Author: Neil Williams

A trip inside the P2 spray shop

P2’s spray shop could be just the thing your piece of retail display furniture needs to help it stand out from the crowd. Our two, highly skilled, sprayers can provide a number of top-quality finishes that are sure to include something which is right for you.

We offer two different paint types: PU (Polyurethane) and an AC (Acid Curing) substitute. However, we no longer offer Acid Curing paint itself. The reason for this is quite simple: recent research has shown that Acid Curing paint continues to emit formaldehyde long after application – making it a health risk.

Acid Curing paint is a standard offering in the industry, and it produces a good result – but there was no question, when we learnt about the dangers it posed, that we had to find something better for both the environment and the shoppers that come into contact with our craftsmanship every day. Luckily, we were able to find an alternative that easily matches the quality you would expect from traditional Acid Curing paints.

Our AC Substitute paint is a lacquer that reacts with oxygen in the air. It can provide a variety of finishes from dull to high quality gloss that’s suitable for all types of wood and can be used in a variety of different spaces.
However, if you need something harder wearing, and even more versatile, then our PU paint is undoubtedly your best bet. Although more expensive (and laborious!), PU paint can be polished extensively to a mirror-like finish.

In addition to providing our own stunning paint jobs, our spray shop can match any existing stain by either rubbing or spraying on and using a clear lacquer to protect it. The end result is, whether you want something new and original, or a continuation of what has gone before, at P2, we can deliver! To learn more about our spray shop, or make an enquiry, please contact us on 01455 288 922.

Three top trends for retail display in 2019

Three top trends for retail display in 2019

Each new year brings its own trends to the world of consumerism, and retail display furniture is no different. It’s really important to stay on top of today’s rapidly evolving retail industry – sales might be soaring right now, but do you know what “Generation Z” cares about? And are you conscious of the forces looking to disrupt your business?

With that in mind, we decided to offer you some expert guidance on our own specialist subject: retail displays. So, without further ado, here are three trends that will continue to shape the industry over the next twelve months – make the most of them, and it could pay dividends.

Displays equal data, and knowledge equals power

In today’s high-tech, omnichannel, world, we all know that knowledge equals power. Where does knowledge come from? Increasingly, the answer is better customer data. And where does data come from? In part, at least, from in-store behaviour. And there are few better places to gauge how customers are interacting with your store and products than a retail display. This could be the information that makes or breaks you: according to a Pew Research Center Report, more than three quarters of purchase decisions are made after looking at or trying a product in the real world.

Bob Gatta, the CEO of Data Display Systems, says: “There’s a growing importance for brands and retailers to track in-store display engagement as a crucial part of their overall marketing strategy. Capturing engagement provides an understanding of where, when, how, and which customers are interacting with your products.” The first step in delivering that is ensuring that you have a well-thought out layout to your store, so you know where traffic is being driven – something that P2 has a great deal of experience with. You can check out this blog for more info.

Experiential continues to drive consumption

Long gone are the days when buying goods was a simple transaction to take ownership of a product. Nowadays, experience rules the retail sector. In the wider world of shopping, this might mean more than just operational expertise… it’s time to push the “in-store experience”. And, with a plethora of apps, websites, and ecommerce platforms now operating in tandem with the world of brick-and-mortar, consistency is key.

If you’re selling well-known brands or products, it is not enough to simply display them nicely on a quality unit. Now, you have to take the brand’s online presence into account, the touchpoints created through social media, and more. Reflecting these factors in a beautifully designed piece of retail display furniture is a fine art, and it is one that will become indispensable to shops of all sizes this year. A great example is the bespoke oak cabinets we made for Fortnum and Mason in conjunction with Portview Fitout in 2016. these cabinets captured the same combination of traditional luxury and modernisation that typifies the brand’s online presence – that’s why they’re still a standout feature for London shoppers today.

