier this month was a feast for the eyes – the Christmas windows showcased exceptional talent and skill. From Saks’ Snow White scenes to the moving parts in Macy’s homage to the annual tradition of visiting the windows, as well as those experiencing the enchantment of a New York City Christmas for the first time, You can see a selection of global window displays on P53-55 and read our New York blog at www.retail-focus.co.uk/vm Lyndsey Dennis Editor

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News

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VM & Display Awards

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VM & Display Awards 2017 The 24th annual awards ceremony sees the cream of the VM and Display community gather to celebrate hard work, passion, creativity and commitment.

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

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Making a statement Festive window displays from across the globe, including Paris, New York and Tokyo.

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

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

News The latest news from the VM and display industry.

VM focus www.retail-focus.co.uk

Account Manager

53 Global Christmas windows

47 Cover image: Fendi Holiday, Ginza 6, Tokyo

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

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vm news

VM NEWS Ralph Pucci launches SIZES range For its latest collection of mannequins, Ralph Pucci is exploring a wider range of sizes reflecting today’s female proportions, representing sizes 2, 8, 12 and 16. The premise for SIZES is also about inclusivity, presenting all of the sizes together, rather than delineating ‘larger’ ones from ‘smaller’ and with an elegant aesthetic that is synonymous with Ralph Pucci designs.

‘For years I’ve been making mannequins in size 0 and 2,’ says Ralph Pucci. ‘When you think about it, that’s absurd! I’m proud to say SIZES is the first modern and truly artistic mannequin collection to include larger sizes, a market which has previously been shamefully neglected.’

Fabiani Women flagship goes gold for launch For the launch of Fabiani Women in Cape Town, Global Display helped the brand develop and define its own unique brand DNA for mannequin display.

Elegant poses that retain their attitude are finished in matt back and eye-catching mirror gold, ensuring a dramatic and identifiable appearance upon entry to the store. A removable face provides the retailer with the option for further personalisation. The specially developed mirror gold elements can be updated for special seasonal launches, without the need to completely change the entire mannequin.

The brand is rolling out this mannequin concept to a further 11 stores before the end of 2017.

New features announced for VM & Display Show 2018 The Business Design Centre in Islington will once again host the VM & Display Show. Taking place on 18-19 April 2018, the show will welcome new features next year. Introducing the Retail Focus Forum, where visitors can gain insight on the latest trends in visual merchandising and design from senior forward-thinking individuals. The seminars run over two days during the show.

The event will also introduce the Display Team Challenge, which will see some of the UK’s biggest retailers compete to be crowned Display Team of the Year. The teams will start with a blank canvas and have to create an eye-catching display for the judges to score. To register for your ticket, visit the website — www.vmanddisplayshow.com

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harlequin-design.com

Winning awards

windows: VM & DISPLAY AWARDS 2017

The 24th annual awards ceremony sees the cream of the VM and Display community gather to celebrate hard work, passion, creativity and commitment.

Above: The winners with host Louie Spence

Text: Gemma Balmford

Every year store designers, visual merchandisers and retail display specialists come together to celebrate the exceptional work of the industry over the previous 12 months — both in the UK and abroad.

Held at The Bloomsbury Big Top in London with host Louie Spence, the 2017 VM & Display Awards ceremony in November highlighted and rewarded projects and individuals across 20 categories, including the third ever Retail Focus Readers’ Choice Award.

Fashion retailer Missguided, which opened its first UK standalone store in November 2016, walked away with the most awards of the night, clinching trophies for Best Outstanding Feature/Prop, Best Instore Branding and Most Innovative Person in VM (congratulations Treasure Evans!). Footwear retailer Clarks also wowed judges (and our readers), winning Best Windows in a Multiple for its ‘Simple. It’s Complicated’ campaign in association with Harlequin Design and the Retail Focus Readers’ Choice Award for the ‘Welcome to the Future’ scheme, also in partnership with Harlequin.

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awards

Other winners on the night included John Lewis for Best Christmas Window in a Multiple Department Store, Penhaligon’s for Best Non-Fashion Retail Concept and Bergdorf Goodman for Best International Window.

Speaking ahead of the event, Karl McKeever, founder and managing director of Visual Thinking and Retail Focus columnist, said: ‘In the chaotic world that is this wonderful industry of ours, there are few constants. One standout is the relentless need for retail to evolve and adapt. The pressure to make retail experiences more engaging, effective and efficient has never been greater. Visual merchandisers must find ways to channel their individuality and creative freedom, while achieving high levels of consistent visual execution in every store, every day. Now more than ever, VM needs to make its voice heard, while earning its commercial stripes.’

The full list of winners and shortlisted projects from this year’s awards can be found on the Retail Focus website.

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awards

Top left: Dancer and TV personality Louie Spence hosted the 24th annual awards ceremony. Bottom left: Missguided took three awards, including Best Instore Branding. Above left: The VM & Display Awards 2017 took place at Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bloomsbury Big Top. Above: New York department store Bergdorf Goodman won Best International Window. Left: John Lewis won the award for Best Christmas Window in a Multiple Department Store.

Bottom left: Debenhams impressed judges with its Tropical Fiesta scheme.

Below: Clarks won the Best Windows in a Multiple award for its Simple. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Complicated campaign.

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

For more information contact sales@adelrootstein.co.uk

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www.rootstein.com

international

visual merchandising

Festive window displays from Paris, TOKYO and New York.

Photography: BFA, JoeSchildhorn

Bloomingdale’s Bloomingdale’s has teamed up with new movie, The Greatest Showman from 20th Century Fox Film this Christmas. The highly anticipated film brings the story of big-top visionary P.T. Barnum to the big screen. The cinematic extravaganza guides every apsect of the retailer’s holiday celebrations this year, from exclusive product to in-store experiences and the iconic Bloomingdale’s 59th Street holiday windows. The Lexicon Avenue windows awaken the senses with magical visuals and musical moments, while Swarovski crystalencrusted circus oddities play a starring role in each window scene. As onlookers get closer to the glass they will hear the song that each window is inspired by. The key ingredient in this year’s festive windows are Swarovski crystals.

