Bala’s Pop-up Pastel Playground
Innovative Retail Design & Fit-out
Bala Bangles’ first-ever pop-up showcases a prime example of standing out in a crowded fitness industry.
Founders Natalie Holloway and Max Kislevitz, featured on "Shark Tank," established Bala to disrupt the fitness industry with aesthetically pleasing weights, bands, and equipment.
Design and Functionality
Emphasising fun in functional gear, they have set up their first permanent store in Manhattan, New York.
Tired of the mundane, overly serious world of fitness, they endeavoured to create functional gear that was also beautiful—who says you can’t have it all?
They wanted to bring play back into the lives of those working out.
Helped on their way by the shift to WFH and the home gym, their growth led to their first store opening in Manhattan, New York.
Enter Ringo Studio, tasked with transforming the product’s aesthetic into a real-life ‘pastel playground’.
Creative Store Features
The brand’s first shop includes scaled-up versions of its product range.
Bigger on this occasion equals better. The giant equipment is outlandish and on brand, creating that impact.
"Organised chromatically, distinct zones immerse visitors in the colour space of the band, heightening the sense of place and identification with the brand," Ringo said.
The space on 99 Spring Street, Soho was fabricated by Konduit, who specialise in custom set construction.
I think we can all see why they were chosen, with this level of finish.
Bala is maximising the use of the space with IRL brand experiences by hosting their ‘Balacise’ fitness classes outside of retail hours, incorporating the various products.
Impactful Customer Engagement
These in-person brand experiences will strengthen the existing relationship between Bala and its customers by creating an emotional connection.
Emotional connections are far stronger IRL than through digital channels.
"It's a Balacise playground to introduce customers to their innovative products and encourage them to test and experiment," Ringo said.
Offering Balacise classes will spread the Bala name like wildfire.
Celebrating Innovative Retail Design
This project, lauded for its concept and execution, highlights Bala's innovative approach to merging retail with fitness, making workouts fun and engaging.
Congratulations to all involved in bringing this dynamic retail strategy to life.
The photography is by Anna Morgowicz.