It's only when someone says, "You know I'm not sure I know what you do" that you realise the need to explain clearly. So here goes...
We work with senior managers, brand owners, entrepreneurs and people with good ideas in order to help them get their ideas to market.
We've been working for Benefit Cosmetics in the UK and Europe for over 10 years.
Retail concession design, build and install is meat and drink to us. Our knowledge in this area is unsurpassed.
We produce sketch concepts to discuss with the client, work them up to finished drawing packages, liaise with the store groups and gain all the relevant approvals on behalf of Benefit. We then manage the build and install elements ensuring our client gets best value for the planned works both in terms of cost and build quality. When the site is complete we're even there to help the client merchandise the site!
Amongst those we've worked with are:
Benefit Cosmetics, Bare Escentuals, Nails Inc., The Style Shop, New CID Cosmetics, Hot Hair, Erno Laszlo, Christian Dior, E'spa, Bliss, Johnnie Walker, Alfred Dunhill and Shiseido
It's easy to forget that part of the reason clients come to us in the first place is to get them to the starting line. They have a great idea but don't know how to visualise it in order to begin the process of turning it into a reality.
We are experts at listening to our clients, producing sketches that communicate our understanding of their requirements and then turning these early sketches into renders that, in a clear and detailed manner, communicate the vision inspired by the original idea.
The next step is to turn the vision into reality.
Amongst those we've worked with are:
Benefit Cosmetics, Bare Minerals, Mama Mio, Radio Society of Great Britain, Sugar Strip Ease, Shakeaway, the Bodyshop International
Sugar Strip Ease is a perfect example of how we work with clients on the packaging of their products.
The requirement here was to produce something different in the region of women's personal care. This genre is traditionally seen as either slightly 'medical' or 'pharmaceutical' and existing brands have not been bold enough to look different.
Sugar Strip Ease turns the genre on its head making the concept of hair removal sexy. To quote from their website, 'Since when was natural hair removal sexy?'
We worked in harness with the client to create a range of packaging that would look good on a dressing table.
The product won the bronze award at the 2010 Pure Beauty Awards.
Amongst those we've worked with are:
Sugar Strip Ease, Jasper Conran, Austin Ree, Ballantines, Netto, Shiseido and Alfred Dunhill
Lee Cooper Jeans
You cannot work in retail for as long as we have without having to create POS, testers or presenters.
Often brands find it hard to contemplate the investment and hence quantities necessary to make injection-moulding a viable process. The preference is to look at small to medium sized fabricated runs of the highest quality.
The examples shown here are for a small quantity of Nail Varnish tester units produced for Nails Inc. to display their range next to where customers receive nail treatments. Umbrella designed, fabricated and delivered the testers direct to store.
We are often asked to provide a design only service, as illustrated in these visuals which were produced for the BodyShop to promote their Nutriganics range.
Amongst those we've worked with are:
Nails Inc., the Bodyshop International, Bare Escentuals, Mama Mio, Alfred Dunhill, Johnnie Walker and Elizabeth Arden
We work with a wide range of brands in retail to provide them with print and graphic solutions, the diversity of the work we produce is enormous. From promotion sites in far flung regions through to launch sites in Selfridges. From window packs for major UK chains through to one off counter promotion collateral in flagship stores.
We are experts in the design, production and implementation of Merchandising Programmes. Getting the right product in the right place at the right time.
Amongst those we’ve worked with are:
Shiseido, Elizabeth Arden, Calvin Klein, Giorgio, Anais Anais, Christian Dior, CareCo, Elemis, Givenchy, Shu Uemura, Nicole Farhi, Yardley, the Rejuvenation Clinic, Johnnie Walker and Jenners
Occasionally we are asked to create something really eye-catching and stunning. We are always happy to come up with ideas that 'push the boat out' and present concepts beyond our usual remit.
The largest Bare Escentuals account in the world is in Selfridges Oxford Street. The store allocated an area adjacent to the Bare Escentuals site that they were keen to use in a controlled but creative manner.
We proposed using an enormous upended plasma screen that would play a specially created animation. The animation would be gentle and alluring, adding a touch of movement to the site without being brash or overly noisy.
Both the client and Selfridges saw and approved early animated roughs and the subsequent installation really catches the eye and enhances the brand offer.
Umbrella has worked with Bare Escentuals since its launch into retail in the UK and Europe 5 years ago.