Galeries Lafayette Roll up, roll up, a 20th Century Paris fairground has taken over the windows of Galeries Lafayette for Christmas. The barrel organ draws shoppers in with its catchy rhythm, whilst they follow the feverish race between Pierre, the hero pigeon, and his sweetheart, Coco, the gentle dove. In this exaggerated Paris, a certain 1920s surrealism collides with a baroque Art Deco spirit, a ferris wheel, claw machine and roller coasters. Fortunately at the end of the journey, Pierre and Coco find each other in the sky above Paris — exactly above the Dome at Galeries Lafayette.

Le Bon Marche Le Bon Marche Rive Gauche and La Grande Epicerie de Paris are getting ready for the biggest gift factories in Paris this Christmas.

Bathed in red light, the windows feature the Christmas Gang — faithful allies of Father Christmas, weapons of good humour and a ferocious will to offer the best gifts. Le Bon Marche recognises these little helpers with their beautiful Christmas sweaters. White, black and red, with a print of snowflakes and a knitted hat on the back, it was specially designed for the occasion by the Norman brand, specialists in wool work in Saint James. It is found in the vi trines of the rue de Sevres on the back of little bearded elves. Gangs of pastry cooks, sand merchants and deliverymen, the elves are busy and spread their spots under the eyes of the children.

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visual merchandising

international

Printemps

Photography: Francis PEYRAT

See more window schemes at

www.retail-focus.co.uk/vm

The Printemps windows tells the story of the store’s inteprid explorers from last year’s fairytale, Jules and Violette, who travel to the four corners of the earth to find presents. In ‘The Extraordinary Journey of Gifts’, the duo are accompanied by some new characters that have been designed and produced in collaboration with partner brands: the MCM rabbits, the easyjet bears Gulliver and Lilly, and the Wonders from Fendi. It’s all hands on deck to fill Printemps’ enchanted trains, boats, planes, lorries, sleighs and hot air balloons to the brim – the race is on. The journey is far from uneventful — storms, blizzards, deserts, traffic jams, breakdowns — but the irresistable glow of the department store guides them like a beacon, and all the presents make it to Printemps in time for Christmas Eve. Artist Spiros Halaris has illustrated this creation for Printemps, as well as the backgrounds for the 11 window displays on Boulevard Haussmann. Printemps also worked alongside puppeteer Jean-Claude Dehix, with each of the 11 windows presenting a tableaux, each one a journey around the world with the partner brands that transport them from one backdrop to the next: Fendi, MCM, Easyjet, the Reunion Tourism Office, Thalys and Citroen.

Saks Fifth Avenue For the first time in its storied history, Saks Fifth Avenue, in collaboration with Disney, has transformed all 14 of its Fifth Avenue-facing windows into scenes from the classic fairytale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The vignettes, presented by Mastercard, include Snow White dancing among the woodland creatures, the seven dwarfs heigh-ho!-ing home from a day’s work in the diamond caves, and the Wicked Queen’s mischievous trickery with the infamous red apple. Each window depicts a different scene from the film, beautifully translating the iconic story into real life delights. In Saks’ 49th Street and 50th Street windows, four legendary designers — Alberta Ferretti, Naeem Khan, Monique Lhuillier, and Marchesa —have created one-of-a-kind fairytale gowns for a 21st century Snow White. The luxury dresses are set against a fantasy forest backdrop.

Photography: Kent Miller

Macy’s The theme for the Macy’s Herald Square Christmas windows in New York this year is ‘The Perfect Gift Brings People Together’. The windows highlight family traditions and preparations that take place during the Christmas season leading up to the night of Santa’s arrival. The six windows on Broadway delight generations of spectators who have grown up with the annual tradition of visiting the windows, as well as those experiencing the enchantment of a New York City Christmas for the first time. Created by Roya Sullivan, Macy’s national director of window presentation, the retailer’s 2017 Christmas windows feature innovation through interactive technology and visuals. Movement is used to bring each scene to life, with snow falling softly throughout.

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international Bergdorf Goodman Bergdorf Goodman has partnered with seven of the city’s most treasured cultural institutions this Christmas. The store’s holiday windows celebrate these seven sites, each display drawing attention to New York City’s unique cultural gems. The seven sites are: Brooklyn Academy of Music, Urbanglass, American Museum of Natural History, New York Historical Society, The New York Botanical Garden, Museum of the Moving Image and New York Philharmonic.

Henri Bendel This holiday season, Henri Bendel invites guests to celebrate fearless creators with the magic of Lovepop, as the company’s intricate 3D paper sculptures take over Henri Bendel’s New York flagship store on Fifth Avenue, a playful and unexpected explosion of colour and light. The partnership marks the first time Lovepop is bringing its Kirigami paper-cutting art form to life outside of its greeting card designs, and is the perfect complement to Henri Bendel’s holiday theme of fearless creators — a celebration of risk takers in all forms.

Fendi The main inspiration for Fendi’s 2017 Holiday window campaign came from the theme of its Spring/Summer 2018 EP collection, Fun Fair. The charm of icecream combined together with a cotton candy colour palette. The Fendi visual team mixed and matched the brand’s iconic codes on one side, with funny pop elements on the other. The monumental arches from Fendi’s headquarters, Palazzo della Civiltà, are home to carousel light bulbs. FUN, HOPE and LOVE become illuminated signs which surround the product with brightness and sparkle. The Christmas spirit has been represented as well thanks to the use of warm lighting, reminiscent of the Christmas trees and fancy decors around the city in holiday season, because ‘FENDI LOVE XMAS’; as featured in many stores with the use of illuminated letter displays. The Ginza 6 shopping mall flagship in Toyko pictured here features miniature Santas scaling the walls and hanging from the giant window feature, which runs the length of two levels.

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WHAT WE WE DO: DO: WHAT

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WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT: We offer everything that your visual merchandising project requires.

In order to showcase your brands and products in an integrated, well thought-out way, we think and act holistically. You do not have to take our word for it.

You can experience for yourself the diversity of what we offer, our expertise in the sector and our commitment to our clients.

We turn creative ideas of any size and degree of complexity into reality. From the consultancy stage right through to the on-site installation of our projects via production, we offer a one-stop service for our projects.

