Opinion – Bluestones One

Asda Ashington: Re-Fit Stage 1 General Merchandise

Nick Baldwin — Mon, 10 May 2021 15:41:37 +0000

Summary

Bluestone One at Asda Ashington was chosen to rejuvenate every area of the store’s sales floor space with extensive activity across 12 weeks.

We deployed multi-skilled split shift teams actioning merchandising relays and fixture moves throughout the full shop floor through the night, with further teams deployed through the day supporting the store colleagues and helping customers continue to shop as normal as the improvements are being made throughout the store.

Challenges

With an extensive General Merchandising Department, there were a number of intricate merchandising solutions required. We wanted to ensure that through the first phase of this refit, availability of all lines were maintained at all times whilst also minimising disruption to customers’ shopping experience as the improvements to the store are being made over the 12 weeks.

Results

The working relationship, communication and collaboration with the main construction team was essential to ensure the smooth phasing of fixture and merchandising moves throughout the 12 weeks.

This enabled all planned works to be completed in good time, which allowed additional support to the store colleagues to support the night fill replenishment, ready for the store to re-open with good levels of stock fill each day.

Morrisons Reigate: Fresh Look Store Change Programme

Nick Baldwin — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 13:20:14 +0000

Summary

Bluestones One were selected to support Morrisons to deliver their store change programme in Reigate. Within the merchandising resource requirement, a project delivery manager was deployed to oversee all aspects of contractor works on-site through the programme, ensuring that all store change activity was actioned in line with the client’s requirements.

Challenges

Multi contractor team project management on-site with varied shift timings and work planning requirements always creates a challenge throughout store change programmes. The Bluestones One field team leaders and project delivery manager showed their capability in adapting to the challenges, delivering innovative solutions that ensured the project phasing timeline was delivered.

Results

The communication across the project delivery manager, field team leaders, central resource team and account manager through to the client project manager and store teams ensured that every project phase was delivered on time. The skillset was always aligned to maximise efficiencies. All these factors combined ensured a firm control and cost visibility.

Morrisons: Capping Shelves

Nick Baldwin — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 13:09:32 +0000

Summary

Bluestones One were selected as the merchandising partner to deliver a full estate roll out of capping shelves. The project objective was to introduce an additional high-level shelf to gondolas to provide shop floor product storage. This delivered immediate stock replenishment, customer product availability, and store staffing productivity and efficiency enhancements.

Challenges

The requirement to support the de-merchandising and re-merchandising across the full estate showed Bluestones One’s ability to upscale resourcing requirements at speed throughout the entire UK, strengthening our field team coverage across all geographical locations.

It also allowed us to develop and increase our field team skill set. As a result of this major project, we have now up-skilled new Team Leaders supporting, coaching and directing them through their journey to the leadership of large teams.

Results

This activity has shown Bluestones One’s ability to be proactive and innovative in responding to the challenges of a full estate project rollout of this size.

Asda Woking: Hybrid Installation & Merchandising

Nick Baldwin — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 10:48:45 +0000

Summary

Bluestones One were chosen to deliver a new project-based activity in refreshing the smaller Asda Supermarkets (ex Netto stores) – the first trial store was Woking. The selection of Bluestones One to action this was based on our ability to provide “Hybrid” combined skill set teams.

Normally, gondola removal and the re-location elements of the project would be actioned via an accredited Installation team with a handover to a merchandising team to complete the re-stocking. Combining both aspects of the works programme with a mixed skillset team has allowed Bluestones One to demonstrate our multi-skilled team’s ability to deliver both aspects of install & merchandising as a one-stop solution. This greatly reduces downtime, improves productivity, and reduces costs significantly for clients.

Challenges

The trial store was completed during the second COVID-19 lockdown period. This added a level of additional complexities to planning the phased moves for the combined hybrid teams working closely with the Asda store team to ensure social distancing was observed.

Results

The programme was a great success. We look forward to further developing our dual install and merchandising solution, supporting clients to improve their retail environment and reducing their costs.

New Store Gondola Installation

Nick Baldwin — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 17:15:33 +0000

Summary

Bluestones One Retail is proud to have been selected to support Nabco Ltd with the installation of their gondola equipment for a new grocery store in Reepham.

Challenges

The Bluestones One team were asked to submit their Rams, which would need be agreed by the PC on-site, as well as organise the team two days before commencement. Having liaised directly with the PC, we got everything agreed and in place within 24 hours.

