Elm Hill Cookies Food Retail or Boutique Environmental Design
Tags: Elm Hill Cookies, Food Retailer
Developing a boutique cookie store had been a dream of Janis Smith for over twenty years. Inspired by the time she spent in Norwich England and in particular the boutique shops along the beautiful cobbled stone lane of Elm Hill, Janis came to Jump to guide her through the process of designing and building the Elm Hill Cookies brand. Through our discovery process key attributes of the brand and design were identified including the “no corners cut” mantra. This phrase would form all design and operational issues moving forward.
The unique square shaped cookies provide a distinction to the product and the brand but also is a reflection of the “no corners cut” brand mantra. The quality all-natural ingredients, the loving-care put into each freshly baked batch of cookies and the real, natural finishes of the store design and build out, all reflect the simplicity and elegance that this brand exudes.
The Elm Hill logo was designed with simplicity and elegance and had to bridge the gap between contemporary and classic design. The logo seamlessly integrates with all the brand collateral pieces designed for Elm Hill; stickers, bag design, wedding favours, post cards, website and Facebook page design. The packaging is simple with minimal branding and utilizes recyclable ribbon or the ‘incredibly useful twine’ custom ordered from Cambridge as a decorative element. The store interior captures this old world heritage and charm and combines it with a modern aesthetic. A collection of antique displays, lighting fixtures and found treasures were utilized in tandem with clean lines and rich materials selections such as white Carrera marble, elm wood and travertine limestone.
We brought back nostalgic traditions such as a “cookie and milk” parlour counter and integrated Elm Hill’s signature square shape into the cabinetry detailing, millwork, the bulkhead details and stone tiles. Menu boards are made from actual cookie sheets and the stores philosophy is proudly displayed in the window on a hang-tag graphic, signature to her packaging. The stores rich colour palette of chocolate brown, crisp white and soft beige was inspired by the ingredients of the cookies and the product itself. Many customers have commented how they would love their kitchen to look just like Janis’ boutique shop. Overall, the environment was designed to reflect Elm Hill’s contemporary twist on the classic baked treat.
The Elm Hill Cookies new boutique retail concept began selling their delectable cookies on Kerr St. Oakville, Canada late December 2010. Janis is looking forward to meeting all new customers that come to the shop and share her “dream made reality” with those that love a classic cookie made with a modern twist. You can also visit her at www.elmhillcookies.com or on Facebook.
