Brick-and-mortar retail is constantly evolving, and it’s crucial for brands to adapt to changing trends and consumer expectations. Today’s shoppers seek more than just products on shelves – they want memorable experiences, exceptional customer service, in-depth product knowledge, and the ability to try before they buy.
To meet these demands, it’s essential that shop designers ensure consistency across all touchpoints, maintain clear brand positioning, and deliver an engaging, authentic tone of voice.
As our lifestyles evolve, the boundaries between spaces are blurring. It’s increasingly common for retail outlets to merge with eateries, hotels, and coworking spaces, creating dynamic, multi-purpose environments.
A visually stunning retail environment thrives when built on solid branding foundations. Our retail designers specialise in developing your brand through collaborative workshops, in-depth analysis, and strategic positioning, ensuring your vision is clear and compelling from the start.
Our 20+ years of ‘big brand, big project ‘experience has helped mould our proven process for independent shop owners to national retailers. We provide expert guidance from concept to completion to avoid wasted time and money and utilise the resources we have to hand.
We source, specify and procure all elements required to turn a project from concept to reality. These include, but aren’t limited to, furniture, lighting, bespoke joinery, signage, servery equipment, kitchen equipment and planting.
We love working with a broad range of retail clients, from barbers to jewellery shops and beyond.
– Brief Creation
– Strategic Thinking
– Branding Advice
– Competitor Analysis
– Measured Survey
– Space Planning
– Lookbook
– Sketches
– Concept Creation
– Specifying
– 3D Visualisation (CGI)
– Sample Boards
– Technical Drawing Pack
– Construction Details
– Tender Guidance
– FF&E Schedules
– Bespoke Joinery/Furniture Design
– Planning Applications
– Building Control Drawings
– Principal Designer & CDM Management
– Design Management
– Contractor Liaison
– Snagging and Quality Control
– Site Meeting Attendance
– Procurement
– Design Engineering
We can be as hands on as you like and are more than happy to provide guidance from beginning to end. We can source, specify and procure all of the elements required to turn the concept into a reality. We love the ambitious and courageous nature of our clients, allowing us to join them on their journey to bring their vision to life.
With our design hubs in Birmingham, Yorkshire and an office in London for meetings, we are never far away from a project.
Sam Chandler2025-02-14 The team @ C&A care deeply about their work and the client experience. The end result is groundbreaking design that wins hearts and minds. Ant Duckworth2025-02-11 Matt, Kayleigh and the team have been instrumental in bringing Dear Coco's coffee bar strategy to life. We needed an agency partner capable of lateral, innovative thinking with a can-do attitude and we found it in Copper & Ash. The quality of creative thinking, problem-solving and final output is second to none. Their project management is amongst best-in-class. The team's work has allowed us to secure flagship coffee industry and real estate partnerships, they're a critical growth partner for us. Thank you team, Ant & Sam @ Dear Coco Coffee Z B2024-09-17 Matt and the team were absolutely excellent from start to finish. This includes everything from communication, going through each stage to the final presentation. Overall, as a company we cant sing their praises enough! Bill Sunner2023-12-05 Been using copper and ash for 12 months now, i would recommend this company to anyone who is looking for design work. Matt and Kayleigh true professionals, nothing is to much to ask of them. They have a very good understanding of what the client needs. Jack Whittaker2023-10-02 I highly recommend Copper & Ash. Recently used the company for a full office renovation, they understood the brief and the use of space and the vision they had was extremely impressive. They then followed this up with fantastic customer service, and reaction to changes required offering flexibility throughout. All with a personal touch from the company owners. Spencer Turner2023-09-25 We are a fit out company and required the services of an interior design company specialising in commercial design. I contacted Matt and Kayleigh of Copper and Ash who right from the word go engaged with our client and delivered an amazing scheme. For us as a contractor we were given all of the exact specifications and detail required in order to provide an accurate quotation bearing in mind the clients budget. Both Matt and Kayleigh were in contact during the design process to run past me the use of different materials and design ideas they had to make sure they were feasible and cost effective without affecting their design. Once we were contracted to do the fit out they were always on hand to assist with any alterations to design