Leading British designer and manufacturer of quality fitted furniture, Daval, celebrate the versatile nature of its multi-form furniture which is able to translate from room to room … Envisaged as a key trend for 2019 home interiors, transformative furniture that is systematic and not defined by purpose will become a
Fast-growing office fitout and design company Saracen Interiors has won the contract to transform part of a major office building into co-working space at the heart of Dundee’s £1 billion waterfront regeneration project. Dundee One is a 50,000 sq ft landmark building, where work is due to start on Phase
Mace Interiors has been appointed to deliver Woolwich’s new Creative District, which will see a historic military complex transformed into a major cultural destination. Mace’s fit-out will work alongside architect Bennetts Associates and creative consultancy The Chase and Land Design Studio on the project. Phase one of the project has already
Saracen Interiors is now reaching the end of a substantial fit-out project for Global Technology company Carl Zeiss. The interiors company is transforming c. 43,000 sq. ft. of office space plus undertaking a range of external works at a site in Cambridgeshire to create a world-class lean manufacturing facility, including
FIS, representative body for the £10 billion finishes and interiors sector in the UK, announced the winners of the 2019 Fit-Out Futures Awards which were celebrated at the FIS President’s Lunch in London. Iain Mcilwee, FIS CEO said “the Fit-Out Futures Awards recognise the outstanding contributions and achievements of individuals,
London’s super prime residential real estate more than held its own against the overall Brexit-plagued market last year, according to a report Thursday from Savills. The exclusive portion of the market where properties cost more than £15 million (US$19.5 million) saw transactions soar 43.1% in 2018 compared to 2017, data
The vast majority of people love trips to casinos, whether in Sin City, Macau or anywhere else around the globe. However, what most do not seem to realize is that casinos are actually scrupulously designed mazes that effectively force people to spend insane amounts of money and lose all track
A lot of people have talked about how ecommerce is killing the world of physical retail. While the rise of online shopping has certainly triggered bankruptcies for certain companies, the true picture isn’t that simple. Ecommerce isn’t perfect in its current iteration. There are aspects to brick-and-mortar retail that are
FIS is the representative body for the £10 billion finishes and interiors sector in the UK and they have started 2019 by strengthening their team with the appointment of Nigel Higgins as Technical Engagement Manager. Nigel has extensive experience working across the sector for some of the most respected and
Following rapid growth and success across Ireland, independent fit out specialist, Pure Fitout, has appointed Amanda Allen as UK Head of Business Development to lead its expansion into the British market. Founded in 2015, Pure Fitout has become a dominant force in the Irish fit out industry achieving £6.5m turnover
Leading British designer and manufacturer of quality fitted furniture, Daval, celebrate the versatile nature of its multi-form furniture which is able to translate from room to room … Envisaged as a key trend for 2019 home interiors, transformative furniture that is systematic and not defined by purpose will become a mainstream proposition for the modern homeowner and will be used to convert redundant space into a well-used, practical area in the home. For example, a mezzanine area with landing space is typically just a ‘walk-through’ which has little to no impact on your home or lifestyle. Rather than waste space, made-to-measure furniture is the ideal solution for turning dead space at the top of your stairs into a multi-functional storage area: that could also be coordinated with your bedroom furniture too! A great example of multi-form furniture that is well-designed and purposeful, is the pictured mezzanine furniture concept by Daval showing Harvard Angled-end Wardrobes with integrated window seat. The full length mirrors naturally extend space assigned for dressing and beautification, typically reserved for the master bedroom or en suite bathroom, and the comfortable window seat provides a new area in the home to relax and unwind. The simple shaker design of Harvard is shown in warming Stone Grey which creates a neutral furniture arrangement for storing surplus garments, shoes, winter bedding or function as a practical play area that discreetly organises your kid’s toys, accessories and extra clothing. If you have the luxury of a large entry area, but unsure how to make it feel less vacant and more welcoming for family and friends then consider a Bootroom with bespoke coat racks, umbrella stands and shelving to store obstruent shoes and bags. The Dove Grey and Charcoal colouring provides the perfect contrast and texture against the Rough-Cut Oak details. Calm and contemporary in style, this hallway concept in Salcombe Furniture is actually featured in the Daval Kitchen Collection: proving that multi-form furniture really can translate across different rooms in the home, all the while linking one space to another through design. Highly practical, multi-form furniture is able to adapt to your environment, home architecture and space, and will be this year’s answer to maximising space and utility in the home. Fitted furniture is helping to change the opportunities for whole-house coordination and Como by Daval is a great option when needing to synchronise your living space alongside your kitchen and/or dining furniture. Creating a dedicated area for housing your TV and other media equipment, this made-to-measure Como sideboard in Gloss Stone has an unrestrictive design aesthetic which bridges the gap between kitchen and living area for a true ‘Multi-form’ furniture design scheme. Daval British fitted Furniture Collections are made-to-order and made-to-measure with prices starting from as a little as £3,000+vat. For further information please contact: Daval Furniture │ t 01484 848500 │ www.daval-furniture.co.uk │ Daval House, Spa Fields Industrial Estate, New Street, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, HD7 5BB
