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Supermarket Design Company heads to Russia

Chilcompton retail design company Design Base International is to design and re-plan some of the biggest supermarkets in Russia.

Design Base from Chilcompton, is a specialist retail consultancy, which has worked for famous names such as Sainsbury's and Tesco.  They have spent 10 years growing the business in the UK but recognised there was a need to expand overseas.

Managing director Giles Harrod seized the opportunity to explore overseas markets when the director of one of his client companies asked him to accompany him to provide store design and planning support to supermarket chain Castorama in France and Russia in 2005.

"We have always viewed international trade to be a part of our business development," said Mr Harrod.

"Trading overseas is not only valuable in its own right but having an international perspective also helps us with our work in the UK."

Mr Harrod said the initial visit gave him an insight into the potential of the Russian market and he immediately took steps to develop his research.

"The first step was to recruit a Russian speaker to help with our marketing and we were fortunate to find a graduate in European business, Irina Kataeva, a Russian national who is fluent in Russian and French," he said.

"Irina was able to carry out initial market research to establish the level of potential business and then took forward some more direct marketing and sales with individual retail businesses that she had identified."

Design Base's efforts to develop the market were backed by support from international trade advisor James Roe, who works for the Government's trade support organisation, UK Trade Invest.

The company has now been contracted by the Russian hypermarket and convenience chain specialists Mosmart (pictured), and also retail chain Tochka Vkusa (‘taste point’).

Mr Harrod said he had been both surprised and delighted with the success of the venture into Russia:

"We knew that the Russian retail sector had enormous potential but things are moving at a real pace there," he said.

"There is a language barrier and you certainly must have a translator and a desire to understand a different business culture, but we have found Russian businesspeople very easy to work with and extrem