http://www.spencerswinden.com en design@spencerswinden.com Copyright 2012 2012-01-16T08:00:41+00:00 http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/news/entry/the_ring_o_bells_features_in_caterer_and_hotel_keeper_7th_december_2011/ http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/news/entry/the_ring_o_bells_features_in_caterer_and_hotel_keeper_7th_december_2011/#When:16:44:09Z 2011-12-07T16:44:09+00:00 http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/news/entry/spencer_swinden_win_best_bar_and_restaurant_design_at_the_northern_design_a/ http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/news/entry/spencer_swinden_win_best_bar_and_restaurant_design_at_the_northern_design_a/#When:17:03:29Z 2011-11-28T17:03:29+00:00 http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/news/entry/the_ring_o_bells_features_in_eat_out_magazine_4th_october_2011/ http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/news/entry/the_ring_o_bells_features_in_eat_out_magazine_4th_october_2011/#When:15:33:03Z 2011-10-04T15:33:03+00:00 http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/news/entry/consolidation_of_spencer_swinden_news_section_and_blog/ http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/news/entry/consolidation_of_spencer_swinden_news_section_and_blog/#When:08:00:44Z We have decided to consolidate our news section and blog section. Head on over to our Blog pages to see the latest news from Spencer Swinden 2011-05-20T08:00:44+00:00 http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/10_tips_to_instantly_increase_footfall_in_your_venue/ http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/10_tips_to_instantly_increase_footfall_in_your_venue/#When:07:00:41Z 1.      CALL TO ACTION The Customer experience starts well before they enter your venue. Be distinctive in your brand and communication and allow your audience to understand clearly and simply what you stand for and how they can benefit from your offer. Brand and message confusion can cause uncertainty which often deters visitors. 2.      TIDY UP YOUR FRONTAGE First impressions count so it is vital that you make your premises as attractive as possible. If you cannot afford a complete revamp, there are still small changes that will make a difference. Clear branding/ signage will communicate well with passing trade and details like planting and clean pathways will aid access and draw in custom. Small things, like leaving the front door open can help to make you seem more approachable, and encourage customers to enter. 3.      CONSIDER YOUR OFFER Make sure that you are entirely happy with the products or services on offer. If you are unsure, consider making a visit to a competitor to see what they are offering. You should also make sure that any displays/offers are in keeping with the season. Ensure that seasonal items are removed as soon as they are no longer relevant. If you have a Christmas display up in February, there is something wrong. 4.      ADDRESS YOUR INTERIOR Is your interior working for your venue? Simple changes to layout and circulation, point of sale, or even the type of seating can completely reinvigorate a venue and increase the longevity of a visit or the number of bums in seats. 5.      MOVE INTO THE STREET Many retailers presume that they are limited by the four walls of their venues, but there is nothing to stop you heading out onto the street in search of customers. Think about offering samples or examples to passers-by. Meeting customers on the street can be a great way of enticing them to your venue and building brand awareness at the same time. 6.      GET INTERACTIVE Despite the increased use of social media over the last few years, retailers are often still hesitant to branch out into the virtual world. Social Media sites such as Twitter and Facebook allow your venues to get involved in the social media revolution and show customers that you’re interested in building a relationship with them. No other medium allows a business to stay that close and engaged with their customers. It builds brand loyalty, keeps the consumer informed about your business, and encourages positive word of mouth. 7.      BUILD CUSTOMER LOYALTY AND STAY IN TOUCH Peoples’ lives are busy and complicated. They need reminding. A lot. Collect email addresses by offering a monthly prize draw and use their contact information to expand your mailing list. A monthly newsletter of upcoming events and offers will keep your customers involved in your business and help spread the word. Repeat customers are the foundation of any successful business, so you should consider ways that you can encourage customer loyalty. It is possible to increase repeat business by offering discounts or incentives to returning customers. Schemes of this sort are particularly useful for businesses that have direct competitors in the area, as they help to differentiate your firm. 8.      