The Body Shop

Location: New York, NY

Area: 800 sq. ft.

This international retail store required our services to introduce their new store design concept by renovating their first store opened in the U.S. The design concept was created by The Body Shop design team in the U.K. and had to be transformed to meet U.S. standards, materials and building codes.

The first store was located on Broadway in Greenwich Village, New York City. When the store was first opened, the area was just being developed for specialty retail. Now the store sits in the center of a bustling retail area.

The construction was completed in an accelerated time frame so the shop would not lose its local client base. To complicate the rush schedule, design decisions and details were changing up to the end of construction as The Body Shop U.S. grappled with the infinite decisions to be made regarding design and merchandising.

Several national and Canadian cabinet shops were evaluated to fabricate the new look fixtures but due to time constraints the U.K. shop was chosen. The fixtures had to be reworked and rewired in the field to meet local U.L. and electrical codes. Certain cabinet and cash/wrap alterations were made to accommodate the A.D.A. disability requirements. The results were stronger product display areas with effective lighting, a lighter feeling throughout the store with less congestion, and a more transparent storefront to see inside.

The new finishes, cabinetry and graphics give the store a fresh new look which supports the corporate environmental philosophy. The storefront is still the recognizable dark green color but the design is lighter and more open to reflect the new concept.