Premier Retail

Foyles

Foyles Grand Central Birmingham
Written by Roma Publications

A grand opening for Foyles

Foyles

Known for its extensive range of books, Foyles is an award-winning independent bookstore with a fantastic reputation for service and products. The store stocks an extensive range of books, with a particular focus on fiction, arts and children’s books, and includes lines that are tailored to reflect the needs of the local market.

Foyles’ legacy dates back to 1903, when teenage brothers William and Gilbert Foyle sold their very first book, kick-starting a company that would grow into the business it is today. Although William and Gilbert only achieved an annual turnover of £10 in their first year, this initial income paved the way to develop a company that 112 years later still boasts a passion for print.

The latest store in the Foyles portfolio is Foyles Birmingham, which is housed within the city’s impressive Grand Central shopping complex, which is in turn linked to the new-look Birmingham New Street Station. The new store is the sixth shop in the Foyles portfolio – the second outside of London – and uses the latest technology to connect customers with both the authors’ and Foyles’ vast stock of books.

The family-orientated store boasts a great range of products as well as a number of audio-visual elements, all designed to help customers interact with the store. In addition, Foyles Birmingham Grand Central includes a large children’s area, which is situated at the rear of the store, to ensure that customers of all ages are catered for.

Foyles Birmingham Grand Central opened its doors at the end of September 2015 to fantastic feedback and is already a popular store within the Grand Central complex. Interior Service was the fit-out contractor on the Birmingham-based project, whilst Lustedgreen was the designer on the scheme.

Lustedgreen is an interior architectural design consultancy with more than 25 years’ of experience working on retail, commercial and residential projects. Foyles Birmingham Grand Central marked the third time Lustedgreen had worked with Foyles, so were the perfect choice for tackling this fantastic new project.

Nigel Green, Co-Director of Lustedgreen, said:
“This store is part of an expansion plan to develop and express Foyles’ unique bookshop brand, by combining 100 years’ of bookselling heritage and knowledge with great customer service and experience.
“Foyles Birmingham Grand Central is their second shop outside of London, with the first being Bristol. The store includes large format monitors and a video wall, which utilises digital in-store marketing and hyper-sound speakers to provide direct audio, interviews with writers and even book readings.”

Nigel added:
“Foyles have also introduced mobile point of sale and a provision for customers to search and order books in store, which can either be delivered or collected the next day. The store harnesses technology to connect readers with writers and Foyles’ vast range of books, to provide great customer service and in-store experiences.”
For further information about Foyles, to check out the company’s extensive range of books or to make a purchase, please visit: www.foyles.co.uk.

About the author

Roma Publications