UK high streets need to be more about creating communities and less about just retail
It is time to return to the root of what people want; the creation of multi-faceted communities offering variety and meeting a diversity of local... read more
Insights
Generation Z are the unlikely saviours of physical retail
Interestingly and conversely to what was previously anticipated, recent research shows that Generation Z is spending more time in physical stores than any other consumers... read more
Thoughts
getting ahead in the fitness industry race
One in every seven people in the UK is now a member of a gym, and according to the “2018 state of the UK fitness... read more
Insights
value and values…
As retail consumer profiling becomes more granular, with increasing generations and shopper tribes demanding immediacy in meeting their specific needs, how do brands and designers... read more
Insights
essential retail design trends for 2019 that can’t be ignored
Ultimately, a store is a reflection of its brand. Therefore any design or redesign needs to reflect its brand values. It is the responsibility of... read more
Insights
evolving retail: why retail brands are moving from traditional retail spaces
These days, it is all about experiential shopping and retailers are on an important quest to engage with their customers, by delivering retail theatre and... read more
Insights
educational environments: 5 key drivers of change
The importance of schools to create active and inspiring learning environments that compliment how teaching and learning has evolved… read more
Insights
Why Symbiotic Retail Space Works…
Theo Paphitis was recently quoted as saying “It really does feel like retail as we know it is creeping closer and closer towards the precipice”… read more
Insights
omnichannel is the only road to success for car dealerships…
To survive, retailers have realised that they need to adopt an omni-channel approach and car manufacturers are no different… read more
Insights
New breed of hotels & restaurants want to be one of the locals…
The global boom of the sharing economy, driven by brands like Airbnb and funded by the loyalty and enthusiasm of Millennial consumers, has caused hotel... read more
Insights
the future of student accommodation
Over the past 10 years, the provision of high-end student accommodation has boomed. However, post BREXIT the numbers of foreign students with the money to... read more
Insights
Seismic changes can help secure retail’s future…
With so much happening, so quickly, in the world of retail we thought it was high time to delve deeper into the seismic changes affecting our industry,... read more
Insights
crossing cultures…
Chris Harris, head of Project Management at rpa:group, gives some key tips for conducting business in the Middle East, where he spent his childhood in... read more
Thoughts
What politicians could learn from retailers…
Brands flourish and proliferate on the high street, where choice increases daily. However, we seem to be faced with dwindling options in politics, which seems... read more
Thoughts
retailers need to be more “chameleon”
In a world obsessed with separation it’s refreshing that retail at least supports an ecosystem fuelled by inclusivity and interaction. I am of course referring... read more
Insights
the mutual benefits of taking on interns…
rpa:group is proud of our ongoing commitment to investing in new, young talent. Over the years, we have welcomed a number of interns who show... read more
Trends
six retail design trends to look out for in 2017
Flexibility and convenience are increasingly demanded by customers in both the digital and the physical worlds of retail. As designers, it is absolutely essential that... read more
Insights
chain reaction takes fast food to a new level
Fast food restaurants have built their success on one core idea: deliver the same offer no matter where you are. Where unsophisticated foods inhabited simple,... read more
Insights
“Phygital” – blending the physical and digital worlds of retail
The physical and digital world is converging to offer a blended experience to the consumer, delivered through rapidly evolving digital advancement and interior design. In... read more
Insights
why are stores being redesigned more often?
One consequence of intense competition, changing customers shopper habits and increased expectations in the retail sector, is the constant shortening of remodelling cycles. Retail brands... read more
