Brand Implementation in Liege
We were commissioned to revitalise this 1990s mixed-use city centre destination in Liège, Belgium. The refurbishment programme was driven by a strategic repositioning exercise that aims to attract a new tenant mix, increase footfall and time and spend per visitor.
Creating a sense of place
The name ‘Ilot’ (Little Island) reflects its location in the middle of the city centre. Comprising four separate buildings across three busy pedestrian streets, there was little to unify the space and create a sense of community and belonging. A strategic review by the mall owners identified the need for a full repositioning exercise. This included a strategic review of the indoor and outdoor space to attract the right retail mix.
We helped to develop the new brand proposition, working with the locally created brand identity, to develop a suite of on-brand wayfinding, signage and environmental solutions.
'The GLIMMA team is a valued design and implementation partner for our retail and entertainment centres. They understood the strategic changes needed to revitalise and appeal to a new target audience. Most importantly, they have the knowledge, experience and skills to practically translate these changes into an engaging customer experience. Through the right choice of lighting, street furniture, way finding and brand signage, they have helped transform ILOT into a much more vibrant and safer visitor experience.'
Improving the customer journey
During the initial site appraisal we identified circulation as a key issue and located the hot spots. Our wayfinding solutions have improved circulation from the basement levels and car park and improved general people flow throughout.
The suite of modern and complementary signs have improved the overall customer experience, successfully linking the internal and external spaces and creating a sense of place.
The installation of gantry signs above the walkways and at the two main entrances ensures street presence, creates unity and helps ILOT to stand out from nearby competitor retail outlets
Creating the right ambience
Skilful use of exterior lighting, using up and down lights on the building facades, has significantly improved the ambience. It has also helped to extend the shopping day and tighten security.
THE BRIEF
To deliver new brand experiences within Shoppers Stop department stores through the design, manufacture and installation of their lounge and promotion display areas in prime stores across India.
These include dedicated and targeted concepts, such as the ‘Personal Shopper Lounge’, the ‘Show Stopper Zone’ and the ‘Suits & Jackets Zone”.
Shoppers Stop is one of the largest department store chains in India, selling international and national brands for clothing & accessories, cosmetics & fragrances, as well as home décor and furnishings.
PERSONAL SHOPPER LOUNGE
In 2019 Shoppers Stop undertook a repositioning exercise to help promote their instore premium offer ‘Personal Lounge’ to their First Citizen customers.
A key element of the repositioning was to make their premium personal shopper experience more prominent and engaging within stores.
'We helped to redesign and rebrand their existing lounges, creating a more sophisticated ‘Personal Shopper Lounge’ with new finishes, decorative elements, new furnishings, wallpaper and floor finishing, as well as amenities for guests.'
SHOW STOPPER ZONES – ENCHASING THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
With a clear brief to create an elegant premium retail experience, our aim was to redevelop the existing space in order to attract, engage and convert more customers.
Drawing on their design principles, we developed new layouts and introduced new signage, wall graphics, lighting and furniture.
The signature black and white colour palette of Shoppers Stop was retained, introducing a variety of textures and finishes to create the premium experience:
This concept has been successfully executed across several large stores in four metro cities.
It provides an opportunity for brands to showcase their new lines and promotions at the very entrance of the store, improving their visibility and increasing sales.
'The promo area has turned out to be a real 'SHOW STOPPER', exactly what we wanted. Our customers and staff are very happy with the work. Good Start team.;
With different size spaces available for the Show Stopper Zone in each of the six stores, we delivered a pilot store first.
This provided us with a blueprint for detailed space planning which allowed for customised solutions within each store.
Once the design had been signed off, we were responsible for both the manufacture and installation.
Detailed project management ensured that the right resources were in place, shopping mall permits were successfully acquired and the installation team could work efficiently.
To keep disruption to a minimum, we cordoned off the zones, using professionally branded boarding that included a teaser about the upcoming changes.