Fast-growing office fitout and design company Saracen Interiors has won the contract to transform part of a major office building into co-working space at the heart of Dundee’s £1 billion waterfront regeneration project. Dundee One is a 50,000 sq ft landmark building, where work is due to start on Phase One, the fit-out of 8,800 sq ft on the top floor, this month (February) with completion expected in May. Saracen Interiors has been involved in space planning the project for the past six months. The interiors company, which saw a 30 per cent leap in sales in 2018, was approached to space plan the new co-working space for owners Jute Properties. Saracen worked closely with the Jute team and residential interior specialist Salvesen Graham to create high quality thoughtful, design-led co-working and private office space, coupled with stunning views over the River Tay. Michael Page, Director at Saracen Interiors, said: “We are extremely proud to be involved in this huge and inspiring regeneration project for Dundee One. We have been heavily involved both in the space planning and in delivering the overall functionality of the space, and we were delighted to then be appointed to complete this exciting build.” The Grade A office building is a prominent feature on Dundee’s waterfront, whose regeneration has included a new rail station and a V&A Museum, officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in January this year (2019). The transformation of Dundee City Waterfront, which encompasses 240 hectares of development land stretching 8km alongside the River Tay, is a 30-year project that began in 2001. Its vision is to transform the City of Dundee into a world leading waterfront destination for visitors and businesses through the enhancement of its physical, economic and cultural assets. Forward-thinking Jute Properties completed the purchase of the building in February 2018 recognising Dundee’s potential, with plans to create a mix of traditional leased offices and flexible serviced offices, redefining the workplace to create an environment suited to modern working lifestyles and agile business. They are well on their way to achieving their targets with several new high-quality international tenants taking occupation and demand and pre-lets for their co-working space high. Private fixed office spaces for concentrated bursts of work and a series of formal meeting rooms and phone booths sit alongside luxurious social spaces designed for engaging with both colleagues and clients. Beautifully designed breakout areas and a coffee bar, with views over the dramatic waters of the Tay, allow you to step away from your desk, and generate the great ideas which will drive your business forward. Combined, all this adds up to an agile work environment where businesses thrive, and employees can truly feel at home. The owners announced they were responding to growing demand for co-working spaces and serviced offices. The co-working and flexible serviced office sector is the fastest growing commercial property sector worldwide and this will be a first Grade A serviced office for Dundee. Saracen is working on similar projects in other UK cities, as office building owners and co-working companies move towards more flexible workspaces. Demand for refits to respond to the growth in flexible working has been one of the reasons that the interiors company has grown rapidly in recent years. It is forecasting turnover in 2019 that will be close to double its sales volume last year. It is working on projects across the UK from its head office in Aldershot, Hampshire, and its growing northern division managed from its Manchester office. The company’s northern division has seen rapid growth with projects in Leeds, Sunderland and other locations in the north of England as well as Scotland. Saracen Interiors is the official workspace partner for clients including Dimension Data, Aggreko in London and Newsquest Media Group for whom it has worked on projects nationwide. Other large clients include Creative Foods Europe and Tata Communications. www.saraceninteriors.com
Mace Interiors has been appointed to deliver Woolwich’s new Creative District, which will see a historic military complex transformed into a major cultural destination. Mace’s fit-out will work alongside architect Bennetts Associates and creative consultancy The Chase and Land Design Studio on the project. Phase one of the project has already commenced and it involves the redevelopment of five Grade II listed buildings, the delivery of a 1200-seat venue, three professional studios, two community studios, three professional/educational studios, two reception spaces, public spaces and a café/bar. It is expected to be completed some time during 2020. Woolich Creative District will bring a significant boost to local development, with 400 long-term jobs expected to be created as a result of the work. Mace Interiors will also be supporting the local area, offering a number of construction apprenticeships and graduate placements on the project. “The development of Woolwich Creative District begins a new chapter in this history of Woolwich and will make the town a destination for Londoners and visitors from across the country. Punchdrunk is a truly world class organisation and I’m thrilled that so many internationally renowned artists and companies are making Woolwich their home; cementing its position as a new cultural hub, which will benefit communities across the wider borough. We are absolutely committed to ensuring local people feel the effects of this development by embedding community benefits into leases and contracts across the board,” commented Cllr Danny Thorpe, Leader of Royal Borough of Greenwich. Other important announcements included Punchdrunk as a resident company for the Creative District and the appointment of Valerie Vaughan-Dick as the Chair of the Woolwich Creative District Operating Trust.
