Premier Retail

Retail Design Expo 2017

Retail Design Expo 2017
Written by Roma Publications

Retail Design Expo 2017

Retail Design Expo 2017

Now in its third year, Retail Design Expo is the specialist retail design and branding event from Legend Exhibitions and brings together the very finest exponents of retail design, visual merchandising, branding and in-store experience. The expo is a clear reflection of how the retail sector is responding to the increasingly discerning consumer and showcases solutions from designers, architects, shopfitters, specialist contractors and more.

Retail Design Expo 2017 focuses very clearly on innovation and inspiration in retail design, marketing, visual merchandising, architecture and shopfitting. The expo encompasses additional features such as trend labs and innovations, as well as a full programme of conferences and seminars.

This latest event takes place at the London Olympia on 8-9 May 2017. The event has become the place to be for those involved in the creation of effective stores and leisure & hospitality venues, with guests travelling across the world to visit.

In addition to a packed programme of events, this year’s Retail Design Expo will also provide the platform for the third annual Retail Design Student Awards. The awards – which are sponsored by ITAB UK – will see global brands and retailers set live briefs to test the next generation of retail design talent.

Speakers

This year’s Retail Design Expo promises to be packed with excellent content, with a whole host of key speakers lined up to take part in the event.

Speakers include the likes of Federico Schilling, Head of Store Design and Development for Thomas Pink; Sarah Page, Creative Director & Partner at Household; Simon Clark, Director of Lumsden Design; Paula Rowntree, Head of Branch Formats & Design for Lloyds Bank; and Martin Illingworth, Director of Store Development for Harrods.

Additional speakers include an array of managers, directors and CEOs from companies such as John Lewis, Ben & Jerry’s, H&M, Dulux and Boots, amongst others.

Industry support

With Retail Design Expo 2017 set to be even bigger in 2017, scores of exhibitors have signed up to appear and/or sponsor the event. These include large numbers of members from trade bodies POPAI, the SDEA and the National Association of Shopfitters, all of which support the event.

“By and large, as an industry, those of us in the P-O-P sector aren’t that good at selling ourselves to clients. But we work in retail and branding, and Retail Design Expo provides a tremendous shopfloor for us to show what we can do. People who work in P-O-P should be there,” says POPAI Director Phil Day.

Visitors pledge to return

Retail Design Expo 2017

Visitors to Retail Design Expo in earlier years have frequently related how invaluable the event has been to them.  Joy Holmes, development merchandising manager at Boots said: “The main one for my visit it just to see new things. So within development we just want to try new things, new fixtures, new fittings, all the things that will get the customer into the store.”

Phil Whittle, Schuh head of store operations, said: “What do I think of the retail design expo as a whole? I think it’s fantastic. It’s great that everything’s all under one roof and that you can have a one-stop-shop, and come and see all the different companies that are here and listen to the talks and get involved for the day, if you want to.”

Intersport COO Thomas Rasmussen said: “I think the good thing about being here is that you have a sample of all the kind of systems that we use in the retail. I’m a retailer by heart, so for me it’s important that we also understand that it doesn’t have to be only technic, nerdy… You need to actually be in a place where we can get inspired by all the kinds of different ways that we see retail business, and I think actually this exhibition does that. I come over here to England from Denmark and I actually think I get some new inspiration that I couldn’t get in Denmark.”

B&Q head of retail design Alan Taylor said: “It’s been a really great show and I love the way the show’s developed from last year as well, so it’s, yes, cracking.

“I just like the atmosphere of the place and just the feeling that everybody’s in this ever-changing retail world and they’ve all got parts to play within it. And it’s just great to connect with people as well and just talk about that and the challenges you’re facing, the challenges they’re facing and ways you get through it, so it’s been great.”

Who will be exhibiting at Retail Design Expo 2017?

The list of companies appearing at the Retail Design Expo 2017 is exhaustive, but includes: retail design consultancies; lighting manufacturers, vendors & designers; lighting consultancies; flooring suppliers; Christmas VM suppliers; display equipment suppliers; flooring suppliers; fixtures and fittings suppliers; in-store music and video specialists; wall coverings & systems suppliers; fragrance & aroma specialists; architects; and installation specialists.

Graphics & large format print suppliers will also be at the event, along with research, trends and insights consultancies; visual merchandising specialists; furniture and furnishings suppliers; shopfitters; Point of Purchase/Point of Sale designers & manufacturers; signage suppliers; display equipment suppliers; mannequin suppliers; materials and surfaces suppliers; special effects suppliers; multisensory specialist and consultants; media companies and more.

Networking

The Retail Design Expo 2017 offers the perfect opportunity to network, courtesy of the Retail Design and Visual Merchandising Visitors Lounge. The lounge, sponsored by Kesslers is an exclusive space where panel guests can speak with visitors and vice versa.

