Shopfitting Guide and Advice

What exactly do shopfitters do?

Shopfitters assist with a number different things to ensure that your shop ends up looking exactly as you want it. This includes; Architect drawings, Design, Advice and Consultancy, Co-ordination of all tradesmen, Project management, Health & Safety, Competitive quotes from each trade ensuring costs are kept low. Ensure all elements of Planning & Building regs and Retail compliance of DDA (disability discrimination act) are adhered to and provide an all in one solution.

The best advice we can give?

Having been in the industry for many years, we've learnt a thing or two and hope you find some of the things we have learned helpful. Please find below our eight point guide to shopfitting

1. Plan ahead early

Be aware of your opening date and plan ahead early. You will need to develop plans, seek planning approval, get costs in and often allow up to 6 weeks for delivery on some types of equipment.

2. Finance

Think about how much you want to spend on shopfitting, but be realistic, we have been asked many times to complete full stores for £5,000 and I'm afraid that is often just not possible. It may also be worth remembering that people often think about cost in terms of comparing it to a DIY store. The difference is these stores are that often DIY equipment is built for personal domestic use and is therefore much cheaper than items used in the commercial world.

3. Design & Architects

Try not to get too carried away with fancy designs for your shop if you are trying to keep costs to a minimum. Employing an Architect and designer ensures you can see how your shop will end up looking before you invest too much money. It is advisable to employ an architect or designer who has enough experience to understand the costs of the designs they are suggesting.

4. Planning & Building Regs

Find out what current usage your shop has. A1 is standard retail and unless you are considering a restaurant or coffee bar this will be sufficient.

New external signage & bus stop signs (signs that protrude out of the building) generally require local council planning permission, this can take up to 8 weeks to get approval, so best to get the designs for these completed as soon as possible.

DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) means all new shops must ensure they do not discriminate against anyone with a disability; this includes things such as ramps up to entrances, disabled toilets and Braille on menus for example. You need to ensure you have considered these implications when designing your shop.

Building regulations must also be considered; fire exits, welfare and toilet facilities (based on the number of staff), aisle size and stairways are examples of what building regulations will be required. A building inspector will come to check out any works carried out have been sufficiently completed.

5. Scope of Works, Costs & Programming

Once you have your plans and designs, a shopfitter will be able to price them for you. A Scope of Works (list of what needs to be done) will be produced in fine detail, making sure that every task that needs to be completed is listed. Once you agree The Scope of Works which can either be completed by your designer or shopfitter, then the shopfitter will be able to give you a price for your shop. This often takes a couple of weeks to ensure you get the best price.

Once you have seen the prices for your shop it may be above or below your budget. If it is above you can sit down with your shopfitter and omit any of the items that you feel are not completely necessary. If it is below your budget you may wish to add things you had previously considered a luxury!

Shopfitters can also order all of your shop equipment to you (tills, counters, shelving etc.) they usually charge a small percentage of the cost to do this, but it means you do not have to deal with the delivery and instalments of the equipment yourself.

If you wish to order the equipment yourself, then you must ensure the shopfitter is aware of delivery dates, you have allowed for ordering (lead in) times and the shopfitter is aware of the dimensions of your equipment to allow for design adjustments.

Once all of the plans have been agreed then a programme of works is put together, this shows exactly what will be completed in the process of your shopfitting and when. These often need to be adapted when issues come up on site, but all shopfitters will ensure they finish the project by the time you have specified.

6. On Site Communication

Once the project starts and the shopfitter starts to build your shop, communication will be key. A weekly meeting will be held at your shop to ensure that everything is going to plan. You will also be given mobile phone numbers for the Contracts Manager (the manager who looks after your job) so you can call them in the process of your shop fit.

7. Launch Day

By the time you come to open day, your shop should be finished. These are often stressful days and you may notice a few things that were not quite finished by your shopfitters, these items are called snagging and can occasionally occur. Simply make a list of what you feel has not been completed and hand it to your shopfitter who will complete the tasks as soon as possible to ensure they get paid!!

8. Payment

Shopfitters will vary on their method of payment and payment terms. Many will require a deposit, followed by an interim payment (during the work), followed by a final payment once you have agreed the final account with them. Others may like you to use a bond account where you pay an amount into an account and the money is released once the job is complete.

Extras need to be allowed for during the construction process. As you may find that you need to change things in your plan as it is being built or may require additional works to The Scope of Works. All extras must be agreed by you and the cost at the time and these are added to the final bill at the end of the project.

This guide sheet aims to provide come insight into the world of shopfitting and reflects the way R&Y work, it may not be how all shopfitters work and if you are contacting another shopfitting company then please check this is the method they use too.