Wickes: Sunderland – Bluestones One

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8 July 2021

Summary

Bluestones One’s merchandising team supported Wickes in their latest new store project in Sunderland. The 25,000 square foot unit supports Wickes distinctive service model and new store format, with Sunderland marking the 144th store in their estate transformation strategy.

Making it easier for customers to shop, in addition to a wide range of products, they’ve introduced a Dulux in-store mixing service and a new outdoor project centre for landscape and garden jobs. Plus a 7,000 square foot purpose built Kitchen, Bathroom and Boutique Tile Showroom.

Sunderland really supports the digitally-led and service enabled proposition, with a designated ‘Smart Fulfilment’ area, with the storage of items picked by colleagues for home delivery, ready for collection by local carriers and dedicated Click & Collect parking bays, providing a more convenient digital shopping experience for locals.

Challenges

Wickes Sunderland required a merchandising partner that was able to efficiently and effectively support the new store set up, utilising trained and experienced teams that had worked within various Wickes stores previously. Our Resource Planning and Account Management teams worked hard to ensure that we met the needs of one of our key customers throughout the project.

Results

A fantastic looking new store delivered on time and within budget and a very happy customer!

In memory of Harry Stringer

In loving memory of Harry Stringer On Monday the 7th March 2022, we lost one of our most loved site supervisors. Harry passed away suddenly after suffering a heart attack 1 week prior to his passing. Harry was a much loved and well respected mentor and friend in the retail merchandising world and in particular the D.I.Y sector. Harry made his debut in the retail industry working for Homebase in 1987 where he served for 20 years in roles such as Store Manager and in the later part of his Homebase career in the Store Format team. Harry then moved on to work for several Merchandising and Installation companies completing roles mainly working on Format Projects for B&Q. Harry was versatile and would do whatever role was required of him whether it be Site Supervisor, Retail Change Partner, Siers Supervisor or Team Leader. Over the last 12 years Harry worked for Dee Set and most recently Bluestones One. He will be sadly missed and we send our condolences to all of Harry’s family and friends. RIP Harry. Here’s what Bluestones One Director, Gary Lowe had to say shortly after Harry’s passing: “We are all shocked and devastated by the sad

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Bluestones One’s Merchandising team supported Wickes in their latest relocation project in Leicester, supporting with the closure of their central Leicester store and the opening of their new store a few miles down the road in Wigston.