The Retail and Visual Merchandising Visitors Lounge is located on the 1st floor of the Gallery area and is perfect for those looking to make new contacts and catch up with existing ones.

According to The Retail Design Expo, the Retail Design and Visual Merchandising Visitors Lounge “is the perfect place to take a few moments to relax, review the exhibitors you still want to see, decide which conference sessions you want to attend and check out the many other exciting features at the show.”

Retail Design Expo 2017 to launch Christmas VM Market and Awards

Retail Design Expo, Europe’s leading annual event for the retail design, marketing, visual merchandising and architecture industry, has announced the launch of two new major features for its 2017 show in May – the VM Christmas Market and the VM Christmas Awards.

The VM Christmas Market has been launched in consultation with Retail Design Expo’s steering panel, to meet a demand from event visitors for a showcase of the very best Christmas decorations, displays and props on the market. Displaying both bespoke and off-the-shelf products, the market will provide a focal point for retailers and brands seeking inspiration for their Christmas displays.

Housed in its own designated area, and with a distinct look of its own, The VM Christmas Market is already attracting attention from new exhibitors.

“The VM Christmas Market really made sense for us,” says Sasha Lord, new business and sales manager of AromaCo, which has signed up to exhibit in the market. As well as being a key time for perfume sales, Christmas creates a variety of scent-based campaigns for food and drink brands, says Lord.

The Silk Forest, which creates artificial trees, plants, food and other props, is also to exhibit in the VM Christmas Market. Managing director Graham Aldred says: “The VM Christmas Market promises to be a great chance to show the creativity and fun that VM can provide for retailers – just at the point when many of them will have finalised their budgets for the festive season. We’re looking forward to showing what we have to offer.”

The second new initiative is the VM Christmas Awards, which will celebrate the very best in seasonal VM displays, interiors and windows, with all displays from Christmas 2016 eligible for entry. An independent judging panel of top retail and creative talent will select the shortlist and winners. Work from the full shortlist will be displayed throughout Retail Design Expo and a glittering awards ceremony announcing the winners will be held on the second day of the show.

“For a great many retailers a strong Christmas trading period can be crucial to a successful year’s results,” says Space NK head of visual and store design Paul Wilkins, a member of the Retail Design Expo steering panel. “A huge proportion of the annual VM budget is set aside for jaw-dropping gorgeous shop windows and in-store displays all focused on creating the ultimate magical customer experience that translates into sales. No one can afford to make a mistake at this time of year and we all spend enormous time, energy and money to get it right. That is why I am incredibly excited by your VM Christmas Market and VM Christmas Awards initiatives at Retail Design Expo 2017.”

Retail Design Expo 2017

For more information about Retail Design Expo 2017, please visit: www.retaildesignexpo.com.

Handy AV

Handy AV specialise in the supply of Audio Visual technology for use in the retail sector. The company offers an end-to-end service that includes provision, installation and aftersales support and this has helped Handy AV develop into a standout player in activating points of sale and creating unique shopping experiences.

Perdee Gould, Business Development Manager, Handy AV, said:

“We are very proud to say that 2017 marks Handy AV’s 15th year in business. During that time we have witness an unprecedented spell of growth in digital signage, with retail probably being the area where the public have been most exposed to it. Technology, by its very nature, is ever-changing and we pride ourselves in bringing the latest trends and developments into stores across the globe – with solutions that benefit shoppers and retailers alike.”

Handy AV’s client list includes some of the biggest names on the high street, including Primark, Musto, Dior and adidas, as well as one or two banks. With Primark, Handy AV provides and service Audio Visual technology in their stores across Europe, as well as their head office in Dublin.

At the Retail Design Expo 2017, Handy AV will be showcasing their HandyLED displays – the most competitively priced LED digital signage solution on the market. The company will also be demonstrating a selection of screens which are suitable for the smallest to the very largest displays.

Perdee said:

“We’ll also be demonstrating our OnTheSpot offering. Available exclusively in the UK from Handy AV, this single box solution is, in our opinion, the best single-box solution to providing social and staff Wi-Fi, music and digital signage content to retailers. Using analytics, OnTheSpot can even change content or music depending on who is in store – for example the screen content will change to a perfume promotion when it recognises a lot of women are in store.”

Pedree added:

“Retail Design Expo 2017 is a must-attend event for anyone whose business revolves around retail. It’s a great shop window for our offering, and it is also an excellent opportunity to learn about upcoming industry trends and how customers are using the technology that is out there.”

Handy AV delivers the best possible AV solution to meet each client’s requirements, with pricing to suit even the smallest of stores. Handy AV’s friendly and professional staff never aim to blind clients with science, instead they look to provide the best solutions to meet their needs.

