For Retail Owners
Shop Fit-Outs That Open On Time.
From shell-and-core to trading-ready. Shopfronts, lighting, joinery, services and compliance — delivered under one contract, to your opening date, without the variations.
Why Retail Fit-Outs Go Wrong
A retail fit-out that runs over programme costs you in rent, in staff wages and in lost opening-day momentum that is very hard to recover. Most shopfitters quote the visible finishes and discover the electrical capacity, the structural issues and the planning requirements only once they are on site. The result is a fit-out that bleeds money through variations, runs late and hands over a space that is not quite what was discussed — because there was never a proper design or pre-construction review before the quote went in.
RCB designs, manages and builds the whole fit-out under one accountable contract — so you open on time, on budget and to a standard that makes the shopfront do its job.
What RCB Delivers for Retailers
A retail fit-out is a structural project, a services project and a brand project at once. We coordinate all three under one accountable contract.
Shop Fit-Outs & Shopfronts
- Full shop fit-outs from shell-and-core to trading-ready — flooring, ceilings, lighting, joinery
- Bespoke shopfront installations — aluminium, timber or steel — with glazing and security
- Brand-aligned interiors with feature walls, display systems and point-of-sale zones
- Storage rooms, staff areas and accessible WCs to Part M requirements
Services & Compliance
- Electrical installations for retail lighting, EV charging, CCTV and alarm systems
- Plumbing for tea points, staff kitchenettes and salon or beauty studio utilities
- Fire alarm, emergency lighting and sprinkler systems to Building Regulations
- Ventilation and air conditioning for comfortable trading environments
Conversions & Structural Works
- Converting former offices, warehouses or residential units into retail space
- Structural openings, steelwork and load-bearing alterations where layouts need reconfiguring
- Mezzanine floors and staircases for additional trading or storage levels
- Planning and change-of-use applications coordinated on your behalf
Trading On Your Opening Date
- Fixed programmes built backwards from your opening or relaunch date
- Out-of-hours and weekend working for occupied high streets or shopping centres
- Phased works to keep part of the shop trading during refurbishment
- Snagging, deep clean and post-completion handover before you open the doors
Three Reasons Retailers Choose RCB
You do not buy a shopfitter. You buy an opening date, a brand-aligned space and a contractor who does not generate surprises.
Solutions
We handle the full fit-out — structural works, services, finishes, shopfront and compliance — under one contract. No coordinating between five different trades, no hidden variations when the electrician discovers the board is full. One team, one price, one programme.
Convenience
We build the programme around your opening date and work out-of-hours or in phases where the high street or centre demands it. One contact manages everything from design development through to the morning you unlock the door for the first time.
Experience
We have fitted out shops, salons, showrooms, food outlets and service retailers across East London and the surrounding boroughs. We know how landlords, councils and Building Control approach retail works — and we manage those conversations so you do not have to.
How Your Fit-Out Works
Four stages from brief to opening. You always know where you are.
Brief & Survey
We survey the unit, understand your brand, your trading model and your opening date. You receive a detailed scope and programme that covers structure, services, finishes and compliance — before any costs are agreed.
Design & Consents
We develop the layout and shopfront design with you, manage the landlord approval process and handle any planning or change-of-use applications. Electrical, plumbing and ventilation are designed in at this stage so there are no surprises.
Fit-Out on Programme
All trades managed by us. Structural works, first-fix services, finishes, shopfront, joinery, lighting and final fit carried out in sequence. Out-of-hours and phased options available where needed.
Handover & Open
Snagging complete, deep clean done, compliance certs issued, and the space handed over ready to trade. Opening on the date you planned — not the date the builder finishes.
Why Retailers Choose RCB
Verified, accredited and independently rated. The credentials your landlord and council expect.
Independently Verified
All 114 Checkatrade reviews are from verified clients. Our 9.96/10 rating is independently audited — not self-reported. With 60+ years of combined team experience, you appoint a contractor who has delivered retail projects before — not one learning on yours.
Retail Fit-Out FAQs
Can you work to a strict opening deadline?
Yes. Retail fit-outs are defined by the opening date, and we build the programme backwards from that date at the start. We offer out-of-hours and weekend working for high-street locations or shopping centres where daytime access is restricted, and we phase the works to keep disruption contained.
Do you handle planning and landlord approvals for shopfronts?
Yes. Shopfront changes often require both landlord consent and planning permission, and in conservation areas the bar is higher. We manage the design of the shopfront, coordinate the landlord approval process and submit the planning application where required — so you are not navigating multiple conversations at once.
Can you convert a former office or residential unit into a shop?
Yes. Change-of-use conversions are one of the most common retail projects we handle. We manage the planning application, structural alterations, services upgrades and full fit-out under one contract. We assess the unit first so you know exactly what is involved before you commit to the lease.
What is the minimum project size you work on?
Our minimum project threshold is around £6,000 to £7,000. For most retail fit-outs — which typically run from £15,000 upwards depending on size and spec — this is well within range. We will tell you honestly at the survey stage if a project falls outside what we can price competitively.
Plan Your Shop Fit-Out
Tell us about your unit, your brand and your opening date. We will give you a clear view of what it takes to get trading — on time and on budget.