Retail Focus March 2018

retail focus

MARCH 2018 : £6.75 #97

March 2018/issue 97

retail focus WWW.RETAIL-FOCUS.CO.UK

Window Shopping : Riley Rose : Hogan : Hackett : VM & Display Show : World Retail Congress : Sign & Digital : Mannequins : Focus on surfaces & finishes : Q&A with Jamie Taylor, L’Occitane

skin deep Riley Rose enters the beauty market

WINDOW SHOPPING : RILEY ROSE : HOGAN : HACKETT : VM & DISPLAY SHOW : WORLD RETAIL CONGRESS : SIGN & DIGITAL : MANNEQUINS : IN & AROUND WEMBLEY PARK : FOCUS ON SURFACES & FINISHES : Q&A WITH JAMIE TAYLOR, L’OCCITANE

FARRINGDON LAUNCHING APRIL 2018

mannequins | creative | shop fit | hangers | retail

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H.O.L. are a London based leading provider of Retail Design, Shop Fitting and Retailer Supplies. We provide a creative and effective retail display environment to engage your customers and enhance your brand.

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contents

CONTENTS Skin deep

26-27

Inside Forever 21’s new beauty boutique called Riley Rose, a warm, contemporary and lively atmosphere providing a playground for beauty enthusiasts.

37 VM & Display Show

48 World Retail Congress

52 Sign & Digital

41 Mannequins

& Around: 50 InWembley Park

on: 67 Focus Surfaces & finishes

7

26-34 Project Focus

8

Leader

Riley Rose : Hogan : Hackett

Diary

47

10-14 News 17-18 Window shopping Inspiring window displays from around the globe.

21 25

Centre stage Karl McKeever Can one person change fortunes? asks Karl in this month’s column.

Opinion Catherine Lucus, managing partner at Green Room Design, explores putting humans first and switching on the motivation button.

50

In and Around..

Wembley Park. which is currently undergoing one of Europe’s largest urban regeneration projects.

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

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

74 Q&A Jamie Taylor, retail, property and wholesale director at L’Occitane, discusses the brand’s new London flagship, the role of artisans and explores the complex and interesting theme of retail transformation.

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 March ‘18 Retail Focus magazine is proud to launch

the Creative Retail Awards in association with the SDEA. Pencil Tuesday 5 June 2018 into your diaries for a night of celebration, live music and networking. To find out more about attending and entering products and projects, visit the website www.creativeretailawards.com.

We also have another launch to announce – The Forum at next month’s VM & Display Show. Running across the two-day show, the seminar programme will include a host of exciting speakers including Harrods, L’Occitane, UXUS, Seen Displays, YourStudio, Visual Thinking, VM-Unleashed and more. Turn to P37 to find out more.

2018 is shaping up to be an interesting one for the mannequin industry.

Missguided has rolled out a range of diverse mannequins at its Bluewater and Westfield Stratford stores as part of the brand’s #MakeYourMark campaign. As part of the campaign, the retailer pledged to include stretch marks and other industry perceived ‘flaws’ in its model imagery. The forward-thinking brand is pleasing its customer base for representing different ethnicities and featuring various skin conditions such as vitiligo. Read more on P41-42.

Another forward-thinking retailer is Forever 21’s new beauty brand, Riley Rose. Its new stores offer a playground for beauty enthusiasts – a one-stop shop where customers can discover, play and explore (P26-27). Hogan’s new flagship in Milan (P29-30) adapts from retail space to live event or gallery space. Reflecting the brand, the store feels luxurious yet accessible, edgy yet inviting, and of course, effortlessly cool. Back in the UK, Hackett has unveiled a new luxury store concept at Canary Wharf, which combines the traditional Georgian aspects of the brand with some jovial touches (P33-34).

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 Terry Clark e. terry@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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diary

DIARY

World Retail Congress Marriott Auditorium, Madrid 17-19 April 2018 Returning to Europe for the first time since 2015, join the world’s best in Madrid at the World Retail Congress 2018. The Congress provides an unrivalled high-level forum for retail leaders to meet and share insight, form powerful connections and help shape the retail future. Gain invaluable insights from people across retail as they share their real business stories. An extensive speaker programme with more than 130 participants brings together senior retail speakers from some of the world’s biggest to the newest businesses, as well as leading industry stakeholders from global economics, politics, finance and NGOs. The key theme for 2018 is ‘Innovate to Win’.

WorldRetail www.worldretailcongress.com

VM & Display Show Business Design Centre, London 18-19 April 2018 The VM & Display Show has announced new features for 2018. The Retail Focus Forum will offer visitors insight on the latest trends in visual merchandising and design from industry experts. and the Display Team Challenge which will see some of the UK’s biggest retailers compete to be crowned Display Team of the Year.

VMDisplayShow

Sign & Digital UK NEC, Birmingham 24-26 April 2018

Retail Design Expo Olympia, London 2-3 May 2018

Discover the latest innovations in signage, print, display, décor and design at Sign & Digital UK 2018. Showcasing the latest in all types of signage, wide format printing and print finishing equipment through to innovative materials, inks and display systems. Visit the Sign Trade Services Pavilion for day-to-day sign making items and the popular Signmakers Workshop.

Discover retail design, marketing, branding, visual merchandising, architecture and shopfitting at Retail Design Expo in May. The show also includes an extensive free conference programme and is co-located alongside Retail Business Technology Expo (RBTE) and Retail Digital Signage Expo (RDSE).

Signanddigital

www.vmanddisplayshow.com

NEW AWARDS CONCEPT FROM RETAIL FOCUS AND THE SDEA 05.06.18 LONDON 8

RtlDesignExpo

www.signuk.com

www.retaildesignexpo.com

FIND OUT MORE:

www.creativeretailawards.com

news

NEWS Soho welcomes first permanent Clarks Originals store Selfridges launches Sneaker Gallery With the growth in women’s sneakers over the last few years, Selfridges has unveiled an area of its Oxford Street store dedicated to this market. The department store has a launched a 165 sq m Sneaker Gallery within its existing Shoe Galleries department on the second floor.

The space offers more than 700 styles and will be split up into two categories. One is the ‘fashion sneaker’, with 264 options and 131 pre + 133 SS18), and this will include styles from the likes of Chloe, Stella McCartney, Balengciago, Gucci an Etro. The space stocks approximately 500 styles of a ‘sneaker head’ edit including everything from Nike to Converse x CDG and Vans.

The department will also host special drops such as Yeezy’s and Off-White collaborations.

Shaftesbury has announced Clarks Originals has opened its first permanent standalone store in the heart of Soho at 32 Berwick Street. The new 46 sq m concept store is the first of its kind for the brand and offers both men’s and women’s styles, alongside in-store exclusives and limited edition colourways.

‘We are pleased to welcome Clarks Originals to Soho.

Respected for their authenticity, the Clarks Originals brand complements the existing diverse community of considered and independent brands for the fashion-conscious Soho shopper,’ says Samantha Bain-Mollison, head of retail at Shaftesbury.

The new store will sit alongside British menswear from Oliver Spencer, Swedish denim brand Nudie, independent modern workwear from Universal Works, Sandqvist and independent brand specialist OTHER/shop.

The Fold launches first flagship in London British fashion label, The Fold has launched its first flagship at 28 Cadogan Place in London. This is the first standalone store for The Fold. Initially sold online only, the flagship marks a key milestone for the brand, which has experienced a high level of growth since its launch in 2012.

Kinnersley Kent Design worked closely with the retailer to design a concept that reflects the brand’s core values and that showcases its full womenswear collection.

Located within a historic Chelsea neighbourhood close to a selection of desirable stores and amenities, the flagship creates the perfect opportunity to introduce a new customer to the brand whilst catering to the existing Fold Woman.

Housed in a beautiful Grade II listed

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property on the corner of Cadogan Place and Pont Street (part of the prestigious Cadogan Estate), the flagship spans two floors and covers 130 sq m.

‘Retail is no longer about creating something static. It is about designing flexible spaces that change throughout the day, and that grow and evolve with a brand. The concept we designed for The Fold was based on the idea of a members’ club, turning the idea of a

traditional “store” on its head. From the outset, the flagship needed to be dual functional — serving as a relaxed shopping space by day, and transforming into an events space in the evening where the brand can hold networking or press events. In essence, the flagship store we designed does what the clothes do — takes the customer from 9am to 9pm,’ says Jill Higgins, partner at Kinnersley Kent Design.

news

Co-op announces plans to launch pay-in-aisle technology Co-op has announced plans to launch a scan-and-go app allowing customers to checkout on their phones without visiting a till. The app has been built with Mastercard’s secure digital payments expertise. The shop, scan and go initiative is being trialled at the Co-op’s store located at the retailer’s support centre in Manchester, with a wider roll-out beginning as early as this summer, which is expected to include a further trial at the Co-op’s store located in the UK headquarters of Microsoft in Reading.

The technology sits alongside conventional payment methods in store, such as self-service tills and manned

checkouts, in order to enhance consumer choice and service. The retailer is seeing the number of cash transactions in its stores rapidly reduce in favour of alternative payment methods. Cash transactions have dropped by more than one fifth over the last five years (15 per cent

reduction in the last 18 months alone).

‘It is a challenging market place for retailers, and the Co-op is responding positively. Our ambition is to harness technology to deliver the shopping experience that our diverse customerbase requires — when, where and how they need it,’ says Matthew Speight, director of retail support at the Co-op. ‘It is all about consumer choices and convenience. We listen to our members and customers and we are investing in our stores, people, prices, products and technology. We recognise there are many communities where customers pop in to their local Coop and enjoy a friendly chat — it is all part of the service. Whereas for others, perhaps with a train to catch or on a school run, every second can count as consumers seek increased convenience.’

Napapijri opens Out of Nowhere pop-up in Shoreditch

Fashion and Textile Museum to host Orla Kiely: A Life in Pattern Image:

© Orla Kiely

The Fashion and Textile Museum in London has announced the launch of a major exhibition — Orla Kiely: A Life in Pattern. The exhibition opens on 25 May and will run until 23 September. This is the first ever retrospective dedicated to the print, fashion and homeware designs of Orla Kiely. The exhibition will explore the vision that has, since the small beginnings in the 1990s, become a global phenomenon. ‘Orla Kiely: A Life in Pattern’ will draw on an archive of more than 20 years of work, offering visitors an insight into her creative process.

Thematically arranged, the exhibition will explore the use of colour, detail and the geometry of pattern. ‘Stem’ — designed in 2001 and continually updated since then — is just one of the stories explored in detail. With more than 100 objects, visitors will be guided through a kaleidoscopic maze of archive prints, patterns and products.

Upstairs, the exhibition will include more than 30 head-to-toe ensembles and will explore the heart of the Orla Kiely brand — the handbag. From the earliest bag designs to the most recent, it will show the developments from prints through to leathers, and the many techniques that have been used.

The creativity of Orla Kiely is explored through a selection of her campaigns, highlighting her many collaborations with filmmakers and photographers such as Venetia Scott, Gia Coppola and Mercedes Helnwein.

Photography by Melvyn Vincent

Italian premium casualwear brand, Napapijri has opened a pop-up store at The Ace Corner Shop, 149 Shoreditch High Street in London with a programme of events and workshops as part of its SS18 ‘Out of Nowhere’ campaign. The space will host various events in collaboration with independent London-based titles including Noisey, Polyester, BRICK, Intern, HUCK and Little White Lies.

Oversized logo branding in a mix of graffiti and window vinyl masks the fascia of the building, which has been coated in fluorescent orange. Hoarding-style banners cover the upper floors, emblazoned with images from the latest campaign.

In store, the boundary of the store is wrapped in graphics simulating an arid landscape, offset with bold neon signage.

Hand-shaped earth-like terrain lines the perimeter of the space, with high impact screens planted into the mounds.

