Retailer Profile // Cesar by Espresso


Refining retail W


At Cesar by Espresso in Chelsea, the focus is firmly on retail execution as the showroom adapts its offering to meet a more considered and complex London market


Interview: Matt Baker // Photography: Kasia Fiszer


ith more than 30 years in the design industry, Andrew Hamilton Barr, director at Espresso Design, brings a


breadth of commercial and creative experience to the business. His early career saw him managing import/export operations in Africa, building partnerships in emerging markets, before moving into interior design across the UK and South Africa. This background led to the launch of the St


John’s Hill showroom of Espresso Design in 2006. That blend of commercial acumen and design credibility then saw the opening of the Chelsea showroom, Cesar by Espresso, a retail partnership with Italian kitchen company Cesar. For Cesar by Espresso, the past year has been less about dramatic change and more about recalibration. The fundamentals of the business remain intact, but the way customers engage – and ultimately buy – has shifted. Andrew Hamilton Barr, director at Cesar by


Espresso, points to a more cautious, considered client base, particularly in London. “There were a lot of concerns, particularly in London,” he


says, referencing the Covid years when projects slowed and decisions were delayed. Rising costs and economic uncertainty is still present today and has had an inevitable impact, with some clients sitting “on the fence” before committing. But now, rather than a drop-off in demand,


what Espresso is seeing is a change in mindset. Clients


are still investing, but with greater


scrutiny and clearer expectations around value. That shift is neatly captured by Cesar’s


creative director Cinzia Cumini, who says: “Business today happens in a more complex context: people are torn between traveling and investing in a home where they truly feel good, so they’re more conscious about how they spend.” For a retailer, that tension plays out in the


showroom. Conversations are longer, decisions more deliberate and the role of the designer more critical. Clients want reassurance – not just in the product, but in the process. “There’s always been a level of demand,”


says Hamilton Barr. “Our job is to offer better service and better products.” In practice, that means guiding clients through a more layered decision-making journey, balancing aspiration with practicality. It also places greater emphasis on trust. In a


competitive market with relatively low barriers to entry, Hamilton Barr is clear that not everyone can deliver at the same level. “Not a lot of companies can do that really well in difficult


circumstances,” he says – a


reminder that strong retail execution remains a key differentiator.


Expanding design If the customer is changing, so too


is the way Espresso presents the Cesar offer in-store. Historically, the brand has been closely associated with a conceptual approach – something that still underpins the range. But now the goal is expanding that approach. That expansion is


less about adding volume and more about broadening the design language available to retailers and their clients. In a retail context, that translates into greater


flexibility on the showroom floor. Espresso is able to demonstrate a wider range of looks and configurations, helping clients visualise more personalised outcomes. One of the key differentiators here is form. “The


market really appreciates the brand,” Hamilton Barr notes, particularly its ability to offer something visually distinct. Cumini highlights


46


kbbreview


May 2026


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