Saracen Interiors is now reaching the end of a substantial fit-out project for Global Technology company Carl Zeiss. The interiors company is transforming c. 43,000 sq. ft. of office space plus undertaking a range of external works at a site in Cambridgeshire to create a world-class lean manufacturing facility, including a clean room, where Carl Zeiss will make electron microscopes for sale and distribution worldwide. The fit-out of Building 1030 at Cambourne Business Park covers three floors, and the complexity and specialised nature of the work has just been documented in a new video available to view at https://www.saraceninteriors.com/blog/5583/ Clive Longden, Saracen’s Site Manager, said: “It’s a complex project with some significant challenges, but working closely with our client, the team has successfully met these challenges, and we are now on track for completion and handover on time.” Saracen won the project in a competitive tender against strong competition, further cementing the groups presence in the industry. The team is managing a full fit-out of office space on floors one and two, as well as installing all-new kitchens and breakout areas. The first floor also includes a technical area for research and development that has required particularly careful design. But the toughest challenges have been on the ground floor where building a clean room for the production of the electron microscopes threw up significant mechanical and electrical hurdles as well as issues of coordination that the Saracen team has had to overcome. As well as the advanced M and E work, the project has required the installation of a range of specialised equipment, including cranes. Saracen has also installed an external goods lift as part of the project scope of works. The project came about as a result of significant local business growth together with increased global demand for the products and services of the two Cambridge based subsidiaries of the Global Carl Zeiss group. Carl Zeiss Microscopy Ltd and Carl Zeiss Ltd, wanted to combine operations and move from their two current premises in Cambridge, to a single facility and as a result have signed a long-term lease at Cambourne Business Park Saracen is managing the project so that staff will be able to easily transfer into the newly-revamped premises and to provide Carl Zeiss with room for further future expansion. www.saraceninteriors.com
FIS, representative body for the £10 billion finishes and interiors sector in the UK, announced the winners of the 2019 Fit-Out Futures Awards which were celebrated at the FIS President’s Lunch in London. Iain Mcilwee, FIS CEO said “the Fit-Out Futures Awards recognise the outstanding contributions and achievements of individuals, who have demonstrated excellence, dedication and commitment to their personal development, organisation and the finishes and interiors community. All the nominees were outstanding candidates and it was an honour to meet, host and award them” The event saw 300 FIS members and their guests come together to see the winners revealed in the delightful surroundings of Plaisterers’ Hall. Congratulations to all the winners and the shortlisted entrants. Apprentice of the Year Award WINNER: John Taylor – Stortford Interiors The judges commented that John was clearly a talented tradesman and that he was also changing attitudes internally about the positive benefits that an apprentice can bring to his company. John was also praised for his understanding of the importance of his work and the need to follow guidelines. He continues to develop as a fantastic example of why the modern apprenticeship system will shape our industry for the future. The award was presented by Sarah Beale, Chief Executive of CITB and Iain Mcilwee CEO of FIS. RUNNER UP: Danny Beadle – Pexhurst Services Danny was recognised for his commitment to