Tailor-made visual merchandising concepts are dealt with individuality, whether for national or international lifestyle brands and department stores.

CONTACT: TIM NASH UK Business Manager tn@barthelmess.com phone +44 (0) 20 3603 7117 mobile +44 (0) 7527 943 423

barthelmess.com

products

VM & DISPLAY Hans Boodt Mannequins Hans Boodt Mannequins presents the Zoë Popcandy collection. Zoë has a doll-like charm, a girl with a unique look — petite and serene but at the same time full of confidence. Her sky-high legs and long and elegant arms give her a strong and powerful attitude. The colourful finishes in combination with the contrasting lips give Zoë a fun and sweet appearance.

T. +31 (0)78 623 11 00 E: info@hansboodt.com www.hansboodt.com Twitter: hans_boodt

Hello Flamingo A wonderfully wintry scene has taken over Aquascutum’s Great Marlborough Street store with an icy effect in the snow-filled windows. Wrought iron gates with attractive Christmas wreaths, illuminated lamp posts and frosty trees with lights add to the dreamy feel of the window scheme. Little details such as tiny robins sitting on the gates and trees complete the festive feel. The windows were designed in collaboration with Hello Flamingo. Photography: Melvyn Vincent T. +44 (0)1273 585 768 E. info@helloflamingo.co.uk www.helloflamingo.co.uk Twitter: helloflamingo1

Harlequin Design Joseph wanted to inject a really strong element of fun and humour into its Christmas windows over the festive period this year. Also thinking about the nostalgic feeling within the AW17 collections, the creative team set the mannequins against a background of an avalanche of red shimmer curtains in a full on ‘Glitter Binge’ at the brand’s Fulham Road store. Head of visual merchandising, Nathan Hicks and the Joseph visual team produced the creative concept, and worked alongside Harlequin on the creative production and installation. The mannequins are Atrezzo’s It Girls.

T. +44 (0)20 7253 6238 E. hello@harlequin-design.com www.harlequin-design.com Twitter: HarlequinLondon

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bbrown bbrown is part of the Muraspec Decorative solutions Group which specialises in manufacturing and supplying wallcoverings, fabrics and other decorative finishes for the interiors market. bbrown concentrates its efforts on the display market and continues to offer both stocked products from its standard collection as well as a sourcing service, which finds solutions for a variety of projects from the company’s network of regular suppliers who understand the time and delivery pressures as well as the budget restraints in the retail market. bbrown continues to research and offer relevant display materials and is always up for a challenge.

T. +44 (0)3705 340 340 E. customerservices@bbrown.co.uk www.bbrown.co.uk Twitter: luvbbrown

products

VM & DISPLAY dfrost Fenwick of Bond Street has collaborated with Swarovski this year for its Christmas window campaign, entitled A Baroque Fantasy. The windows take customers on a magical trip to a sparkling baroque fantasy.

Opulent looks, elaborately designed spaces that are reminiscent of the Hall of Mirrors of Versailles, and a festive winter atmosphere complete the exquisite scenery. The windows were developed and produced in collaboration with dfrost. Photo credit: Wagner Photography T. +49 711 664817 E: info@dfrost.com www.dfrost.com

Lucky Fox Seeking to contradict traditional Christmas windows schemes and stop shoppers in their tracks, Lululemon challenged Lucky Fox with designing and installing a modern and forwardthinking scheme for it’s Christmas campaign, Breathe it all in. The concept was intended to remind Lululemon guests to find a break amid the chaos leading up to Christmas and to breathe in the joy, connection and calm of the holiday season.

The campaign features an array of colours used to represent calming and positive emotions in a palette of gradient colours.

T. +44 (0)1273 721 777 E: info@luckyfox.uk.com www.luckyfox.uk.com Twitter: LuckyMrFox

IPOS The Ice Cool Christmas window for schuh on Oxford Street has been created using bright, white LED lighting to illuminate the products on display. With geometric shaped iceberg plinths and a 3D backboard, the jagged edges create a high impact window incorporating the store’s wide range of shoes.

Hanging acrylic snowflakes were also used to glorify the products on display at different levels throughout the window.

The campaign was then rolled out in schuh stores across the UK using 2D elements, for a simpler take on the flagship window. The display, based in the retailer’s flagship Oxford Street store, was produced by IPOS in collaboration with the schuh visual merchandising team.

T. +44 (0)161 477 8501 E. info@ipos-design.co.uk www.ipos-design.com Twitter: iposdesign

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Stylo For Superdry’s latest window campaign on Regent Street, ‘Premium Down’ and ‘Wind Cheater’ were focused on Superdry’s winter jacket apparel. For the Premium Down window, Stylo designed, produced and installed an LED backlit, floorstanding, clear acrylic sign that was filled with responsibly sourced real feathers. As well as this, the front of the window features more than 5kg of real feathers that are encased in a clear acrylic holder.

T. +44 (0)1923 800 666 E: info@stylographics.co.uk www.stylographics.co.uk Twitter: hellostylo

Europe´s largest retailer and wholesale supplier for

Visual Merchandising

Phone: 0207 754 5499 | Freephone: 008001 9637637 Freefax: 008001 9737737 | eMail: sales@decowoerner.com

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

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opinion

Prioritise flexibility Catherine Marson, regional head of design at property services group Styles&Wood, argues that building flexibility into design is key to futureproofing stores for changing customer trends.

Advances in technology have had a significant impact on nearly every aspect of life, but none more so than how we buy.

The retail sector has had to adapt to take into account the shift towards e-commerce, which currently accounts for 17 per cent of the entire retail market, according to the most recent ONS statistics. This is putting pressure on physical stores to adapt to complement the broader customer experience. In response, in-store design must prioritise flexibility, to allow retailers to adapt at short notice.

While a recent study from Vista Retail Support showed that 81 per cent of shoppers see stores as vital, what they want from this space is becoming much more complex. In response to the popularity of e-commerce, retailers have looked to create a more enhanced experience for shoppers in store Incorporating digital features has been a key tactic and there is still a huge amount of scope for this to grow. For example, wayfinding technology to help direct shoppers around large department stores, augmented reality, and ‘endless aisle’ touchscreens which allow customers to browse a retailer’s online catalogue in-store, are all set to be key trends over the next few years as retailers look to capitalise on the showroom effect.

