The National Association of Shopfitters and Interior Contractors (NAS) is the sector representative organisation for shopfitting, but what exactly is shopfitting?
Shopfitting as a term dates back to the 18th century, when trade moved from markets and stalls to fixed premises, which created demand for fixtures and furnishes. Typically, this would have been delivered by Carpenters and Cabinetmakers, which were established crafts at the time.
The earliest recorded use of the term “Shopfitter” in the Oxford English Dictionary was in from 1841, in the Times of London — placing its entry into print English right in the middle of the Victorian retail boom. This was a period of grand shopfronts, department stores, and increasingly elaborate window displays and interiors — all of which needed dedicated tradespeople rather than a general carpenter doing occasional work.
This boom continued into the 20th century, and the NAS was formed in 1919 to represent the interests of those dedicated shopfitters. This was initially achieved through setting standardised pricing for the sector, a practice which is no longer allowed.
Today, shopfitting continues to be a specialist part of the construction industry, involving the fitting out or refitting of bespoke fixtures in retail, leisure, and other commercial spaces, and covers a wide variety of different trades and approaches to delivery all under one name.
The mistake most people make when thinking about shopfitting is to look at it as an act – the act of fitting something, such as shelving or a piece of furniture into a shop – when in reality it is a methodology. This methodology encompasses design, manufacture, and installation expertise, utilising a broad range of materials including wood, glass, metal work, and thermoplastics, in a way that laid the foundations for what many refer to as modern methods of construction – despite the foundations of the trade existing for nearly two centuries.
The design phase: It starts with a concept; this could be a design drawing or a more detailed architectural plan. The shopfitter will identify what needs to be done, producing a schedule of work that can be priced against. This will also inform the order that the project will be managed in and whether other trades, such as electrical engineering or plumbing, will also need to be involved. Where those additional trades are necessary, the shopfitter may agree to act as a single point of accountability – offering a ‘design and build’ service. Once the designs are finalised and the terms of the contract are agreed, the shopfitter can then start production.
The manufacture phase: Shopfitters will either manage their own joinery manufacturing facilities, or outsource this to another company. Whomever is responsible will go through a process called setting out, where the designs are broken down into their component parts and the various elements are cut – either by machine or hand – in the necessary materials in the most efficient way, minimising waste. The components are then brought together and finished (e.g. polishing or spraying) by skilled craftspeople, then tested before they are prepared for transport to site, which may involve disassembly for larger furniture.
The installation phase: On site, a shopfitter prepares the environment for installation. That may involve stripping out any previous furniture or fixings, and preparing the site in way that would be referred to as a Category A or B fitout – i.e. plastering walls, levelling floors, and ensuring that electrical and plumbing services are in place. Once this is in place, the installation of the bespoke furniture can take place, again undertaken by skilled craftspeople, ahead of any additional finishing that is necessary.
While these phases are distinct, the life of a shopfitter is more complex – with variations to the design often occurring throughout the phases and the expectation the job will be delivered within the originally agreed, tight time frame and still on budget.
This is mitigated through efficient forward planning, drawing on the experience of a shopfitter, who will undertake detailed pre-planning and pre-manufacture, along with planned co-ordination of sub-trades throughout to prevent cross-trade conflicts. This reduces site time and costs, avoids potential delays, and is all essential to reduce business down-time for the client, which would result in a loss-of-trade for the client. It all comes together to generate a better end result for all parties.
This is the shopfitting methodology that goes far beyond the images that the term Shopfitter implies, using modern technologies and machines that the founders of the trade in the 1800’s would not be able to comprehend. As John Bailey, Director, Benbow Group, and NAS Executive Council member stated recently:
“It shows you how far Carpentry and Joinery has come when you see the complexity of the work we do today. That needs to be acknowledged and celebrated. What we do now is engineering in wood to make incredible spaces.”
