This week we are delighted to announce that once again our work has been shortlisted for two Retail Week Interiors Awards. This is the third year in a row that we have been nominated for one of these prestigious retail design awards. We are hoping to emulate last year’s success where we won the coveted ‘Best Large Format Store’ award for our work with the Triathlon Store in Bristol. This time our work for two very different stores, both based in London’s Covent Garden has been shortlisted in the ‘CAPS group Best Small Store’ category – unfortunately this means only one can win – but I guess it also doubles our chances!

The two stores shortlisted are SugarSin and Neal’s Yard Remedies flagship store:

SugarSin

SugarSin is the brainchild of Scandinavian sisters Anna and Josefin who hail from Sweden – where sweets are a common treat for adults and children alike. As a nation, the Swedish eat more pick n mix sweets than anyone else in the world. Following the demise of the Woolworths pick n mix concession, the sisters were keen to bring their own cultural take on the concept to the UK, envisioning a niche in the market for an original, more sophisticated brand of confectionery retail.

We worked very closely with SugarSin to reboot their brand in a new, highly sought after location in Covent Garden. The brief was to create a bright, unique and fun store with an inviting atmosphere in order to showcase SugarSin’s unique and irresistible range of products. After developing the concept we then produced and supplied a detailed drawing pack for the client to give to their contractors to work from. The fixtures and fittings in the store feature an exaggerated design with strong bold colours to create a larger than life look, which feels both fun and contemporary. Design features include black and white candy striped flooring, hanging glass bubbles, harlequin wall tile patterns and liquorice rope-effect pillars. The client told us that they wanted to play with different materials to make the shop more alive – with vibrant colours and high gloss tables. It’s a look that certainly grabs your attention – setting SugarSin apart from the other retail giants in this legendary shopping street.

Neal’s Yard Remedies flagship

Neal’s Yard Remedies are an award winning ethical, organic health and beauty brand with 52 stores and more than 470 outlets across the UK as well as 80 stores internationally. The brand opened their first store at this location in Covent Garden in 1981. It was an honour for us to be asked to help them redevelop the interior of this iconic store, following our recent retail design work for other Neal’s Yard stores across the UK and internationally in Alberta, Canada, Taipei, Taiwan and Makati in the Philippines.

During the project, Barber Design worked closely with all of the stakeholders within the organisation to understand their brand vision for the ideal beauty retail experience. This process took more than six months to perfect.

Inside, the store features traditional natural wood and tiled surfaces mixed with the brand’s trademark blue glass bottles with retail counters and shelves of products. There is also an experiential tincture area to the rear of the store. Each of our retail interior designs for Neal’s Yard follow a theme but feature unique, bespoke displays particular to their individual location. High quality materials and bright colours help to infuse the Neal’s Yard ethos and brand identity throughout each store, whilst also providing a refreshing approach to their traditional apothecary environment.

Alex Leach, Director of UK Sales at Neal’s Yard Remedies is delighted with our work so far:

“We recently won the Best Branded Store at the Natural Beauty Retail Awards which we were incredibly pleased with. Huge thanks to Doug, Alex, Neil and all the team for their hard work in designing the new store concept.”

This Covent Garden Flagship retail design is the latest in our international roll out for Neal’s Yard Remedies with many more to come.

Although only one can win, we are really thrilled to be shortlisted again – the Retail Week Interiors Awards are recognised within the retail design industry as acknowledging the store designs that set the standard for others to follow. The gongs will be given at a special ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane London on November 3^rd so watch this space to find out what happens and we’ll be sure to give you a full report on the events of the evening as they happen!