With weekly events and parties in collaboration with Vice, the space is designed to be multi-functional and interactive — an arc of monolithic mirror beams emerge to create a ‘selfie area’ whilst a DJ booth and bespoke furniture can be repurposed for a number of uses.

The pop-up store was designed and produced by StudioXAG and will remain open until 26 March.

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news

L’Estrange returns to Soho Following its pop-up last year on Berwick Street in Soho, menswear retailer L’Estrange has returned to the area with another pop-up, this time on Wardour Street. The store has opened as part of the retailer’s #WithLessDoMore campaign to celebrate achieving more with less — simplify your wardrobe with the brand’s 2/47 versatile essentials, take a 15 minute pause at the L’Estrange Tea bar or get some inspiration with a book on Essentialism in the library. The retailer worked alongside Concept Creative on the store design and Someday Designs on the collaborations.

With a world of hectic schedules and on-the-go lifestyles, L’Estrange is inviting customers to take a step back and look at essential values and focus their attention on a more streamlined way of life.

L’Estrange will collaborate with a brand every month that represents the values and ethos of #WithLessDoMore. The first collaboration kicks off with loose leaf tea specialist Tea Repertoire, bringing

a different tea ritual everyday, from Matcha to Milk Oolong. As the weather gets warmer, L’Estrange will collaborate with Kambutcha Kat to create a bar for its organic Kombucha hand-brewed in small batches.

L’Estrange will be holding a selection of inspirational books in store to provide customers with advice on how to embrace this lifestyle. Titles such as ‘Less is More’

by Dieter Rams join Essentialism guides and work from Tao Te Ching on the retailer’s bookshelves.

A projection onto the back wall throughout the day and onto the front window at night will offer essential life hacks and tips whilst also showcasing the wonderful wardrobe of L’Estrange and its modern day versatility.

The retailer will also organise a competition, offering visitors the chance to get involved in a creative way and think of ways they do more with less, giving L’Estrange their tips for a chance to win books, clothing and tea. The pop-up will run for six months.

KERB launches newest phase of inKERBator food and drink incubator Street food trailblazer, KERB has launched the newest phase of its food and drink business incubator — the inKERBator — at West India Quay. The aim of the inKERBator is to discover and grow emerging street food talent.

West India Quay is an iconic waterside dining and leisure destination adjoining Canary Wharf jointly owned by Landsec and Schroders (SREF). InKERBator forms part of Landsec’s broader vision to bring new dining concepts to mass audiences by nurturing enterprising food brands to become multi-site operators.

Taking place every Tuesday, the inKERBator scheme gives food and drink start-ups a three-month trial space to sell their products and test their menus with consumers. Alongside inKERBator Tuesdays, each new brand is mentored by KERB with consumer feedback and business consultancy provided over the course of their residency.

Since March 2017, the inKERBator scheme has helped more than 30 new businesses accelerate their growth. The latest ‘wave’ of street food brands at West India Quay includes social enterprise Kitchenette Karts, helping young unemployed people get involved in street food, health food fanatics, Kaledascope and Southern Californian cult favourite, Zephyr.

Known for its London lunchtime street food markets, KERB has helped develop more than 130 food businesses and street food traders including Pizza Pilgrims, who most recently worked with Landsec to open its first restaurant outside of London on the rooftop of Westgate Oxford.

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First cashier-less consumer electronics store opens in Europe British start-up MishiPay has launched Europe’s first cashier-less electronics store, in partnership with consumer electronics giant Saturn. Powered by MishiPay’s technology, the store at the Sillpark shopping centre in Innsbruck, Austria promises customers an immersive shopping experience that’s simpler, faster and more convenient.

Customers will no longer have to queue at the checkout but can pick up a product they want, scan & pay using their mobile device and simply leave with their items.

This is made possible by the Saturn Express app, which is available for download on iOS and Android devices.

The Scan Pay Leave platform is also available as a web app, which does not require an install and works straight from a browser. The payment process within the app instantly deactivates the anti-shoplifting system for the product concerned. The store will also have staff on hand to help shoppers and answer questions about products, services and smartphone-based payment.

This compact pop-up store at Sillpark offers shoppers a wide range of products from audio devices such as speakers, headphones and earphones to games and innovative accessories all of which are RFID tagged.

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international news

international

Image:

© Chris Leonard, courtesy of Gensler

NEWS Clergerie opens flagship on Madison Avenue French shoe brand Clergerie has opened a new freestanding store in New York, located at 901 Madison Avenue. The boutique features the new retail concept launched in Paris last year with the opening on rue Saint-Honore. Contrasting colours, outstanding architectural elements and an unusual mix of materials combine to create an intimate space for customers to discover the latest collections and have a new shopping experience. Clergerie worked alongside Milan-based Vudafieri Saverino Partners on the design of the New York store.

The complete retail network will be updated to the new concept by the first half of 2018.

Starbucks opens first Reserve Store with Italian Princi Bakery in Seattle

Starbucks has opened its first Reserve store, a new format from the company’s Siren Retail business dedicated to its premium Reserve brand. This new location compliments Starbucks’ suite of premium store formats already open, anchored by the company’s immersive Reserve Roasteries that bring to life the theatre of coffee roasting, brewing and packaging for customers. Siren Retail also includes Starbucks Reserve bar locations and Princi bakeries, each of which tells the story of Starbucks’ small-lot Reserve coffees, provide freshly baked Princi food and offer mixology for the evening daypart.

The Reserve store is open to the public on the main floor of the building that houses Starbucks’ headquarters in the SoDo neighbourhood of Seattle. Designed in an open, marketplace style, customers can engage with, and order from, partners (employees) at the Princi counter or Reserve coffee bar, then gather at community tables or lounge areas around two fireplaces. On view is the Princi kitchen where customers can see breads and pastries being made and fresh ingredients prepared daily.

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Comcast unveils Studio Xfinity flagship in Washington D.C. American global telecommunications heavyweight, Comcast has opened the doors to Studio Xfinity, its new flagship store in Washington D.C. The 743 sq m space has been designed by Gensler to reflect the company’s brand promise while being able to adapt to future growth in the tech marketplace. By providing a comfortable hospitality feel, customers can learn and test products in a setting similar to their own home environment.

Comcast’s blue brand colour is featured in the entrance tunnel, on furniture and in the lighting, setting the tone for customers to experience the brand colour at every touchpoint.

The store has been designed based on length of stay, featuring three identified spaces — The Stage, The Workshop, and The Lounge. Each space has its own visual character and interactive technology. The space integrates technology and hospitality elements including a full-service coffee bar and charging stations throughout.

visual merchandising

Inspiring window displays from around the globe

Lacoste

Photography: Melvyn Vincent

As Lacoste announces a new formal line of polo shirts, the retailer’s latest window displays offer a sense of the sophistication and elegance typical of the French brand. A suspended ring of light illuminates the shirt and shines out through a blue filter highlighting the simple, understated design of the new product. The display features a suspended LED ring contained in a fabricated aluminium channel. The blue frame itself is constructed out of high quality corrugated cardboard, channelling the simplicity featured in the window as a whole. The scheme was manufactured and rolled out worldwide to 28 countries by Blacks Visual.

Fendi Fendi’s Spring/Summer 2018 window concept takes inspiration from the futuristic vibes shown in the brand’s SS18 collection, mixed with tropical cues. The visual merchandising team used the details in the collection’s shirts and skirts, and the shining pearls that enrich the looks, as inspiration and used them as elements in the display.

The stratification and lightness shown in the collection have been interpreted in a tropical key — layers of leaves feature in the backdrops of the windows and dunk in a ray of light. Metal coconut embelishments, which have been inspired by the pearl details, play host to the products in a natural and organic display.

Hunter Hunter has brought the rolling hills of Wales to its Regent Street store windows to celebrate its SS18 collection. Following a scenic campaign shoot in the Brecon Beacons, Tenn worked alongside Hunter to bring the campaign to life through an immersive and scenic window display. Taking inspiration from the shoot and the factory’s rural location, Tenn sourced natural materials to recreate the hills. To create height and depth, mounds of polystyrene were artistically hand carved to suit the window. Using dried moss, bunches of grass and straw, each mound came to life through the application and dressing of layered materials. In order to integrate hero product, corrugated style plinths were constructed from MDF and given a raw concrete paint finish. On install, Tenn integrated plinths and mannequins amongst the poly grass mounds and set about finishing the window by hand dressing and styling additional moss, grass, sand and hay for a seamless finish.

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visual merchandising

Karen Millen Spring 2018 at Karen Millen sees unabashed confidence, sass and spirit captured in the brand’s flagship windows on Regent Street.

The windows showcase scenarios in a modern woman’s life, from the office to the cocktail bar, depicting a life more fabulous and encouraging customers to ‘Be More Karen’. This is the first in a series of campaigns focusing on this mind set. The windows feature looks to channel every occasion, for the ever-changing need for beautifully crafted core wardrobe pieces, for confident modern women who are multi-faceted, who’s clothes need to work harder from day-to-night, and importantly allows each to own their own style and have fun. The window concept was designed in-house by creative manager, Charlotte Arnold who partnered with Harlequin Design to produce and roll-out the scheme globally. Kendu supplied the light boxes and Icon Retail supplied the digital screen.

Michael Kors Michael Kors has unveiled an impactful window scheme to promote the brand’s SS18 collection. The retailer worked in collaboration with Harlequin Design to design, produce and install modern stucco steps and wall backdrops for the Regent Street, Paris and Milan Spiga stores. The backlit displays shine bright in the day to help the palette of breezy pastels pop, before graduating to softer lighting at night for the beautiful palm tree-shadow prints.

Selfridges Selfridges is exploring ‘Radical Luxury’ on Oxford Street. Over five months and four themes, Selfridges considers the concentration and dilution of luxury today. As the department store completes its 5,574 sq m David Chipperfield-designed Accessories Hall — its biggest capital investment project to date and the world’s largest space dedicated to extraordinary luxury goods — the 2018 creative campaign muses on the ideas and desires which underpin it.

Running until July, Selfridges will ask, what does luxury mean today? Where is it going in the future? What does luxury look like when it departs from tradition? What is innovative or unorthodox luxury? Celebrating those pushing the parameters of what luxury means in the modern worlds of fashion art and retail, Selfridges will seek the radical and manifest the meaning of ‘Radical Luxury’ — through its own lens and that of a myriad of collaborators.

Canada Goose The harsh conditions of Canada’s Pacific Northwest inspired the Canada Goose Spring 2018 collection. The retailer travelled from Galliano Island to Tofino and all the way to the Kamloops to bring Spring 2018 to life. The theme of the campaign is Unweathered and a window scheme has been unveiled at Selfridges Oxford Street to promote the collection. The jackets are displayed on Mannequino pop-up mannequins, set against a neon maple leaf backdrop.

See more window schemes at

www.retail-focus.co.uk/vm

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harlequin-design.com

CENTRE STAGE pop and display

Standout POP and displays from around the WORLD

Nike Mynt recently collaborated with Nike to create a retail campaign takeover on the ground floor at Nike Town in London to promote the new Running Shield Pack.

Confident, large-scale imagery in the store’s windows introduced the campaign. The ground floor was totally taken over by creating an immersive retail environment, including a dynamic lighting experience mirroring rain and other weather conditions that the Shield range protects wearers from.

Bespoke footwear tables and podiums were designed and constructed with 3D rain drops to further enhance product storytelling, whilst adding a tactile element to the concept.

