Timber iQ February - March 2018 // Issue: 36 | Page 23

PROJECTS
Before the redesign, the deli was limited in size, preventing the free flow of customers.
The refurbishment also enabled the creation of more display areas.
Before the redesign, the deli was limited in size and the
store’s layout did not allow customers to easily move in and
out of the store. Its takeaway area and payment point were
both situated at the entrance, which resulted in this space
being heavily congested. During renovations, a
neighbouring store’s space was incorporated to create a
more spacious interior to allow customers to move more
freely inside the store.
CREATING A NEW SPACE
The refurbishment also enabled the creation of more
display areas, with each one showcasing the various
products on offer at the store. The deli’s extensive range of
preservatives, condiments and German delicacies are
displayed across from the store’s entrance, with a small
selection of premium wines at the right of the display unit.
At the centre of the store is an island with black bar
stools where customers can buy ready-made sandwiches
and desserts, coffee and beer. The payment area is situated
across from this station, resolving the previous
congestion problem.
The Hartlief Deli in Gardens functions as a takeaway
store, however, the new layout includes tables and chairs
for those customers who prefer to enjoy their meals at the
deli. Fridges and deli counters line the interior perimeter
(there’s also one next to the island), with wheeled timber
boxes placed in front of them. These boxes function
primarily as merchandising space, but their purpose is also
to provide additional storage and draw the customer’s eye.
The deli’s warmer, more spacious look is also because of
the materials used in the refurbishment. Inhouse brought in
a substantial amount of timber to warm up the space, where
it is used for the deli’s flooring and some displays. Most
notably, however, are several decorative bulkheads which
hang suspended from the ceiling over the island and
service counters. The bulkheads are made from several
timber slats that are equal in length. They are very simple
in design but add a touch of modernity to the space while
creating a cosy ambience.
Granite surfaces are also prominent features of the new
interior due to their durability and the way they refine and
warm up the interior. Lighting is also crucial for the revamp,
especially to showcase the produce. Butchery lights are
installed inside the fridges to enhance the colour of the
meat, while white lights that hang suspended from the
ceiling are interspersed among the decorative timber slats.
Phillip Wyatt, director at Inhouse, says, “Hartlief
absolutely loves the new interior, especially what it’s done
for the movement and flow of customers in the store, which
has improved immensely. We enhanced the customer’s
overall shopping experience through a strategic layout and
a more visually appealing design.”
// FEBRUARY / MARCH 2018 21