Retail students set to bring their ideas to life at Space NK Leeds

Following the second year students’ recent research visit to London, where they met and received a talk from Paul Wilkins, Head of Visual Merchandising at luxury beauty retailer, Space NK, the students were tasked by Paul to produce new ideas for displaying new brands in-store and for branded event ideas for some of their in-store ‘discovery spaces’.

The project forms part of the students’ Visual Merchandising module, led by Esther Pugh.

On Thursday 5 May, the students met Paul, along with Heather Alexander, Space NK’s Retail Director, at the company’s Leeds store in the Victoria Quarter, where they formally presented their ideas.

The winning students, James Nicholson, Lucie Brown, Catherine Dowson, Luke Jenkins, Charlotte Hagley and Jess Griffin, scooped the opportunity to work with Louis Matthewman, Space NK’s Events Manager, to bring their presented ideas to life within the Leeds store over the coming year. James and Lucie additionally won Space NK goodie bags worth £170 each.

Paul Wilkins was delighted with the students’ results. He said: “We were so impressed with the calibre of presentation that the students delivered. Every single concept was a thoughtful and brand-appropriate solution and each one of the students was so personable and engaging. A very inspiring day for us!”

Heather commented: “I would like to add that your students showed more understanding of our brand than many industry professionals that we meet. It really was a pleasure to spend time with them. You must be very proud!”

Winner James Nicholson was very excited to have this opportunity to present his ideas to industry professionals: “The presentation at the Space NK store in Leeds’s Victoria Quarter was an exciting afternoon and we got to meet again with Paul, as well as with the Head of Retail and the Events Manager. It was great to get their feedback on our designs and understand how they would potentially implement them within their stores. It was good for them to tell us how we could improve and to give us their thoughts. Overall it was a great experience working with industry professionals and was an excellent chance to showcase our own designs for a well-known company.”

Esther Pugh, who has developed the Visual Merchandising module after a career in visual merchandising within fashion retail was delighted with the results: “I am always eager to engage students in real life projects. These allow students to develop transferable skills such as working to deadlines, engaging with clients and working in teams as well as technical abilities and giving practical application to theoretical concepts. I’m excited to see the students’ ideas brought to life in the stores very soon. Watch this Space NK!”

Top image l-r: James Nicholson, Paul Wilkins and Lucie Brown