The Brief
Plymouth store is Fairway Furniture’s flagship store, and one that hadn’t undertaken a major refurbishment in 30 years.

The client kept the brief fairly loose to incite our creativity – adding only that the space needed to be flexible to better layout existing departments and that there had to be a wow factor.

In the design and development phases we took our time to research the market carefully and understand the current customer that shops at Fairway – providing layouts and signing solutions that break up the large 2800sqm of space into manageable shoppable chunks in a logical flow around the store When it came to the shop fit-out, the store had to remain open and trading – a challenge in the operation and planning of the logistics of trades and materials!

The Solution
The concept design presented materials that merged modern and traditional – using a natural oiled oak in the panelling and slatted screens that divide spaces but in a contemporary square frame section alongside a modern warm concrete effect vinyl flooring – all broken up by the clients’ own rugs and carpets to create inspirational browsable room sets.

In furniture sales, assistance and product support is key – it was obvious that the wow factor needed to incorporate a centralised customer support hub, a place to sit down, discuss your purchase and refresh with a coffee or tea. The dropped colour ceiling oversailing the desk is a notable landmark from wherever you are in the store. The bedroom department is entered through an archway arrangement of slatted oak frames – each frame and orientation providing glimpses of the beds in their aisleway arrangement. The beds themselves are set off on a backdrop of black stained wooden slats broken up with white brand and message boxes – featuring product and brand benefits and sleep related messages.

The re-fit was carried out over 21 weeks of carefully planned programme management ensuring the phased work allowed suitable customer access to all products in the store and retain ‘business as usual’.