What is "shopfitting"

n. The furnishing of retail premises, both interior and exterior.

Shopfitting refers to the industry of furniture for retail environments. Retailers use shopfitters to fill in their stores with displays and merchandising and stocking systems needed to make the business profitable.

A shopfitter is a firm that will design, supply and install fittings for retailers. The shopfitting industry is normally sectorized: there will be shopfitters specialized for Food and Grocery retailers, then shopfitter specialized in Electronics Retailers, then those one working with Architects for Fashion retailers and so on.

The shopfitter usually deliver a package to the retailer: a multitude of products sourced from different manufacturers. In the case of a food retailer this means sourcing refrigeration, shelving, counters, checkouts, signs, graphics from different suppliers and giving this 'package' as one entity.

Big retailers with large budgets to spend will deal directly with the manufacturers of the shopfitting systems, since they have internal design offices. Shopfitters will be used a service suppliers for installations and site developments. Manufacturers of store equipment may also provide some design and installation services.