The refurbishment of M&S Bluewater was no exception. We completed a full fit-out and extension of the existing space creating a theatre feel to the shopping experience, including a large bakery, fresh produce section and a new Mai Sushi counter.
We pride ourselves on delivering expertly designed and engineered fit-out for the retail industry. M&S’ vision for their new stores aligned with our values to provide high-quality offerings to customers, improving the retail experience for communities.
A temporary retail space was created overnight, which would last for the duration of the fit-out. This was so we could maintain the customer experience and significantly reduce the impact of the project on the M&S teams. This also allowed our team to continue working, causing little disruption to the store operations.
A fit-out of this scale would typically require a programme of eight phases, by creating a temporary retail space, we were able to reduce this to just two. A typical retail fit-out requires the staggered closure of sections to complete works with all areas unavailable at different points during the programme. However, we were able to minimise disruption by taking a pioneering approach to the project at the flagship store, maintaining the customer experience.
Our team worked throughout the night on the first day of the fit-out to create the temporary retail space comprising of refrigerated sections and a pop-up fully operational bakery. This meant, customers were always able to access the store, as this was completed before the store reopened the following morning.
M&S wanted to reconfigure the design and layout of their stores during this update to offer even more to their customers. Designed to bring theatre to the shopping experience, the project included illuminated signage, new fridge cases and bespoke wall finishes, including a living cork wall and local wall messages. The newly completed Bluewater store also benefits from a ‘Fill Your Own’ station for customers to stock up on refillable products to reduce plastic use, reflecting M&S’ sustainability initiatives.
Having worked with M&S for so long, we understand their brand, their vision and what they want their stores to look and feel like, enabling us to deliver exceptional projects that elevate the customer experience.
Get in touch to chat about your fit-out and refurbishment project.