We’ve also seen many retailers look to include additional services to make the most of their space. Coffee shops, concession stands and experiential areas are all being built into stores more regularly to help boost customer engagement.

To meet these new demands, store design has to be flexible. While customers may be engaging with more experiential formats, their preference for what this consists of can change very quickly. Being able to keep the in-store experience fresh

with new approaches will be key to holding customers’ attention and loyalty. The ability to quickly alter how products are displayed and the services they offer, depending on the trends and popularity, will also remain really important.

To accommodate this, we’ve seen an increase in a ‘blank canvas’ style fit-out of stores, based around a modular design that can be changed instantly dependent on need, with as little disruption to the rest of the shop as possible.

As well as keeping the layout flexible, interior design is also kept neutral and interchangeable. Where previously retail chains may have created a brand identity in their stores by having a set colour theme and imagery painted on to walls, we’re now seeing technology take over, thanks to the ability to make changes and incorporate new ideas at short notice.

Video screens and interactive boards are being increasingly used to highlight particular products and offer a more digital experience to customers. We expect to see this trend rise as the cost of such technology falls, offering better value for money than continuously paying for a new interior design to be applied to stores each season.

It’s not only retailers and designers that need to take note of this however.

Landlords need to make their space compatible with this flexible model to appeal to occupiers, and ensure a store fits their needs for a considerable length of time. This goes beyond just offering an open-plan, blank canvas. M&E provision should be over-estimated to take into account an increased need for electrical hardware, while lighting and flooring should be kept neutral to suit a range of requirements.

Demands in the retail sector are changing so rapidly, it’s almost impossible

to predict exactly what consumers and retailers will want from physical stores in the future. Instead of anticipating what might be needed, it’s best to make sure a store’s design can adapt to any range of demands that might be asked of it, rather than having to employ expensive refits at a later date to keep up. Despite the growing trend for e-commerce, physical stores are still clearly a key part of the sector, they just need to work harder to match consumer’s digital needs. By building flexibility into the very core of a store’s design, retail space can move with changing demands easily and ensure it retains its place in the market.

www.stylesandwood.co.uk

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At Prosper we create spaces that make a difference.

Our expert design, interior and architecture teams work closely with our clients to build success from the ground up creating effective solutions that deliver measurable results.

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insight piece

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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SHARED AMIBITION The importance of transparent, collaborative working.

Text: Lyndsey Dennis

Panel:

Ben Bland Host

Karl McKeever founder and managing director of Visual Thinking

Retailers may be focused on creating seamless experiences for shoppers, but behind the scenes key stakeholders are often still working in silos. As the number of agencies involved in the daily delivery of retail objectives continues to grow, senior industry thinkers discuss how to achieve greater collaboration, what needs to change, and where responsibility for driving new ways of working should lie.

TURNING COMPETING TO COLLABORATION ‘I think the trick is understanding what the key objective is. Often when you go into a new project for retail, a transformational project, the objective isn’t always clear and you don’t really know what kind of specialism is required. If you’re starting out as an agency that’s working together with the client, actually helping them to define clearly what they’re trying to achieve is fundamental to the long-term goal and view. At that point, openness, transparency and honesty around what should be required from a road map perspective is absolutely essential,’ says Michelle Du-Prat, strategy director and co-founder of Household Design.

‘I think you kind of learn over the years that what you’re doing is trying to make the client’s outcome the best it can be, and if you don’t collaborate together then basically there’s going to be a problem in the outcome,’ says Jeff Kindleysides, founder of Checkland Kindleysides.

‘In an ideal world, the experience works well and there’s good collaboration and synergy from the start, but I think getting to that point, sometimes there has to be a little bit of easing along the way, and in my experience one of the things that can be done is actually for the client themselves to organise some form of joint kick-off

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Jeff Kindleysides founder of Checkland Kindleysides

Michelle Du-Prat strategy director and co-founder of Household Design

‘Just as importantly, agencies themselves also need to be internally collaborative as well.’ meeting, where perhaps they bring the various parties together,’ adds Karl McKeever, founder and managing director of Visual Thinking. ‘Everyone talks about the common goals and shared brief and the specialisms that people can bring to the party, and I think what that can do and be very useful for is perhaps breaking down some of the mistrust or lack of understanding that can exist between different agencies about where they can bring real value and strength to a project, where there might be some potential areas of overlap or, potentially, whether overlap can be used in a very positive way to create different solutions or collaborative

#retailexchange

solutions to help address the client’s need.’

Du-Prat notes Unilever as a good example of internal teams and external agencies being brought together to achieve a really strong campaign or in-store transformation. ‘They’re not a traditional retailer, but they’re thinking about retail in a disruptive way. So, they have The Foundry, they have Pitch, which is the place that, I guess you call a creative centre, and they bring together specialists and innovators and actually, a lot of people who don’t know really where each other comes from; they’re just working together as a team to get to an idea that then may be mapped out. So it’s a different way of thinking about collaboration; where it’s really the idea first, it’s the whole team first and then actually that cascades into what might be required to deliver against that idea,’ she says.

McKeever notes his company’s work with Sainsbury’s when the company did one of its earlier rebranding exercises. ‘We organised a very engaging interactive workshop for Sainsbury’s, and in that particular forum we had a two-day event where we brought along their brand teams who were working for Sainsbury’s but all on entirely different media — above the line, below the line, people that were working in 2D, 3D, people that were working in built environments and those that were working in print, and we had a very dynamic workshop where we could share the rules, discuss the rules, understand what the differences and tolerances needed to be in terms of how people would execute those processes on behalf of the business. At the end of the day, I think everybody came away feeling enormously satisfied that they hadn’t just been told what to do and what rules had to be applied, but they actually understood them because they had actually worked through them, looked at where those areas would create difficulties or opportunities, and, do you know what? People had a lot of fun and people made a lot of friends as a result of that process.’

BUILDING YOUR OWN IN-HOUSE TEAM ‘Let me throw a little bit of a grenade into the mix. As a retailer or as a client, what if I consider that actually, this is all far too complicated. I’m going to cherry pick experts, bring them in, poach them and create my own in-house team that will deliver everything, and they’ll be working together for me and not competing? Is that a solution?’ asks Bland.