Sustainability determines purchases for more consumers than ever before

Environmentalism is more powerful and ubiquitous than ever before. Millennials and Generation Z really care about the world – well, they should… they’re the ones who are set to inherit it. And that means that brands (and retail outlets) that embrace sustainability are in a better position to reap the rewards of repeat custom than their competitors. This isn’t a minor point: A report from eMarketer in January found that 68% of inline respondents “deemed product sustainability an important factor in making a purchase”.

Carlos Castelan, managing director of the Navio Group, says: “Customers want to know how products are being sourced, what ingredients they contain, and what the supply chain looks like.” That’s every bit as true of the furniture that products sit on in the store as it is the products themselves. That’s why it pays to work with a firm like P2, which holds certification from both the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).

P2 is an expert at creating beautiful bespoke retail display furniture and installations. We’ve brought our problem-solving skills to brands like Estee Lauder, Clinique, Chanel, LG and Tag Heuer. Will you be next? Get in touch on 01455 288 922 to find out how we can help you today.

2019 is looking like an exciting year for P2

2018 was a great year for P2. We won new contracts, completed some fantastic work, and dealt with a long list of satisfied customers. However, we’re even more excited for 2019, which is already shaping up to be an interesting year. There are a few things coming up that we’re keen to share with you.

First on the list is the expansion of the development team. This kicks off at the end of January, when we’ll be pleased to welcome a new head of development as part of the team. An introduction is just around the corner, so keep an eye out. Suffice to say, we were deeply impressed by this person, who brings a good wealth of experience and additional skills to the business, and look forward to watching them put their stamp on the development team.

Secondly, we plan to continue our focus on bringing fresh blood into the business and industry. P2’s apprenticeship scheme was a great success last year, and we’re keen to continue supporting the evolution of skilled labourers into the industry by sponsoring them in-house.

Third, and finally for now, we’re excited about the acquisition of more new technology. We’ll be investing in new machines this year, with a new semi-automatic spindle moulder being added to the catalogue this month, alongside the lifting arm installed just prior to Christmas. Like all industries, it is important for us to keep up to date with the modern ways of working and machines that can help us be more efficient and continue to improve our quality of finished jobs.

So, with those notifications out of the way, all that remains is for us to wish you all a happy – and exciting! – new year!

It’s official: you’re in safe hands with P2

At P2 Retail Displays, we’ve always taken safety seriously, so we’re pleased to announce that we’ve achieved full Safecontractor accreditation through leading business services group Alcumus.

Alcumus Group sets the standard for health and safety through its Safecontractor scheme – an industry-leading initiative to help clients ensure that the people they’ve contracted adhere to the highest risk management policies in the workplace. So far, 28,000 contractors across the UK accredited, and P2 is proud to be one of them.

The accreditation process is not easy. Over the course of P2’s journey, we’ve seen our safety procedures, policies, training, and insurances rigorously audited. Ultimately, though, health and safety is a crucial component in any responsible business – and the accreditation process is not only valuable for P2’s employees and directors – both of whom have a vested interest in keeping the company a safe place to work – but also from the perspective of our clients.

Having official verification from an industry-leading body through a scheme that is on the cutting edge of business practises sends a strong message about the quality of service P2 provides. It lets our clients know that they are employing a company which adheres to the highest safety standards, and undergoes voluntary, credible, third-party, vetting to guarantee it.

That’s great for everyone involved – and it doesn’t hurt the company’s reputation either!

P2 sets the standards for 2018 by achieving ISO 9001 & 14001

We take environmental concerns very seriously. We are committed to the recycling and reuse of materials whenever possible, and minimize waste through a process of material optimization. Additionally, we devote time right from the outset to thinking about what sustainable materials will be most suitable for our clients’ projects. This means that they get display units with the right product life cycle at maximum cost efficiency and minimum harm to the environment, which is why is was also important for us to gain the ISO 14001.

So what do they actually stand for?

