IN business, some things never change. Pulling out all the stops to attract customers, for example, remains as crucial as ever in the Scottish on-trade; and one sure fire way to do this is with a design refresh, say specialists.
With timing critical to carrying out a refurbishment, now could be the moment to ring the changes, ahead of the busy festive season.
Ross Nicholl, managing director of The Wooden Floor Store, told SLTN that establishing a point of difference with good interior design is “massively important, especially ahead of the festive season”.
“Customers want to visit the ‘in’ bars and restaurants,” he said. “Having a point of difference helps set yourself apart from competitors; people will come to see for themselves.”
Scott McIntyre, associate of Nicoll Russell Design Studios in Broughty Ferry, agreed that the style and condition of a venue’s interior is “very important as customers are drawn in by looks”, but added that they will stay for service and quality, “so operators have to offer all three to maximise their potential”.
Sustainability is another important factor, according to Nicholl of The Wooden Floor Store. He said that recycling and upcycling “is big in interiors”, adding that the right wooden flooring, for example, “can be resanded and refurbished over time if need be – and can last for decades with the correct maintenance”.
In terms of current trends, McIntyre of Nicoll Russell Design Studios reckons that Japanese influences are becoming more prominent, with an uptick in demand for “large scale patterns and graphics, lots of golds and metallics”.
Working out the numbers is vital.
John Currie of Allstar Joinery in Cumbernauld said operators “need to be realistic and informed correctly by their design team”.