‘Well, if I may throw a grenade back, then I think we would probably call that the pitch process, where clients very often ask you to provide a great deal of your ideas, often for free, and then potentially take those ideas and work with them internally. I think 3 caveat to that would be that people can often get a long way the themselves, but there does come a point where they recognise that actually, they do fundamentally need to look outside, not necessarily to get expertise that they don’t have, but to bring people together in an impartial way that can actually create the kind of synergy and motivation for the project,’ says McKeever.

‘When I talk about investment, I always think, if we get ourselves in a position where we know as much as the people in-house, then we’re more likely to be able to contribute on the things where we’re not necessarily taking the work somewhere else, we’re actually working with them,’ believes Kindleysides. ‘I think, particularly at

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the moment, the in-house cycle is definitely in that kind of orbit of things, where clients are taking those things in-house, and it naturally burns itself out because we’re always working around the world with different people, looking at different things, getting different perspectives on what our prospective clients or our current client should be doing, and I think if you’re working on one subject all the time, inevitably you become blown out with it,’ adds Kindleysides.

Du-Prat agrees. ‘I think that our focus is to make sure that we bring fresh thinking and fresh ideas that we constantly have access to, and the point that Jeff makes about insight and being able to know what to do with that insight are not just as a one-off basis, but on a continual basis, makes you a valuable partner, and I think that’s very much the role that we play with our clients. One of the things that we’ve seen, certainly with the cycle of building in-house teams, that again that’s a collaborative element, isn’t it? How do we now collaborate with in-house teams? What we’re seeing is an opportunity to take a step back when we go back to work with a brand that maybe we haven’t worked with for a couple of years, and they’re saying, okay, we know you know us, we’ve moved on, we value your thoughts around us, we know that you’ll have seen new things, how can you come back in and start to think about maybe a visionary piece, how we might move forward and so on.

It’s about finding a way to collaborate and reinvigorate, regenerate, re-energise, and create projects that we didn’t necessarily know were wanted by that team. I think that’s super important from a consultancy perspective.’

‘I think one of the tricks in long-term relationships is to never assume, or never say to new people coming into a company, oh yes, we tried this before and it didn’t quite work, because the thing is, things are right in a period of time or they’re wrong in a period of time, and they become relevant again. Even though we’ve got vast experience of that brand, we have to collaborate in a way that we’re seeing some of it for the first time, or else you

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‘Our focus is to make sure that we bring fresh thinking and fresh ideas.’ become unstuck and there becomes a resistance, and I think the collaboration is over at that point,’ notes Kindleysides.

‘Just as importantly, agencies themselves also need to be internally collaborative as well, because there would be a number of different people within their own teams who need to work together and understand the client brief in just as much detail, and I’ve certainly witnessed it where the collaboration between agencies may be good, but actually, some of the internal dialogue and the communication between the teams working on those projects is not as slick or as clear as it needs to be. Again, depending on who’s set up to do what, the responsibility to provide the glue there can live with an agency but actually, ideally, I always think it should be the client that has that. Ultimately, they’re the ones, they’re all paying everybody’s bills and I think they’re the ones that should be the leader of the orchestra, to put it another way,’ stresses McKeever.

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

battersea power station

BATTERSEA POWER STATION The iconic Grade II listed building and surrounding area is being brought back to life in the form of a mixed-use neighbourhood for locals, tourists and residents to enjoy a unique blend of restaurants, shops, parks and cultural spaces.

With its iconic chimneys and prominent location on the River Thames, Battersea Power Station has been undergoing a major redevelopment. The building sits at the junction of three important Central London Districts, and within an expanding transport network.

With different events to enjoy every weekend on the riverfront and in the Village Hall, Circus West Village at Battersea Power Station is fast becoming the place to spend time on the banks of the River Thames.

The planning team wanted to create a village feel for Circus West — phase one of the development which opened in August.

Each tenant has been specially selected, taking into account the quality and individuality of the experience they can offer. These include The General Store, 21st Century pub No. 29, Paul Edmonds hair salon, florist Philippa Craddock and The Village Hall (in partnership with Battersea Arts Centre), the latter a dedicated space for events, arts, residents and visitors.

Alongside 850 apartments across eight blocks, the commercial space at Circus West occupies the entire ground floor and is the bedrock of building a vibrant new neighbourhood, which not only delivers the community-focused village environment but also helps to create an attractive visitor destination. The buildings have been designed by architects SimpsonHaugh and Partners and dRMM.

Text: Lyndsey Dennis

Retail neighbourhoods

‘The team at Battersea has looked carefully at all the elements needed to create both a great community and a great place.

We have therefore put together a mix of local shops, restaurants and social amenities which will not only give Circus West a distinctive neighbourhood feel, but make it a fantastic place for people,’ says Joanne Skilton, head of leasing, Battersea Power Station Development Company. ‘Perhaps the best example of Team Battersea’s commitment to a local tenant strategy can be seen with The General Store. We were approached by a number of big chains. However, we chose the route of these particular independent and local businesses as they have a proven track record in the area; connecting to the community they serve and creating that all-important village feel which is what people really want.’

Mother, an Italian pizza restaurant from Copenhagen and No. 29 Power Station West, which offers all-day dining, exquisite drinks and locally sourced food, are already open along with The Battersea General Store, selling goods from around the world. Also open are Boom Cycle, providing exhilarating spinning classes and healthy drinks and snacks, and Fiume, offering a creative Italian menu from Chef Patron Francesco Mazzei. Many more restaurants and shops are due to open very soon in Circus West Village.

The Battersea Power Station Design Store pays homage to the iconic building and has been curated in partnership with London souvenir business, We Built This City.

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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

products

TECHNOLOGY ONELAN ONELAN will be attending Integrated Systems Europe 2018 in February on the LG booth 12-K90. The company will showcase a number of new releases, notably card check-in for Reserva Room Signage and enhanced features for ONELAN’s SOC solution. The new Reserva features mean enterprise users will be able to interact directly with the room signs using their NFC/RFID identity cards. Initially via the ONELAN NFS Rendezvous Workspace connector, with check-in support for Exchange and Office 365 support to follow, the benefits for an enterprise include enforcing restrictions on who may check-in to or change room bookings, thereby maximising the use of valuable room resources.

