By Fitout Solutions
Located in the historic Lees Metalworks building on Kent Street, Yu Mei Newmarket further establishes the leather goods brand as a new retail destination in Auckland and flagship for the brand’s broadening bag and accessory collections and retail lounge concept.
Using simple, natural materials, and a neutral palette, the space is confident but subtle while contributing to a sense of tactile luxury speaking strongly to the Yu Mei customer. The Newmarket flagship offers customers a sophisticated retail experience and further develops the lounge concept that has become central to Yu Mei's inclusive but high-end aesthetic. Incorporating a selection of contemporary artworks and temporary installations, from artists such as Yona Lee, Gretchen Albrecht, and Ashleigh Taupaki, the space acts both as a retail touchpoint and as a gallery space, imbuing a strong sense of engagement with staff, customers, and Tāmaki Makaurau’s vibrant arts calendar.
The new retail space reconfigures the existing open-plan floor plan creating a large stone-topped point of sale and timber display shelves in the front half of the store. The interior palette is based around a combination of simple geometric forms punctuated by blocks of expressive materiality – polished concrete, stained Oak, Onyx marble, Ōamaru stone, and aged brass finishes combine to create an earthy but refined atmosphere. The rear of the store offers a counterpoint and different character, embracing existing heritage brick and exposed steel structure, to create a more intimate and loft-like experience that enables Yu Mei to host private shopping events, product launches, and hosted dinners for small groups
Fitout Solutions has been formed to create seamless construction from acquisitions to opening your new space. Our experienced project managers deliver on simple principles of clear communication and providing our customers with a hands-on personable touch.
Our project managers have a wide range of experience both in New Zealand, and overseas, including Australia and the United Kingdom, which has exposed them to areas within the industry that are unique and challenging. Between our experienced project managers, they have project managed over 500 fitouts developing strong knowledge in all elements required to deliver your project.
Fitout Solutions specialise in the following fields in the construction market:
Our reach is nationwide with a large established contractor base meaning we can deliver the same high-level service throughout New Zealand. We work closely with a large range of architects and designers that strive to create unique detailed spaces. Fitout Solutions can connect new clients with designers or provide clients with the option of end to end design and build.
At Fitout Solutions, we believe the most successful projects start with early engagement and clear scope. The early interaction between client and contractor will help define scope, programme and preliminary budget which reduces the requirements of value engineering at later stages of a project. Our team will follow the detail from design to reality creating the space you and your customer will love.