RETAIL THERAPY
Matthew Speck, Commercial Sales Director at Karndean Designflooring, discusses the benefits that LVT can bring to any shopping experience.
Whether specifying for a local boutique or an out-of-town retail park, Karndean Designflooring can offer innovative designs and flexible laying options to create and maintain an ambience in which customers are more likely to spend. Not only does our luxury vinyl tile (LVT) outperform many other flooring types on each of these aspects, it’s durable and designed to last between planned retail refurbishments with ease.
One of the main benefits of using LVT to bring a retail environment to life is the flexibility it offers – the only limit is the designer’s imagination. Specifiers can create sweeping curves to distinguish one section of the store from another, add borders to highlight key product displays, and creating a rug effect is now even easier thanks to our Kaleidoscope collection with its six geometric designs, offering the design community unparalleled flexibility at the point of specification. We also offer an extra level of personalisation, whether there’s a company logo that needs replicating, a name to inset into the floor or a special design to produce with bespoke sizes, we can help bring character and originality to the space.
Sandersons Boutique Department Store in North Sheffield opted for the striking blend of silver and charcoal grey found in Van Gogh Aged Redwood and the gentle mid brown of the traditional Country Oak. With a view to creating an exceptional retail experience for customers, and understanding how much of an impact the floor can have on the finished look, they seamlessly brought the two colours together to create an eye-catching design in the fitting rooms.
The team at Sandersons were also drawn to the hardwearing nature of the flooring as they have a tea room, an in-house florist, a nail bar, and a full diary of special events. With Karndean it’s possible to showcase creativity without having to sacrifice durability. Even when it’s walked on by thousands of customers each day and subjected to daily stock distribution movements, the floor will keep looking great without splitting, cracking or developing unsightly marks that can blight natural materials. In the unlikely event an individual
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plank or tile is damaged, it would be possible to replace it, whereas a carpet would all have to be taken up and replaced.
Safety for staff and customers is obviously at the forefront of retail business owners’ minds, which is why Karndean products have all been tested for slip resistance, successfully reaching either an R9, R10, or R11 rating. Additionally, our floors are quieter than the natural materials they replicate; ideal for stores looking for a more peaceful shopping experience, and they are all compatible with underfloor heating which customers will no doubt appreciate during the winter months.
We also recognise that when it comes to refitting retail stores, minimising disruption to sales is of paramount importance. If time is of the essence, for example when a business wants to open a pop-up store, specifiers can look to our easy-fit ranges – LooseLay, LooseLay Longboard, and our first rigid core collection, Korlok. They all feature the realistic look and texture of our gluedown ranges, but in a quick and easy-to-fit format.
LooseLay and LooseLay Longboard can be installed with a tackifier adhesive over almost any subfloor which makes it perfect for temporary and permanent installations alike. Korlok has a familiar click locking system and enhanced core technology, meaning that architects, interior designers and flooring contractors can achieve an authentic floor in any space without the need for adhesive and with minimal subfloor preparation. Additionally, their flexible formats also facilitate partial area refitting if that suits a store’s operations – a major advantage over flooring supplied in sheets or rolls.
At a time when online shopping is a popular choice, it’s important to offer an exciting store design and atmosphere to keep consumers interested and feeling special. The flooring is the backdrop to their retail experience and can really give a space that ‘wow’ factor which will entice shoppers in and encourage them to browse for longer.
www.karndean.com RESILIENT FLOORING | 35
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