CD (UK) Ltd

CDUK distributes the solid surface material DuPontℱ Corian¼ across the UK. Corian¼ is the incredible material that was introduced to the UK by CDUK in 1979. For the past 38 years, CDUK and Corian¼ have been evolving, innovating and inspiring architects, designers and fabricators alike.

CorianÂź, is an advanced composite of natural minerals and pure acrylic polymer, one of the amazing attributes of this surface is that it is able to offer a seamless flow between work surfaces, retail counters, vanity basins and limitless other items.

Since its initial use in both bathrooms and kitchen schemes, the use of CorianŸ applications has grown and the product can now be included in a range of projects from hotels and office schemes to retail, healthcare projects and more. In addition, CorianŸ can now be used as an external ventilated façade, Endless Evolution expresses what CorianŸ has been, is and will be.

At the Retail Design Expo 2017, CD (UK) Ltd will be teaming up with Dyson to showcase a fantastic new concept which launches later this year – The Washroom Solution. The Washroom Solution combines a series of Avante¼ Basins in Corian¼ with the Dyson Airblade Tap hand dryer to provide the perfect wash and dry solution for any washroom.

Commenting about their appearance at the Retail Design Expo, CD (UK) Ltd Managing Director, Gary Baker, said:

“This is year three for us – we’ve been showcasing Corian¼ at the Retail Design Expo since the very beginning and the retail sector is a key area for us. There are many leading brand names that are already using Corian¼, including John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Tesco, but we’d like to build upon this. The Expo provides us with the opportunity to meet new clients, while demonstrating to existing clients the latest innovations in Corian¼.”

Gary added:

“At CD (UK) Ltd we’re really proud of the fact that we are the UK distributor of Corian¼ and that CDUK have played such a large part in the growth of this incredible product since we brought the product to the United Kingdom 38 years ago.”

Ashleigh Signs Ltd

Ashleigh Signs Ltd has been established for over 30 years and has grown to be one of the top five signage companies in the UK. Founded from an engineering background, Ashleigh Signs Ltd developed and pioneered the introduction of aluminium pub signs to the brewery sector, which replaced easily ruined timber signs. With a team of over 150 people the company manufactures all aspects of their signage in house in their purpose built 90,000ft2 factory.

Due to the growing development of digital signage in the UK, the company formed Ashleigh Digital in 2014. Their in house design, manufacturing and installation expertise allowed them to become the only complete turn-key digital solution in the UK. They offer a turnkey package that includes the design, manufacture, hardware procurement, content management and creation as well as installation, and service and maintenance.

Clients and Brands include Premier Inn, Morrisons, Thai Leisure Group, Mitchells & Butler, Intercontinental Hotels, Beefeater, Forrest Media, Daktronics, KFC, Unite Students, Marks & Spencer to mention just a few, Ashleigh Signs will be part of the Retail Design Expo, Europe’s leading annual event for innovation and inspiration in Retail Design, Marketing, Visual Merchandising & Shopfitting from around the world.

Mark McLennan commented:

“We will be exhibiting our capabilities in terms of signage though Ashleigh Signs as well as Ashleigh Digital.”

He added:

“As a company we pride ourselves in our quality, service and customer retention. We work successfully with a wide range of clients and brands to develop individual requirements and deliver excellent results.”

Self Electronics

Based in China, Self Electronics specialises in the provision of display lighting systems for use in the retail sector. The company has been in operation for 24 years and within this time has worked with a range of clients from  Swarovski, creating jewellery display case lighting, to Lidl, creating cooler cases lighting, shelf lighting and ceiling lighting.

At this year’s Retail Design Expo, Self Electronics will be displaying a number of its products, including LED shelf lighting, cooler cases, showcases and ceiling lighting.

Andy Liu of Self Electronics, said:

“Self Electronics is a technical and quality oriented specialist in commercial LED lighting innovation, design and production for the global retail market. With our well experienced engineering team, we always focus on the latest technical, material and technology developments.”

Raccoon

Based in Kent, Raccoon is an award-winning brand production agency, with services that include large format printing, metal fabrication, 3D display work, large scale model making and prop work. The company has been innovating since 1992 and work on an array of projects, ranging from the design and supply of vehicle graphics to event displays and interior environments for retail projects.

Over the past 25 years, Raccoon has built up a strong portfolio of projects working with numerous leading names within the retail sector. At this year’s Retail Design Expo, Raccoon will be looking to connect with new customers, showcasing various materials and techniques that demonstrate why brands consistently choose Raccoon.

