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Talking Shop - Drapers
28 October 2006
Re: Talking Shop, “Store openings plumb the depths” (September 9, 2006).
I read with frustration Mark Hale’s experience of opening his two new Chessman menswear stores while trying to holiday at the same time (Drapers’ September 9 edition of Talking Shop). Although, after reading the article, it seemed that not everything was going to plan, his two stores should be open by now and doing very well.
Unlike Mark, I’m continually reminded just how stressful and challenging a retail refurbishment or new store roll-out can be and so I’m in a position to offer some good advice. One way to improve on Mark’s stressful experience is to avoid going down the route of a traditional ‘shopfitter’ and instead find a turn-key, project management team to design, plan, source and deliver every aspect of his new stores.
There is a perception that this can work out more costly but in reality it offers much better value for money and will ultimately save a retailer cash. By using a full-service, project management team Mark would have had one point of contact – who does answer the phone - to sort out the on-site trades and procure products to budget. He could also have reduced his store fit-out time by 50% and could have been open sooner.
By managing the entire project lifecycle from design to completion, it means your project team is with you from the start, knows exactly what you want to achieve, and can see how to cut time, cost and labour wastage. It takes a lot of intelligent planning, communication and pin-point timing but it ensures the job is done with half the stress and in half the time.
Most importantly of all, Mark could have enjoyed the two trips away he booked in the middle of his store fit-outs without worrying about missing plumbers and sourcing chandeliers. The only problem is, he would have had to cut his holiday short because we would have finished his stores in half the time.
· Lee Walker is managing director for interior solution specialist, Barlows.
For further information on Barlows, visit www.barlowgroup.co.uk or
call 0114 280 3000.