Alongside the retail campaign, Mynt also worked with Nike’s EMEA West team to create European retail rollout guidelines for in-store communications. This included the creation of new product benefit iconography, product descriptor text and rules for on-going application.

www.mynt.co.uk

Hunter Kids Having successfully transformed Hunter’s Regent Street window into a moorland landscape for SS18, Tenn carried the scheme throughout the store and into the lower ground childrenswear department. Continuing the landscaping, mounds of polystyrene were hand-carved offsite and decorated using dried moss and bouquets of grass. Each mound was positioned in place in store and given a final dressing. Using Hunter’s photoshoot as inspiration, Tenn constructed a temporary wall to fit into the space; wrapped in parachute silk and highlighting the parachute details, the wall creates the perfect backdrop to the new season colours. Bringing the parachute to life, Tenn designed and manufactured three formed parachutes using mild steel wire, manipulated to create a domed top. Powder-coated in white, each frame had a bespoke parachute silk upholstered to fit.

To finish the scheme and give Hunter’s instore team the opportunity to display product, three children’s busts were suspended in the space. Using rope, carribeaners and pulleys, each bust allowed for simple and effective visual display.

www.tenn-ltd.com

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pop and display

digital displays

CENTRE STAGE

H&M To mark the campaign launch of H&M’s range of sustainable sportswear for women, ‘In It For The Long Run’, Lucky Fox installed an instore and window scheme at the brand’s Oxford Street flagship.

The scheme mixes recycled and raw materials alongside new interactive technology to create an informative display that captures the ethos behind the capsule collection. Staying true to the sustainable principles of the sports collection, which is made from recycled polyester, was vital for the scheme. Recycled and raw materials including recycled wood, faux grass, concrete and cardboard mixes with new technology in the form of neon lights and digital screens.

Taking centre stage in store were large concrete plinths inserted with floro green LEDs that traced through the boxes and along the floor. Elsewhere, cardboard reboard structures gave customers information about the sustainable credentials of the range. The space was completed with floor to ceiling vinyl depicting campaign imagery and further information on how shoppers can recycle their old clothes across H&M stores.

www.luckyfox.uk.com

Brompton Junction Kesslers partnered with specialist bike retailer Brompton Junction in Covent Garden to create a high-impact, stylish display to showcase the launch of its CHPT3 bicycle. The stripped-back display complements the minimal aesthetic of the CHPT3 X Brompton bike, which has been designed exclusively in collaboration with ex-professional cyclist David Millar. It is simple yet stylish in design, with window graphics framing the new bike to make it the main focus of the window. Kesslers was able to maximise the use of its state-of-the-art, large-format digital printer for the project, as well as integrating a high-definition LCD screen into the final design to ensure the result was not only visual but interactive.

www.kesslers.com

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Karl McKeever

Can one person change fortunes?

Many of you may have recently seen Gary Oldman’s Oscar-winning performance as Winston Churchill in the Darkest Hour. Our country’s most iconic prime minister, Churchill led a beleaguered and embattled Britain through some of its toughest times, making nearimpossible decisions and delivering rousing, rallying speeches.

Strong leadership is crucial in all walks of life. But, as perhaps demonstrated by the Churchill scenario, it’s more about the right type of leadership to match the circumstance. Leading through continued success takes one type of person. Pulling people up, making them believe and giving them hope and motivation during bleak times takes quite another.

While I often like to focus on the importance of teamwork in retail, it would be almost negligent to overlook the importance of that one person at the top — with a clear vision, focus and determination — in delivering success.

One such example is departing Burberry boss Christopher Bailey who delivered his last London Fashion Week show recently, and deserves to be applauded for his revolutionary work with the brand.

Since joining as CEO in 2014, he has turned Burberry’s fortunes around, making it Britain’s biggest luxury brand. Using several innovations, he has arguably taken the brand to new levels – it was the first to 3D live-stream catwalks and advertise on Snapchat, plus it famously combined men’s and women’s fashion into one show.

The brand’s new chief creative officer is Riccardo Tisci. He may have been somewhat of a surprise appointment to those anticipating a British designer to be named, but Tisci, already credited with turning around the fortunes of Givenchy, could prove, once again, to be another inspiring appointment by Burberry.

Being the prominent figurehead of a brand is not without its challenges though. Once a leading light in every respect, Sir Philip Green’s reputation since the downfall of BHS — and the accompanying pensions debate — has been somewhat tarnished.

Rumblings of a sale of his Arcadia empire to the Chinese abound — as his ageing brands Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Evans are overshadowed by more contemporary players such as boohoo and Missguided. With Green denying the deal, we can only speculate upon the future of this battle-bruised leader. Green is perhaps 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

a good example of not allowing complacency to sneak in. It is a reality that sometimes established retailers can become too big, too lumbering, too bureaucratic. When this happens, an injection of fresh blood is often the only way to reverse the fading fortunes.

One brand that is currently seeking a revival of fortunes under new leadership is New Look, one of several fast-fashion brands which has had to battle a barrage of negative media headlines in recent months. It’s at times like these that strong, confident and bullish leadership is called for — the ability to deliver quick, decisive change in the face of adversity really can be the difference.

Perhaps here I can reference another film, The Godfather, in which Michael Corleone tells Tom Hagen, ‘You’re not a wartime consigliere, Tom.’ Solid, dependable, loyal... yet what the family needed at that given time was someone with fire in their belly and passion in their blood. In a similar vein, New Look recently brought back its own ‘wartime consigliere’ in the shape of Alistair McGeorge, to lead a turnaround of the retailer’s fortunes. Since his return, he has spoken with fiercely assured rhetoric about this being a brand that knows what has to be done, and intent on making it happen.

Transforming a retail giant’s fortunes in today’s tough economic climate, let alone in the face of endless doom-mongers, takes steely resolve, unswerving determination and complete, unshakeable faith in your decision making.

For these strong leaders, there is no room for sitting on the fence, prevaricating or muddled visions. Sharen Jester Turney, during her time as president and CEO at Victoria’s Secret, turned the brand into a global powerhouse, with strong, solid sales and an international reputation. Sir Stuart Rose performed similar feats, resuscitating Marks & Spencer during his time at the helm there.

During 2018, there could be any number of retailers that may have to look to their respective leaders to deliver similar decisive action, clear thinking and dynamic, dogged determination.

H&M has warned of a difficult 2018 and will be looking to KarlJohan Persson to steer it through. Debenhams is pinning its hopes on Sergio Bucher to boost its straggling sales. And after a disappointing Christmas for House of Fraser, all eyes will surely be on how Alex Williamson plans to lead the retailer out of its slump.

It’s true that success is delivered through strong retail teams. But this success can only be driven from the top. The broad shoulders of a business leader are designed to carry a business, a brand, as they strive mercilessly, endlessly, for better. This is no time for mere fighting talk. It’s time for dynamic, inspiring leadership that packs a punch from all angles.

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RILEY ROSE

GLENDALE GALLERIA, LOS ANGELES Design: FutureBrand UXUS Opening date: November 2017 Store size: 599 sq m

Apparel retailer Forever 21 has launched a new beauty boutique called Riley Rose.

Stores have opened in Glendale Galleria shopping centre in Los Angeles, The Shops at La Cantera, San Antonio and six more locations across the US. The brand worked alongside FutureBrand UXUS to create a playful retail experience across the stores, aimed at an explorative customer who wants to discover innovative products and experiences. Riley Rose is a one-stop shop where customers can discover, play and explore cutting-edge products and trends within a unique store experience, offering beauty essentials, interiors and accessories.

The brief for FutureBrand UXUS was to create a beauty and lifestyle destination for the millenial shopper. 'A one-stopshop where you can find anything from a cute home gift for your friend to the latest mascara from your favourite K-Beauty blogger,' as Olivier Termijtelen, senior designer at FutureBrand UXUS, explains.

'We were briefed to create a warm, contemporary and lively atmosphere in the stores; a playground for beauty enthusiasts.'

The spaces are wholly interactive and

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offer a contemporary take on beauty retail, with product trials, shareable moments, pop-ups and knowledgeable staff on hand. The playful design offers a warm, contemporary and lively feel to the stores.

Bringing the social media experience to bricks and mortar, Riley Rose will also collaborate with social media influencers all year round as part of the store's creative initiatives.

A large part of the design concept is a zoning strategy, layered, exploration-based arrangement that enhances the Riley Rose playground offering, where customers can discover innovative products through play.

The zoning transforms the vast spaces into digestible areas for browsing, chilling and trialling. The stores are a complete walk-through experience; starting from the enticing and playful facade, customers can then roam from a selfie pop-up station to chic beauty island, and onto a vanity area where they can discover the latest bath and fragrance products.

'We took a domestic approach to the interiors with a feminine touch. The bespoke colours and materials were chosen for the

project focus

'A playground for beauty enthusiasts.' store to fit the female millenial shopper, with soft marbles, rose gold metals and pink tiles,' says Termijtelen. 'The contrasting grey concrete and perforated steel accents add an innovative edge to the softer hues and materials.'

The main design features in the space are all referencing the 'millenial dream home', including a large standout pink tiled kitchen island with a pink marble top; a place where groups of friends can try new beauty looks and have beauty tutorials with the Riley Rose team. There's also a large pink fridge for refrigerated, fresh face masks, and a classic bathtub used to display and promote all the latest and greatest bathbombs. A candy wall features only the most unusual products seen on the coolest blogs and Pinterest boards.

'There are also more personal and intimate product trial stations inspired by vanity lounges, which are perfect for

a selfie moment,' says Termijtelen. 'The store includes a large pink selfie wall with soft pink bench seating. The selfie wall is a dedicated space that can be used for creative and promotional installations; changing this regularly keeps the store fresh and new.'

A pop-up food and beverage cart is specially designed to collaborate with new, creative food vendors like fresh fruit popsicles or unicorn cotton candy.

Forever 21 will expand the brand in the coming months, opening eight more stores this year.

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HOGAN

VIA MONTENAPOLEONE, MILAN Design: Checkland Kindleysides Opening date: December 2017 Store size: 277 sq m

Luxury Italian footwear brand, Hogan has relocated in Milan with a new store concept. The design, by Checkland Kindlysides, blends classical origins with contemporary style as they define how the brand is expressed within a physical space. The boutique is located on one of Milan’s most fabulous shopping streets, Via Montenapoleone, sitting alongside a host of luxury brands.

'We wanted to create an opportunity to celebrate the brand's iconic product range and form a platform to showcase new, cutting edge collections,' says Amanda Wheatley, senior designer at Checkland Kindleysides. 'With a truly cosmopolitan following, Hogan is a lifestyle brand, championing contemporary culture. The store therefore needed to be dynamic, working hard to adapt from retail space to live event or gallery space. Reflecting the brand, the store feels luxury yet accessible, edgy yet inviting, and of course, effortlessly cool.

Central to the design is a sculptural interpretation of ‘movement’. This draws inspiration from the work of Umberto Boccioni, in particular, and his masterpiece ‘Unique Forms of Continuity in Space’.

The store includes a number of design

'AN ALL-ROUND EXPERIENCE OF COSINESS AND WANDERLUST.'

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features. Bold, sculptural gallery plinths punctuate the space. These wedge forms take inspiration from the idea of a ‘stridein-motion’ and present footwear on minimal inclined surfaces.

A series of movement walls feature frosted glass, behind which animated patterns on LED mesh curtain graphically express the dynamism of the city.

A ‘host bar’ is crafted from polished, black marble. Here, customers can have products explained, presented and delivered by staff.

'An adaptable space, the store can easily switch focus between product display, live event, or gallery space,' says Wheatley. 'A mix of seating styles allows for different levels of hosting. A customer can both relax with a coffee in luxury lounge seating or discuss style with the Hogan team whilst perched on high stools found at both the host and customisation bars.

We have integrated technology in such a way that it forms a dynamic, artful and ever-changing backdrop to the store. The “digital window” creates the opportunity to further express the concept of movement and cosmopolitan lifestyles.'

A curved, glass staircase leads customers to the lower ground floor. This

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space has an intentional pace change and invites shoppers to indulge and socialise.

Mirroring the materials of the host bar, the customisation bar is located on the ground floor. Dynamic, cantilevered forms conceal a hidden display screen. Here, customers can create their own style by customising products.