All installation work was carried out over the weekend.
SUITS & JACKETS ZONE
The creation of bespoke lounges at specified points has helped to improve brand experience within stores. Targeting professionals who are purchasing more formal wear, these spaces have provided the opportunity for customers to relax, sit and discuss options with the sales staff before investing in more expensive ticket items.
Shoppers Stop Fitting Room Concept
FITTING ROOM CONCEPTS
A revamp of fitting rooms is designed to provide a more pleasant experience for customers. We are enhancing the fitting room experience by adding:
CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK
In keeping with other instore improvements, we are developing a refreshed look and feel for the customer service area.
Used when returning or exchanging items or for redemption of promotions, this area of the store is important for reminding customers of the level of service they receive at Shoppers Stop, and helping to improve loyalty.
We were asked to manage the rollout of JACK & JONES’ latest window displays in over 450 stores and to create a compelling and consistent retail experience across Europe, the Middle East and Canada.
With more than 1,000 stores across 38 countries, they are one of Europe’s leading men’s fashion retailers.
DRIVING SALES THROUGH RETAIL DESIGN
Visual merchandising is key to high street sales success. The Interior Store Design team commissioned a bespoke racking system that can be used in a versatile way to display both their Spring and Summer collections in a variety of ways.
'The team at GLIMMA co-ordinated and installed the new racking system in 450+ retail stores globally. They successfully overcame the challenges associated with global supply chain, variances in store layouts and different cultures, delivering the entire program on time. The result is magnificent – with the support of GLIMMA we now have the perfect communications platform to attract and excite our customers.'
THE NEED FOR SPEED
Having secured the design and manufacture, JACK & JONES commissioned our team to manage the installations globally. Within two weeks of receiving the brief, our implementation team, working together with the manufacturer and in close liaison with each local store, completed the entire project in just 17 weeks.
ADAPTING THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT TO ACHEVE GLOBAL CONSISTENCY
No store is the same – dimensions, architectural considerations, materials, local working restrictions – they all differ from store to store.
Our central project management team co-ordinated the rollout to achieve maximum cost efficiencies, using site surveys from the stores, to plan and implement the refurbishment.
This included the removal and disposal of old systems, posters and mannequins, as well as the construction and installation of the new racking system. Faced with a wide variety of window layouts and dimensions, our team often had to think on their feet to adapt the new system and make it fit-for-purpose.
THE BRIEF
To breathe new life into the Mander Centre, a 1960s retail destination in Wolverhampton, UK. To create a new tenant mix that will attract a different profile of shopper and encourage them to stay longer.
At 52,500 m2 gross leasable area, the Mander Centre is the largest shopping centre in Wolverhampton, a lively city with a catchment of over 584,000 residents and attracting over 17 million visitors a year.
The centre was purchased by Benson Elliot in 2014. They commissioned the most significant redevelopment programme to date. The £35 million investment includes a new flagship Debenhams department store of 9,400m2, along with 10 other retail stores.
Mander Centre entrance vibrant lighting scheme
The key design features are the main entrances. The introduction of new signage and a vibrant lighting scheme ensures that the centre stands out and is welcoming, attracting visitors both day and night.
The dramatic transformation continues inside with contemporary and intuitive wayfinding signage to enhance the visitor experience, strategically located by newly installed lifts and escalators.
'The design team at GLIMMA immediately understood the brief and ran with it, producing design concepts that hit the mark with all stakeholders, from architects to the individual retailers. Their innovative ideas were readily translated into signage and lighting solutions that have dramatically transformed the Mander Centre, making it the retail destination of choice for the people of Wolverhampton.'
Contemporary and intuitive wayfinding signage to enhance the visitor experience
A customer journey with impact
These environmental enhancements have not only transformed the appearance of the centre but also helped to change shopper behaviour. The customer journey is carefully managed, encouraging visitors to stay longer and enjoy the wider food and entertainment experience that the Mander Centre now has to offer.
