By Scott Wright

SCOTTISH eyewear group Iolla is to open a showroom at the £1.7 billion St James Quarter in Edinburgh.

The outlet, which will be the retailer’s fourth location across Glasgow and Edinburgh, will open at the end of this month.

The company said the new showroom, which it developed in collaboration with Edinburgh design studio Splintr, will feature a new style of “plug-and-play” shelving stations, digital screens and modular podiums. It will also include a 360-degree interactive window display and movable podiums, designed to bring the experience to the customer while replacing traditional checkout desks.

Iolla was launched in 2015 with the aim of helping glasses wearers build an “eyewear wardrobe” by offering a broad range of frame styles at affordable price points.

Founder Stefan Hunter said: “Our new St James Quarter showroom will be the most enriched customer experience we’ve ever created. Visitors can discover and journey through our brand by using our new creative touchpoints like material and manufacturing displays and an interactive try on garden.

"The St James Quarter showroom is also our biggest yet, and will give us the opportunity to truly showcase our passion for great customer service, great products and a fair price.”

Martin Perry, director of development for St James Quarter, said: “With the first phase opening of St James Quarter just weeks away, the addition of Iolla will help further bolster the already formidable array of local and international brands St James Quarter has to offer as we look to build a diverse offering, including some national and city firsts, that will help create a one-of-a-kind destination.”