In a school environment, the first interaction when commencing at a new school can sometimes be visiting the school clothing shop to purchase a new uniform. Just for this reason, this retail environment must be friendly, fun and easy to navigate for new parents and their children and for the older existing students.
When KOEDAM DESIGN was asked to design this school’s clothing shop in a newly constructed building, there was a strict deadline before the year’s first term. A concept was firstly presented to the principal, a colourful and fun space with well organised retail areas and product displays. The school’s House Colours, plus vivid white, were used as the basis of the colour palette and modules used on wall hung drawer and cupboard storage units. Storage was paramount to this design and was incorporated into all areas of the retail space.
A modular retail panel system was used to allow for changing retail displays throughout the shop, such as the changeover of summer or winter uniforms. All clothing rails, hooks, hat holders, shelving and poster holders could be removed and relocated. Sporting uniforms were important items for display and panels accommodated for seasonal sports were allocated in the design details.
As the school is primarily a kindergarten to Year 12 school, with a preschool recently added, the shop had to accommodate for not only different styles of uniforms but also a variety of sizes. Different Bags, hats, caps, socks, hair accessories etc were displayed for purchase. Even the school teddy bear had pride of place in the shop displays. Miscellaneous items such as cups and glasses were also part of the retail sales and therefore were displayed in open shelving or coloured box displays. The second hand clothing shop was also accommodated in a separate space with their own storage room. An existing staff kitchen also accommodated hanging uniform storage.
KOEDAM DESIGN liaised wththe fitout company during tendering, fabrication and installation. Fabrication was done during the Christmas break, so that installation was finished prior to the set up of the shop and the opening before the school term. KOEDAM DESIGN brought in and worked along side a retail and styling specialist, for the final set up the shop and the displays for maximum impact, prior to the opening date. Creative and fun styling was part of the displays for the final shop layout. Staff worked with KOEDAM DESIGN settingup displayed products prior to the official opening, to make sure the opening day was stress free and seamless.
“ Creativity is seeing what everyone else has seen, thinking what no one else has thought “