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Breaking ground

Susee Papinazath who gives a brand new look to scores of retail stores across the country

PHOTO: G. MOORTHY

COMMITTED Hard task master

Her zeal for architecture is unbound and that makes it difficult to define her. An architect or an interior decorator, a creative retailer or a designer. She is the queen of all - the retail makeover lady, Susee Papinazath.

With more than 600 mini and mega retail stores in India and abroad to her credit, the city was lucky to have her in to do the RmKV stall at the Hindu Metroplus Lifestyle Show.

And she did it in her inimitable style. Her USP, giving empty space a lot of aesthetic significance.

Wild dreamer

"I'm a wild dreamer and try to make my dreams real. Once my client is on the same wavelength, the work gains momentum and the result is exquisite," she took off during a rapidfire session in between her hectic work schedule at the Tamukkam grounds.

She gave the RmKV stall, a showroom look-alike. Though cramped for space as she guesstimated the number of visitors who would unabatedly pour in, Susee managed to create space with sleek shelves done in glass for merchandise display coupled with good lighting and a splash of bright colours like the shimmering silks all around.

"Challenging assignments are more fun. Of course, it is a demanding task as hundreds of people experience the effect of your designs," she says non-chalantly.

"No two projects of mine are similar. Yet, each different store that I do differently should be identifiable with me," she gushes revealing that she has done more than 90 projects in India.

An avid painter too, Susee derived inspiration from her father, Mr. Pillai, a manufacturer of furniture and other residential interiors. She went on to graduate as Architecture and Environmental designer from Toronto, Canada. Her tryst with interior designing started with some of the world's largest retailers `Ogilvy's' in Montreal, Canada, Simpsons, Zellers and several other standalone celebrity stores.

Destiny brought her to India eight years ago on a hospital project. And ever since she has been romping her way through in the Indian retail market having redone nine stores of Shopper's Stop across the country, The Loft in Hyderabad and Mumbai, Ebony in Delhi, HiStyle, RmKV and 50 other stores in Chennai to name a few.

However, it was not easy to work here, she admits. "I had to start from scratch not knowing where materials were available. Budget and space, both are big constraints here. I try to utilize every inch of space available without disturbing the store's USP. I am glad that my clients are growing," she chuckles.

"The growth is not vertical here in terms of quality interior designing. Industry is growing in wider span. Designs have a strong role to play in the successful conversions of the walk-ins but there is no standardisation package in redesigning. Each store has its set of specifics and we need to experiment within that," says Ms. Susee.

Potential centre

Like the stall owners at the fair, she too views the Temple City as a potential work centre and is itching to get an assignment. "I wish to break ground in the city, both literally and figuratively!" she muses.

Once she pitches her tents here, it is for sure that the Temple City will benefit from her expertise for an upscale look.

T. SARAVANAN

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