T. +44 (0)1491 411 400 E: sales@onelan.com www.onelan.com Twitter: onelan_ltd

Peerless-AV Pioneer Group has installed displays across three iSmash branches in London. The express repairers of smartphones, tablets and computers chose the AV and IT project expert for its premium quality 55in high brightness displays. Mounted using a Single Pole Modular System from AV technology pioneer Peerless-AV, the displays deliver attractive in-window advertising to entice passers-by. The Peerless-AV floor-to-ceiling Modular System consists of a mount, adaptor and a 50mm chrome pole fixed to heavy duty ceiling and floor plates, which can be mounted to wood or concrete.

T. +44 (0) 1923 200 100 E: info@peerless-av.eu.com www.peerless-av.com Twitter: PeerlessAVEU

NEC Display Solutions Europe NEC Display Solutions Europe will showcase its latest display technologies at ISE 2018 in February, with a special focus on solutions for retail signage, large venues and corporate conferencing. NEC will unveil its new campaign theme ‘Create Endless Impressions’, which highlights how its range of display technologies enables users to create experiences which engage, connect and impress audiences. The showcase will feature three main strands, comprising technologies for signage and retail (Engage), corporate conferencing (Connect) and large venues (Impress). Visit NEC at booth 5-R20 in hall 5.

T. +44 (0)870 120 1160 E: infomail@nec-displays.com www.nec-display-solutions.co.uk Twitter: NEC_Display_UK

Futura Retail Solutions Lifestyle and fashion chain JOY, which operates online and through 20 outlets across the UK, has deployed new retail management and EPOS systems from Futura Retail Solutions, to drive improved business resilience and head office decision making. With system implementation completed in record time, just four weeks from initial customisation and data migration through to full operation, the new real-time solution will support enhanced customer interaction at the till, live transaction and stock visibility across the business, with improved management control. Automated stock replenishment and the ability to dynamically set minimum and maximum stock levels add further time saving and accuracy. Improved goods-in processes and automated inter-branch transfers are also helping to save time and improve stock management across the business.

T. +44 (0)1189 841 925 E. sales@futurauk.com www.futura4retail.co.uk Twitter: Futura_retail

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products

LIGHTING Zumtobel Zumtobel has provided lighting for five flagship stores of Swiss eyewear label VIU across Europe. The ONICO LED spotlight system has been used to illuminate shelves, while ARROWFLEX from Zumtobel’s sister brand, Thorn provides cove illumination above the shelves to make the stores seem brighter and more spacious. The PERLUCE fitting was used in the workshop areas and the rooms where eye tests are carried out. The diffuse luminaire body distributes the warm light evenly throughout the space, without having to sacrifice gentle ceiling illumination.

T. +44 (0)1388 420 042 E: info.uk@zumtobelgroup.com www.zumtobel.co.uk Twitter: Zumtobel_Light

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.

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

Crompton Lamps 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)1274 657 088 E. lamps@cromptonlamps.com www.cromptonlamps.com Twitter: CromptonLamps

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Feilo Sylvania 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.

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

The Fitting Room of the future – new Ansorg concept boosts turnover in fashion stores The fitting room, once intended as the strong point of bricks-and-mortar retail outlets, has now become a real hindrance to sales. Over 40 per cent of consumers who show their clear interest in buying by visiting the fashion stores are leaving them again without making a purchase simply because they found the fitting room unappealing. This was revealed by a representative survey conducted on Ansorg’s behalf.

From privacy screen to personal experience

Personal stage, trustful decisions

“Changing facilities are the unique selling

The Fitting Room Stage is nothing less than

proposition that distinguish bricks-and-mortar

a complete makeover of the changing room.

shops from online traders,” says Mario

All of the lighting used in Fitting Room Stage

Dreismann, CEO of lighting specialist Ansorg.

features seamlessly adjustable white light

“We see them as offering a fantastic oppor-

and excellent colour rendition. In addition,

tunity to pamper the customer by providing

individual lighting scenarios for business,

a space for personal experience.” If the

sport, casual and evening garments can all

concept succeeded in turning just the 40 per

be selected via touch screen to meet any

cent of visitors mentioned above into loyal

occasion for which clothing is being chosen.

customers, that would result in a tremendous Ansorg UK 30, Clerkenwell Road London EC1M 5PG M +44 207 954 3058 info-gb@ansorg.com www.ansorg.com

increase in turnover. 85 per cent stated that good lighting was important in a cubicle.

products

SIGNS & 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 refreshed 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 free-standing, 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

Kendu Designed and manufactured by Kendu, Flowbox is the latest innovation for in-store communication. A new generation of LED displays, Flowbox is tailor-made for the retail sector and combines quality printed tension fabric with motion effects and dynamic animation. Since launching in 2017, Flowbox has received multiple accolades including ‘Best Signage Graphics’ and ‘Best in Competition’ in the IIDA GlobalShop Product Design Competition, ‘Best Store Solution & Design’ at the Paris Retail Awards and ‘AIT Trend 2017’ finalist at EuroShop. Kendu is a European company with more than 16 years of experience in pioneering in-store visual communication solutions.

T. +44 (0)20 3735 5258 E. info@kendu.com www.kendu.com Twitter: KenduInStore

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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.

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

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Call us now to find out more on 01985 218994 or visit www.jaymart.co.uk Jaymart Rubber & Plastics Ltd.

Roman Way, Crusader Park, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 8SP

Mats and Floors

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

Atrafloor Pantone’s choice for colour of the year is Ultra Violet, a blue-based purple tone that is reflective of the inventiveness, imagination and enlightenment of our modern age. In celebration, Atrafloor have launched a galactic collection inspired by this official colour of 2018, and real-life ultraviolet photography by NASA. In this powerful purple hue, these designs echo Pantone’s recognition of the scientific progressions to date and to come with their resemblance to real ultraviolet space photography, such as the pioneering UV photograph of the Andromeda Galaxy taken by NASA’s Swift satellite earlier this decade.

