FLEUR Carson, commercial sales director of Karndean Designflooring, says: ‘Our experiences over the past couple of years have changed our attitudes to shopping and our expectations. More people have become used to shopping online so competition for footfall in physical stores has increased. To win the confidence of customers – and sales – retailers are increasingly emphasising emotional experience over functionality.’

Creatively designed spaces using materials that have a welcoming and homely feel yet are hardwearing and easy to maintain will offer a reassuring personal approach that can help customers feel safe again and so comfortable to browse, continues Fleur, adding attention to detail is key as surfaces need to look great from opening to closing, come rain or shine.

‘Some of our retail partners are looking for an authentic but deliberately understated look that acts as a blank canvas. All eyes are therefore on the merchandise and not the internal finishes. Also, the complete opposite can be true. Some brands prefer to customise and personalise the store interior and are excited by the possibilities of design to create a fun and enticing experience for shoppers.

‘With health and wellbeing high on the agenda, materials that provide an authentic natural look will appeal to the senses and create a comforting and relaxing environment. With all the natural style of wood and stone but without any of the practical downsides, LVT is the ideal choice for creating unique yet highly useable retail spaces that are easy to keep hygienically clean.’

Fleur points out Karndean flooring has a durable, waterproof surface that can stand up to the toughest retail settings with minimal maintenance. ‘In addition, our rigid core and looselay ranges include an enhanced acoustic layer which can reduce noise levels by up to 21dB. Reflecting our commitment to producing stylish and durable floors with the lowest possible impact on the environment, our products are designed to improve indoor environmental quality.’

She continues: ‘We’re continually improving our products to meet the changing needs of our customers. Our latest innovations include multi-format ranges which offer the opportunity to take a single design across different sub-floor conditions, even in a herringbone pattern. Our looselay format is ideal in situations where areas of additional wear and tear may be expected as each plank or tile can be simply lifted and replaced.’

Fleur concludes: ‘Drawing on our ethos of design as a journey of discovery, the unrivalled flexibility of our floors presents endless possibilities for imaginative bespoke designs that will add an interesting brand style and attract discerning customers.’

Case studies: Arlo & Jacob, Bristol
Contemporary furniture brand Arlo & Jacob wanted its Bristol showroom to reflect its unique brand personality and offer a memorable experience for customers.

A bespoke floor was designed using a combination of custom cut Knight Tile planks in a random pattern of wood and stone designs to complement the bright modern feel of the store and the innovative quality of its products.

The herringbone pattern includes statement white wood and grey stone tiles which have been used to provide subtle punctuation and so highlight key zones across the store.

Case studies: Best Menswear
An Irish men’s brand, Best Menswear, opted for Karndean Opus stone and Knight Tile as part of the remodeling of several of its stores, revealing what’s described as a fresh, striking floor design.
Co-designed by Store Design and Best Menswear’s inhouse team, the ‘sophisticated, masculine space features Opus Mico and Knight Tile Aged Oak in a contrasting combination to create a modern, subtle design with an edge’.
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