Shop-Fitters vs. Strip-Out Specialists: What’s the Difference and Who Do You Actually Need?

I’ll admit it—the first time I heard “shop-fitters and strip-out specialist,” I had no idea what that even meant. I pictured someone in hi-vis boots doing interpretive dance in an empty retail shell. Ridiculous, yeah, but not entirely out of character for the chaos that is end-of-lease makegoods.

Turns out, strip-out specialists are the ones you call before the creative chaos begins. And shop-fitters? They’re the team that brings a space to life after all the old baggage is gone. I used to think they were just two sides of the same coin—but no. They're different beasts entirely. And if you’re stuck figuring out who to call first, here’s the blunt truth: you need to know who does what before your renovation turns into a very expensive guessing game.