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Case Study: Wilko

Summary

With current labour challenges across the sector, Wilko Retail Ltd were facing a team member short fall on the run up to peak Christmas demand in their two distribution centres at Worksop in Nottinghamshire and Magor in Newport. 

Our merchandising team identified an opportunity to work collaboratively with Wilko to help support their requirements at a time when merchandising in-store is traditionally quieter, to reduce customer disruption during a key sales period.

Challenges

Distribution centres have lots of new Health and Safety challenges, such as lorry routes and forklift truck movements that the teams were not used to working with. 

The team received extensive training beforehand and they were then able to support in a number of roles including picking stock, loading store deliveries, offloading containers and organising recycling and salvage. 

Results

The Bluestones One merchandising team were able to support both distribution centres with up to 60 people, around the clock, over a 7-week period to help fulfil their peak demand. 

This will now become a successful seasonal collaboration and opportunity for both businesses going forward.

In memory of Harry Stringer

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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