New breed of hotels & restaurants want to be one of the locals…
The global boom of the sharing economy, driven by brands like Airbnb and funded by the loyalty and enthusiasm of Millennial consumers, has caused hotel... read more
Insights
the future of student accommodation
Over the past 10 years, the provision of high-end student accommodation has boomed. However, post BREXIT the numbers of foreign students with the money to... read more
Insights
Seismic changes can help secure retail’s future…
With so much happening, so quickly, in the world of retail we thought it was high time to delve deeper into the seismic changes affecting our industry,... read more
Insights
crossing cultures…
Chris Harris, head of Project Management at rpa:group, gives some key tips for conducting business in the Middle East, where he spent his childhood in... read more
Thoughts
What politicians could learn from retailers…
Brands flourish and proliferate on the high street, where choice increases daily. However, we seem to be faced with dwindling options in politics, which seems... read more
Thoughts
retailers need to be more “chameleon”
In a world obsessed with separation it’s refreshing that retail at least supports an ecosystem fuelled by inclusivity and interaction. I am of course referring... read more
Insights
the mutual benefits of taking on interns…
rpa:group is proud of our ongoing commitment to investing in new, young talent. Over the years, we have welcomed a number of interns who show... read more
Trends
six retail design trends to look out for in 2017
Flexibility and convenience are increasingly demanded by customers in both the digital and the physical worlds of retail. As designers, it is absolutely essential that... read more
Insights
chain reaction takes fast food to a new level
Fast food restaurants have built their success on one core idea: deliver the same offer no matter where you are. Where unsophisticated foods inhabited simple,... read more
Insights
“Phygital” – blending the physical and digital worlds of retail
The physical and digital world is converging to offer a blended experience to the consumer, delivered through rapidly evolving digital advancement and interior design. In... read more
Insights
why are stores being redesigned more often?
One consequence of intense competition, changing customers shopper habits and increased expectations in the retail sector, is the constant shortening of remodelling cycles. Retail brands... read more
Thoughts
the perfect store is the result of a ‘right’ brain ‘left’ brain balance…
You may have heard people describe themselves as ‘right-brained’ or ‘left-brained’, with the left-brainers bragging about their logic and analytical skills and the right-brainers touting... read more
Thoughts
pop-up comes of age
Over the past ten years, we have grown accustomed to an average of 10,000 pop-up stores springing up annually on our high streets. Each new... read more
Insights
school rebuilds should be about collaboration, imagination and budgeting…
There is currently a trend in the state sector to demolish older school buildings and simply start again. However, over the years, rpa:group has created... read more
Thoughts
generation z – connecting with ‘Screenagers’ before its too late
New research from JWT reveals good news for retailers, a staggering 67% of the UK’s Generation Z, 12-19 year olds born after 1995, would rather... read more
Insights
How to reach customers not interested in in-store technology
Retail brands make the assumption that all of their customer base want to go with them on the techno journey. This prompts some fundamental questions… read more
Insights
impulse purchasing – creating the right store environment for impulse buyers
A staggering 85% of the UK population admit to buying things on impulse and therefore it probably comes as no surprise that retailers are constantly... read more
Trends
Why omnichannel retail needs real places for real people
There’s been a lot of talk in retail about ‘locality’ recently. Brands like Adidas have led the field with their NBHD concept, which places their... read more
Trends
schools of the future
At a recent Common’s Education Committee hearing, The Royal Institute of British Architects issued a warning that efforts to slash the cost of school building... read more
Thoughts
if you’re not paying for the product, you are the product
New research from Accenture shows that 55% of consumers want personalised experiences through all engagement channels, perfectly tailored to their personal needs. However, it also... read more
