Carrs Pasties is fiercely proud of its 80-year history, but has its sights set firmly on the future with the introduction of a striking new look for its stores.
The business appointed retail environment experts Dollar Rae to freshen up its image – last updated in 1997 – when development plans for its store at Bolton Market meant a move to a smaller unit in 2013. Dollar Rae was consequently invited to bring its skills to bear on Carrs’ original unit in Halliwell Road in Bolton, which had barely changed since it opened in 1938.
Carrs’ ambitions didn’t stop there and, last December, it opened a flagship Carrs Pasties shop at the newly regenerated Bolton Market Place, a Victorian Grade 2 listed building in Bolton town centre.
Like the other two sites, the Market Place store features new graphics and signage in an ochre and dark timber colour scheme
As part of a uniform brand identity, Dollar Rae emulated the design of the Bolton Market shop with ochre and dark timber graphics and signage. Wall signage displays the modernised Carrs livery, with graphic panels and menus describing its product offering and its range of speciality teas and coffees.
The store features a custom-manufactured, 5.5-metre-long counter, designed to complement the exposed stone and ceramic tile walls that dominate the interior. The counter has two pay stations and silver anodised pendant lighting strategically positioned to draw attention to the refrigerated pasty and bakery offering and an ambient bake-off selection.
Low-level multi-decks with crisp display areas have been located within sections in the front glass windows and show off a range of freshly made grab-and-go sandwiches, salad bowls and bakery products. The site also features a custom-made mobile tower with warm quartz lighting that provides additional hot display space.
“Market Place is quite different from our other shops but, given the nature of the building and its fabulous architectural features, we wanted to create a shop that embraces the culture and history of The Market Place while at the same time, offering a modern, inviting experience for our customer,” said Joe Carr.
The new look is also bringing commercial benefits, with Carrs reporting a “massive increase” in footfall following the relaunch of the Bolton Market shop and Halliwell Road sites.
And as for Market Place, the business “enjoyed an excellent Christmas trading period and our products continue to fly off the shelves”, adds Joe Carr. “Widening our product range and updating our image has been pivotal to our success.”
Carrs Pasties, Bolton
Who: Brothers Matt, Liam and Joe are the fourth generation of the Carr family to lead the business
What: Following the refurbishment of its shops in Bolton Market and Halliwell Road by retail environment experts Dollar Rae, Carrs appointed the agency to develop a new shop at the regenerated Market Place shopping centre in Bolton.
Where: Corporation Street, Bolton, at the front of Market Place shopping centre
When: The new shop opened last December
Why: “The transformation of Bolton Market Place has injected a sense of excitement to the area and we wanted to be a part of this vibrant shopping and eating scene.”
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