The thought of taking on a refurbishment project can be daunting and even overwhelming for even the most organised and streamlined of businesses – but it doesn’t have to be, writes Kate Rowe, the owner of retail and commercial interior design and shopfitting specialist, Spaceworks Interiors …
“How do we reduce stock? How do we get rid of all the existing kit? When should be do it? Can we stay open? How will keep my customers satisfied? What about the mess?!
“So many questions, so much to consider,” says Kate.
“Yet the consequences of not carrying out that overdue refurb project can be far greater for you as a business than the short-term upheaval of getting the workers in. An unattractive interior, a space that looks outdated or unfinished, gives an unprofessional and low-quality perception.
“Why should customers buy a £50 jacket from a fixture that has chipped paintwork, rusty metal arms and drooping signage? What added value are they experiencing during their purchase?
“The answer is very little, and more often than not the customer will walk away having not bought a thing.
“Bad experiences don’t just start inside though – an uninviting shopfront will fail to draw customers in, while a poorly laid-out department will frustrate the savvy shopper and reduce dwell time and, essentially, sales. A retail refurbishment project needs to be carefully considered and designed.
“Do you know you need to make change, but don’t know where to start? It’s time to get the experts in!
“We have over 30 years’ experience in the design and delivery of quality build and refurbishment projects. We’ve been lucky enough to work with the best in the country – Woods Dorchester, Fairway Furniture, Gillies of Broughty Ferry, Haskins, and Barbours of Dumfries.
“More than just taking the role of main contractor, we take the time to understand your individual business needs, and get to know your customers – we like to forge a relationship with you before we start prescribing a solution.
“But, when we do, we can get the creative juices flowing, designing functional spaces that engage with your target audience and are also striking on the eye! A practical approach to the end result, our designs are buildable and realistic whilst always ensuring that end result meets content and budget expectations.”
This year, Spaceworks completed a refurbishment for Fairway Furniture, says Kate – a 21-week, carefully planned programme of works covering strip-out, new flooring, new ceiling, all-new electrical and lighting installations, as well as the new fixtures (room dividers, bed displays, customer services desk and sales pods).
“We phased the works, allowing the shop to remain open throughout and with suitable customer access to all products,” she continues. “Apart from some background building noise, it was business as usual – in fact, customers were intrigued by what was going on and would return to see the progress being made!”
Fairway’s MD, Peter Harding, comments: “From the very first introductory meeting looking at the refurbishment of our flagship store, I knew that Spaceworks were a company we could work with and who shared our passion for creating a new format experience for the store.
“Through detailed market research and a collaborative and interactive design process, they made making tough decisions as easy as possible. I’d have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone who wants to bring their retail space to life, whether large or small.”
Pictured: Woods, Dorchester
