Fitting a shop myself

[MDare]

I'm working as part of a new start-up, and we'll be soon starting work on developing a space into a cafe, bar, restaurant and event space.

We're a small team, but like to do as much as we can ourselves.
What I need to know is that if we begin working on the space ourselves, fitting the 'shop' as much as we can before getting professionals involved, what do we need to consider?

I've looked into building regs already, but do we need insurance? Or any other permissions to work on the site?
Or is it a case that as soon as we have the lease signed we can really do what we like there?

 

[Mark T Jones]

Your lease may have restrictions

The building itself might have restrictions and the area might have restrictions (particularly with regard to extraction, filtration etc)

Nobody on here can answer those questions


You need to think about workflow as well as aesthetics - plus h & s

Pretty often you will encounter unexpected obstacles build time and money into your budget for these!

 

[swankypants69]

You tend to get a much better quality of finish using a shop fitter rather than doing it yourself

I have two shops, 1 full shop fitted by a shop fitter and it looks superb

One that we have racked out ourselves and improvised with, gets away with it being a bit quirky, but it is nowhere near as professional looking or as polished as the fully fitted one. If I had a spare 100k I’d refit it top to bottom!

As a compromise, perhaps get a shopfitter involved from the start, explain what you want them to do and what you feel you can do yourself, they might be able to point you in the right direction and then come in and do their bit when you have done yours

 

[Talay]

We have a retail chain which we are updating. The top end shop fitting costs run about £70k to £100k per unit and mid range to upper mid range about £50k to £70k for each store.

The numbers simply don't add up.

There is no way we could justify throwing £1m plus on store refits at this time or anytime in the last or forthcoming couple of years. The fitters and designers say they understand but don't seem to truly grasp the numbers.

We have decided to do it ourselves. Buying in professional products, adding some labour, paying professionals where necessary of course and looking at items which offer 90% of the top end product but which cost 10% to 30% of the top end cost.

Our pilot store looks good and the update is every well received but it is hard work. However, the numbers are staggering in comparison. We are looking at £5k to £10k per store versus an average £60k to £70k.

 

[Mark T Jones]

To add to the above thread - which will affect many retail and leisure businesses, I published this article on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/deal...rk-jones/?trackingId=sKmt2Pj/yMWklxKYFdsm3A==

Even since writing it this morning, several lenders have advised that they have special policies for dealing with Corona-related financial strain.