CLIENT: DFS the Hong Kong based luxury goods & duty free retailer (and owner of LVMH) purchased the historic La Samaritaine building in Paris with the aim of restoring it from derelict shell to its former position at the very pinnacle of high-end shopping in the city.
BRIEF: Fondaco dei Tedeschi is an iconic Venice building located next to the famous Rialto Bridge and has served as a trading post, palace, market, and residential property during it’s 800 year history. Purchased by the DFS Group in 2013, the property has been transformed into Venice’s foremost, premium retail experience with a mix of fashion, beauty and food. The consultancy was engaged to create a compelling and exceptional food retail proposition.
STRATEGY: An initial study was undertaken of the city and tourist shopping habits, which coupled with research into the wider Italian fine food & drink markets helped to develop a bespoke gourmet shopping experience, representing the very best brands and independent producers. The unique internal structure of the building lent itself well to creating a series of boutiques, each focusing on a speciality area and staffed by ‘experts’ in their field. Detailed ranging, fixture specifications, floor layouts and cashiering strategies were presented alongside technical data and specification for food production and food service facilities.
RESULTS: Fondaco dei Tedeschi development opened in the Autumn of 2016 and has received many plaudits for originality of design, product catalogue, and preservation of important national heritage.
