Photographer:
Fit Out:
Thoughtful shop refresh encapsulates the natural calm of spacious gardens with millions of annual visitors
As the primary entrance to Kew Gardens’ 2.5 million visitors, the Victoria Plaza shop required an interior refresh that reflected the spaciousness of the surrounding gardens, integrated seamlessly with the current shop fittings and encouraged passing visitors to stop and explore.
With a large variety of stock, the Kew Gardens’ gift shop required a tranquil refresh that allowed the products to stand out. Flexible, free-standing design solutions were bespoke made by our interiors team in collaboration with Hands.
The new joinery provides clear definition to each department, making it easy for customers to identify different product categories and find what they want. The new system reduces visual clutter, spotlighting individual items while maintaining the number of products available in the shop.
Natural materials and tones are plentiful to create connection to the wider gardens. A calm, sage green covers the walls and encapsulates the plants and fauna outside. Meanwhile, oak tongue & groove panelling and draped linen generate a soft, organic palette. In the kids’ area, a new playful leaf motif – created by our brand team – sparks curiosity in younger visitors.
With a warm and welcoming upgrade that considers the customer’s journey through the space, the Victoria Plaza shop has seen an increase in sales across several categories, including 2,500 more units of prints and postcards, which is a key part of the organisation’s retail.
"The store refit has been really well received by staff and customers, which was exactly what we wanted, a better shopping experience."
Head of retail and e-commerce