'Paying homage to the unexpected mix of materials and playful twist on design, as seen on Hogan shoes, we employed a similar approach to the palette, always being mindful of contrasting our materials and playing with shape and proportions,' says Wheatley. 'The palette combines luxury with refined elegance and balances beautiful, contrasting materials. These elements combine to create a place of warmth, layering, texture and simplicity.

Around the perimeter of the space, soft grey, Billiemi Sanded, marble wall finishes are complimented by hand-finished, pink rendered plaster — all contrasted with a polished concrete floor. The walls play host to invisibly cantilevered and internally illuminated, hand-brushed, brass shelves.

This interesting but elegant merchandising system presents individual pairs of Hogan shoes in graphic formation.'

Sergio Azzolari, general manager of Hogan, adds: 'Versatility is the keyword.

We created a luxury urban environment for the luxury urban consumer, where every element is the quintessence of the brand’s natural empathy. An all-round experience of cosiness and wanderlust.'

Following its debut in Milan, the design provides the creative blueprint for further retail environments and brand experiences all over the world.

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

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HACKETT

Cabot Place, Canary Wharf Design: Inhouse Opening date: January 2018 Store size: 180 sq m British menswear retailer Hackett has unveiled a new design concept at its Canary Wharf store. The refurbishment brings the store more in line with the brand’s new design concept, lightening and brightening the space and improving the aesthetic of the perimeter fixtures so that the product stands out more. The luxurious concept combines the traditional Georgian aspects of the brand with more jovial touches — that jovial British quality.

A similar concept was fitted in Hackett’s flagship in Madrid last Summer.

The new scheme is brighter and more contemporary, but still nods to the luxurious, traditional side of Hackett. Wardrobes are a key part of the design. The team stripped out the darker internal lining and fitted them out with lighter oak and improved the lighting. These stand alongside parquet flooring and a sisal rug in the middle, all

combining to provide a warmer and richer environment. The garments are the hero and now stand out even more.

The new fit-out also provides a more approachable environment for the loyal Hackett consumer, and opens up the brand to a whole new audience. Inspiration for the new concept came from a variety of areas, including furniture that founder Jeremy Hackett already owns.

The store has a nice balance of darker items of furniture against the lighter walls and oak panelling, providing a more inviting, intimate environment.

Some of the chairs have exposed backs to show the workmanship inside, linking back to the tailoring side of the business.

Furniture has been sourced within Britain to support local manufacturers. Hackett himself is a keen photographer in his spare time and provided his own imagery from his Instagram account to use as art pieces on the walls. The artwork provides an interesting talking point within the store environment and adds to the intimate feel, showing who the Hackett brand is and where it has come from.

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Punches of colour have been brought in store within feature areas to lift the environment. Fun and quirky touches include a pair of top hat lights on the cash desk and umbrella handles used as hooks in the fitting rooms.

On the digital side, the store already had a screen behind the cash desk, and now also features screens in the windows.

Moving images and marketing campaigns are shown in store. Hackett is piloting a new mobile POS system at Canary Wharf; the first time Hackett is introducing payment via iPhones. This again adds to the much more intimate experience.

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VM & Display Show 2018:

Awaken the Senses

Text: Gemma Balmford

With a new forum, the first ever retail display team challenge and a packed exhibition space, the Business Design Centre is the place to be this April for all things VM. Dazzling fairground lights; life-size cardboard engineered elephants; beautifully crafted paper furniture; stylish, self-assured mannequins. These are just some of the pieces set to stir the senses and awaken the imagination at next month’s VM & Display Show.

Taking place from 18-19 April at London’s Business Design Centre, the event will host the first ever retail display team challenge, as well as the popular graduate challenge, the inaugural Retail Focus Forum and a multitude of innovative visual merchandising and display companies.

Fashion brand Missguided, Clarks Shoes and vintage clothing retailer, Rokit will compete against each other in the retail display team challenge to produce a window scheme based on the theme ‘Nights Out in London’. The designs will be built ahead of the show with the winning scheme chosen by visitors during the event.

Students from London College of Fashion, Hertford Regional College and Hugh Baird College will also go head-to-head in the graduate challenge, following a strict design brief set by luxury department store, Harrods. The undergraduates have been tasked with creating a window design showcasing a luxury brand sold in the Knightsbridge store. ‘This is an opportunity to demonstrate your technical ability and creative talent by producing a visually stimulating, luxury and brand-aware display that echoes the qualities, skills and craftsmanship behind the brand,’ says the brief.

Each student has the opportunity to create a window display that captures the aesthetic of the brand but also reflects elements such as the brand’s unique selling point, history and style. The winner will be awarded a one-month summer placement at the high-end London department store.

Both challenges will take place in the gallery bays near the Retail Focus Forum, which launches this year with a keynote presentation by Simon Hampton, head of visual merchandising at Harrods. Sponsored by Barthelmess, the conference sessions will cover a range of topics from the importance of collaboration, to making and saving money from new store concepts, VM and display, and multisensory design. For the full conference programme, visit www.retail-focus.co.uk or to register for the event, log on to www.vmanddisplayshow.com

Product Picks Paper Lounge Inspired by design, functionality, practicality and fun, Paper Lounge furniture is natural with simple geometrical lines and a honeycomb structure. The range includes stools, side tables, footstools and benches, in a choice of sizes and colours.

Universal Display In the words of The Beautiful South, She’s a perfect 10.

Universal Display’s new Ultra mannequins are self-assured, feminine and stylish with flowing silhouettes. The versatile collection is available with a choice of heads and in a range of finishes.

Carousel Lights Featured in the latest edition of the CoolBrands book, Carousel Lights specialises in neon, neon-ultra, fairground lights, lightboxes and edge-lit signs. The company counts Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges among its clients and will exhibit for the first time at next month’s show.

VGL Take a selfie with VGL’s cardboard engineered animals, including life-size elephants on its jungle-theme stand. The company produces point-of-sale and large-format graphics for creative in-store and window displays.

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HIGHLIGHTS OF Retail Focus Forum, SPONSORED BY BARTHELMESS

Wednesday 18 April

Thursday 19 April

Keynote Simon Hampton, head of visual merchandising, Harrods

How to Create a Truly Immersive Experience Tom Philipson, co-founder, YourStudio & TopShop

Are you effectively understanding your audience and securing true connection?

Katie Mitchell, client services director, seen displays

Making and Saving Money from New Store CONCEPTS, VM & DISPLAY Tim Radley, founder, VM-Unleashed

Destination denim: Behind the story of a new VM LOOK Suzanne Tanner, senior retail project manager, Visual Thinking

L’Occitane Regent Street: A STORE TO TANTALISE ALL FIVE SENSES George Gottl, CEO, FutureBrand UXUS & Jamie Taylor, retail, property and wholesale director, L’Occitane

For the full conference programme, log on to www.retail-focus.co.uk

When and where Business Design Centre, London Wednesday 18 April

09:30-18:00

Thursday 19 April

09:30-17:00

www.vmanddisplayshow.com VMDisplayShow #VMDS2018

Show Features Creative Network The people you knew were out there but didn’t know where to find them.

Exhibitors include David Anthony Creative, ATADesigns, Oxtonic, The Wow Business, PinkDog and Co, Brilliant Neon and So Visualise.

Designer Network Meet the designers who can bring your ideas to life, including Propability, Tenn, Hello Flamingo, PLANarama and Ghost Create and Build.

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Graduate Challenge Undergraduates from London College of Fashion, Hertford Regional College and Hugh Baird College compete for a highly coveted placement at Harrods.

Retail Display Team Challenge Missguided, Clarks Shoes and Rokit go head-to-head to produce a window scheme based on the theme ‘Nights Out in London’.

Graduate Showcase New talent looking to showcase their work and unleash their creativity on the industry.

Retail Focus Forum, SPONSORED BY BARTHELMESS Topics at the inaugural Retail Focus forum include ‘How to create a truly immersive experience’ and ‘L’Occitane Regent Street: A store to tantalise all five senses’.

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16/02/2018 15:18:55

mannequins

FIGURATIVELY

SPEAKING Abstracts, realistic figures, stretchmarks and vitiligo; its shaping up to be an interesting year for the mannequin sector.

ethnicity, vitiligo, stretch marks and so on, while it is something we should celebrate — and great that the brand are tackling our perceptions of what we understand or are told should be beautiful — customer facing, albeit in conjunction with established and popular models, it did also simultaneously rather jar,’ says Baker.

He talked to his students, both female Undergraduates and Post Graduates and in the core target audience of the brand, to get their thoughts. Comments ranged from ‘I like the fact that the mannequins are inspired by real-life models, which have visible natural features and imperfections’ although they ‘were not fans of angry, passive attitudes in the mannequins’ body language’. The various groups also recognised that the mannequins were relevant to social media trends, as most of them follow the brand via social media, and that ‘they suited the brand’s image and social identity’, although the key unanimous comments were that ‘the body sizes were unrealistic, too skinny and therefore why would they have stretchmarks on the chest?’ The students also felt that ‘the brand shouldn’t choose which elements of

diversity to show’.

Baker adds: ‘My personal feeling is that we can’t always operate with hindsight and that this is a step in at least a direction; whether this is the right one only time will tell, or will this actually be something which is ultimately very misguided?’

‘Anything that stimulates conversation about diversity and social acceptance and awareness is a good thing,’ believes Jonathan Berlin, managing director at Universal Display. Nicola Skinner, marketing and sales manager at Rootstein, agrees: ‘It’s a good idea to show diversity in

Photography: Jurgen Jacob Lodder

Missguided made the headlines in February when it rolled out a range of diverse mannequins at its Bluewater and Westfield Stratford stores as part of the brand’s #MakeYourMark campaign that launched in December 2017. As part of the campaign, the brand pledged to include stretch marks and other industry perceived ‘flaws’ in its model imagery. In an effort to be representative of all women, the collection includes mannequins of different ethnicities featuring various skin conditions.

One mannequin has vitiligo, the same skin condition as supermodel and body positive advocate, Winnie Harlow, while others have freckles, stretchmarks, and another wears a headscarf.

The debate about ‘unhealthy’ mannequins and the use of more realistic sizes continues. A study in 2017 by the Journal of Eating Disorders suggested the bodies of female mannequins are ‘unrealistic’. Researchers looked at the displays in female fashion shops in two UK cities and concluded that if people were the same size as the mannequins they would be ‘considered medically unhealthy’.

Jonathan Baker, course director at London College of Fashion, says the Missguided mannequins are of course typical figures that most retailers from a mid-range, fashion-forward, fastfashion brand would adopt. ‘However, the references to diversity and inclusivity which are encapsulated in the body colours and various treatments to highlight either

Text: Lyndsey Dennis

Main: Missguided’s diverse range of mannequins highlight skin conditions such as stretch marks and vitiligo. Right: Tailored by Hans Boodt Mannequins.

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Flashmannequins to go here

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to be versatile enough to straddle multiple seasons and shifting trends, the mix of lifelike and conceptual elements allows each figure to work with full wig and makeup treatments, or remain equally impressive when completely unadorned.

‘Wigs are once again very much in trend, even for mannequins with no makeup or a stylised/abstract face. The wigs and makeup are all very natural looks, which offers brands flexibility and longevity.

We are seeing realistic mannequins back in shop windows and more interest in the realistic faces, and more of a move away from egg heads to stylised/abstract or realistic faces,’ says Skinner.

‘I’ve noticed a real resurgence of realistic mannequins used by high street retailers who would traditionally have used headless or abstract. In the same respect, I’m seeing premium brands that would have used realistic mannequins in the past make the switch to more abstract styles.

With realistic mannequins, the details and features are becoming ultra real, with freckles for example,’ says Anthony RendallDavis, creative director at H.O.L Group.

He believes the mannequins at Missguided convey a really strong

Photography: Sean Ebsworth Barnes

mannequins but it needs to be consistent.

A size 8 girl would not have stretch marks.

