Q&A: Andy Steventon, Director of Client Services, Design4Retail
Andy Steventon on Creating Impactful Branded Spaces: Lessons from working with global sports and emerging sports brands in multi-brand environments.
At Design4Retail, Andy Steventon leads a team who create bold retail spaces across multiple brand environments. Drawing on work with global and emerging sports brands, he shares lessons in delivering designs that engage customers and elevate brand presence and the process behind it.
Can you tell us a bit about your background?
I have a creative background, starting out as a designer before moving into project lead and client relationship manager roles. I now lead a team here at Design4Retail, where we look after an exciting portfolio of sports and lifestyle brands.
Subscribe to TRBWhat does your company do? / What is your USP?
Design4Retail is a retail design agency working primarily with sports and lifestyle global brands realising brand concepts within multi branded retailer environments. Our USP is our ability to understand both brand and retailer needs to tailor flexible design solutions with our in-house services to design, engineer and implement. We make Ideas Possible with some of the worlds leading brands.
What’s special about the platform and your approach?
Our team effectively operates as an extension to the brand team enabling fast effective reaction to the retailers evolving needs in multiple formats and an expanding store portfolio.
What advantage does it add?
The key advantage is that both the brand and the retailer have a single point of contact. By combining our experience and knowledge with a considered, collaborative process, we create environments that are not only commercially viable but also leave a lasting impression on customers.
How does a product/service implementation actually look like and how do you measure success? How are retailers using your systems to gain competitive advantage and what does best practice look like? Can you share a case study with us?
The ideal process begins with delivery of insight, strategy and conceptual thinking, moving into concept design refinement and collective feedback. Through the early stages there would be involvement of our engineering and project teams to manage risk and explore realisation potential. Key milestones ensure the brand and retailer are present for the whole creative journey supporting in an efficient approval process. Success is measured by the engagement of the implemented solution in retail, linking back to the strategic deliverables set by the initial brief.
A successful example of this can be seen in our work with New Balance, where we led the design, development, and global rollout.
What challenges are retailers facing in 2025?
As more and more emerging brands face the challenge of transitioning from a growing online following into physical retail, it becomes increasingly clear that an experienced agency is essential to help them navigate the highly competitive yet exciting world of established brands.
How will you address these challenges and turn them into successes?
We support online-born brands by anticipating challenges before they arise, drawing on our proven track record and rigorous, tried-and-tested process. With a dedicated team and deep retail knowledge, we guide brands through every stage of the journey, ensuring their move into physical retail is both seamless and successful.
What is on the horizon for you as a company?
Our focus is on expanding into the wider global market to support our client and retail partners as they grow. While meeting the key dates of the retail seasonal calendar and the demands that come with them, we look forward to continuing the journey and building on our shared success.
Any final thoughts?
For me I like working within an agency that has an honest approach to delivering services and allows for organic relationships between all parties delivering on a common goal together.
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To find out how Design4Retail can help your retail operation, visit them online here or connect with them here.
