Unveiling the new £5m store in Gateshead
Barker and Stonehouse, a long-standing client and iconic North East furniture company, opened its 12th store on Good Friday (April 7th 2023). The store was designed with sustainability in mind, and features a number of unique sustainable elements, such as timber structures and a solar panelled roof.
The new store, located next to the popular Metrocentre shopping mall, took two years to build and is stocked with an extensive range of furniture from leading brands and designers.
The store also features a specially designed oak and glass hot-desk bar and lounge area, where customers can relax, meet friends, or work.
The brief
The Gateshead store opening marked the beginning of a new chapter in Barker and Stonehouse’s 77-year history. The company already had a strong following in the area, but we were tasked with driving even more foot traffic to the store during the bank holiday weekend.
We achieved this by hosting a series of VIP customer events for existing customers in north and south Tyneside. We also ran a variety of marketing campaigns in the run-up to the opening, including coverage in local lifestyle magazines, a press and influencer lunch in the Chadwick & Co. café, and engagement with interiors-focused regional influencers.
34
Pieces of regional coverage.
Engaged with
c. 1 million
people on social media with the help of local influencers.
Welcomed
10,000
customers to the store over the weekend.
Planning and managing a store opening event is no easy task, but with the support of Joanna Lumley, the event was a huge success.
After the private viewing, Joanna Lumley met and greeted customers in the store. She also cut the ribbon to officially open the store, which was a great moment for the Barker family and for the thriving furniture retailer.
No event is complete without a series of wonderfully designed materials and assets to help promote the event itself.
Our promotional materials featured a fresh, and modern look that was designed to replicate the fantastic new store environment.
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