T. +44 (0)151 305 7376 E. contact@atrafloor.com www.atrafloor.com

Forbo Flooring Systems

Polyflor

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.

Heavy commercial Affinity255 PUR luxury vinyl tiles from Polyflor were recently chosen to complete the stylish interior design scheme at The LiquorLab, a new cocktail bar at the Southwater development in Telford, Shropshire. Affinity255 PUR luxury vinyl tiles in the Huckleberry Oak shade were installed in the lounge, seating and bar areas to create an inviting space for customers to socialise in. The luxury vinyl tiles were straight laid in the main seating area and laid in a herringbone pattern in the raised seating area. Huckleberry Oak features rich hues in a realistic wood effect design with intense grain detailing and authentic surface textures. Developed for heavy traffic commercial environments such as the leisure sector where there are high levels of footfall, the durable Affinity255 collection features an eclectic mix of 16 authentically reproduced wood plank designs in a wide plank format, incorporating both traditional styles and contemporary trends.

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

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

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products

SURFACES & FINISHES Havwoods Havwoods has launched the V Collection. Designed for a variety of applications, from single residencies to large-scale commercial projects, the latest engineered range comprises of pre-finished boards that offer a thick European oak lamella, accounting for up to 30 per cent of the overall depth. A high quality, high performance yet affordable plank, V Collection is offered in seven distinctive finishes to ensure the perfect fit for any flooring project; from a contemporary pale oak to dark, dramatic mahogany and wenge hues.

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

3M 3M Fasara Glass Finishes are made from durable, flexible and removable polyester materials, and are quick and easy to install to a variety of glass substrates. They are easy to clean and reduce glare while blocking out 99 per cent of UV light.

New pattern categories include: Fabric — addresses differing space requirements, from smaller fine weaves to larger, raw textures; Natural — celebrates the ‘beautiful imperfections’ of nature and the artisan crafts; and String — described as ‘relaxed, soothing and subtle’, this pattern delivers uncomplicated elegance to an environment.

T. +44 (0)1344 858 000 E: commgraphics.uk@mmm.com www.3M.co.uk/innovativefinishes Twitter: 3M

Junckers 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.

The floor has a natural appearance with some colour and structural graining variation between the individual tiles, and the natural texture of the timber offers warmth and beauty alongside the strong features of the linear styling and brass finish of the units. Hexparket is one of the most elegant floors introduced to design industry this year — perfectly at home in a residential as well as a commercial space.

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

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Corian Corian has been specified by architect Object Space Place at the Victoria Gate and Victoria Quarter shopping centres in Leeds to create landlord furniture and kiosks. Corian helps to achieve a strong yet elegant and cohesive design statement that connects the historic Victorian arcade with a modern retail setting. Running through the shopping arcades are a series of elliptical information desks, plus seating booths and other elements, all formed from the refined beauty and adaptability of Corian.

T. +44 (0)800 962 116 E: info@corian.co.uk www.corian.uk Twitter: coriandesign

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.

Find out more about our LED solutions, contact your nearest Perspex Distribution office BLACKBURN Email: sales.blackburn@perspex.co.uk Tel: 01254 272 800

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

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 Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

Formica Group Developed by Formica Group for commercial projects, TrueScale captures the subtle variations and patterns found in natural materials but eliminates the high costs of sourcing and maintaining the genuine article. Available in 28 decors, TrueScale laminate gives you the authentic look of premium material such as marble, wood, granite, quartz, concrete and metal, while being light, hygienic and stain resistant.

TrueScale provides the necessary sizing to bring design to life.

The decors do not repeat across the full width of the laminate sheet so you can unveil patterns in their full beauty. It provides a surfacing solution that is more affordable, readily available and has properties better suited for hard wearing commercial application.

T. +44 (0)191 259 3512 E. samples.uk@formica.com www.formica.com Twitter: FormicaGroupEU

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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.

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

HELPING YOU CREATE THE RIGHT RETAIL EXPERIENCE

OUR OFFER

• We understand the way your customer’s

experience your store can be directly affected by the colour and design of the space.

At Dulux Trade we are experts in all aspects of colour in the retail environment and can help you optimize each area.

• With our wide choice of high quality finishes

and extensive range of colours, we can help you create the right environment for your business with confidence, speed and efficiency.

• Retail environments have to work hard as well

as look great. With our tough Diamond finishes and new Stain Repellent Technology, you can be confident the finishes will cope with high footfall and even extend maintenance cycles, reducing your lifecycle redecoration costs.

Find out more about how Dulux Trade can help you at duluxtrade.co.uk 38163_Visual merch_&_display_Ad 148x210mm_AW.indd 1

30/09/2016 16:47

materials & finishes

focus on materialS & finishes Materials and finishes play a key role in the design of stores, providing not only a practical purpose but also tactility and attractive features. Here we bring you versatile, hardwearing and flexible options that can withstand the rigours of retail.

Solid solution Concreate is a lightweight floor and wall panel offering a simple, more sustainable alternative to traditional poured and polished concrete. Floor panels give the appearance of raw concrete, whilst being stain resistant, hardwearing, easy to maintain and durable, making them ideal for withstanding high retail footfall.

www.concreate.net/uk

Follow the curve AECORE by Alfatherm is very flexible, enabling the laminate to be set in curves, post-formed and also thermal — vacuum forming into 3D shapes, never possible before with traditional decorative paper-based laminates. The formaldehyde free, waterproof and fire retardant certified and recycled material is also surface coated with the latest lacquer technology, delivering a high anti-scratch finish. Available in a wide variety of surfaces, designs and colours (solid colour throughout the core as standard offer) and including embossed in registered wood grains (EIR), AECORE is also extremely versatile and fully custom sizeable according to the project, making it ideal for furniture and retail design.

www.aecore.it

Making an impact ArmourFX concrete wall panels from Armourcoat offer a wealth of design options to achieve a distinctive industrial style, including distressed effects or recessed ‘shutter’ markings. They are ideal for a deconstructed urban look for contemporary projects. ArmourFX was recently specified to create an eye-catching effect at the new G-Shock store in London. Through the careful use of lighting and materials, including ArmourFX, the environment is an embodiment of G-Shock toughness.

www.armourcoat.com

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materials & finishes

Fine dining Indian restaurant Dabbawal features the Egger Decorative Collection 2017-2019 in its colourful interior. Dabbawal has upgraded its tabletops from hardwood to Egger H1486 ST36 Pasadena Pine with coordinating edge. The decor was chosen as the restaurant required a surface well suited to high activity. The decor features Feelwood technology which gives a deeply brushed but very natural, matt finish giving the surface an authentic look and feel.