mainly due to materials and always came back to me rapidly. The whole process has been a joy and I would have no hesitation in recommending them to anybody looking for an up to date wow design delivered by professionals that think outside the box. I am a great believer in "you get what you pay for" and I think Copper and Ash are definitely value for money. David Frisby2023-08-17 We had a fantastic experience working with Copper and Ash on our new office location in Birmingham. Their project management skills were exceptional, and they showed great professionalism throughout the process. What impressed us the most was their dedication to understanding our brand, not just from an aesthetic standpoint but also in terms of our cultural values. They truly went the extra mile to create a space that reflected our brand identity and created a positive and inspiring work environment. Nathan Dawe2023-01-17 An absolute pleasure to work with from start to finish. I came with a vision and they took it to another level. The first design they showed me turned out to be the final design as it was so amazing! Kayleigh and Matt were fantastic throughout going above and beyond to achieve our opening date. Highly recommended. You get what you pay for!! Thank you guys Ashley A2022-12-01 Copper and Ash were fantastic from start to finish. They were enthusiastic about the project and came up with some great ideas. They kept me informed and up to date through every stage of the process. They were clear and responsive in communication. The people who perform the best are the ones that enjoy what they are doing, and it is clear that they love their craft. Kay Bonetti2022-01-08 The team at Copper and Ash have an intuition to come up with the perfect design, that until meeting them was just a figment of the imagination. Thank you for your care and attention to detail, and to actually listening - a rarity in business today
For us, experience-driven retail design is about transforming traditional shopping spaces into immersive environments that captivate and engage. It’s more than just product displays; we design every element—lighting, layout, sensory elements—to enhance the customer journey, making each visit memorable and meaningful. The goal is to connect with customers on an emotional level, building loyalty and making them eager to return.
Today’s retail spaces are about more than just transactions; they’re destinations that combine shopping with lifestyle experiences. Our hybrid approach integrates retail with hospitality, coworking, or even dining spaces, creating multifunctional environments that reflect modern consumer lifestyles. By designing spaces that blend shopping with social and interactive experiences, we help brands build stronger customer relationships and increase foot traffic.
We’re not your typical retail design agency—we’re a close-knit team that approaches every project with a personal touch. We don’t just design for you; we design with you, immersing ourselves in your brand’s vision and goals as though they were our own. We’ve worked with global brands like JD Group, Disney, and Marks & Spencer, but we’re equally passionate about helping independent retailers create spaces that resonate with their unique customer base.
We strongly believe that a successful retail space starts with a solid brand foundation. That’s why we offer brand development services to support your retail vision. From brand positioning and workshops to creating a clear narrative that flows through your space, we ensure your retail environment is not just visually appealing but also tells your brand’s story in a way that customers will remember.
Absolutely. We love working with independent business owners, and our experience extends to projects of all sizes, from jewellery shops to barbers. Our team understands the unique challenges independent retailers face, and we work closely with you to tailor our process to your needs and budget. Whether you’re launching a new shop or refreshing an existing one, we’re dedicated to helping you make a bold statement in your market.
Our retail design process follows four main stages: Define, Design, Develop, and Deliver. In Define, we create a brief and build a strategy; in Design, we develop your concept and visual elements; in Develop, we work on technical details and secure approvals; and in Deliver, we oversee construction, installation, and final touches. From start to finish, we handle everything, ensuring a seamless journey that aligns with your vision and goals.
We handle every detail required to bring your retail space to life. This includes sourcing furniture, lighting, display units, and materials, as well as creating custom joinery and signage unique to your brand. By managing each component, we ensure that all elements work together to create a cohesive, engaging space that resonates with your customers. Our goal is to deliver a complete, visually compelling environment that supports your brand’s success.