Creating with Entrepreneurs: An Exercise of Ingenuity & Collaboration
Richardson Design helps ambitious entrepreneurs bring their visions to life
Design Thinking
for Big, Audacious Ideas
Entrepreneurs bring us some of the most rewarding commercial interior design challenges. From startups to well-established enterprises, businesses of every shape and size engage our team to bring their brands to life in physical spaces.
Because most entrepreneurs have invested a lot of money, time and sweat equity into their businesses, the stakes are always extremely high. When our team encounters big expectations on a limited budget, we deliver with lean operations and creative design solutions that deliver valuable payoff.
There are over 31 million entrepreneurs in America. 1
55% of entrepreneurs start a business because they want to be their own boss and/or pursue their passions.2
77% of small businesses are financed with personal funds.1
Discovery Sets the Stage for Success
Entrepreneurs like to feel that they’re part of the process when they engage a design agency. Their business is their “baby,” after all. They’re deeply invested and want to be hands-on throughout the journey from design to physical reality.
Richardson Design utilizes a thorough discovery process to understand the client’s vision and needs. An understanding of their goals, brand identity (if established), target market, audiences and more is vital to nail the right concept.
FROM OUR PORTFOLIO: STEM HANDMADE SOAP
A Skincare & Soap Brand Bubbling with Promise
The Opportunity
STEM Handmade Soaps, a handmade skincare products brand, was ready to branch out from their flagship store in Lakewood, Ohio. Richardson Design was tasked to create a retail store design at the Van Aken Market Hall in Shaker Heights, Ohio that evoked their established brand and served as a prototype for future expansion into other locations.
The Challenge
In the Van Aken Market Hall, retail space for each vendor is capped at just 200 square feet. STEM needed to draw shoppers in and make the most of every inch of retail space while standing out from neighboring stalls.
The Solution
Authentic, natural, clean – this is the essence of STEM’s aesthetic and sensory experience. Our commercial interior design approach reflects both greenhouse and vintage hardware store vibes to celebrate the artisanal, handcrafted product offerings.
STEM’s products tend to run small, despite their powerful results, and could easily get lost in the space. We installed eye-catching wooden shelves that make it easy to organize and help shoppers find exactly what they seek without feeling overwhelmed.
The display shelves, which are backed with polycarbonate greenhouse panels to section off the space and allow light to shine through, create an airy atmosphere. Greenery interspersed on the shelves captures STEM’s all-natural roots – the products are good for skin and good for the environment.
“Our small space needed to engage the senses and show off various SKUs without overwhelming people. Richardson rendered our shelving and fixtures in ways that spotlighted each product type, allowing customers to focus and, ultimately, purchase from us. We could not have done this without them – we’re already thinking about where to go next.”
FROM OUR PORTFOLIO: THE EDGE: AN ARTISAN FAIR
A Spirited Hub for Local Makers
The Opportunity
The Edge: An Artisan Fair[MF1] is a 1,150 square foot LGBTQ+ makers marketplace in the Studio West development located on the border of Lakewood and Cleveland, Ohio. The space's purpose? To connect makers with customers and serve as a launchpad for entrepreneurial growth and support.
The Challenge
The Edge needed to allow for maker entrepreneurs to distinguish themselves from each other within one cohesive, branded retail environment.
The Solution
To accommodate the client’s budget and sustainability focus, we repurposed salvaged materials into functional, captivating pieces. We created adjustable shelves, moveable podiums and a custom peg board display system from upcycled wood sourced from the nearby original Phantasy Theatre building.
Each maker display area was designed for flexibility to accommodate temporary sellers leasing space for a predetermined time. Visually, we separated each area with metal framework that extended above the space, reminiscent of actual store awnings or pergolas that shoppers would see while strolling a busy town’s main street. Each entrepreneur felt as though the space was truly their own.
“We had so many nebulous thoughts when it came to The Edge, wanting it to feel full of discovery and possibilities. Although it was one large space, the design needed to accommodate distinct ‘storefronts’ – one for each maker to sell their products. It seemed like a huge challenge, but Richardson pulled it off in the most creative of ways. Leveraging their expertise truly elevated our brand, each maker’s brand and, ultimately, the entire experience.”
FROM OUR PORTFOLIO: EVERWILD SPIRITS
Serving Up the Unexpected in Sandusky
The Opportunity
Everwild Spirits – an award-winning craft bourbon distillery in Sandusky, Ohio – is the result of Rick and Gia Lynch’s bold vision. The brand embodies the excitement, anticipation and exhilaration felt when escaping for an adventure. Our team was charged with bringing the brand to life in a new environment unlike anywhere else in town.
The Challenge
Our commercial interior design task: Retrofit an old auto body shop into a lively destination. The space, which includes a bar, restaurant and tasting room experience, was designed to encourage patrons to linger a little longer while enjoying an intoxicating atmosphere, libations and comforting plates.
The Solution
Guided by the client’s well-established brand, we created a space that was uniquely Everwild. Natural elements and unexpected surprises cascaded into features like blue-stained wood grain wall panels, vintage-inspired lockers, and large format brand artwork.
Our team pulled in a blend of elements like torched wood, glass, soft surfaces and plush couches to spark delight and long conversations among guests. It's a polished, come-as-you-are watering hole to escape everyday life while sipping Everwild’s craft bourbon and whiskey.
“Our restaurant is unlike anything you would expect to see in Sandusky, Ohio – you walk in and feel like you’re in Chicago. We love that it delivers the unexpected, just like our products.”
Collaboration Fuels the Entrepreneurial Spirit
Entrepreneurs and small businesses of all sizes bring their unique perspective to the design process. Visionary thinking paired with our strategic branding expertise leads to distinctly innovative environments that improve the customer experience and increase sales.
The Richardson Design team is energized when we can tell entrepreneurs’ stories within their space. It’s a rewarding opportunity to know them – both personally and professionally – and contribute to their successes.
Connect with Richardson, a Cleveland design firm, to bring your business’s vision to life in its own space.
Photography Credit: Alexander Gray, Austin Chan, Sebastian Kanczok, Kelly Sikkema, Nick Fewings, Patrick Perkins, Randy Tarampi
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