Why not make her a size 12-14, as all bodies and shapes are beautiful. I agree we should embrace diversity so well done to the brand, it’s a great message for their target customers.’

Universal Display has launched the Ultra mannequin collection, designed to be versatile and adaptive. Each pose is self-assured feminine and stylish with flowing silhouettes. Designed and created with a choice of heads and easily customisable, Ultra is a UK size 10, as with all Universal Display products, and the range is available in an array of finishes including bespoke finishes. ‘We are also working to expand the range and to add a male counterpart, kids and accessories,’ says Berlin.

‘We have seen strength in abstracts currently. The economy is such that our clients are looking at longevity and ease of use. We can, and are, creating low maintenance but still beautiful mannequins for them. We are using more specialised finishes and materials to give a premium look and feel,’ adds Berlin.

Designed by Tony Crathern, Rootstein’s High Society collection is an unusual merger of realistic and abstract styling to create a timelessly elegant, subtle-yetimposing series of premium ‘transitional’ female characters. Deliberately conceived

message of inclusivity and acceptance.

‘Missguided is really leading the way with realistic mannequins in the industry. The mannequin in the Stratford store showing Vitiligo has really broken boundaries,’ says Rendall-Davis.

He believes there is still a gap in the market for a true plus-size mannequin.

‘Current designs available are not even a size 16, which is the average dress size in the UK. We will be launching true plus-size mannequins as part of the Farringdon range in April, with two female poses and one male pose,’ says Rendall Davis.

H.O.L. Group is launching two new mannequin ranges this Spring.

Above: Available from Bonaveri, Schläppi 2200 BNATURAL biodegradable mannequins were used for the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange Exhibition at Buckingham Palace in February.

Below: Rootstein’s High Society is an unusual merger of realistic and abstract styling.

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

19.12.17 10:33

Flashmannequins to go here

The Paddington range of articulated mannequins launches this month, and takes inspiration from the SS18 trend of bold jewel colours that were really prominent in New York fashion week at the end of last year. The second is the Farringdon range, which consists of 39 poses over female, male, streetwear, kids and plus-size male and female. ‘We’ve worked closely with one of the country’s leading body language experts on the poses for this range, keeping a natural fluidity to the designs. The range will be unveiled at the VM & Display Show in April.’

Blue Studio says its clients prefer to use mannequins that don’t necessarily evoke too much emotion. ‘There is a return to simple poses; straight legs and arms for a more sedate, classical presentation,’ says Ian Thompson, operations director at Blue Studio, the visual merchandising agent for Bonaveri.

‘Missguided’s new range is a significant step forward and we’re pleased they have put the topic out there for discussion. Their very vocal, young audience maintains a strong dialogue on these issues and Missguided is right to champion diversity this way,’ believes Thompson. ‘There are other retailers that will be expected to engage with their customers on these issues and so it may be expected of them to integrate sociopolitical commentary in their operations and fit-outs. Bennetton was the forerunner back in the 1980s and so it’s not like any of this is new. Retailers will find their own topics and engage in their own way with their audience and that may

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Above: Monsieur from Proportion London takes influence from the world of art and sculpture. Below: The Ultra mannequin from Universal Display. mean we see some of them adopt a more diverse range of mannequins. On the whole we don’t think a large adoption of simply diverse shaped mannequins will do the job. The industry faces much bigger issues like wastage, sustainability and social welfare for its workers — we think these are important topics for both retailers and customers to be identifying, discussing and resolving together.’

Bonaveri is working hard on further development of it’s sustainable mannequin collection, working with organisations, retailers and fashion labels on helping them to achieve their own sustainability aspirations. The collections and poses available from Bonaveri are expanding and the new TRIBE male and female mannequin collection has just been added to the brand’s list of available biodegradable mannequins.

For the male market, Proportion London has launched Monsieur, a distinctive new male mannequin collection which takes influence from the world of art and sculpture. Sharp in style and lean in body, this collection is especially well suited to the display of contemporary tailoring.

Hans Boodt Mannequin’s new Tailored collection was born out of the desire to bring perfection to the tailoring industry.

Retailers can choose the head, position, colour or material to create their own Tailored mannequin. The company says 3D printing has revolutionised the way the company works.

At CES in January, Euveka showcased a mannequin torso that can change shape within two minutes. The mannequin is packed with mechatronic, IT and material technology that uses bio-mimicry to replicate, as closely as possible, morphological diversity such as age, geographic origin, body ageing and illness.

The mannequin can change from a size 36 to 42 (8 to 14 in UK sizes). A great concept, but perhaps worrying for sculptors...

With plus-size still not represented across the board on the high street, perhaps Missguided’s diverse mannequins will open the doors to a host of new offerings, which promote positive body image to customers in a world that is bombarded with pressure on social media and the internet to be the ‘perfect’ embodiment.

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Invested in Human Experience Catherine Lucas, managing partner at Green Room Design, explores putting humans first and switching on the motivation button.

How many of your customers walk into your stores clutching their smartphones?

The vast majority probably. And how many businesses have fallen into the trap of trying to engage with their customers purely on that (digital) level? Although we live in a digital world and we embrace technology, above all we are humans, and by nature humans are curious beings that continuously want to explore, experience and make sense of the world around them.

Humans just happen to be consumers too When it comes to consumer behaviour, there’s this eternal question: what drives our purchasing behaviour? To understand this more clearly we need to understand a little psychology. Because motivation is one of the key components which influences and induces behavioural change within us as human beings, and therefore us as consumers.

Needs, wants, desires... what motivates us?

First, a little theory. We all have needs and wants. From a psychological perspective, motivation occurs when a need is aroused that the consumer wishes to satisfy, Human needs, both physiological and psychological, more often than not, are the underlying factor for purchasing products.

But we also differ in orientation of our motivation, so as the Cognitive Evaluation Theory suggests, there are two types of motivation — Intrinsic and Extrinsic.

When we are extrinsically motivated to do something, we aren’t concerned with whether or not the action is enjoyable.

For example, although we may not enjoy exercising, we might still go to the gym in order to lose weight. We are motivated to exercise, not because we get pleasure from physical activity, but because we are focused on the external reward such as the weight loss. On the other hand, we are

employing our intrinsic motivation when performing an action or behaviour that becomes more meaningful, because we enjoy the activity. Using the same example but in reverse, we would happily go to the gym because we enjoy the rush we get from working out regularly, regardless of whether we want to lose weight or not.

From theory to practice So how do extrinsic and intrinsic motivating drivers relate to consumer behaviour? Motivation is involved at every stage of the decision making process whilst in a purchase situation. If you perceive your customer as an extrinsically motivated being, who responds best to extrinsic rewards, you would have adopted the traditional approach focusing on brand name, product and monetary value. Perhaps trapped in an endless cycle of sales.

How is that working?

Does it represent a risk-proof investment against your customer leaving for what they perceive to be a more attractive brand? Probably not. On the other hand, a human-centred approach offers customers intrinsic experiential rewards that can further enhance the customer’s motivation to make a purchasing decision. OK, so what does that mean?

Wave goodbye to the old approach Remember, we established that ‘intrinsic’ motivation comes from enjoyment of the activity itself. Now consider your own business — is the proposition based on extrinsic or intrinsic drivers? Chances are it’s the former, because it’s on this that most retailers base their proposition. But whilst your customers still expect great product and prices (extrinsic), they are seeking something more (intrinsic).

‘Retail isn’t going to disappear but we have to throw out most of what we know,’ said Sir Stuart Rose in November 2017. In other words, modern consumers have high expectations which are rapidly evolving towards brand experiences that can take them on an emotional journey.

It follows that intrinsically oriented rewards will be a more powerful motivator for the modern consumer who also expects to have a relationship with your brand.

These rewards turn ‘ordinary’ into ‘hedonic’ experiences that can influence how we feel about brands, how trusting we are of and even what we hope to gain from them.

Consumers are often highly engaged with brands who gain their trust, and trust is the result of emotion. Consumers want to experience positive emotions, so they need to be offered an emotional journey, one that is meaningful and relevant. So, if you’re wondering how to retain and attract new customers, it might be time to switch on the ‘motivation button’.

Considerations Creating a remarkable retail space that amplifies the brand is just the beginning.

It is the marrying of the physical with the digital to create one seamless environment which holds to a memorable experience.

In the headlong stampede to ‘digitise the store’, a basic fundamental has somehow been lost along the way: first and foremost, customers just happen to be human beings — surprise and delight them, inspire and excite them! In short, take them on a wonderful emotional journey. Ask yourself, ‘do our stores switch on the motivation button’? If the answer is no it is time to revisit the meaning of a truly immersive sensory and emotional experience.

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Flash showtopreview go here

INNOVATE TO WIN: WORLD RETAIL CONGRESS Text: Lyndsey Dennis

With a new location, fresh ideas, insightful discussions and actionable strategies, World Retail Congress brings together the leaders in the industry – as well as those disrupting it – to tell their stories.

Neela Montgomery speaking at the 2017 Congress, joined on stage with Arrigo Berni, Jo Malone, Katya Atanasova and Stephan Fanderl.

World Retail Congress returns to Europe for the 2018 edition on 17-19 April. Held in Madrid for the first time, the key theme is ‘Innovate to Win’. Against a background of unprecedented challenges, transformation and competition, there is also a realisation that to succeed in the future, retailers have to place innovation at the heart of everything they do — from the products they sell to the services they offer, their stores, their online presence and the very DNA and culture of the business. The 2018 World Retail Congress places all of these issues at the heart of a dynamic three-day programme.

Speakers

The event will feature more than 150 speakers presenting original ideas and engaging in stimulating debate that will help shape the future of the global retail industry. Speakers include Olaf Koch, chairman and CEO of METRO Group, Veronique Laury, group CEO of Kingfisher, Daniel Lopez, executive vice president of MANGO and Sarah Davis, president of Loblaw Companies. They will feature alongside disruptors such as Karla Gallardo, co-founder of Cuyana, Kevin Ma, founder & CEO of Hypebeast and Jen Rubio, co-founder & creative director of Away.

The Congress combines landmark keynote addresses, high-level panel discussions, workshops, tours, the

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Jo Malone speaking at the 2017 Congress.

World Retail Awards, the World Retail Hall of Fame, retail tech start-ups and the Congress Ideas Factory. Taking place on day one, the Ideas Factory will deliver a fast-paced, dynamic and inspirational programme of talks and open discussion forums. Each session will be led by experts presenting fresh thinking, stimulating ideas and a powerful foundation for delegates to start the Congress.

Categories include: • Retailer of the Year — sponsored by IBM • 2018’s Outstanding Store Design less than 1,200sqm • 2018’s Outstanding Store Design more than 1,200sqm • Social Media Campaign of the Year

World Retail Hall of Fame

The World Retail Hall of Fame recognises the lifetime achievements of leading legends, pioneers and entrepreneurs who have had a fundamental impact on the retail industry. This year the Hall of Fame inductees include Richard Liu, founder, chairman and CEO of JD.COM; Luiza Helena Trajano, president of the board of directors of Magazine Luiza; and Stefano Pessina, executive vice chairman and CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance.

World Retail Awards

The industry gathers to reward the inspirational and forward-thinking at the World Retail Awards. Taking place on Thursday 19 April at Palacio de Cristal de la Arganzuela in the heart of the city, the event is guaranteed to be a glittering and dramatic evening of celebration.

Retailers who made the shortlist include Tommy Hilfiger, Carrefour and Pick n Pay.

