DFS Furniture Stores and DFS Dining Stores, Nationwide
In a working relationship that has continued over 25 years, beginning in 1980 with one of their first stores, John Evans Interior Architecture and Design has completed all of DFS’s out-of-town showrooms, which now total over 70 nationwide.
The client’s retail strategy, which places importance on the showroom’s identity, has involved John Evans working closely in tandem with DFS to assist in the development and expansion of their stores to become the market-leader in upholstery and furniture retail.
Stores average 1400 square metres and have to be adaptable and visually arresting in design, in order to cope with changes in products and retail trends.
Designers work on a continually evolving brief from a client based in a highly competitive market. Each completed showroom measures its success on its sales; by designing an aspirational environment within each store, the practice creates a functional selling tool for the retailer to use to their advantage.
An evolving concept involves spatial and customer circulation planning, product display, point of sale and office services design.
A dedicated design team take the project through from empty-shell to completion; handling surveying, planning, design detail, lighting design and specification, furnishing design, specification and installation.
The practice is often required to design and project manage multiple projects simultaneously for the client. Working with a construction team, designers manage the creation of the store’s appearance from existing or new properties.
The retail design team co-ordinate the programme of work for the client, ensuring that projects are kept within budget and to fast track timescale.
With a fit-out timescale of 5 weeks, John Evans’ designers work conscientiously to ensure that each store meets its completion date.
