‘Rather than spending more, spend intelligently'

ANAROCK Retail, the retail advisory and consulting arm of leading independent real estate services company, ANAROCK Group, recently announced a strategic partnership with international retail design and delivery specialist Vindico to offer comprehensive services catering to retail stores in the postpandemic world. In an exclusive interaction with VMRD, Anuj Kejriwal, MD & CEO - ANAROCK Retail, shares more thoughts on the strategic partnership, the future of retail, how retailers can invest prudently, and more.

Sleek, smart & Scandinavian

Spread across 2500 sq. ft., Havwoods flagship retail outlet in Mumbai is an experience centre informing customers about what the brand stands for. Designed by Mumbai based JAD studio, the showroom reflect the ethos of the Scandinavian brand while offering a contemporary retail experience to users.

Signs of the times…

Indiewalls, a Brooklyn based art consultancy company, launched the signage Indiesigns project to spread the messages of best Covid safety practices across retail and other public spaces. Offering a showcase platform for independent artists, the company produces custom wall, floor and window signs for businesses. Designed by artists, these signs remind and encourage people to maintain social distancing and follow other safety protocols. The decals and signs have been custom designed by independent artists who have suffered loss of work due to Covid-19. They present information in colourful and creative ways while conforming to CDC guidelines. In an interaction with VMRD, Gavi Wolf, CEO, Indesign, shares more information on the project, the future of signage in retail, and more.

Metro on the pop-up bandwagon

In keeping with the market conditions and prevailing consumer Sentiment, brands have got on the pop-up store mode, giving door step shopping and drive-through experience to customers, where the customer places the order and has the shopping bag delivered in the car. Metro Shoes, one of the largest fashion footwear retailers with 500+ stand alone store across 128 cities, has been among the latest to undertake such an initiative called the Metro Home Shop’ Alisha Malik, Vice President, Marketing and E-commerce, Metro Brands Ltd, shares with VMRD more perspectives on the new initiative.

‘Predictive analytics help retailers reduce costs'

Front-end technology in the retail space often poses a dichotomy. On one hand it’s becoming more relevant and critical than ever, and on the other, it’s perceived to be a cost intensive and indulgent investment that can wait. So what’s the way forward? Lloyd Mathias, Business Strategist and Angel Investor, and former Asia Marketing Head of HP, shares with VMRD, his thoughts on what lies ahead in the retail technology solutions space and what can make it a more meaningful and value-driven investment in retail.

‘Right balance of physical & digital is the way forward'

Godrej & Boyce, the flagship company of the Godrej group, recently announced that its brand - U&US - has become the first Indian company to have its specialised retail store format – ‘U&Us Home Design Studio’ registered as a trademark for its distinct character and concept. In a special interaction with VMRD, Manoj Rathi, Assistant Vice President, Godrej Interio, and Head, U&Us Home Design Studio, shares what this milestone means to the company and the emerging customer trends and challenges for the interiors industry in the new normal.

INOX goes all Art Deco & chic at Gorakhpur

Human centric design meets art deco aesthetics at INOX located in City Mall in Gorakhpur , Uttar Pradesh. Designed by Sync Design Studio, the entertainment space seeks to offer old world charm in a contemporary setting to cater to the city’s cinema lovers.

Elevating aspirations seamlessly…

Envisaged as an aspirational space, luxury furniture store Ventura in Bangalore, designed by FADD Studio, is all about highlighting accessible luxury in an aesthetic ambiance.

The Art Of Visual Story Telling In Stores As Community Spaces

At a time when lifestyle, businesses and services are all getting redefined, the retail space is more than just a transactional point, evolving more into a community hub. Given this, what is the design sensibility that works best? In this column, part of her series for VM&RD, Angela Kreutz shares her take.

Kitchen revisited at Euromobil's Milan store ITALY

The name Euromobil is synonymous with furniture and home design. Gruppo Euromobil is backed by over 45 years of technical know-how and craft culture. The company focuses on environmentally friendly designs and technology. It employs selective production standards and has good export capacity with over 800 points of sale throughout the world.The company’s first flagship showroom in Milan, Italy, designed by Matteo Thun & Partners Architecture is all about making the kitchen space even more of what it actually is - the heart of the home.

‘The best is yet to come'

At a time when people and businesses are grappling with the question of ‘what next?’ it is reassuring to hear voices of positive conviction. Huzefa Merchant, Founder, INSYNC Shop Fittings (SAFE ENTERPRISES), motivational speaker, author and recipient of many accolades including that of ‘One of the Top 100 influential retail minds in India’ for three consecutive years and winner of the Young Achiever’s title at the Golden Globe Tigers in 2018, strongly believes that the best things happen to those who never give up. As someone who has steered INSYNC into a well established position in the retail solutions space, Huzefa is a standing example of his conviction that it takes vision to run and sustain a business. He recently launched the Engage Fit N Light System that encompasses the many benefits of a phygital solution for the retail space. In an exclusive chat with VM&RD, Huzefa talks about the new solution, about how a truly phygital solution gives the business enabling edge to retail, his vision for Indian retail, and more…

When empathy matters in the business sense

If there’s one lesson that’s emerging very strongly from the pandemic then it is that empathy may be more than just a social or personal virtue. It could actually translate into higher for sales for brands who closely understand customer challenges and address them meaningfully.