DIVERSIFY Consider diversifying your services or offer. For example, if you have a space that’s always empty, sell it as a meeting venue or function room. Offer a take-away or delivery service to busy workers in nearby offices. There are numerous avenues to explore. 9.       INVEST IN YOUR STAFF Your staff are the face of your company as far as the customer is concerned; everything they say or do contributes to the overall image your customer has of your business. Staff training or re-training is imperative. They should be aware of the company brand and direction, know how to deal with complaints and understand the importance of ‘the customer is always right’ philosophy. 10.  RE-EVALUATE YOUR BUSINESS DEMOGRAPHICS The local demographics of an area can change rapidly over a very short period of time. For example, the ‘young professionals’ you were originally appealing to have now married and there’s been a baby boom. There is no where suitable for busy mothers on the daily school run to stop for morning coffee or lunch with friends. You may be missing out on a lot of business because you’re aiming at the wrong market.   Spencer Swinden Design combines creative flair with commercial awareness, positively transforming spaces into profitable places. Our service primarily, is to increase the profitability and awareness of a venue through design. We achieve this by using demographical, competitive & business analysis to allow us to design everything about a venue be it a bar, restaurants or hotel. Why not give us a call and see what we can do you? Increase the     profits of your venue Understand who     your customers are Position your     outlet within the market Understand who     you competition is Brand your     venue and increase presence 2012-01-16T07:00:41+00:00 http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/how_to_manouver_disabled_access_and_discrimination_law_in_your_pub/ http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/how_to_manouver_disabled_access_and_discrimination_law_in_your_pub/#When:07:00:41Z   Each decision we make as designers has the potential to include or exclude customers. ‘Inclusive’ or ‘universal’ design centres on the concept that understanding user diversity will help to inform these decisions. User diversity of course, covers various requirements and aspirations. Even forgetting the ethical pressures that this concept poses in terms of the built environment, DDA legislation and Bulding Regulations make it very difficult for designers to create an environment without considering these factors.   Designing for the leisure industry, our projects range from quiet local pubs to major hotel developments. As part of our approach, we consider the demographics of an area and of the venue. Our design work, where required, is based on the geographical customer demographics and competition analysis which allows us to understand the requirements and aspirations of the proposed customer base. This information is then translated into our design concept/offer to appeal to the market and individuals identified.   Changing demographics are a major challenge to the design profession. For example, there are already 130 million people over 50 in the European Union. By 2020, one in every two European adults will be over that age (The Economist, August 2002). The effects of rapidly ageing populations, and the growing numbers of people with disabilities, are having a distinct effect on the requirements and offer that venues and our designs have to consider. Venues are often designed or planned based on the preferences and needs of a small group of people or to the proprietor’s personal taste and previous experience. It is extremely important to realise that the design of a venue should appeal to the targeted demographic and not pander to individual design preferences. However, by considering the needs of an inclusive range of users within a demographic bracket, costly mistakes are avoided and profit maximised. The need for a more socially inclusive approach to designing is beginning to rise up the business agenda. Design development which includes the needs of marginalised groups of people is regarded as not just socially desirable, but can often be optimised as a commercial opportunity. For more information and advice, Please contact Spencer Swinden Design W: www.spencerswinden.com            E: design@spencerswinden.com T: 0121 551 9897 2012-01-02T07:00:41+00:00 http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/farrow_balls_new_york_gift-wrapped_store_is_on_our_christmas_list/ http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/farrow_balls_new_york_gift-wrapped_store_is_on_our_christmas_list/#When:07:00:56Z Christmas has come early to Farrow & Ball’s new store in New York’s Upper East Side, with its refurbishment and new look leaving it prettily wrapped in the company’s splendid Lotus wallpaper . All of the Spencer Swinden staff are in love! Now, how do we get a gift like this for Christmas?   