all aspects of the day-to-day site role, as well as his dedication to learning and improving his skill-set. Future Leader Award – sponsored by CCF WINNER: Simon Broggio – Meronden Simon is an exemplar of how someone can enter the construction sector as a labourer and with the right attitude and work ethic work their way up to take on a Level 6 Construction Site Managers course. He is already a natural leader and an asset to the finishes and interiors sector. The award was presented by Dean Pinner, Managing Director of CCF Ltd and Iain Mcilwee CEO of FIS. Olton Bridge, 245 Warwick Road Solihull, West Midlands B92 7AH Telephone 0121 707 0077 Email info@thefis.org Website www.thefis.org RUNNER UP: Richard Austen – Stortford Interiors Richard was awarded runner-up due to his enthusiasm to adopt new ways of working and new technologies. He was also recognised for his ability to manage both his peers and his superiors. Outstanding Employee Award WINNER: Matt Taylor – Astins With more than 18 years’ experience in the industry, Matt was recognised for his never-ending energy and professionalism for design and to the sector. The award was presented by Nathan Garnett, Event Director at Media 10 Limited and Iain Mcilwee CEO of FIS. RUNNER UP: Ed Kelly – ETAG Fixings Ed was commended for his exceptional reliability, quality of work, initiative and professionalism, as well as his commitment to Etag’s work values. Lifetime Achievement Award – sponsored by CCF Ray Deeks – G Cook & Sons Ray was chosen as the recipient of this award for demonstrating a lifetime’s dedication to his trade. In particular, he was applauded for the amount of his own time he has committed to sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience with the wider industry. The judges said: “We all owe Ray a vote of thanks for the legacy that he continues to leave.” The award was presented by Dean Pinner, Managing Director of CCF Ltd and Iain Mcilwee CEO of FIS.
London’s super prime residential real estate more than held its own against the overall Brexit-plagued market last year, according to a report Thursday from Savills. The exclusive portion of the market where properties cost more than £15 million (US$19.5 million) saw transactions soar 43.1% in 2018 compared to 2017, data from the U.K. real estate agency show. The high-end transactions translated to a total sales volume of almost £2 billion, up 41.2% from 2017 and the highest figure since 2014, when the government introduced its new stamp duty rates resulting in much higher transaction costs at the top end of the market. Driving the increases are the relative bargains that can now be found in the prime London market. Some of the most expensive boroughs in London, dogged by political uncertainty, are seeing prices plummet, according to a report Monday from estate agency Your Move. Kensington and Chelsea, the most expensive borough in London where the average price in December was £1.7 million, saw prices drop more than a fifth in 12 months, down 21.2% from £2.25 million in December 2017. The capital has carried the brunt of the U.K.’s Brexit wariness, unsurprisingly, given the influence of immigration and overseas buyers on the market. “The price falls we’ve seen in the central London market, when combined with the depreciation of sterling, means the trophy properties of central London look relatively good value in an international context,” Lucian Cook, head of residential research at Savills, said in the report. “Despite the backdrop of political uncertainty and a less welcoming tax environment, these figures are clear evidence that London remains an attractive place for a growing pool of international high net worth individuals to live and conduct business,” he added. Values in prime central London peaked in June 2014 and have since fallen by 19.4%, with a 4.1% fall in 2018, Savills said.
