Heritage and historic buildings entail sensitive treatment to balance the requirements of retailing and preserving the character and ambience of the setting. With this in mind we design souvenir shops which blend perfectly with the surroundings and are appropriate to the period of the building whether it be a castle, cathedral or a historic house. At Shop Services we understand the requirements of being able to work in an environment with modern retail equipment to maximise visitor spending potential and essentially maintain the look of point of sale area.

Gaining knowledge of any building which is to undergo a refurbishment, is very important, and especially so when considering the style of furniture to be fitted, so meeting and liasing with the customer is paramount to be able fulfil every requirement and standard set.

In the UK restoration work has become increasingly important in our grand cathedrals and abbeys, and the addition of sensitively styled and successful gift shops can be a major source of revenue when designed to blend in with a buildings original features.

Initial meetings and discussions were held with our client to gain knowledge of the premises and its requirements. The design needed to blend in with current surroundings while also support the use of modern-day selling outlet.		The use of clean and subtle lighting within the units effectively helps to promote the retail items and maintain a peaceful atmosphere. This style of lighting compliments both acrylic and wooden shelving and provides a focal point to the units.		Solid oak was used to blend in with existing furniture at the Priory. All materials are sourced responsibly from accredited companies. Slatwall were widely used in the units as a foundation for displaying the range of accessories which included shelving, card racks and literature displays.

Each bay unit was fitted with slatwall back panels, with storage cupboards and under shelf lighting. The pocket money units are a great way to display smaller items and are manufactured with lockable castors for easier relocation. The card spinners were adapted to fit onto a plinth unit to give it a higher visibility.		This dual purpose unit was built to provide storage for books and paperwork and is accessed at the rear of the display bays. Although the storage couldn't be seen from the retail area it faced the seating for the congregation so it was important to have the visual styling in keeping with the style of the Priory.