Retail solutions: a 360˚ service from Häfele

Against a backdrop of wider economic challenges, the high street appears to be in a recovery position when compared to the start of the pandemic, according to latest statistics.

Retail sales volumes in May 2022 were 2.6% above comparative levels in February 2020, with growth in clothing (13%) and department stores (1.3%) of particular note so far this year. In addition, weekend high street footfall has continued to increase, as has the use of night-time economy.

Extensive amounts of data available online has meant that in the last two years, buyers have benefitted from truly personalised e-commerce experiences. But – clearly – many still want and need to see, feel, try and, in some cases, even smell or taste items before they buy.

To make this experiential shopping something special, retailers must begin using smart design features to create immersive, memorable spaces, which customers seek out and return to. In short, we must create exciting and physically engaging spaces that online retail simply can’t contend with.

Retail project support

Häfele’s team of specification experts work closely with architects, contractors, interior designers and operators in the commercial and retail sector, connecting them to the solutions that will bring their ambitions to life. Whether it’s a refit of an outdated shop scheme or an entirely new development, our Project 360˚ team will embed into your vision and recommend the best products and services for your needs, offering comprehensive support in all project phases.

We’ll supply CAD drawings, images and BIM assets where available to your design team to help them bring together each of our different systems – from remote access locking systems and lighting, to sliding door gear, architectural hardware and more – to one complementary scheme.

Intelligent access control

For example, Dialock, our advanced door and furniture locking system, is specifically designed to meet the high security and safety requirements of those working in commercial and retail environments, offering the perfect combination of door and furniture locks to provide designers, specifiers and contractors with an all-encompassing solution.

Dialock uses electronic keys, terminals and programming units to allow authorised access to buildings, rooms and cabinetry or furniture used to protect valuable items – the type you might expect to see in jewellery stores. Its low-profile design means the system’s components can be well concealed within cabinet carcasses, and can be connected using plug-and-play technology. The Dialock system has been upgraded, now enabling for furniture locks to function out of just one terminal making it easier to install to any design of cabinet.

Large and multiple pieces of furniture can be programmed to work together using multiple antennas, so the user can gain access to the right compartment on demand. The lock lends itself to any style of cabinet door – whether sliding, pivot or hinge – as well as drawers of any shape and size.

The software sitting behind Dialock also provides an audit trail of the date and time any cabinet has been accessed, and the access cards are now programmable via a smartphone app.

Also recently introduced, is our automatic door installation service, which sees our team install, service and maintain any form of automatic door – whether a sliding door to the entrance of a shop, or a swing-out door offering access to a disabled toilet – on which Dialock technology can also be installed.

The range of Dialock support available from Häfele is extensive; Dialock Assist provides ongoing, dedicated aftercare for those with Dialock fitted to doors and cabinetry in store. With three different packages created bespoke for your application, we offer technical support, onsite system check-ups and 24-hour help and advice to all Dialock Assist customers, with visits scheduled around your opening hours.

Loox-urious retail lighting

Elsewhere in store, lighting can be used to showcase a product’s best features while simultaneously acting as a useful guide to navigate customers and enable the discovery of products they might not otherwise be looking for. As such, lighting makes the shopping experience not only useful and informative, but also sensory, inspirational and productive.

LED lighting systems – such as furniture and Nimbus room lighting – deliver an easy-to-install option to make retail spaces more expressive and improve signposting. With a wide range of uses across fixture and display applications, Loox can be used to highlight products that are popular amongst consumers or which fall in line with current trends, making it easier for the shopper to locate the items they’re looking for; whilst Nimbus can help create an overall atmosphere on the shop floor.

Using Loox LED lighting, you can change and control the colour, warmth and intensity of the light via an easy-to-use app to coincide with seasons or promotions, meaning retailers can use lighting to help meet their sales priorities.

Loox is a plug-and-play system, with its clear colour coding, making it simple to assemble and install, removing the need for a specialist electrician, saving time and money. Meanwhile, Häfele’s Lighting Design Service arms the industry with a free, value-added tool to ensure retailers receive great-looking, holistic lighting solutions in their projects. Customers can submit room or floor plans to the Lighting Design Service team who will create creative and technical lighting schemes on their behalf providing a bespoke layout, product list and priced quote – all free of charge.

Ironmongery that wows

The finishing touches of a retail scheme should be as much a priority as the bricks and mortar and as such, ironmongery should be selected to strike the perfect balance between aesthetic and purpose. As a project takes shape, moving from concept to reality, having the support of an architectural ironmongery team can prove vital to bring a retail store to life and ensure the finished product stands out in a crowded marketplace.

We offer a vast assortment of ironmongery items – including lever handles, pull handles, door knobs, hinges, locks, latches and ancillary hardware – that have been carefully selected in partnership with manufacturers, architects, designers, developers and subcontractors from across the globe.

Our new architectural ironmongery brochure showcases the comprehensive range of hardware we can specify, source and supply for application in projects in the retail sector so customers can begin to shortlist their options. From there, our Häfele Projects 360˚ team, made up of over 20 Guild of Architectural Ironmongers, will collaborate with customers to determine the best product to suit the functionality and design of the building. This assures customers of the highest standards of modern specification, with a ‘cradle-to-grave’ approach to ensure design consistency across an entire building.

Shop floor fitout​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Busy, untidy and cluttered shops are at risk of putting customers off spending. To create experiences that consumers want to return to time and time again, retailers should consider smart use of railings, hangers and drawer storage to not only make shops look clean and tidy, but to also showcase either areas of the store or specific products.

Häfele’s Shoptec range features a comprehensive variety of brackets, rails, hinges and carriers designed to enable shopfitters to create clean layouts that make physical shopping a more comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Additionally, rails, panels and plinths are just some of the many products that can be provided through Hafele Service Plus Customised, a bespoke service, which allows customers to specify products to size, quantity and finish. The service means users only pay for what they need and reduces waste, making the process more sustainable and the fit-out experience even simpler.

From the legislative and operational requirements to ensure that your project meets building and fire safety standards and regulations, to bespoke logistics such as phased deliveries or door-packed consignments to ensure that your project runs smoothly throughout implementation, the 150+ years of experience in our Projects team means we know exactly the type of support needed to see a project through from start to finish.

Though projections about the country’s economic future are positive, budgets are tighter than ever. And this is against a backdrop of consumer demand for retail stores that offer a true point of difference when it comes to their experience. Working in partnership with a team that offers such great services and solutions will mean your space is futureproofed and designed to look and function brilliantly, and you’ll achieve it while achieving true added value.

Click here to learn more about Häfele’s retail solutions in our brochure.