Focusing mainly on retail concessions, it wasn't until 2010 that Bare Escentuals asked Umbrella to design and fit out a boutique in Neal Street, Covent Garden, London. Umbrella was tasked with the job of designing the store, handling all local authority (both planning and building regulations) and Landlord approvals, preparing a full drawing pack and specifications, tender submissions and appointing contractors. In essence taking the project from sketch ideas right through to a finished handover to the client.
Amongst those we’ve worked with are:
Jane Norman, Benefit Cosmetics, World Duty Free, Debenhams, Fresh, RNIB, Bare Escentuals, Shakeaway and Kai Trading (Japan)
The Bodyshop International were looking to redesign their Make-up stand for use worldwide.
The ramifications of a global change of design are enormous so creativity, accurate analysis of merchandise and functionality all had to be thoroughly buttoned down before the unit even went to prototype stage.
The Bodyshop have their own production department so Umbrella was asked to handle design, merchandise analysis, material specification and detail drawings on their behalf.
When unit footprints are restricted then gondolas and merchandisers are a great alternative so long as they are designed and stocked to achieve ease of use, great presentation of the merchandise and allow shoppers to experience the brand properly.
Amongst those we've worked with are:
The Bodyshop International, Benefit Cosmetics, Mama Mio, Bare Escentuals, Johnnie Walker and Chivas Regal
Our long term relationships with our clients have always centred around a number of simple things. Amongst the most important is the delivery of value combined with complete flexibility.
We pride ourselves for not only being cost-effective for our clients but also working with their budgets to deliver the programmes they need to succeed.
Being an independent design business means we are not tied to any particular manufacturing process, company or companies. Our clients therefore benefit from our ability to shop around on their behalf.
For our clients this means:
We work with the right manufacturer for the particular project or process required.
Shopping around always delivers the best prices.
We do not get held up by manufacturing lead times due to factory capacity.
For larger scale roll outs we work with teams of contractors, giving us completely flexible capacity.
We can manufacture internationally.
We avoid industry 'cartels'.
Shopping around often brings new ideas to the project.
Whatever process is required we can find the right people to deliver.
Park Inns is a Rezidor company currently expanding their brand throughout Europe.
Umbrella was approached by the Archial Group to join the professional team and take on responsibility for the interior design of the public circulation areas, restaurants and bars.
The design and build nature of the contract meant that Umbrella had to work closely with the contractor to deliver the required interior on time and on budget.
Umbrella liaised with Rezidor in Brussels, the contractor in the UK and the professional team to ensure all contract conditions were met and Park Inn got the Hotel they had specified.
Amongst those we’ve worked with are:
Charles Wells,Dayne, Hills and Perks (Eversheds), Unilever, Giorgio Beverly Hills, Park Inn and Altro Flooring
The Radio Society of Great Britain were looking to open a showpiece permanent exhibition on a site they occupied at Bletchley Park, the National Codes Centre in Buckinghamshire.
In a relatively small space Umbrella have managed to contain a theatre, a wall of history, touch and feel exhibits, the future of Radio as well as a demonstration area that allows the visitors to communicate with the International Space Station currently in orbit.
We have a history of working on both temporary and permanent exhibitions.
The Royal Courts of Justice asked Umbrella to look at a replacement signage programme to bring their signage up to date and provide it with some flexibility.
This was one of the largest signage programmes ever designed and implemented in a public building in the UK.
Built in the 1870s and design by George Edmund Street the building houses 88 court rooms.
Umbrella digitized the original hand painted fonts created by George Edmund Street and integrated them into a modern flexible system. This combined with the use of traditional materials and historically researched colour palettes resulted in a modern signage system that was in keeping with the ethos and spirit of both the building and George Edmund Street.
Grove & Stone was to be a new launch by a large UK furniture manufacturer. Wanting to bring out a 'diffusion' range that would compete against the likes of IKEA the brand had to be contemporary, fresh and from sustainable sources.
By using modern imagery that 'hinted' at the brand rather than trying to show the product range in its entirety, Grove & Stone established an emotional connection with potential customers. This allows customers to feel an affinity with the brand and creates a desire for further information on the product range.
Branding is not just about a snappy logo. It's about creating a flavour for a company or product that everyone can buy into.
Amongst those we’ve worked with are:
Grove & Stone, Ballantines, Cyril Leonard, Oakburn, CareCo, Coffee Heaven, Westgate Centre, Ipswich, the Rejuvenation Clinic and Hodgson & Faraday