Project
Felt screens and trays bring calm and order to busy Melrose fitting bays, softening sound and organising small essentials for customers and staff.
Melrose is a popular shopping district in Johannesburg, where fitting bays work hard all week. Shoppers expect privacy and calm, but retail floors are noisy and open, with hard surfaces that bounce sound around. Staff need the space to be tidy and easy to manage, especially during busy afternoons when queues form and clothing changes hands quickly.
The store wanted to improve the experience for customers trying on clothing, making the bays quieter and more efficient without taking up valuable floor space or adding complicated maintenance.
We recommended our Partition Screen Felt for flexible acoustic separation between bays. The felt panels are double-faced, so both sides look smart and absorb sound. Because felt is a non-woven textile, we could cut the screens to fit precisely against existing mirrors and rails, without frayed edges or extra binding. Staff can move or rehang the panels if layouts need to change seasonally.
We also supplied Soft Tray Nest sets in each bay. These are shallow merino-blend felt trays in a mix of Ink Edge and Sage Field, chosen to tone with existing shop fittings and resist daily marks. Customers use the trays for phones, glasses, or jewellery, while staff rely on them for price tags and lint rollers. The felt is dense but soft, so items land quietly inside.
A few months after installation, the team noticed a real difference in both noise and tidiness. The felt screens made each bay noticeably quieter, especially during weekend peaks. Shoppers seemed less rushed, and many commented that they liked the privacy.
Staff appreciated that the trays helped prevent lost earrings and tangled hangers. Regular brushing and a quick vacuum kept the felt clean. Johannesburg’s dry winters did mean a bit more dust on surfaces, but the soft melange hides small marks well.
If you’re planning a similar upgrade, start by thinking through customer habits and staff routines. Sound carries more than you expect in open retail spaces, especially near tiled floors or glass shopfronts. Soft partitions don’t just divide space, they soften the whole mood.
Choose felt colours that match shop traffic: lighter shades are lovely but best away from heavy shoe zones, while Ink Edge and Sage Field shrug off marks from shoes and bags. Give all felt a quick vacuum every few days and brush out any scuffs. For busy change rooms, felt trays are a small detail that makes a big difference in day-to-day organisation.
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