W: www.spencerswinden.com            E: design@spencerswinden.com T: 0121 551 9897 2011-12-12T07:00:56+00:00 http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/the_eco_christmas_tree_by_buro_north/ http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/the_eco_christmas_tree_by_buro_north/#When:07:00:29Z Australian graphic designers Buro North claim their plywood Christmas tree is “80% more environmentally friendly” than a traditional fir or spruce. Available in three sizes, the flat-packed tree can be used year after year. Buro North state their ‘Green’ christmas tree is 80% more environmentally friendly as it is made with environmentally aware ingredients, that are CNC routered (a low-energy production technique) with waste material minimised by design. The designers boast that the flat-packed tree is emissions-efficient to transport and can be used for many a christmas to come.   We agree that in place of plastic artificial trees this is a great improvement environmentally, but how can a plywood tree be better for the environment that a spruce or fir that adds to the environment when composted and recycled?   A copy of the life cycle assessment report can be downloaded from the website. We’re not sure this is the future of sustainable living but we love the design!       2011-11-21T07:00:29+00:00 http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/recycled_plastic_amorph_lamp_frozenplastic_studio/ http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/recycled_plastic_amorph_lamp_frozenplastic_studio/#When:07:00:44Z Tel Aviv-based designers, frozenplastic studio have ingeniously reused plastic waste, collected from an Israeli recycling plant as the base material for their designs. Their work is founded on deformities and abnormalities which sometimes happen in the plastic industry. To create ‘amorph lamp’, special moulds are used, that allow spontaneity in the process of shaping each individual piece which is unique in its colour and shape. A UV protector is added to the low density polyethylene that is used to ensure longevity and sun protection for the product. Designboom have documented Frozenplastic Studio’s initial experimentation with this process here .   All images courtesy of Frozenplastic Studio. 2011-11-14T07:00:44+00:00 http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/smith_and_mills_new_york_recipe_for_success/ http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/smith_and_mills_new_york_recipe_for_success/#When:23:00:58Z   Smith & Mills has a beautiful bar design hidden behind weathered doors on a quiet street in New York. Similar to the nondescript facade, the cool rustic interior space gives the impression that it has been there, untouched for decades. The striking vaulted ceiling gives the bar an intimacy whilst the furniture and fittings have an aged glamour that gives the illusion that that this bar has weathered both high and low times.   Framed architectural blue prints and lamps line the walls and hint at the buildings industrial past: A theme that is carried through to the logo and branding. The pièce de résistance is ethereal restroom stashed inside an ancient elevator car! (Images via the Scout) W: www.spencerswinden.com            E: design@spencerswinden.com T: 0121 551 9897 2011-11-06T23:00:58+00:00 http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/spencer_swinden_topman_general_store/ http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/spencer_swinden_topman_general_store/#When:13:55:10Z Topman has undergone a transformation with the opening of its first stand alone concept store in east London’s hotbed of creativity, Shoreditch. Curated by Gordon Richardson and Matthew Murphy, Topman General Store is unlike the Topshop we’re used to, with a stripped back vintage ‘Americana’ feel. The store features minimal branding and great coffee, with an impressive collection of photography books and vintage fixtures and furniture bought from vintage fairs. Furnished throughout with personal finds, custom built displays and temporary art installations; the store might just trick you into thinking that you have walked into an independent retailer. (Images via weheart ) W: www.spencerswinden.com            E: design@spencerswinden.com T: 0121 551 9897 2011-10-31T13:55:10+00:00 http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/award_winning_bar_design/ http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/award_winning_bar_design/#When:14:23:33Z The Lord Clifden , (our team’s local) was designed by us in 2008. It continues to reel in the awards, this time its The Best Place to Drink in The Midlands runner up at The Observer Food Monthly Awards for 2011 . This timeless funky leisure interior and bar design continues to gain reputation. Our original brief and solution for the venue is available in Case Studies – The Lord Clifden . It’s especially nice when venues receive awards based on consumers/customers votes. It means our bar interior design makes a real difference to the local community (and of course the pocket of the owner). Awards make the team at Spencer Swinden Design happy. It