• Retail Employer of the Year • Retail Start-Up of the Year • Responsible Retailer Initiative of the Year • The Retail Technology Gamechanger — sponsored by Google • Retail Brand Collaboration of the Year • Best Customer Experience Initiative — Retailers • Best Customer Experience Initiative — Mall Owners • Retail Transformation and Reinvention Award — sponsored by Google When speaking to The Retail Exchange podcast in January, Ian McGarrigle,

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2018 Featured Speakers Stacey Cartwright

deputy chairman, Harvey Nichols

Frédéric de Narp

CEO, Bally

Avery Baker

chief brand officer, Tommy Hilfiger

H.E. Mohamed Ali Rashed Alabbar

chairman, Emaar Katie Derham, Lana Hopkins and Rosie O’Neill speaking at the 2017 Congress.

Laura Alber

CEO & president, Williams-Sonoma Photo: Elizabeth Lippman

Javier Goyeneche

president & founder, ECOALF

Simone Sweeney

VP of retail development, LEGO Group

chairman of World Retail Congress, talked about what would mark a successful World Retail Congress. ‘The thing we’ve worked harder and harder on in recent years as the industry’s become more challenged is that there used to be an adage that if you could send people away with one great idea for the business, you’ve done a great job.

We’ve realised for the last two or three years that we have to do more than that. So I think success for me is when we get that buzz, when we get that feedback from people saying, wow, I’ve heard several ideas, I’m going to take all these back, my book is full of ideas, I’ve made great connections and as they do, often, say thank you for that presentation, that piece of research because that really helped clear my mind and give me some clarity on what we need to do. That’s the buzz that I get when you get that sort of feedback.’

When and where Marriott Auditorium, Madrid Tuesday 17 April 07:45 registration opens FOLLOWED BY CONGRESS 17:45 networking reception Wednesday 18 April 07:45 registration opens 08:00 - 17:00 CONGRESS Thursday 19 April 07:45 registration opens 08:00 - 16:30 CONGRESS 19:00-19:45 Awards drink reception 19:45-22:30 World Retail Congress

Brandon Truaxe

co-founder & CEO, DECIEM

As part of its partnership with Retail Focus magazine, World Retail Congress is delighted to offer readers 10 per cent off retailer passes to World Retail Congress. To secure your place, visit www.worldretailcongress.com and enter the code REFO1018 at checkout.

Gala and Awards 22:30-00:00 after party

www.worldretailcongress.com WorldRetail #WRC2018

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wembley park

WEMBLEY PARK

Text: Lyndsey Dennis

Wembley Park is currently undergoing one of Europe’s largest urban regeneration projects.

Quintain has unveiled its ambitious vision for the retail and leisure attractions at its £3 billion Wembley Park transformation, one of Europe’s largest urban regeneration projects. At the core of the plans are independent shops and restaurants, spaces for start-ups and artists’ studios and imaginative use of social spaces.

The 85-acre site, which surrounds the national stadium, will be divided into four distinct new districts. The Boulevard will be a destination for memorable retail and dining experiences. The Village will feature a curated mix of independent operators. White Horse Square will provide daily convenience shopping and cafes, while The Park will be the place for health and wellbeing around a seven-acre urban park.

‘While greater use of social spaces is happening in pockets, such as Brixton, with individual cafes and one-off shops, Wembley Park puts this vision at the core of our ambition right across the site.

This is one of the first times in the UK that shared spaces have been at the heart of the thinking on such a massive scale. We’re also creating facilities for the creative arts to flourish and for start-up businesses to prosper,’ says Matt Slade, retail director of Quintain.

Throughout the scheme, artists’ studios will provide places for creativity to thrive. Community engagement initiatives have been launched in line with the Wembley Park regeneration, including Yellow Pavilion — a social space for a variety of workshops for those that live, work and study in Wembley — and the Second Floor Studios & Arts (SFSA) project, which provides affordable studio space to

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creatives in the local community.

Cushman & Wakefield and Nash Bond have been instructed to lead a new phase of retail and leisure leasing at Wembley Park.

A total of 46,451 sq m of retail and leisure will be provided, and the majority retail and leisure will be completed in 2020, with more than 40 new shops, restaurants and services complementing the current and proposed retail offers at London Designer Outlet (LDO).

Additionally, Boxpark Wembley, the third and largest in London, will feature another 27 independent dining restaurants, bars and cafés when it opens in Summer 2018.

‘We expect to attract footfall of over 20 million a year and a projected annual retail spend of £328 million, which is more than Camden, London Victoria or Ealing Broadway. The additional retail and leisure space will help cement Wembley Park’s fast-growing status as an exciting new destination to rival the very best areas of London. We’ll be ready to serve the neighbouring residential and working population in the immediate area as well as the wider, affluent catchment. With excellent communications links to central London, the Home Counties as well as domestic and international tourists, we’re sure we’ll have something for everyone,’ says Slade.

The site’s mix of iconic heritage, a new neighbourhood and fresh retail and leisure space makes Wembley Park one of the most exciting developments in Europe, all just 12 minutes away from Central London.

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Universal Display Fittings Co. Ltd

Tel. 020 8206 5010

www.iconeme.com info@universaldisplay.co.uk

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Material innovations from sustainable bamboo to translucent colours

Innovation. Reliability. Craftsmanship. www.universaldisplay.co.uk

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Text: Lyndsey Dennis

Sign & Digital returns to the NEC in April with new interactive features, seminars and live demonstrations.

The world of sign making, display solutions and digital printing will return to Birmingham’s NEC on 24-26 April for Sign & Digital, with the theme of ‘Creativity Brought to Life’. The event will include new interactive features, a free-to-attend seminar programme and practical live demonstrations showcasing the latest technologies, products and services.

Visitors will have the opportunity to gain industry insight from experts as well as an inspirational list of speakers headed up by guest speaker and celebrity retail consultant, Mary Portas. She will take centre stage during the show’s opening day on Tuesday 24 April with a live interview and audience Q&A session, where Portas will share her expert insight and offer visitors business advice.

‘I’m always excited to discover new emerging techniques from retail, sign and display industries which will be a big part of Sign and Digital UK. The merging of digital and traditional manufacturing techniques is now more important than ever before, and I hope to open a discussion about how these trends will impact SMEs in the modern retail landscape at April’s event,’ says Portas. ‘With my Sign & Digital UK audience, I will aim to cultivate a new confidence in diversification. I look forward to rallying with business leaders from these adapting sectors and offering advice among small business owners who are looking to explore ways of getting ahead of their competitors.’

A series of new practical sessions, Sign & Digital Explains, are set to shake up the

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workshop schedule this year by exploring a range of topics including Textiles & Textile Printing and Dye Sublimation, Giftware and Promotional Items.

There will be two sessions on Wall Décor, which will see experts discussing the practical applications for interior decoration and wall graphics. The session will introduce delegates to best practices when working with a client: from brief to design, production, and installation.

From the basics of vinyl applications, to learning more about vehicle livery, this year’s Signmaker’s Worshop will see the industry’s most in-demand skills and techniques being put into action by expert signmaker Paul Hughes in the Sign Trade Services Pavilion.

For visitors looking to get up to date with the latest software developments, the Adobe, CADLink and Corel Theatres will return this year to provide a whole timetable of daily sessions focused on the latest software education tools.

Big name brands already confirmed to exhibit include Antalis, Spandex, Ultima Displays, CMYUK, Epson, Very Displays, Roland DG and more. PureImage, Aeoon Technologies and Impuls Apparatebau are among the first-time exhibitors.

2018 is set to be the show’s most interactive year yet. A creativity-fuelled three days will see 16 seminars focus on a range of topics, from lighting to décor.

For the first time in the show’s history, a series of new practical, interactive sessions,

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panel debates and keynote talks will take place in the show’s TV studio — Sign & Digital Live — and will be available for viewing on the SDUK website. ‘Following in-depth visitor research, this year’s show will feature even more practical and interactive features in order to help our visitors discover potential new revenue streams and access expert advice. The Sign & Digital Live TV studio will add both a fun element to the show and be a new hub for business ideas,’ says Jane Lewis, marketing manager at SDUK. Sign & Digital UK has also teamed up with industry specialists to bring visitors a series of live demonstration workshops. Led by experts from Antalis, Spandex and Hybrid services, the live demos will give visitors a

practical insight into what can be achieved using newly developed technologies and products.

‘The 185-plus leading suppliers at the show, who cover everything from wall décor and textiles through to soft signage and display systems, will offer expert advice as well as some exclusive show offers. If you are looking for ways to stand out from the competition, then make sure you take the time to visit Sign & Digital UK 2018,‘ says event director, Rudi Blackett.

When and where HALLS 17-18 NEC, Birmingham 24-26 April 2018 10:00-17:00 daily (10:00-16:30 last day)

To pre-register for tickets, or to view the full list of exhibitors and details of all show features and seminar speakers, visit www.signuk.com

www.signuk.com Signanddigital #SDUK

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show review Text: Lyndsey Dennis

SFDS 2018 Highlights from the seminar sessions at the Retail Shopfitting & Display Summit in February.

Suppliers and retailers gathered at the Radisson Blu in Stansted last month for the 2018 Retail Shopfitting & Display Summit. The two-day event sees suppliers and retailers paired up for a series of face-to-face meetings, alongside a comprehensive seminar schedule and networking dinner in the evening.

Kicking off the seminars was Tim Radley, CEO of VM-Unleashed, who discussed ‘Making sustainable profit from new store concepts, designs and re-fits’. ‘Recognise the role of the store in an omnichannel world,’ says Radley. ‘Having a point of differentiation is more important than ever.’

He says retailers should clearly prioritise the brand propositions they want to deliver and excel in communicating these perceptions consistently to the customer. ‘Every touchpoint is an opportunity to strengthen the brand and customer loyalty,’ says Radley. ‘Don’t spend money on museums, spend on theatres!’

The importance of theatre was certainly a key theme of Radley’s presentation. ‘Spend money on creating amazing brand boxes and theatre.’

Next to present was Dr Valerie Wilson Trower, lecturer at London College of Fashion, who explored luxury in VM. Following on from an article she wrote for August Retail Focus, Wilson Trower explored many examples of brands creating a sense of luxury in store, from the staircase at the London Waterstones flagship to the mix of colourful Italian marble in the Celine concession at Selfridges.

Using several examples of established brands that span 100-plus years, she also noted that ‘luxury need not only be from the past.’

Wilson Trower ended by stressing the importance of good lighting within a store — something that Radley also mentioned.

It can not only totally change the look and feel of a store interior and displays, but can also have a profound effect on skin tones in front of mirrors and in changing rooms. It’s worth spending money in this area.

To round off day one, Alan Pegram, group managing director at Global Display and president of SDEA, presented ‘Making the retail environments work harder’. ‘The role of stores and their equipment suppliers is to create that experience and maintain that desire,’ says Pegram.

He used several examples of retailers that are bridging the gap between online and offline, such as Joe Browns, primarily an online retailer which has now ventured into bricks & mortar with its first store located at Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield.

He also mentioned the rise in sensorial experiences, such as L’Occitane’s new flagship on Regent Street, as well as the increase

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in collaborations such as Kent & Curwen with David Beckham. As Pegram said, ‘More walls please — bricks & mortar has a future.’

Day two opened with a talk by Richard Askam, founder of WNC Limited, who discussed ‘Personalisation: Changing the Retail Dynamics.’ ‘People keep homemade cards; it’s the emotion that’s gone into it,’ says Askam. ‘The emotive connection is the most important part.’

Askam said: ‘Don’t underestimate the need for the noise and the direction of the noise... Embrace personalisation — see what it can do for you not to you.’

The closing speech for day two was by Tom Nathan, general manager at Hammerson’s Brent Cross Shopping Centre, who discussed ‘Is shopping in shops dead?’ He outlined the main shopper types as follows: 1. I need it urgently 2. Entertain me 3. Advise me 4. I buy on a whim We all know that tapping into as many of the human senses as possible can increase sales and the in-store customer experience, but physical stores allow retailers to tap into three of the five senses that online can’t: See - online only Listen - online only Touch - online and in store Taste - online and in store Smell - online and in store ‘Blending technology with the store’s human touch is the only way to deliver the omnichannel,’ says Nathan. ‘Male or female, you need the interaction.’ Something similar to what Wilson Trower mentioned in her talk on day one.