ISO 9001 is the leading, globally-recognised standard for quality management systems. Used by organisations of all sizes across all industry sectors, the ISO 9001 standard is designed to assist with the implementation of an efficient quality management system, ensuring that organisations consistently conform to the required standards. This is achieved by emphasising a set of key goals, principals and objectives, which are important to every business in order to ensure that the needs of customers and stakeholders are being properly addressed.

ISO 14001 is the internationally-recognised standard for environmental management systems. When implementing an environmental management system (EMS) within an organisation, it is usually desirable to apply for ISO 14001 certification, since this accreditation serves as evidence that you follow the correct processes and procedures in order to minimise your company’s impact on the environment.

We are looking forward to an exciting 2018 and we look forward to working with you.

Tailoring your retail space

In order to plan and create the perfect shop fitting for your retail space, there are a number of angles and questions that need to be posed.

Firstly, what is it that you’re looking to achieve in the end? Of course this will be closely linked to the business objectives of the business, but there needs to be a detailed ideas around what the priorities are with the project. Is having the trendiest, most visually appealing space for your products the most important objective? Or is having a well functioning and sales/traffic driven approach suitable for your business?

Following this, it is important to think about the most important people who will be setting foot in your shop – the customers. To be able to design and create the perfect shopping space for your business, it is vital to understand the customer’s journey, where do they enter? Where do they walk? Do they need a lot of space? All of this is important information.

One final, and equally important, consideration is context and competition. This is where you need to think about the surroundings of your shop, and how it can distinguish itself from local competitors that could be in the immediate vicinity. Whether this is through how it looks, the sounds you hear entering the shop through to outside signage, there are many customisable elements that can be worked on.

If you would like some help with your retail project then why not get in touch!

P2 winds down by speeding up

After an incredibly busy 12 months, the P2 team decided it was time to blow off some steam. And what’s the perfect way for a young, dynamic team with energy in abundance to do that? Go karting, of course!

On 25th May, we decided it was time to thank our team for their incredibly hard work and all the extra hours put in over the year. And while some businesses might like to relax quietly and slow down, that was never going to be an option for P2. As a result, we suited and booted up, strapped on the helmets, and took to the race track.

It says a lot about the work ethic and dedication of the P2 staff that powering round a track all afternoon felt like a break. And the same tenacious pursuit of success that serves us so well in our everyday business was on display. As a result, it was a fun and competitive afternoon that, miraculously, didn’t result in anything other than pride being injured!

Top dog on the day was our workshop foreman, Carl Dolby, who put in a spirited performance to get the gold. Hot on his heals was design and project manager Adie Burns, with Director Adam Philips coming in third.

It was a great day that saw the whole team play to its strengths and come together just like they’ve done every day for the past year. And it was followed by some well-needed food and drink at the local village Balby in the evening.

What’s next on the cards? Another year that’s worth celebrating!

Apprenticeships add value to industry

The UK government is planning an Apprenticeship Levy, aiming to get 3 million apprenticeships on the go by 2020. This is great news for UK industry, as apprenticeships perform a vital role in the trades, helping people from all walks of life develop skills that will set them up for a solid career, and contributing to a diverse workforce that has real, on-the-job, experience behind it.

At P2, we take our apprenticeship scheme very seriously: we believe that we’ll get the best results by taking in young people that are hungry for opportunities and helping them to make the most of their potential. That’s why we insist on putting all our apprentice furniture makers through a comprehensive set of qualifications.

Rather than just studying shop fitting, we believe young people in our industry benefit from having wider knowledge. This brings a comprehensive set of capabilities to our workforce, resulting in flexible workers who can think outside the box. For a company that prides itself on dynamic problem-solving abilities, this is crucial.

P2’s managing director, Adam Phillips, says:

“With an apprenticeship scheme, you’re literally investing in the future. It’s not as simple as filling a job post for a year or two: you’re helping to develop the type of skills and values that you think the industry needs going forward. At P2, we’re very proud of the people that have gone through this process with us.”