The vast majority of people love trips to casinos, whether in Sin City, Macau or anywhere else around the globe. However, what most do not seem to realize is that casinos are actually scrupulously designed mazes that effectively force people to spend insane amounts of money and lose all track of time. This is actualized through clever casino planning and design. Here are some casino design elements that keep players hooked for far more than they should be. Disorienting Arrangements In most casinos, once players have stepped foot inside, getting to a restaurant, a restroom, a retail outlet or the like involves taking a convoluted route that makes it very easy to get lost. This is no accident, with the intent being that disoriented players who are unable to find their way to wherever they wish to go will choose to abandon whatever they might have previously resolved to do and instead focus on having fun at any of the numerous slot machines, craps tables and the like. However, such a trick does not apply to online casinos like https://www.jackpotmobilecasino.co.uk/. Time Flies There are never any clocks in a casino. This is because the casino does not want players bothered with the passage of time or thinking about their appointments for the day. Essentially, this leads to a suspension of both space and time, with this impression being reinforced by the lack of windows by which players can gauge how much time has passed since they sat down to gamble at a casino table. Mazing It Up There’s a reason why casinos prefer a maze design with exits and entrances that are randomly arranged, as well as narrower, shorter passages, over straight and lengthy rows with countless slot machines and gambling tables arranged in order. The reason has to do with avoiding overwhelming players with the goodies on offer and instead forming small islands where players can effectively feel at home and so spend forever playing casino games. Comfort Me Casinos go out of their way to make their players feel super comfortable. This fact can be most clearly seen in high roller rooms and suites that are designed for the utmost comfort and convenience. As can be imagined, comfortable players do not feel any need to go elsewhere and can play for long periods without tiring. Player Engagement One key way that casinos effectively prevent players from even thinking about going home is through the crafty engagement of all the senses. This includes the playing of chirpy music, displaying an array of bright lights and ensuring lots of exotic smells and scents. All these motivate players to keep on playing till the cows come home and retire for a cud-chewing session, when they should instead be thinking of quitting and coming back another day. Casinos also offer free food, drinks and the like to tired players to invigorate them and can comp a room where tired players can have a short rest. And that’s it, folks! The next time you pay a visit to a casino, do look out for all the above-listed details and disregard them at your likely peril!
A lot of people have talked about how ecommerce is killing the world of physical retail. While the rise of online shopping has certainly triggered bankruptcies for certain companies, the true picture isn’t that simple. Ecommerce isn’t perfect in its current iteration. There are aspects to brick-and-mortar retail that are preferable to many consumers. Here how you can go about bringing offline experience online to sell more furniture. Personalization Is Key to Building an Ecommerce Brand In the past, online sales channels have been sterile by necessity. The world of ecommerce is still in its infancy. Technology has only recently started allowing for more fluid and intuitive user experience design. Not many people feel a particularly strong connection to a webpage—even if it’s branded to perfection. This is why it’s crucial for ecommerce store owners to give consumers a personalized experience. Customers lose their sense of human interaction when sales happen online. Sometimes this can be a good thing. Most people would rather have a straightforward transaction than one that’s made worse due to poor customer service. Having someone right there to answer your specific questions is one reason why many individuals still prefer in-store to online shopping. Furthermore, over 50 percent of consumers find it important to develop a rapport with in-store employees. But personalization goes beyond interaction. For online-first retailers, there are many ways to incorporate this philosophy into routine interactions. Make Retargeting Meaningful Most ecommerce entrepreneurs agree that cart abandonment is one of the most important metrics to consider when running an e-store. With an overall cart abandonment rate of about 75 percent, it makes sense why this is such a crucial number for online store owners. There are several factors that play into cart abandonment—some more straightforward than others. Successful brands overcome this phenomenon by implementing a retargeting strategy. Retargeting is essentially marketing to people who are already somewhere in your sales funnel. Marketing expert Neil Patel notes that retargeting is far more effective when it’s done with specificity. Don’t just serve the same ads to everyone who visits your site. That’s a waste of money, and won’t generate a meaningful level of conversions. Give people ads directly related to products they’ve already spent time looking at on your site. The same theory should be applied when trying to attract new customers. If you want to open a furniture store via Shopify, don’t just broadly market to people who have looked for couches online. Greater specificity yields greater results. Offer AR and VR Compatibility There has been a lot of talk about how augmented reality and virtual reality are going to increasingly become a part of daily life. But most people are still only using these things for niche purposes. However, there are huge applications for AR and VR in the ecommerce world. One of the biggest potential benefits is allowing people to “try on” items before they buy them. This is currently one of the major advantages of offline shopping: You actually get to hold things or put them on before making a purchase. Virtual reality can allow consumers to have this sensation without leaving their homes. People who want to purchase furniture can particularly benefit from AR and VR, as it can show exactly how an item will fit within a space. Implementing VR for your ecommerce store isn’t just a cool gimmick. It can potentially increase your margins by a significant amount. Return rates are much higher for ecommerce vendors than brick-and-mortar stores due to the fact that people can’t try things before they buy them. Bringing this offline experience to your ecommerce store can do a lot to reducing your returns. Using Artificial Intelligence How can artificial intelligence make ecommerce more like an offline experience? By providing consumers with unprecedented levels of personalization. People want personal shopping advisors, and curated selections that actually coincide with desires. AI can help ecommerce retailers deliver on both of these fronts. Even though it sounds counterintuitive, AI is actually giving a more personal feel to online shopping experiences. There’s currently no perfect way to sell things to people. That doesn’t seem like it’s going to change soon, even with so many advances in technology and marketing practices. Bringing offline experiences to the online world will help people selling physical goods like furniture make more conversions.
