Marks and Spencer's flagship store located on one of London's busiest thoroughfares, with a retail space 170,000 ft2.
OVERVIEW
Marks and Spencer's scheme was designed to make the store more inviting and easier for customers to navigate, with clearer signage and increased sales floor. Phase 1 of the redesign, which was part of a trial, focused on the food hall and clothing sections. Phase 2 redesigned the beauty, footwear and home departments. The scheme also included the company’s first M&S Bank branch.
SCOPE OF WORKS
Extensive refurbishment of entire store.
WHAT WE DID
We installed the first M&S Bank branch on the 4th floor and refurbished the basement food hall. Extensive refurbishment was completed over a selection of floors including new selling schemes across fashion, footwear, beauty and homeware.
LIVE TRADING
The store continued to trade throughout the duration of the project, which meant that phasing was critical as was strong communication between the team and the store team. In consultation with the management team works were phased to prevent the key revenue generating departments being off line at the same time, maximising the stores revenue potential during the refurbishment. We made sure that department managers were appraised of planned works in a timely manner to facilitate management of displays and restocking well ahead of planned works; this allowed them ample time to manage displays and restocking.
ASBESTOS
Part of the work package involved the removal of asbestos. We developed a range of solutions that facilitated continual trading, whilst maintaining appropriate levels of health and safety and achieved a £1.5 million saving for the client. Our asbestos management techniques set a benchmark for all other contractors and aided in the development of Marks and Spencer's own internal procedures and controls.
TIMESCALES AND LOGISTICS
The scheme had to be completed before the start of the London 2012 Olympics, creating an immovable deadline. In addition, based on the time period, location and logistics our operations team had to employ robust planning to ensure just in time deliveries and develop appropriate traffic management solutions.