Designed by Ian Gowland from Big Blue Interior Design and fabricated by Kriolis in Lithuania, the new tabletops coordinate well with the interior, which is made up of bright colours, illustrations and Indian artefacts.

www.egger.com

Flexible friend ADVANC3 3mm acrylic solid surface offers the same aesthetics as thicker sheets whilst providing significant cost savings.

Flexible sheet sizes of up to 1,370mm width from stock provide durable solutions for retail interiors and reception desks, as a substitute for high-pressure laminate.

www.idsurfaces.co.uk

Shining bright When B3 designers needed to create a beautiful yet practical shoji screen feature at Sakagura in the heart of Mayfair, the company turned to Marblo from Innerspace.

Beautifully backlit, the Marblo glacier panels have a real depth of texture whilst remaining practical and easy to maintain.

Glacier is part of the UK stock collection and like the other members of the Marblo family itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to handle, lightweight and suitable for many applications, from bar fronts and reception desks to feature walls and backlit panels.

www.innerspacecheshire.co.uk

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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 UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

Kendu is a European company with over 16 years of experience in pioneering in-store visual communication solutions for retailers.

We design, manage and manufacture in-house to guarantee the best quality.

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, + 44 (0)20 373 55 258 E. info@kendu.com W www.kendu.com S. www.twitter.com/KenduInStore

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

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

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

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Q&A

TREASURE EVANS Missguided ventured into bricks and mortar in 2016, opening at Westfield Stratford followed by Bluewater in Kent this year. Here we chat with Treasure Evans, retail visual manager at Missguided, who was awarded Most Innovative Person in VM at the VM & Display Awards last month.

RF. How did you get into visual merchandising?

TE. I ’ve been really lucky and privileged in my career, working for some incredible brands, starting in high-end fashion at Vivienne Westwood/Hervia Bazaar, to premium fashion with Diesel and moving into high street with River Island. Each one so different but an amazing experience with every brand. I got into VM really young; not your typical university degree girl. I left school at 16 and knew I wanted to be in a creative environment. I applied for an internship with a high-end designer and hounded (literally) the woman until she gave me an interview. I had no experience and no reference. I was really fortunate she warmed to me and saw potential in me.

She gave me the role and I became her shadow. I loved every second of it. Then I moved through a few roles with the above brands, always in visual, creative and styling, and just worked my ass off working my way up. VM is my passion.

RF. What drew you to Missguided?

TE. E verything. I had actually written to their HR department before Missguided announced they were doing retail, and told them how much I loved their brand and wanted to work there. Then when I read they were doing standalone retail, as you can imagine… HEAVEN. I knew that was where I was supposed to be. Missguided as a brand is inspiring to me, she has so much personality and that drew me in. The retail side of the business was just developing, and to be part of something from the very beginning and be part of the retail visual and creative ‘face’ was just incredible.

RF. Tell us about your role as retail visual manager at Missguided.

TE. I am mainly responsible for bringing Missguided’s personality to life through all in-store visual and creative; from concept to design to execution. To bring a new way of thinking to the high street and retail environment, and immerse our customers in our brand lifestyle through the store journey. I am responsible for everything you would expect a retail visual and creative manager to be responsible for; statement visual concepts, iconic pink monster trucks, Missguided vending machines, real life mermaids and 5m disco ball babe riding bananas... To the more normal aesthetics — mannequin design, wig briefs, fixture base layouts, product layouts, customer journey, in-store experience, IRL traction and making sure we bring and keep Missguided alive.

RF. Can you run through some of the features at the Westfield Stratford and Bluewater stores?

TE. W e opened with what has become an iconic piece of Missguided retail history now — the pink pimped-up monster

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truck. She (we call her Gladys) was a symbol of Missguided arriving onto the high street. To say we have landed and really set our stance as a brand; fun, bold, slightly fearless and unapologetically true to herself. She was the perfect way to open the store. The idea behind the visual and creative strategy is to provide the customer with a fun and interactive experience with touch points through the journey of Instagram-able moments; mannequins riding flamingos and life-like mannequins; showcasing all our different customer types; promoting not to be afraid to be ‘themselves’ — from our dancing girls to our insta-famous middle finger mannequins, to our uniKWEENs as we call them (half unicorn, half woman). We have multiple vending machines that are incredibly popular and we sell Missguided branded drinks. We opened Bluewater with something a little different. We thought we would throw them a new direction with our five-metre, babe-riding, bright yellow banana. It was to set the tone to expect the unexpected.

RF. What inspires you in your work?

TE. H onestly, everything. My heart is in my job 100 per cent, so even when I’m not meaning to I’m always writing things down, searching, scrolling, saving and pinning. Inspiration IS everywhere. I have a very active mind — that urge to create and inspire others drives me. I’m inspired by Missguided, by founder Nitin Passi, he really is a total visionary and his work ethic and mindset is incredible, and his views and beliefs for the brand really inspire me. Also, the people in HQ. Missguided has such incredible talent within it; the smallest conversations with people of the same mindset, working towards the same goal, all vibing and feeding off each other — the office environment is honestly gold. Everywhere, everything. Absorb it all. Listen to people; watch people; talk to people and surround yourself with people who have passion like you do, and you will be inspired. DAILY. RF. How did it feel to win Most Innovative Person in VM? TE. L iterally the most incredible feeling. It’s such an honour to win such a prestigious award, it was really humbling to have that acclamation. The past 12 months have been such a journey and we have put literally blood, sweat and tears into the visual and creative, and it just makes every single second worth it.

Read the full interview at www.retail-focus.co.uk/qanda

M ER RY CH R I S TMA S T 0207 3771776 info@blacksvisual.com www.blacksvisual.com FOLLOW US @blacksvisuallondon Blacks Visual London @goneandnotforgotten Blacks Visual London