Norco Interior is at the forefront of circular thinking and has developed a service to recycle store interiors. A “reverse webshop” where customers register store fixtures they want to return, contributing to giving them new life in another store.

Although a circular mindset feels natural and right at heart for us, it is not always easy to apply in practice – nor to integrate into the production chain. Renovating existing store interiors requires adaptation, and innovation is needed to find creative solutions for functional reuse. In a world where fashion companies have already launched second-hand platforms, Norco has taken the step to extend the same concept to store interiors. An efficient process has been developed to handle and refurbish used store fixtures, giving them new life and a second chance in a new store.

Store interiors gain new value – how the service works

Let’s say you have a store in a retail chain that is about to close. Your shelves and brackets may be slightly worn but fully functional and could be reused in a new store. In Norco’s app, you enter the quantity of each item to be returned for reuse. You can choose whether Norco handles the logistics of packing and shipping the interior, or if you prefer to do it yourself. Once the store fixtures arrive at Norco’s warehouse, they are inspected – perhaps they need repainting or new complementary parts. The interiors are refurbished and then listed in the webshop again under “refurbished.” Another store in need of shelves and brackets can then order them directly from the webshop. This service is especially beneficial for chains with multiple stores. An existing store may need additional components, while a newly opened store may require interiors for the entire space.

A partner in sustainability

Norco Interior does not only assist with the physical work of dismantling, refurbishing, packing, delivering and installing store interiors.

We are happy to contribute ideas when it comes to material selection and interior design with sustainability in focus, says Henrik Janzen, Chief Digital Officer at Norco Interior.

The company has been actively working with sustainability for several years. In terms of production and transportation, our petrol-driven cars have been replaced with electric vehicles, solar panels have been installed at our factories, and we are more conscious about the materials and suppliers we choose. We see growing demand for sustainable store interiors and are constantly developing our offering, Henrik explains.

Can all store interiors be reused?

Wall and floor fixtures are particularly suitable for reuse, and in terms of materials, metal generally wears less than wood. A wooden checkout counter can be given completely new life by replacing the front or countertop. Sound absorbers and acoustic panels are often well suited for reuse by preserving and reupholstering the wooden frames.

Today’s store interiors are often designed to be as flexible as possible, and with standardized solutions there is great potential to reuse and upgrade with small measures such as repainting or reupholstering, says Henrik.

Reuse is the future

Different stores have different life spans for their interiors. Some concepts last up to twelve years, while others are designed to be renewed every three years as part of a strategy to stay fresh. This means store interiors that can be dismantled and reused elsewhere.

This approach already exists in the automotive industry – when you leave your car at the workshop, you may receive a repaired part instead of a brand-new one, says Henrik. He is convinced that circular thinking will continue to develop over time, especially as the industry learns to manage the process and establish efficient routines.

Norco Interior as a partner

Purchasing behavior has changed in recent years. We see that many of our customers are placing greater emphasis on sustainability. In partnership with Norco Interior, you receive support in reducing your environmental impact and strengthening your sustainability profile, says Henrik.

We can assist you with:

Logistics

As a customer, you gain access to Norco’s app and webshop, where you can both list and purchase parts for your store interiors. It is possible to mix refurbished interiors with new products in the webshop, and you can easily see what is marked as refurbished. We can assist throughout the entire process, including packing and installation.

Storage

Are you relocating a store? You can send your fixtures to us for temporary storage. At the same time, you can supplement or return interiors that will not be needed in the new store.

Packing

To make it easier and save you time, we assist with dismantling and reinstallation of your interiors on site.

Sustainability

In addition to our app and webshop offering alternatives to new store interiors, we are happy to discuss sustainability issues and solutions. We can also contribute ideas and suggestions.

At Norco Interior, we take the actions we can to reduce our environmental impact. At the same time, we know that we are stronger together and believe in the power of collaboration. Together with our customers and suppliers, we work towards continuous improvement and actively seek solutions to improve the environment. We maintain an open and transparent dialogue to keep driving our sustainability efforts forward. Would you like to know more about how we can support your sustainability strategy? Contact us here.