Phillips adds that, unlike its competitors, P2 insists on giving apprentices access to a comprehensive set of skills. At P2, all apprentices are put through a full NVQ in furniture and cabinet making with WEBS Furniture Training. This is what’s best for the company, its apprentices, and, ultimately, the local community. Phillips says:

“It’s more than just what’s good for P2. You take youth from the local area and give them a trade. We want our employees to not just be great at making shop fitting furniture. We want them to have a wider set of overall life skills. That might mean becoming familiar with more than just timberwork; at P2, they might come into contact with metalwork, glass work, and more.”

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming an apprentice with P2, you can contact us through the contact form on this website.

Is there a smarter way to use your retail space?

Retail is a tough business. It’s always been a tough business, but never more so than today, when online shopping trends are squeezing brick-and-mortar retailers on the high street. That’s the bad news. The good news is that these same trends make physical retail more competitive, and it’s relatively easy to stand out from your rivals. How, you ask? By asking yourself four simple questions:

First, what do you want to achieve with your retail space? This isn’t just somewhere you sell products – it’s a vital extension of your brand, the physical embodiment of what it means to spend money at your store. Should it be relaxing? Should it be fashionable? Should it be cool? The answers to these questions will depend on your own brand values, and it’s crucial that you consider them wisely. You need to ask: what’s the personality of my shop, and how can I reflect it here?

Second, what does the customer’s journey look like? Most of the time, consumers enter a shop with little-to-no prior knowledge of it. They’ll browse your store, pick up clues as to who you are, what you offer, and how; and then, if you tick their boxes, they will purchase something. You need to be aware of how your customers will travel around your store’s layout and customize it accordingly. Does that mean putting the most attractive products at the front? Adding display cards to help your shoppers become informed? It almost certainly means creating a clear path to the point of sale. How the customer interacts with your store’s layout is paramount to the sales process.

Third, what does a customer need? Before your shoppers make a purchase with you, they require certain information: that you are in business, what you sell, how much it costs, etc. This might sound self-evident, but you would be amazed at how many shops fail to make all the necessary information as easy to locate as possible. You might also, if you have never taken the time to consider it, be amazed to find that it’s not as clear as it could be in your shop either.

Finally, what does a customer want? Once you’ve addressed you store’s personality, made sure that the customer journey is sensible, and that the customer has all the knowledge he or she needs to make a purchase, you should be asking yourself why that customer will shop with you? Ultimately, this means discovering what your customers want and supplying it to them. This, of course, relates to products – but it also relates to the mood of your shop. There are some things you can take for granted: no customer wants to shop somewhere dirty, disorganized, and without easily available customer service. Beyond this, you shouldn’t be afraid to experiment, to ask, and – occasionally – trust your gut.

P2 is an experienced facilitator of shop fitting furniture for a variety of different uses. We’ve worked with some of the world’s most iconic brands and retail destinations, and are more than capable of realizing whatever vision the four questions above lead to. Just get in touch with us through this website.

UK retail display firms see strong figures

Since the start of the year we have been as busy as ever working on a range of projects for a wide range of worldwide brands. But, as you know, we are not only concentrated on our current projects, we also have a passion for our craft and like to keep up to date with the latest events and trends from across the industry.

At times of economic uncertainty and negative news, like the present, good news stands out and that is exactly the case for the retail display industry, which is seeing a rise in sales. The Shop and Display Equipment Association (SDEA) recently carried out a survey across all of their members, looking to get a thorough understanding of the state of the market and their members’ sentiment, and the results were extremely positive! They reported that 64% of their respondents reported an increase in sales over the last six months; with the average of those reporting a 17% rise in their sales – truly impressive figures.

Antony Behiels, director of the SDEA, said: “Despite a rise in supplier prices, which has been well reported since the devaluation of Sterling and Brexit, the industry remains relatively buoyant. He went on to state that of the 76 per cent of members that recorded a supplier price increase, averaging a 5 per cent hike, over half are not looking to pass this on to their customers – testimony to the strength of the retail display industry.” We are delighted to see such positive figures coming out of the industry, as our nations shop fitters continue to go from strength to strength.