means we are achieving our goals by helping to make our clients successful. Spencer Swinden Design www.spencerswinden.com 0121 551 9897 2011-10-19T14:23:33+00:00 http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/Do_You_Need_Help_Understanding_the_Cigarette_Vending_Machine_Ban_/ http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/Do_You_Need_Help_Understanding_the_Cigarette_Vending_Machine_Ban_/#When:08:52:06Z The sale of tobacco from vending machines has been banned in England, with anyone caught selling cigarettes in machines facing a fine of £2,500. The Department of Health said the ban had been introduced to prevent under-age sales to children and to support adults who were trying to quit and have now issued guidelines clarifying the law surrounding the ban on cigarette vending machines effective from 1 October 2011: KEY POINTS TO NOTE From 1 October 2011, the law changed to make it illegal to sell tobacco products from vending machines to anyone, regardless of age, in England; It is also against the law to display advertisements or pictures of tobacco products on vending machines in England; Businesses will still be able to sell tobacco products from behind the bar, but must comply with the existing law (e.g. age of sale and advertising at point of sale). COMPLIANCE The licensee/operator of the premises where the vending machine is located will be guilty of an offence if tobacco products are sold from that machine. Both owners of the vending machines and licensees/operators of the premises on which the machine is located will be responsible for ensuring there are no advertisements for tobacco products on the machine. Licensees/operators should contact the owner or operator of the vending machine to agree arrangements to comply with the new law. The machine must not be able to be used by the public from 1 October until it can be removed or moved to a place where the public cannot use it (e.g. storeroom). ·         The legislation does not ban vending machines per se – they can stay in their current position if they are no longer used to sell tobacco products directly to the public (e.g. empty and switched off) and all advertisements of tobacco products are removed from them or covered up. ·         The vending machine can be placed behind the bar, provided that the machine is positioned where the licensee or manager of the premises can guarantee that there is no public access. The licensee/bar staff could then use the machine for tobacco storage. However the advertisement or pictures of tobacco products on vending machines will still need to be removed. Trading Standards will be the body responsible for compliance. More information can be found at Business Link website or by dowloading the Trading Standards advice leaflet.   Spencer Swinden Design www.spencerswinden.com 0121 551 9897   2011-10-10T08:52:06+00:00 http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/would_you_stay_at_the_michelberger_hotel/ http://www.spencerswinden.com/index.php/blog/entry/would_you_stay_at_the_michelberger_hotel/#When:13:46:09Z   The Michelberger Hotel is a great new concept hotel that bridges the commercial gap between hostel and hotel. There is a very quirky vibe to the hotel, which boasts 119 Rooms in an beautiful industrial re-used old factory building. The hotel is very proud of their eclectic mix of customers, with diverse accomodation for varying stays and a room for every type of entertainment.   The Bedrooms are fantastic with each room tailored to a different need. For example, the ‘Cosy’ room boasts a kingsize Bed, for a single or an in-love couple. (Pretty much one big bed with a strong shower and TV), whereas the ‘Bands on top’ room has 4-5 Single Beds, suitable for Families, Rockstars or Carpenters on the road. An elevated room share. Our favourite.   The hotel has fabulous brick-a-brack and artwork dotted around. We LOVE the cuckoo clocks (below). The Bar/Coffee Shop has a really eclectic vibe and is the perfect example of versatility. Read a book with a coffee or chill out with a drink and your friends…the atmosphere will suit any occasion. Quirky detailing is the key ingredient to this funky hotel: Books and magazines aren’t reserved for shelves and coffee tables, one-off lampshades are made of the sheets of vintage reads and look stunning. Dining spaces are relaxed:   Large windows let in floods of light and the subway tiled walls, sparse furniture and bare concrete floors create a casual urban dining space. We love the Whisky Room! In the old days these rooms were marked with “No women. No dogs.” This room screams sex, whiskey, and poker. It’s a room for the boys marked with: “Lot’s of women, no pictures”.   One unusual quality this hotel boasts is a backstage room. Normally it serves as a conference room, but it also doubles up as a backstage area for their courtyard stage. It fits 50-80 conference participants (or 150 drinking groupies!) Spencer Swinden Design www.spencerswinden.com 0121 551 9897 2011-10-03T13:46:09+00:00