Raccoon Managing Director, Richard Clark, said:

“At Raccoon, we have a certain flexibility and creativity which ensures we can interpret what a retailer is looking to achieve with their environments. We pride ourselves on our ability to go above and beyond the expectations of our clients, helping them to uncover new ways of doing things that not only push the boundaries on creativity but are cost effective and easy for in-store staff.”

Richard added:

“We solve problems and provide solutions, and this has helped us develop strong working relationships with our clients. I’m convinced this value is the reason why clients return to us time and time again.”

Tarkett

Tarkett is showcasing its newest LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) collections at this year’s Retail Design Expo, including a preview of its inspiring iD Mixonomi collection, alongside the recently launched LVT range iD Inspiration 55-70.

Both collections are integral parts of Tarkett’s intuitive and innovative ‘Floor is the new Playground’ concept, devised to open up new perspectives and make the floor a canvas for creativity in crafting a unique space.

iD Mixonomi offers architects and designers unparalleled opportunities to push the boundaries with LVT. Within the collection an outstanding palette of 33 colours has been developed by international colour expert agency, Peclers. Equally compelling are the innovative patterns and shapes in the iD Mixonomi collection, presenting designers with an irresistible opportunity to experiment with the art of mixing and matching to create unique designs, perfect for unique customer experiences in shops and stores.

To further inspire creative expression, Tarkett is also showcasing the outstanding iD Inspiration 55-70: a collection that offers both a strong design aesthetic and outstanding functionality. The extensive combination of format, design and surface structure offers endless possibilities.

Speaking about the exhibit Karen Knell, Tarkett Segment Marketing Manager – Stores & Shops says: “We are showcasing a number of exciting collections at this year’s Retail Design Expo. iD Mixonomi is an ambitious collection – a real game changer for modular vinyl flooring – with a design aesthetic that manages to be bold, creative and playful. iD Inspiration 55-70 is a collection that pushes the boundaries in innovative designs in order to create impactful flooring.”

More information on iD Mixonomi and iD Inspiration 55-70, along with other product ranges for the Retail Sector, will be available at Tarkett’s stand, including full details on the functional benefits of the collections: low VOC’s – contributing to better indoor air quality; manufactured using phthalate free technology; TOPCLEAN XPℱ PUR reinforcement – a tough, hardwearing surface which reduces the need for water, energy and chemical detergents for the life of the product.

We look forward to seeing you at the Retail Design Expo Stand T30.

For more information on our products visit www.tarkett.co.uk or email ukretail@tarkett.com

Assigns Ltd

Assigns Ltd specialise in the manufacture and supply of graphic display systems including LED lightboxes, pavement signs, poster frames and all display equipment and POS equipment. The company has been in operation for 17 years, and as well as a huge range of standard products, available from stock, their real speciality is the modification of standard products and the complete build of bespoke custom solutions to meet customer requirements.

Assigns Ltd have several products that are unique to their company and they are currently about to launch their new Stormforce 3000 and Stormforce Essential Forecourt Signs. These new signs are competitively priced, high quality units with greater attention to detail than the Far Eastern units offered by many of their competitors.

Recently, Assigns Ltd supplied lightboxes to Argos for their new ‘Digital Store’ format and lightboxes for EE for their store re-fit programme. Working on these projects, Assigns Ltd manufactured modified lightboxes to suit their clients’ specific requirements, keeping costs down by basing the solution on standard products in their range, while supplying them in special sizes and paint finishes to suit specific branding schemes.

Danny Chard, Managing Director of Assigns Ltd, said:

“Our products are of a very high quality, whilst remaining competitive. These kinds of Blue Chip clients rely on this quality but also the high level of service we offer.”

Danny added:

“At Assigns we pride ourselves on our quality and service at a competitive price.”

Peerless Designs Ltd

Peerless Designs Ltd specialise in the design and manufacture of high quality, great value perimeter and floorstanding merchandising display equipment, including slotted aluminium uprights, shelf brackets, support rails, forward arms, ferrules and various other associated parts and fittings. As well as their comprehensive standard product range, Peerless Designs Ltd offers a bespoke manufacturing service to suit the individual requirements of their clients.

Peerless Designs Ltd supply products to numerous leading retail and fashion brands. A project recently completed saw Peerless supply fixtures to four high profile new stores, two of which were located in Europe. For this project, Peerless Designs Ltd manufactured and supplied their versatile OMNI frame in both wall fixed and floor standing formats. The company also supplied a number of bespoke parts and fixtures to suit the specific requirements for these stores.

Danny Chard, Managing Director of Peerless Designs Ltd, said:

“Our products are of a very high quality, whilst remaining competitively priced. The lead times on these new store openings were very tight and our clients rely on this quality but also the high level of service we offer.”

Danny added:

“At Peerless Designs Ltd we pride ourselves on the quality of our work and our competitively priced service.”

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