OLDHAM-based Interiors specialist Ripple has collaborated with cookware manufacturer Meyer Group Ltd to develop a bespoke cookware display with interactive digital communication for flagship Lakeland stores across the UK.

The unique display solution enhances the shopper-experience by making the purchasing process more intuitive and educational, enabling customers to differentiate between products whilst learning about use and application.

The display, with clear and engaging communication, encourages shoppers to interact and extends their dwell-time.

The process involves selecting an individual product from the display and placing it on a centre point, so the customer can learn about its specific features and benefits through a tailored presentation. It is user-friendly too, appealing equally to a spectrum of shoppers whether mature or young and tech-savvy.

The technology also enables the retailer to instantly update content across all stores.

The result is a fresh, frequently updated content plan, tailored to support promotions, range launches and seasonality.

Ripple has designed the displays with "Place and Learn" customer information systems enabled by radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Relevant information is shown whenever one of the featured pans is lifted from its shelf and placed on a centre spot.

This helps shoppers to understand the different products available, features and benefits, and helps customers to visualise the pans in a kitchen environment. This experience encourages customers to compare products along the selection and purchasing journey, ensuring they are making a fully informed decision.

Ripple’s key account director, Hannah Wolfenden, said: ‘’Technology is playing an increasingly important role in retail and it’s a pleasure for us to develop new display solutions with brands and retailers who are investing in digital strategies to keep ahead of competition. Lakeland is continuing to buy innovative products to make homeowners’ lives easier whilst also investing in the brand and the overall in-store experience.”

Ripple Group, which has recently been awarded Investors in People Gold accreditation, offers extensive design, manufacturing and finishing facilities all under one roof at its Oldham base. Ripple services include creative and technical design, joinery and cabinet making, metal fabrication and engineering, spray-paint and powder coating facilities.

For the Lakeland cookware feature bays, Ripple used visually striking, green edge-lit acrylics to define the area and highlight the cookware products.

The premium display also features a combination of high-quality cabinet work with a durable spray finish, engineered steel components that are powder-coated in a silver finish and vinyl graphics. The LED screen and RFID technology integrated into the display, paired with the dedicated display areas for products, results in a unique and user-friendly in-store experience.

Hannah added: “The display zone provides strong communication to support the latest ‘Place and Learn’ digital technology. The zone acts as a stand-out beacon for Lakeland cookware departments and is an educational tool to assist the customer on their shopping journey.

“As a people-focused family business, the Ripple team was proud to work with Lakeland. Both companies have embedded philosophies, culture and values that have been core to their respective success through over decades.”

Meyer Group is the UK’s largest supplier of kitchenware. It engaged Ripple to create the feature zones for cookware departments at 13 flagship Lakeland stores. These include the Trafford Centre in Greater Manchester, Bluewater in Kent, Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow and Windermere in the Lake District.

Ripple has worked with Meyer Group and its brands for several years, providing many high-performing display solutions for homeware brands such as Circulon, Prestige, Anolon, Joe Wicks and Hestan. This was Ripple’s first project for Lakeland stores.

Based in Cumbria, family-owned Lakeland was a pioneer of home shopping in the 1980s. Over the years, its product range has broadened to include cookware, bakeware, cleaning and laundry products, and it has also developed a network of retail stores.

Ripple specialises in retail interiors and displays, providing design and manufacture of brand or product specific displays to the complete environment across a range of sectors. Ripple customers include brands, retailers and merchants including Akzo Nobel and Dulux Decorating Centres, B&M, B&Q, Energizer. Majestic Wine, Topps Tiles and Trespass.