News

Interbrand acquires London design consultancy HMKM

February 25, 2014

Brand consultancy Interbrand announced that it has acquired one of the U.K.'s leading international retail design consultancies, HMKM.

The move, which recognizes the importance of brand experience in an increasing digital and omnichannel retail environment, brings together two complementary companies uniquely prepared to meet the challenges of the current retail landscape, the companies said in a press release.

HMKM specializes in creating high-end, multidimensional retail environments for clients such as Selfridges, Galeries Lafayette, Nike, Breuninger and Bloomingdale's. The integration of London-headquartered HMKM will allow it to benefit from Interbrand's global presence as well as from the breadth and depth of its strategic and creative offerings and services, according to the companies.

"Retail brand experiences continue to evolve at a rapid pace," said Jez Frampton, global CEO of Interbrand. "While physical stores will remain an essential point of access for the brand, those retailers that strategically integrate digital touchpoints will have the potential to revolutionize the brand experience. HMKM's expertise in delivering holistic retail concepts, combined with Interbrand's creative and strategic thinking, will bring tremendous value to our clients, creating richer and more engaging experiences seamlessly across channels and environments."

Interbrand has developed branded retail environments for clients such as Starbucks, Honda, Piaget, Sephora, and Volcom.

"Retail in all of its expressions is constantly evolving," said Alison Cardy, managing director of HMKM. "In this omnichannel era, it is vital for brands to continuously review their physical, virtual and emotional expressions in order to remain relevant to an increasingly sophisticated, intelligent and brand-savvy consumer. The combined creative expertise of HMKM and Interbrand makes for an exciting future for all of us and for existing and future clients."