FIS is the representative body for the £10 billion finishes and interiors sector in the UK and they have started 2019 by strengthening their team with the appointment of Nigel Higgins as Technical Engagement Manager. Nigel has extensive experience working across the sector for some of the most respected and recognisable companies over the course of his career. Iain McIlwee, FIS CEO said “we are delighted to welcome Nigel to the team, this is a new role that we have created to improve engagement, both from a supporting delivery and active listening perspective. It is vital to ensure that as many voices as possible are steering our work so that we deliver against our core values of supporting members, raising standards, improving safety, enhancing productivity and driving innovation in the finishing and interiors sector”. Nigel will be splitting his time between supporting the FIS Working Groups, expanding wider industry engagement work and most importantly helping to support the ambitious membership growth plans of the FIS. Nigel Higgins, Technical Engagement Manager said “I have spent all my working life in interiors, from a family involved in partitions, I have been proud to work for contractors, distributors and manufacturers who have fed my passion for innovation and high-quality commercial interiors. Working for the FIS will allow me to share my knowledge for the benefit of, and add value to the members, and join an organisation that is the voice of this dynamic and diverse industry”
Following rapid growth and success across Ireland, independent fit out specialist, Pure Fitout, has appointed Amanda Allen as UK Head of Business Development to lead its expansion into the British market. Founded in 2015, Pure Fitout has become a dominant force in the Irish fit out industry achieving £6.5m turnover in year one, £9.7m in year two, and at well over double-figures in the middle of its third year. With an impressive portfolio of projects, Pure Fitout’s work includes the award-winning restoration of Dublin’s Stella Theatre and the fit-out of every Five Guys in Ireland, as well as several stunning projects with Press Up Entertainment Group including the exclusive fit-out of The Devlin hotel. Bringing with her nearly two decades of experience establishing and growing companies across the fit out industry, Amanda’s appointment marks a significant point in Pure Fitout’sinternational growth. “Pure Fitout has an edge that I’ve not seen before which stems from their innovative spirit and inspired founder. My main objective when introducing Pure Fitout to the British market will be to emphasise the company’s collaborative approach to projects. They continuously seek ways in which they can improve what they do and how they do it, including investing in an exceptional in-house joinery and metal craftsmanship. I’m excited to have joined the team and look forward to injecting my entrepreneurial passion into the company’s ambitious growth plans,” said Amanda. Ronan Higham, Founder and Managing Director of Pure Fitout with over 25 years’ experience, said: “We’re entering a new and exciting phase for the company and Amanda’s vast experience and network of established relationships across the fit-out industry will be invaluable to us as we identify new business opportunities and sectors for growth.” From 4 to 48 employees in three years Pure Fitout has seen phenomenal growth over the last three years, now occupying more than 30,000 square feet of workshop space, a fleet of 15 vehicles, and 48 staff. The company has invested in a diverse range of talents including an in-house metal fabrication and joinery manufacturing workshop, ensuring its offering goes above and beyond what is currently available from other contractors in Britain. “Our success in Ireland is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the team, as well as our careful investment to ensure Pure Fitout’s offering is highly competitive. I believe our transparent relationship with clients also plays a role in our success rate for winning regular projects with almost everyone we’ve worked with. We plan to continue to invest back into our state of the art manufacturing facilities as we expand into other markets,” said Ronan. Ronan also discussed the challenges that are currently faced in the construction industry “A lack of apprentices coming through the trades is proving to be a challenge for the whole industry. Skill shortages due to lax training methods have caused labour rates to rise each month at an unprecedented pace, making it very difficult to competitively tender projects. This, combined with Brexit uncertainty around fluctuating currency, trading jurisdiction regulation, and concerns over importing key materials, have meant companies in the construction industry are facing greater, more costly obstacles,” For more information visit http://www.purefitout.com/.