Result

We delivered this Installation on time following the client’s guidelines and on-site changes. The store was handed over to the Merchandising team after day 3 of 3. The feedback from Nabco and the end client was very positive.

B&Q: ASDA Concession

Nick Baldwin — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 10:00:53 +0000

Summary

Bluestones One were extremely proud to be asked to supply the Merchandising team to support the new concept “shop in shop” trial store for B&Q in ASDA Sheffield, Drakehouse. The B&Q trial concessions in ASDA stores will offer a range of paint (including paint mixing) as well as tools, hardware and other DIY essentials. Customers will be able to shop B&Q’s full range at diy.com and order selected items online for collection from the B&Q concessions.

Challenges

This trial store was delivered during the second UK Lockdown due to Covid-19, so social distancing and appropriate precautions had to be taken. Fortunately, B&Q were just as conscientious as Bluestones and ensured this was well managed. Managing stock in and out of a small-format store in a busy supermarket location presented some challenges but, collectively, everyone involved ensured this was a success.

Results

The store was delivered successfully in time for the opening with very positive feedback and, we are looking forward to seeing how this store performs and getting involved in future small-format stores. It was great to be involved in a project that saw two of our key customers working together.

Homebase: Christchurch Right Size Phase 1

Nick Baldwin — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 15:42:44 +0000

Summary

As part of a right size project for Homebase, Bluestones were requested to supply a Project Manager and an installation and merchandising team to support with stock exit, reconfiguration of the store and re-merchandising. This was to enable Homebase to build a wall and create a ‘new store’ on one side of the existing unit.

Challenges

The Bluestones team had to liaise with various contractors and the store team to deliver the reduction in stock holding and the reconfiguration in a relatively short timescale. This was challenging but well managed by all parties and was overcome through daily updates from the on-site team. All activity had to be well managed to enable the store to trade throughout the whole period.

Results

The first phase was well delivered by our team. We look forward to returning to complete the merchandising of the ‘new store’.

Homebase: Storage & More Roll Out

Nick Baldwin — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 15:11:29 +0000

Summary

Following a successful trial alongside other suppliers, Homebase decided to roll out their Storage & More concept across more of their store estate. Having initially intended to use two suppliers, Homebase changed their mind and decided to award 100% of the activity to Bluestones One.

The requirement was to supply a Project Manager, a team of Gondola Installers with joinery capabilities and Merchandisers over a 5 day period to create an area in the store for the implementation of the Storage & More concept.

Challenges

The main challenge faced during this project was creating the initial space, which meant that a number of categories including Cleaning and existing Storage had to be de-stocked and temporarily located in order to do this. Additionally, the Bluestones team had to ensure that the project was planned and implemented safely and considerately as the stores were still trading during this period.

Result

We achieved the project within the 5 day allocated period and delivered to a great standard. Homebase’s comments were: “The teams were fantastic, always came with solutions to a problem and they are an asset to Bluestones One.”

On the back of our performance across this project, we have been awarded further projects.

Dunelm: New Stores & Refit Activity

Nick Baldwin — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 14:41:50 +0000

Summary

Bluestones One is very proud to support Dunelm with its New Stores & Refit programme.

Our teams support the Dunelm New Stores & Refit team across all aspects of merchandising activity within their stores. We supply the teams in accordance with Dunelm’s scope of works, and the duration and shift patterns can vary depending on the activity.

Challenges

As a home retailer, Dunelm has a variety of different merchandising methods, and their standards and expectations are high. With this in mind, we have both worked hard to gather the detail required for our teams to deliver and work with Dunelm to supply consistent teams from store to store, regardless of location.

Results

Bluestones continue to support Dunelm across their activity and are incredibly proud to do so. We have regular reviews to drive improvements and innovations across the activity that we do and look forward to maintaining our strong relationship.

Carton Roller Equipment Installation

Nick Baldwin — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 12:04:41 +0000

Summary

Bluestones One Retail were selected to support Ikon Ltd with the Installation of carton flow shelving into Alliance Healthcare Nottingham.

150 carton flows were required to increase productivity and picking rate.

Challenges

The Bluestones team were requested to work around the existing shift patterns to ensure minimal disruption.

We were tasked to complete the work over five weeks with specific site “quiet times” supplied to us. This enabled us to plan our work efficiently and to complete the work on time.

Results

We delivered this Installation on time and within budget with fantastic feedback from not only Ikon Ltd but also Alliance Healthcare.