CSL > Portfolio

Since C.S.L.'s inception we have tirelessly strived in our quest to bring you the customer the Complete Solution to your development needs. To ensure we meet your demands we have left no stone unturned and have travelled not only the length and breadth of the U.K. but also all over Europe. We have visited places such as Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Norway and Sweden to meet and discuss with our suppliers improvements that have been made in the convienience retail sector. From these meetings we have gone away and implemented these improvemnets into our structure to ensure we remain at the forefront of the shopfitting industry.

For the past several years C.S.L. have been proud to attend the prestigious Euroshop exhibition held in Germany. The show is held every three years and promotes only the best products and designs in the convienience retail scene. Through this exhibition we have developed several key relationships with new suppliers which have enabled us to continue meeting and exceeding our customers needs.

It is not only in the research sector of the company that we at C.S.L. have been prepared to travel. In 1999 we undertook several important developments for the Naafi. These developments consisted of five stores in Germany and one store in the Falklands. Through our excellent standards we were again called back by the Naafi to carry out the development of their leisure complex in Gibraltar.

At home we have installed many stores across the U.K., most notable were the recent Salon Services stores in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

For SPAR we have partaken in numerous developments, many of which have gone on to be major flag bearers for the SPAR convienience name. Our expertise does not end with the development of convienience stores. Due to our special relationship with A.F.Blakemore & Son Limited we have been given the responsibility of re-developing their Cash 'N' Carry depots all over the U.K. In 2004 we were proud to be involved in the development of their brand new depot in Wolverhampton. With a £5million budget it was decided that a new headquarters for the wholesale division would be built. After many months designing and eventually installing the depot the results were spectacular. The depot is now hailed as the ''jewel in the crown'' of Blakemore Wholesale and demonstrates the pioneering spirit of the whole company.

Also through A.F.Blakemore & Son Limited we are able to showcase our skills via their Study Tours. Every year A.F.Blakemore's will organise a study tour to take all SPAR and Potential SPAR retailers around hand picked stores. This tour is to emphasise that in the modern retailing enviroment customers expect high standards from stores including modern shopfitting equipment, good housekeeping and customer care. The benefit of investing in a shopfit or refurbishment is to maximise sales opportunities by installing equipment and finishes to enable the effective display of goods and services.

The most recent study tour was for the Central Meridian Guild where SPAR Brindley Place, SPAR Compton and finally SPAR Upper Dean Street were used as case studies. C.S.L. have been instrumental in the development of all these stores. From initial design to installation, to ammendments to current store layouts, C.S.L. have guided these store owners through the whole process.

SPAR Brindley Place is located amongst the stylish bars, restaurants, individual shops, world class galleries and attractions of Birmingham. Tates purchased the store in 2001 from an independant retailer. The store was in a very poor state, so much so that at the time of purchase the landlords refused to allow the installation of a SPAR fascia above the front door. Alongside C.S.L. Tates began the process of improvinfg standards. In 2004 it was decided that the store would be downsized but was to be fully refurbished. The results of the development were excellent. The standard of the store was raised so high that it not only fitted in with its surroundings but stood out as a great example of how a convienience store should be. The landlords finally agreed to the installation of a SPAR fascia once they had seen the results of the very impressive re-fit.

The SPAR at Compton is a site that is entwined in C.S.L. history. In 1997 Gordon and Malcom Crump purchased a brand new development opposite their existing SPAR. C.S.L. began the process of designing a store that would become a flag bearer for all SPAR's. The results were fantastic, the Crump's however didn't rest on their laurels. Over the past nine years they have had numerous re-developments to keep the store at the top end of the convienience store sector. These developments paid off when the store was awarded a prestigious retail industry award and has been descibed as one of the best examles of a convienience store not only in the Central Meridan Guild but also across the whole country.  SPAR Compton will be one of the first stores to trial the new Neighbourhood Affluent store format. We are sure that this development will be just as resounding a sucess as all the other devlopments the Crump's have made alongside C.S.L.

Finally SPAR Upper Dean Street is a recent development. When current SPAR retailers Paul & Michael Hodgekiss purchased the site at Upper Dean Street they decided to liaise with C.S.L. Their aim was to produce a store that stood out in the ever growing Chinese quarter of Birmingham. It was decided that our aim would be to create a modern convienience outlet with an emphasis on Food to Go, chilled snacking and chilled off licence. Through focussing on these areas we were able to cater for the customer profile and enable the retailer to develop sales.

It is our aim to continually strive to improve ourselves ensuring we are always bringing you the Complete Solution to your development needs.

And is the reason why we are now able to offer you the exicting prospect of 3-D proposals. Find out more about our latest exciting development on our recent development page.

(C) 2009 A.F.Blakemore & Son Ltd | Admin | Site Map | Terms of Use | Privacy