Almost 40 per cent of millenials shop at least once a week at a shopping centre. They also look for coffee shops/cafes at the centre, as well as the retail mix, fast food and entertainment. ‘It’s more than just shopping.’ says Nathan.

He also noted the rise in food halls, such as Market Hall in Rotterdam and Eataly’s offerings in such cities as New York, Milan and newest site, Bologna.

‘Shops are alive and kicking,’ he concluded.

Discover the latest innovations at the UK’s leading annual showcase for the sign and display sectors Pre-register now for free entry at www.signanddigitaluk.com

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products

VM & DISPLAY SHOW Universal Display - Stand F5 The AVA range is an elegant contemporary mix of functional form. The colour and materials are customisable to your own pallet. AVA consists of mannequins, torsos and hanging body forms, available in a vast range of finishes from foundry, translucent through to the traditional sprayed paint. Base plates and stands complement the range in a stylish brush brass finish and are available to a colour and finish of choice.

T. +44 (0)20 8206 5010 E: info@universaldisplay.co.uk www.universaldisplay.co.uk Twitter: UDisplay

The Retail Factory - Stand D11 The Retail Factory can source, store and deliver more than 40,000 retail products including mannequins, shopfittings, hangers, POS, till rolls, printed bags and bespoke metal/ wood/acrylic work, to name a few. The company’s services include in-store design, brand storming, conceptual design, visual installation and project management, making it a true one-stop shop.

T. +44 (0)800 022 3236 E: trf@theretailfactory.co.uk www.theretailfactory.co.uk Twitter: retailfactoryuk

Framset UK - Stand D1a Frameset UK manufactures instant lightboxes and flat panels for point of sale and event promotion. The unique lightbox design goes up in under five minutes and gives perfect light dispersion. Frameset UK is displaying this product to the visual merchandising industry for the first time at the VM & Display Show 2018. Unlike other lightboxes, the Frameset UK Instant Lightbox has a replaceable cover, which is cost effective to replace and goes on to the instant frame in seconds. The framework is made from lightweight but strong aluminium, using a system that has been very popular on the AV/roadshow market for the last 20 years. Coming in it’s own box, with feet and power system, the Instant Lightbox is the UK’s first portable, instant, ‘use anywhere’ lightbox.

T. +44 (0)1962 896 127 E. contact@frameset-uk.com www.frameset-uk.com Twitter: FramesetUK

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Visual Retailing - Stand H12 Visual Retailing’s philosophy combines tried-and-true techniques with cutting-edge 3D technology. MockShop allows you to visualise your entire product range, making it easier to plan, manage and execute better collections for your store. Use this data to create easy-to-follow fixture and store planograms. With ShopShape, the all-in-one cloud-based solution, save time and improve your retail compliance, communication and execution.

Deliver clear visual merchandising guidelines and compliance questionnaires from head office to field teams.

T. +31 235 518 522 E: info@visualretailing.com www.visualretailing.com Twitter: VisualRetailing

products

Contour - Stand B11 Contour boasts 20 years of experience, making it a leader in large format graphics. The company constantly invests in printing technologies to ensure the best solution for every project. At the VM & Display next month, Contour will be showcasing what it can do with the company’s state-of-the-art flatbed and cutting capability on an extensive range of medias, Visit the company on stand B11 just to the right of the entrance and collect your free samples.

T. +44 (0)20 8575 8989 E: sales@contourdigital.com www.contourdigital.com

Smiled Lighting Company (UK) Stand C8 Smiled Lighting Company provides eco-neon signage and is the first company in UK to accommodate the roles of designer, maker and trainer for this field in the UK. The company creates custom-made eco-neon signs, and also provides training for interested parties on how to use relevant materials to make eco-neon signs.

T. +44 (0)7986 537 221 E. sales@smiledlight.co.uk www.smiledlight.co.uk Twitter: smiled_light

Bright Leaf - Stand E1a Bright Leaf is a vibrant, creative VM agency offering retail and event display design, manufacture and project management. The team inspires to create bright and visually stimulating ideas that come to life, engaging audiences and consumer imagination. With an extensive knowledge of the VM market and current trends in retail design, the company has the privilege to work with global brands such as TAG Heuer, Swarovski, Uniqlo and House of Fraser. All design, development and manufacture is carried out at Bright Leaf’s central London studios so it can assure each client a stress free solution to each campaign, project or event.

T. +44 (0)20 7637 7660 E. vm@welcometobrightleaf.com www.welcometobrightleaf.com Instagram: vmbrightleaf

Andy Thornton - Stand E11 Andy Thornton provides a complete selection of retail display and visual merchandising products in its ‘Vintage Style’ product range. Standard products include industrial-style shelving units, display tables, cabinets, drawers, carts and garment rails. The company also supplies period shopfittings, such as haberdashery counters, jewellers display cabinets and original pharmacy dispensing units. New at the show will be this Post Office shelving unit that features useful multiple wire mesh compartments set on a display table. Andy Thornton will also be showing a new counter clad in galvanised corrugated steel as well as samples from the company’s hugely popular Manhattan Collection.

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

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products

SIGNS & GRAPHICS Doro Tape (UK) Doro Tape will again be exhibiting at Sign & Digital UK next month under the heading ‘There are two sides to every story’. One side of this story is Doro Tape’s reputation for stocking a selection of self-adhesive decorative films. The team will focus on its range of metallic films used extensively in retail design and point of sale. The other side of the story is Doro Tape’s ever expanding range of ecologically friendly, PVC free, self-adhesive films. With the environment very much the focus, Doro Tape has compiled a wide range of UV and latex printable films.

T. +44 (0)1858 431 642 E: sales@dorotape.co.uk www.dorotape.co.uk Twitter: doro_tape

Assigns Assigns’ Stormforce Forester features a rustic timber frame and water-filled base, with high quality coil springs for wind deflection. The Stormforce Forester is available as a double sided chalkboard or A1 poster display. With tough clear plastic front sheets, it provides a versatile solution to the customer-facing marketing requirements of the fast moving retail, restaurant and hospitality markets.

T. +44 (0)1462 672 000 E. sales@assigns.co.uk www.assigns.co.uk Twitter: Assigns

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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John Anthony Signs John Anthony Signs has been involved in the SEAT showroom at Westfield White City. The company was appointed to help the designer and main contractor bring the retail design to reality but was involved in a lot more than just signage and graphics.

The team manufactured large copper slatted walls, copper fins mounted over large lightboxes, back decorated glass walls, copper mirrors with illuminated text and cityscape, wall sections that incorporated roller shutters, housings for TV screens and much more.

T. +44 (0)1268 777 333 E: contact@ johnanthonysigns.com www.johnanthonysigns.com Twitter: JASigns1

Seeing is believing Discover retail design solutions at RDE 2018 Meet the full range of design solutions providers including lighting, surfaces, P-O-P, visual merchandising, design agencies, fixtures and fittings, furniture, display equipment, packaging, insights consultancies and shopfitters.

Attend the outstanding FREE conference programme featuring star-studded speakers in retail design, marketing, branding, shopper and VM sessions.

In 2018 we’re expecting over 18,000 retail professionals to attend. Will you be one of them?

2-3 MAY 2018, OLYMPIA LONDON

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST www.retaildesignexpo.com

3 exciting shows, 2 full-on days, 1 leading event for the retail industry @RtlDesignExpo Retail Design Expo

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Retail Business Technology Expo

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products

FLOORING Karndean Designflooring Karndean Designflooring was selected for the recently renovated Wroxham Bridge American Restaurant in Norwich, creating an exciting and family friendly décor.

Located on the riverside, the family eatery has an interior design scheme and cuisine reminiscent of a classic American diner. Karndean’s Opus Luna and Nero feature in a chequerboard design to complete the monochrome scheme of the upstairs milkshake parlour, and the subtly limed tones of Korlok Baltic Mistral Oak have been fitted throughout the main dining area. ‘The flooring design was especially important because we really wanted to capture the quintessential American diner style and Karndean had the ideal products to make this happen,’ says Mark Eames, restaurant owner. ‘I envisioned a restaurant that different generations could enjoy together, and the flooring really adds to the overall atmosphere — it transports our guests to a 50s diner like the ones they see in the movies. As well as the look, however, we needed a floor that could stand up to the pressures of a busy environment as we can now accommodate up to 130 guests at any given time, so I’m pleased we chose Karndean.’ The new establishment is now unrecognisable as the old building it once was, which had begun to sink into the ground, as the exterior has also been transformed into a modern, striking structure to reflect the impressive, characterful interior.

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

Concreate Flooring

BluePrint Ceramics

Concreate Flooring returned to Surface Design Show last month to showcase the latest developments in its concrete surfaces. The engineered ready-made floor and wall panels can be installed in just about any interior space and work alongside any material to create a compelling, modern architectural styling. Two new colours will be launched this year — Titanium Black and Metal Grey.

BluePrint Ceramics showcased its new Poetry range at Surface Design Show in February. This collection has been influenced

by Terrazzo. Subtle shades from grey through to white promote the concept of historic Italian craftsmanship through this beautiful stoneware range. Terrazzo is highly versatile due to its almost limitless material options and colours.

T. +44 (0)1276 859 111 E: info.uk@concreate.net www.concreate.net/uk Twitter: ConcreateUK

T. +44 (0)121 268 3240 E. info@blueprintceramics.com www.blueprintceramics.com Twitter: blueprintceram

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products

SURFACES & FINISHES Arturo The new Arturo Colour collection allows you to create your own look via the Arturo Style Compass, which provides a host of styles, trends and options. The Arturo Style Compass brings new flooring in the right colours together, offering eight different styles that closely follow global trends in art, culture and design. Arturo is a brand of Uzin Utz AG and has more than 40 years experience as a manufacturer of resin floors, floor coatings and other synthetic resin floors.

T. +44 (0)1788 530 080 E: info@arturoflooring.co.uk www.arturoflooring.co.uk Twitter: arturoflooring

Grestec Kreda concrete effect tiles from Grestec infuse delicate tones with bold shapes. Cool chalky nuances and rhomboid shapes combine to allow endless decorative compositions. Kreda is available as 200mm x 200mm and 75mm x 300mm brick shape tiles which recall the look and feel of unplastered and repainted stone walls. Kreda is available in four concrete shades — white, silver, grey and dark — as well as an original colour mix made of diverse shades, from light dusty pink to sage green, which enable the creation of elegant chromatic geometries.

T. +44 (0)345 130 2241 E. mail@grestec.co.uk www.grestec.co.uk Twitter: grestec

Lithos Design

Daedalian Glass Studios

Lithos Design is an Italian producer of coverings, wall partitions and natural stone flooring. In collaboration with designer Raffaello Galiotto, the company offers an extensive range of modular architectural solutions. The Opus collection has a number of variations, including Allegro, which has wonderful Terrazzo qualities, available in several types of marble with yellow, sky blue, red and white being the dominating colours.

Tesseract by Daedalian Glass Studios is created using hundreds of individual pieces of glass fused together. This unique design traps air between glass to create a controlled grid of bubbles within the glass that complement the iridescent surface finish.

Shown here, the Tesseract design is being utilised to produce a pair of glass doors for a private residence in London. An alternative version of this design adds a silvered back face, ideal for use as a kitchen splashback or as wall art.

T. +39 (0)444 687301 E. info@lithosdesign.com www.lithosdesign.com Twitter: LithosDesign

T. +44 (0)1253 702 531 E: enquiries@daedalian glassstudios.com www.daedalianglassstudios.com Twitter: DaedalianGlass

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SURFACES & FINISHES Armourcoat

Photography: ©Max McClure

Armourcoat has seen great success in retail interiors with its ArmourFX modular panel. ArmourFX modular solutions can be highly customised to suit the client, sent directly to site and installed in a few hours. Creating a more urban contemporary look, ‘ArmourFX’ was specified to stunning effect at the new G-Shock store on London’s Carnaby Street by Double Retail. The concrete effect panels offer a wealth of design options to achieve a distinctive industrial style including distressed effects or recessed ‘shutter’ markings.

