12 August 2024
Highlands at the heart of new Inverness Castle Retail Experience
Inverness Castle Experience is thrilled to announce its collaboration with Stephen Spencer + Associates (SS+A), experts in creating captivating customer retail experiences. SS+A will design a unique retail experience at the castle celebrating the best of the Highlands as part of this new visitor attraction.
SS+A focuses on placing people at the centre of their designs, ensuring every visitor interaction tells a compelling brand story. This approach, which they call "Ambience," enhances the overall visitor experience through all senses, driving commercial success and enriching cultural and retail spaces.
With a strong track record in creating memorable retail concepts across Scotland, the UK, and internationally, SS+A will employ their proven methods to craft the Inverness Castle retail experience. This includes:
Selecting products that highlight the uniqueness of the Inverness Castle Experience, prioritising items from the Highlands and Scotland, and finally the broader UK.
Collaborating closely with the Castle team to ensure the brand story is consistently conveyed through every visitor interaction.
Understanding how customers engage with physical retail in the digital age to enhance the overall Inverness Castle Experience.
SS+A is excited to bring its expertise to the Inverness Castle Experience, creating a retail environment that not only celebrates the spirit of the Highlands but also connects with visitors in a meaningful way.
Cllr Ian Brown, Leader of Inverness City and Area and Co-chair of the Inverness Castle Project Delivery Group, said: “The Highland Council is delighted to welcome an experienced retail consultant to the Inverness Castle Experience team. Their expertise will be invaluable in creating an engaging retail environment that looks to source from Highland suppliers, ensuring the quality of our offerings matches the exceptional visitor experience we strive to provide at the castle."
Cllr Ken Gowans, Chair of Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, said, “We are excited to have such a diverse retail consultancy team on board, each bringing unique skills and perspectives, dedicated to developing a distinctive retail offering at the new attraction. Their broad range of skills means that there will be an innovative approach, the application of their combined expertise will help ensure all our visitors have a memorable experience, boosting the economy of not only Inverness but the wider Highlands too.”
Stephen Spencer, Ambience Director said, "An essential part of the experience, and the business plan, will be experiential retail, curated to create a playful shopping experience from the moment customers walk through the doors, with products that tell their own stories, inspiring the shopping experience to evoke the Highlands in a new way. What is certain is that from the opening day the eyes of the world - and Scotland especially - will be on the Inverness Castle Experience, and the retail experience must not disappoint."
Lauren Groves, Ambience Architect added, "We want to highlight the wonderful design quality that the Highlands has to offer and create a range which is authentic and reflective of the area."
The Inverness Castle Experience project, opening in 2025, will benefit from £30m investment to support its redevelopment from the Scottish and UK Governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and a range of other partners.
The Inverness Castle project is part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, which is a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.
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