Shopfitting at scale: a specialist end-to-end solution

Behind the delivery of the most well known retailers in New Zealand: H & M, Specsavers, Barkers, Superette, Chemist Warehouse and more, is a shopfitting service that not only builds the internal elements, interiors and display units, but manages the whole process from concept to completion.

Dimension Shopfitters is an expert at delivering complex and time intensive retail fitouts that require a high level of management and expertise. Their end-to-end service provides an easy option for architects, designers and retailers who want to ensure their shop is delivered on time to quality and on budget, says Dimension Shopfitters General Manager Simon Dickson.   

“We can do anything from a small retail footprint, which might only be 70 sqm, right up to three-storey international brand stores where you're looking at multiple levels of 1000 sqm or more.”

The company employs 65 staff, and has its own production facility and warehousing in Albany, Auckland, which allows it to fabricate and store units that need to be on hand for fit-outs, and elements that have been imported from overseas. It also has its own logistics team and vehicles that handle joinery delivery New Zealand-wide.

The scope of work for each project varies greatly, but the process is straightforward and streamlined. Dickson takes us through the process of delivering a store.

1. When an architect, designer or retailer approaches Dimension Shopfitters, they first work out together what the customer experience will be in the store.
2. Concept drawings are created by the designer, who collaborates with Dimension Shopfitters’ design and engineering team to ensure all elements specified look right and function well within the space. Prototypes can be engineered at this stage as well for approval.
3. Dimension Shopfitters processes the consent for the required building works at the relevant local authority. 
4. Whilst that's happening, the estimating team can price up the job and start looking at the elements involved, the materials and the timeframes, with particular attention to long lead items.
5. The customer approves the estimate.
6. The building consent is approved and Dimension Shopfitters liaise with the council in terms of hoarding and the relevant  access requirements.
7. Dimension Shopfitters’ factory starts production on the joinery units or any of the other structural or furniture items within the retail store.
8. Building commences on site, and the Dimension Shopfitters’ project manager coordinates construction and the deliveries from the factory or storage facility.  
9. The project is completed and handed over. “We will work with the retailer to ensure the final push for merchandising the store is completed and lend a hand where we can at that crucial stage for them.”
10. A defect period is completed in conjunction with the retailer and architect or designer.

Recently, Dimension Shopfitters’  process for creating retail stores became even more streamlined, with the introduction of an in-house design and engineering team. In the past, the client’s architect often dealt with many of the concepts and designs for fitout elements, which required a lot of communication back and forth.

“We found that a lot of time was lost in these communications, and our design and engineering team are able to design and test solutions far quicker and more effectively, saving time and the client’s money.”

Another change to how Dimension Shopfitters delivers projects was implemented to streamline the project management process on site. 

“What we found over the years was our project managers on site were too consumed with what was being produced in the factory and when it was due on site,” says Dickson. “So we put a joinery project manager role in place that works closely with the project manager, and is solely responsible for the build of those joinery items within our factory, the quality, the timing, the cost and the hours - taking all that pressure off the project manager on site.”

Dimension Shopfitters is currently working on a number of high profile and exciting projects, including the transformation of Vodafone NZ into One NZ.

“That's a massive footprint project for us that we're working really closely with Warren & Mahoney on and the One NZ team. We've rolled out seven of the new concept stores and we're rolling it out across the country this year, so that's been really exciting as it’s one of the bigger retail rebranding projects done in New Zealand in a long time.”

Discover more exciting projects from Dimension Shopfitters