reMarkable has an established global retail experience. Expanding into Staples created a different problem. How does a brand adapt that experience to a new retailer, footprint, fixture system, and supply chain while maintaining brand integrity? When executing large-scale store expansions, scaling retail brand standards requires balancing custom fixture design, precise engineering, and seamless multi-store adaptation.
When we approach retail design, we lean into a few powerful industry truths:
- The 3-Second Rule: You have mere seconds to grab a shopper’s attention before they move on.
- The 70% Impact: Studies suggest that product merchandising and display influence up to 70% of in-store purchasing decisions.
- The Power of Consistency: Maintaining a consistent brand presence across every touchpoint can increase sales by 22-33%.
In brick-and-mortar retail, consistency is far more than an aesthetic guideline. It is a critical revenue driver. Research from Marq’s landmark brand consistency study indicates that maintaining a unified brand presence across every physical touchpoint can increase sales by 22% to 33%.
“That 33% stat proves that consistency builds buyer trust. Whether a shopper encounters reMarkable at Best Buy, Staples, in the US or across Europe, the experience must be seamless. Every single detail matters because we were protecting a global brand standard.”
— Mike Morgan, Business Development Director
Retailer-specific architecture, lighting, materials, store formats and inventory made direct replication impossible. When expanding into Staples, keeping that brand standard intact is easier said than done. At The Bernard Group (TBG), we see this challenge in action daily. Our recent work with reMarkable (expanding their nationwide presence into 75 Staples locations across the U.S.) demonstrates how technical precision and material flexibility turn complex retail rollouts into seamless commercial successes.
The Challenge: Hybridizing Fixtures for a 75-Store Retail Expansion
We have partnered with reMarkable for over four years, designing and executing their premium retail displays globally. When Staples approached reMarkable to test their paperless tablets in 75 U.S. stores, the objective was unequivocal: the fixture needed to feel like an immediate, organic extension of the reMarkable identity, whether a customer encountered it in Best Buy, a Canadian storefront, or a new Staples aisle.
Executing this vision required building a custom 4-foot endcap and inline presentation. Because the display had previously existed only as a 3-foot inline version, our design team developed a hybrid solution. We merged the proven aesthetic of our U.S. Best Buy displays with the functional design elements created for Staples Canada.
Technical Precision and Adaptive Design: The Staples Rollout
Solving technical in-store hurdles required end-to-end integration across our design, color calibration, and supply chain teams. While our production team is thoroughly versed in reMarkable’s signature materials (warm wood textures and clean metal finishes), the Staples expansion presented several unique challenges.
Four core technical solutions drove the 75-store Staples endcap execution:
- Custom Backlit Lightbox Calibration: Standard printing profiles regularly fail inside illuminated retail fixtures because backlighting alters color physics and dulls brand visuals. We secured an authentic Staples light box and fixture to build a live testing rig in our color lab. Our team conducted iterative print tests, deliberately over-saturating the print file so it appeared unusually dark on paper, but transformed into a vibrant, perfectly calibrated match for reMarkable’s global color standards once backlit in-store.
- Modular Tooth-and-Track Metal Bases: Designed for durability and flexibility, the displays feature a heavy-duty metal wedge base with “teeth” that provide incredible modularity. Because technology changes quarterly, store teams can easily unscrew, reposition, or swap out presentation tiles housing the Paper Pro, Paper Pro Move, and Paper Pure as the product catalog evolves.
- Adaptive Store-Level Execution: For the 5 flagship Staples stores in the 75-store fleet, we repurposed existing monitor inventory from Staples Canada to execute a dynamic, screen-based interactive display rather than a backlit graphic, keeping the rollout on schedule and on brand.
- Global Supply Chain and Demo-State Kitting: By leveraging our existing manufacturing partnerships in China, we secured materials that precisely matched the specific wood grains, clear coats, and metallic finishes required by global brand guidelines. Displays were then assembled at TBG’s U.S. facilities with explicit setup instructions, ensuring tablets were immediately active in a “demo state” upon customer approach.
“The biggest hurdle wasn’t building the display; it was ensuring that the lightbox graphic was spot-on. Our team spent significant energy making sure that when you illuminate the display, it looks perfect and completely on-brand.”
— Mike Morgan, Business Development Director
A Commitment to Detail: Scaling Retail Brand Standards
The success of this rollout is a testament to the dedication of our entire team. Adapting the display to a lightbox required meticulous precision at every turn. From the color lab perfecting backlit graphics to supply chain teams matching specific wood grains and finishes, every element was refined to protect reMarkable’s global standards.
That precision extends all the way through to the store floor. By pairing direct-to-store logistics with detailed installation guides, our teams ensure that every tablet powers up and locks into an active “demo state” the moment the fixture is set. Customers can instantly test the paperless tablet upon approaching the display.
With meticulous color control and adaptive design, complex retail expansions become powerful engines for brand growth.
Ready to scale your physical store presence without compromising brand integrity? Reach out to the team at TBG to bring your next retail vision to life.