Overview

M&S Clapham marks a first-of-its-kind innovation store - a space designed to break away from uniform retail formats and respond directly to its local context.

With a more farmhouse-inspired look and feel, this store was created as a unique expression of place, putting character, warmth, and fresh-market cues at the heart of the experience.

we.are.sdi partnered with M&S to bring this vision to life end-to-end, delivering a fully bespoke environment designed specifically for this location.

From creative and technical design through to manufacture, delivery, and installation, this was a complete we.are.sdi project - built to test new ideas, elevate everyday categories, and set a benchmark for future innovation.

The Brief

M&S set out to create an innovation store with:

• A completely unique, Clapham-only identity
• A warmer, more farmhouse-led aesthetic
• Bespoke fixtures that elevated fresh and ambient categories
• A cohesive environment that balanced innovation with operational practicality
  

The store needed to feel familiar yet distinct - rooted in the M&S brand, but clearly designed for its neighbourhood.

Our Role

we.are.sdi led the project from start to finish, taking responsibility for:

• Creative and technical design
• In-house manufacturing
• Delivery and installation

Working closely with M&S, we translated the concept into a fully engineered, buildable reality - ensuring every fixture supported both the customer experience and day-to-day store operations.

What We Delivered

We designed, manufactured, and installed a wide range of bespoke in-store elements, including:

• Fruit & vegetable displays
• Herbs and banana fixtures
• Bakery columns and freezer shrouds
• Waterwall features
• Cheese ends
• Fruit & nut displays
• Feature ends (including oils)
• Beer, Wine & Spirits fixtures
• Narrow column shelving throughout aisles
• Cards and gift wrap areas
• Ambient infill zones
• Illuminated shelving across all ambient fixtures
• Fresh Market special tables
• Free-standing egg displays

Every element was designed to work together - creating a consistent, elevated experience across the store.

The Results

The Clapham store delivers a distinctive retail environment that feels local, considered, and fresh.

The farmhouse-inspired design softens the space, while bespoke fixtures bring clarity and presence to key categories.

As M&S’ first innovation store of its kind, Clapham acts as a testing ground for new ideas - proving how tailored design, thoughtful engineering, and in-house delivery can create a store that truly reflects its location

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