‘Right mannequins successfully convey the brand story'

Belgian mannequin manufacturer Bonami Mannequins has developed what it calls “the first sustainable mannequin that is 100% recyclable”. Made of BONPLAST™ that has several advantages, it is unbreakable, has durable construction which resists marking and damage and is lightweight, which results in faster and easier dressing and moving of the displays around the store. In a chat with VM&RD, Nico Bonami, CEO and Founder, Bonami Mannequins, shares more details on the need for such sustainable products and the highlights of the new eco-friendly mannequin.

Ready, tech-set, go: Malls' new mantra

As malls roll up their sleeves to get back into the business and safely guidelines become a standard protocol, technology seems to be the big enabler.

Mandap: A marriage of Opulence & elegance

Spread over two levels, the Mandap showroom in Vadodara, designed by Vadodara based JAD Arch Studio, spells luxury and opulence and is all about showcasing the brand’s rich heritage.

Illuminating new standards of innovation

It was a proud moment for Mumbai based leading manufacturer of lighting solutions , Focus Lighting and Fixtures Limited, after it won the acclaimed Red Dot Design Award for its newly designed Magnus Spotlight. The award is bestowed on products featuring outstanding design. In a special chat with VM&RD, Amit Sheth - Managing Director & Founder, Focus Lighting, highlights the special attributes of the award-winning Spotlight range, how it reduces the energy wastage while enhancing retail spaces, and more...

A window to retro minimalism ISRAEL

Klil is an established name in the design of aluminum windows and doors in Israel. A store design upgrade was initiated to highlight the brand’s new Bauhaus series. Designed by Tel Aviv based Studio Samuelov, the new showroom design is all about bringing together precise functionality and seamless aesthetics.

A spatial narrative of journey & destinations

Located in Ahmedabad, Sternhagen is a collaboration between renowned design firms Opolis based out of Mumbai and Zurich based MACH Architektur. The showroom is all enabling transactions in an experiential environment.

Design Aesthetics In Omni-Channel Retailing

In the era of digital integration in retail, do the basics of retail design change? Or is it just a matter of applying the same principles, but adapted to a tech-enabled environment that facilitates customer engagement? Angela Kreutz shares her take on this.

Adding Character To A City Icon

Retail has a lot to contribute to a city’s character and architecture. After winning the international design competition, Kokaistudios returned to Shanghai’s most exclusive waterfront district and completed a multifaceted interiors project for landmark architecture scheme, Bund Finance Center. Designed by Heatherwick Studios in partnership with Foster + Partners, the 91,982 sqm mixed-use development represents a significant addition to the city’s skyline, connecting Shanghai’s historic old town to its commercial heart. Presented below are excerpts from the details shared by Kokaistudios .

Speed, the new need!

Given the high need for safety today, efficiency in terms of time and effort involved is the top priority in shopping, transforming instore shopping missions from ‘leisure browsing’ to ‘purposeful searching’. This in turn redefines visual merchandising and store planning practices. Surender Gnanaolivu explains how.

‘Designers need to ask what fits the store purpose best?'

At a time when uncertainty and anxiety loom la g among shoppers , retailers have a huge responsibility in designing retail environments that make the customers and stafffeel safe, and th bes retailers are those who understa d that the future is theirs to define, says I n J hnsto Founder and Creative Director at Quinine, in an exclusive i raction with VM&RD. Quinine is a world-leading retail experie ce consul ancy known for research-drive us r-ce tric design approach that involves designing retail strategi , physical environments a d face-to-face experiences.

An integrated VM journey

Visual Merchandising is an integral part of the store design process, and goes hand in hand with the overall design/ redesign exercise, says Jose Maria Bustos, Creative Director, Visual Merchandising Asia as he shares with VM&RD his experience of working with the Odel /Softlogic Group for the design of the Odel department store in Shangri-la Mall, One Galle Face, Sri Lanka. Read on as he recounts his journey.

BOLLYWOOD MAGIC COMES ALIVE

Spread across 20,000 sq.ft. The Janak, New Delhi is a recreational space that offers luxury experience to cinegoers and food lovers. Designed by Delhi-based Bora Da`Designs, the space pays tribute to iconic Bollywood stars while offering an elevated experience to visitors.

Now Showing : A Tech Blockbuster

Consumer Durables, IT & telecom- Specialty store Project: Logic Display Gold: Four Dimensions Retail Design India

Wabi Sabi Meets Social Warmth

Western Fashion Apparel – Specialty Store Project: The Tank Gurgaon Store Merit1: 02 JUNE Design Studios | Few Steps Ahead

Where fitness is a way of life…

Health & Beauty Specialty Store Project: Vyayamshala - Golds Gym Merit 2: Sync Design Studio

Redefining jewellery buying

Leisure, Fashion & Sports - Accessories- Specialty Store Project: Irasva Flagship Store Merit2: MEDIA EDGE CIA INDIA (FITCH)

Minimalist and exploratory

Home Improvement Specialty Store Project: Artisan Lab Gold: Project 810

Celebrating a bold new identity

Leisure, Fashion & Sports - Accessories- Specialty Store Project: Isharya Gold: Project 810