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

ColourGrain Surfaces Recently launched decorative timber cladding company ColourGrain Surfaces reported excellent interest in its 50-shade product portfolio at this year’s show, and has already booked a space at next year’s event. The company, which is the UK’s only retailer of ColourGrain painted wood cladding for building interiors and exteriors, was launched by owner Simon Davey in response to increasing demand for design-led yet sustainable commercial and residential cladding materials. ColourGrain wood cladding combines the tactile, durable beauty of visible woodgrain with bespoke colourways and strong environmental credentials.

T. +44 (0)1432 360 906 E: simon@colourgrain.co.uk www.colourgrain.co.uk Twitter: colourgrain

Havwoods Dasos Anastasis’ new barbers on Tabard Street in London fuses a high-end barbering experience with an artisan style coffee shop. Reis Design was briefed with breathing life into the space, based around the idea of a men’s workshop. The design firm developed an industrial store concept to convey the craftsmanship of Cutter’s Yard’s highly skilled barbers.

Unable to decide between two shades, a mix-and-match design of Havwoods’ herringbone flooring from The Italian Collection was chosen. Havwoods provides high quality wood flooring for both the residential and commercial markets.

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

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Altfield Available from Altfield, Moore & Giles organically tanned leathers are crafted with a revolutionay new tanning agent produced from fallen olive leaves. Two collections are available — Terra and Aspen. Crafted in Spain, Terra features a palette of bright and vivid colours. Aspen is made in Germany from premium hide, providing a pure aniline, heavier weight leather that exudes casual elegance.

T. +44 (0)20 7351 5893 E: showroom@altfield.com www.altfield.com Twitter: AltfieldLondon

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surfaces & finishes

focus on SURFACES & FINISHES Keeping up appearances is key for surfaces and finishes within stores. From counters and shelving to furniture and wall cladding, we bring you a variety of materials that will stand the test of time within busy environments.

Tough contender Topmatt Laminate is the latest additon to EGGER’s PerfectSense range. Featuring the latest technology, this new supermatt laminate has a smooth, matt finish, which is anti-fingerprint, micro scratch resistant and hardened using an electron beam. EGGER’s innovative PerfectSense Topmatt laminate is available in nine trend orientated neutral decors, providing a luxury matt finish that is well suited to surfaces in high traffic areas such as kitchens, offices and hotels.

www.egger.com

Keeping it real For interior designers, architects, artists and prop makers, Metalier makes the impossible practical and the incredible achievable.

The company provides metal finishes that can be applied to almost any substrate, including fabric. Real metal applications provide a seamless finish in a variety of bespoke handcrafted designs, such as Harrods’ redesigned Basil Street escalator by Make Architects, featuring Metalier.

www.metalier.co.uk

Luxury look The Stratum solid surface collection from Hanex is designed to offer the luxury looks associated with real stones and marbles with its True Scale characteristics, while having the benefit of easy fabrication. This offers a wide creative scope to achieve bespoke designs in the commercial, hotel, leisure and private residential sectors. Stratum solid surface can be cut, shaped, moulded and thermoformed for numerous applications such as retail counters, shelving, wall cladding, furniture pieces, elegant worksurfaces and vanity surfaces, in a material that is durable, high performance and easy to maintain compared to natural stone. Hanex is exclusively distributed by International Decorative Surfaces.

www.hanex.co.uk

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surfaces & finishes Custom made Armourcoat’s ArmourFX evolved from the brand’s renowned range of applied seamless plaster wall finishes. ArmourFX can be used to create highly original, integrated custom wall panel systems, signage or design statement single artwork pieces. ArmourFX modular solutions can be highly customised to suit each client, sent directly to site and installed in a few hours. The focal point of J&M Davidson’s Mayfair boutique is the impressive, cantilevered staircase made from terrazzo marble with a leather-wrapped handrail. This has been set into a series of vertical ArmourFX panels finished in Armourcoat’s Armuralia polished plaster. The store was created by Universal Design Studio in association with Nicholas Chandor.

www.armourcoat.co.uk

Solid as a rock

Going green Started in 2000 with a small collection of solid floors, Plexwood soon grew along with its customers and developed many different innovative product groups, which can be used for all interior design aspects. Sustainability has been part of the company’s philosophy from the very beginning. This shows in Plexwood’s wood sourcing, production process and factory. For example, all its woods are sourced from sustainably managed forests; it uses no formaldehyde-based glue or VOCs in its production process, and the company’s factory roof is covered with solar panels.

www.plexwood.com

Eastern influence Charred timber is one of many surface options available from Innerspace Cheshire. Yakisugi is the ancient Japanese craft of conserving timber through the charring of its surface with flame.

Innerspace Cheshire has come up with two ways that enable designers to achieve a charred timber look. The company’s stock line is a deeply charred plank that is the most authentic finish, but remains practical to install with hidden fixings supplied with the planks. Additionally, as a special, the product can be supplied with a different, bespoke level of charring, both on a board format or as planks depending on the required visual. Even more practical is charred timber on a roll.

www.innerspacecheshire.co.uk

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Lawcris says 2018 is the year of the concrete surface. Working well for high-end retail projects, this industrial trend embraces all things rough and raw, with a focus on interesting textures to create a desirable spartan-chic look. The most popular use of concrete in retail, apart from the flooring, extends to wall panelling and product displays. To create a strong and bold statement, retail stores are taking advantage of the popular Boston Concrete décor from EGGER. Almost indistinguishable from the original materials, the rough concrete look and feel is complemented by a scraped texture, creating a contemporary finish, reflecting the inner-city inspiration to create a truly original, well considered urban design.

www.lawcris.co.uk

@retailfocus

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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 UK’s leading retail suppliers. Each listing contains indepth company information together with inspirational images, video footage and informative press material. You can also link through to company websites and connect with suppliers through Twitter and Facebook.

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

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

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directory

Aluminium Fittings

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

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

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

Aluminium Fittings

Bespoke Display

Bespoke Display

Design Consultancies

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

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

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

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

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

Bespoke Display

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

Bespoke Display

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

Design Consultancies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Audio Visual Integration

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

Bespoke Display

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

Brochure Holders

Design Consultancies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Balloons & Bunting

Bespoke Display

Climate Control

Display

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

JPMA is a worldwide leader in designing and manufacturing high-quality store fixtures and visual elements made of wood, metal and acrylic. We make everything all under the one roof and offer designs and finishes not available anywhere else in the industry.

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 +44 777 444 5784 E: benjamin@jpmaglobal.com W: www.jpmaglobal.com

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

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

JPMA is a worldwide leader in designing and manufacturing high-quality store fixtures and visual elements made of wood, metal and acrylic. We make everything all under the one roof and offer designs and finishes not available anywhere else in the industry.

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 +44 777 444 5784 E: benjamin@jpmaglobal.com W: www.jpmaglobal.com

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

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

Display

Display

Display - DIGITAL

FURNITURE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Display

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

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

Display

EPOS

GRAPHICS

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

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

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

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

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

Display

Display

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Finishes

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

GRAPHICS

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

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

directory

interactive displays

MANNEQUINS

pop/pos

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.

We are IPOS. A creative design agency whose extensive and impressive client list speaks volumes for the professional services we offer.

We design, produce and install all aspects of our client’s POS. From instore graphics, window vinyls and 3D bespoke window displays to full multi location campaign roll outs.

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: 0161 477 8501 E: info@ipos-design.co.uk W: www.ipos-design.co.uk S. www.twitter.com/iposdesign

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

signage

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

JAMIE TAYLOR With new flagships in London, Paris and Toronto, Jamie Taylor, retail, property and wholesale director for L’Occitane, tells Retail Exchange host Ben Bland what lies in store for shoppers in its new Regent Street store, how the hospitality industry was an inspiration, and how people are crucial in delivering retail transformation.

BB. You’ve recently opened a new London flagship store on Regent Street. What makes it so different?

JT. W e wanted to bring the product to life and the way we’ve done that is by zoning. There’s two floors; the first floor is very experiential so as you come through, on the left-hand side we’ve got a fragrance garden and that is all of our fragrances together. On the right-hand side we have a handcare experience; we bring our exfoliation products, moisturiser, cleansing products to life and deliver hand and arm massages. And then a gifting area at the back — we are very well known for the gifting area — and we’ve also got a state-of-the-art engraving machine. The ground floor is about personalisation and customisation, so giving the consumer the heart of what we can do with L’Occitane; whether it’s putting your name against something or wrapping it in a style that’s individual to you. Upstairs is where the full retail range sits and we also have some personal beauty concierge areas where we do a more in-depth skin care consultation bringing our face care to life, but also a café looking over Regent Street which is quite an iconic setting and view. We are looking at ways of really increasing the dwell time.

BB. You’ve just opened flagship stores in Toronto and Paris. Do you take that model and do the same in other places, or are they completely different designs specific to that location?

JT. I f I compare the two flagship stores in Paris and London, which opened at very similar times, they are very different. The Champs Elysees flagship is again a collaboration with Pierre Hermé, but this is more of a food and beverage collaboration rather than a product; the branding of Champs Elysees is called Number 86, it’s not called L’Occitane. It sells L’Occitane, but it leads in on Pierre Hermé food and beverage products.

Our boutique is very much led by L’Occitane and bringing the beauty products to life with a small collaboration with Pierre Hermé in terms of its takeaway Macarons and the café.

Toronto is again a different and unique concept and is very much bringing the naturality of the brand to life.

BB. Do you plan to open more flagship stores, and if so, where?

JT. L ’Occitane is on a journey with its flagship program at the moment. There’s nothing specific I can say to you at the moment, nothing is signed, but we are looking at some very exciting opportunities globally at present.

BB. If you had to pinpoint what you think are the main contributing factors to the continued success of L’Occitane what would you say those were?

JT. I would say our brand values. I think we are very true to those values, not just in the UK but around the world, and whether

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that be honesty, authenticity... natural sensoriality is the key to the success of the 40 years that L’Occitane have brought, and the ability to own our own value chain from picking the lavender in the field through to test and play with our consumers in our boutiques.

BB. What do you think the greatest commercial challenges are that face physical retailers in the sector at the moment?

JT. I think one of the key challenges that is facing retailers at the moment is the hike in business rates. We are finding, especially in London and especially the West End, the business cases are becoming much more challenging to enter new spaces and that occupancy cost as a percentage has grown considerably, which has restricted some retailers in terms of expanding in the West End. Traffic is also a big challenge at the moment; we are seeing that footfall is down and I’m feeling from the articles that I’m reading that we are not alone in that respect. And of course, the rise in the digital channels — the whole of the online and digital piece is obviously doing very well, and very well for us, but from a physical perspective, it has its challenges.

BB. How do you think social media has had an impact on the behaviour of shoppers within the beauty sector?

JT. I t’s had a huge impact and we are passionately embracing social media at the moment; we are seeing social media as a channel now. Our direction in how we want to use our marketing budget is going to be very much looking at influencers as the new celebrity. Naomi Smart is a good example; she has one and a half million followers on Instagram; what better way than to have her endorse a product for us to then go out to her followers who will then embrace that and hopefully share that again. It’s instant peer recommendation. It’s the speed — typical marketing ways of doing things in the past, it takes a lot of time and it probably takes months to get an advert on TV or above the line other activity, whereas now, we can instantly respond whether it be a product launch. It’s also the creation of superfans that we are finding as well, and again, we have not just influencers but our own customers who again, have a great following but also a great affiliation to the brand, and we’ll be utilising those a lot more in the future.

To listen to the full interview, visit www.theretailexchange.co.uk

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