John Lewis Partnership
Facts and figures
- 8 weeks for average store
Interserve has been working with the John Lewis Partnership (JLP), as a preferred shop fitter, for the last 20 years. Paramount to the refurbishment and remodelling of John Lewis stores is that disruption to their trading patterns is kept to a minimum. Speed is also critical in delivering products and services on time, and in line with budget requirements.
Supply and installation of shopfitting systems
Dedicated Interserve teams (from Estimators through to fixing teams), working largely on JLP projects, has culminated in the development of close working relationships between both parties, ensuring minimal variations and increased speed in the production, delivery and installation processes. Within our own fabrication facility we manufacture perimeter wall displays, free-standing gondolas, pay point units, fitting rooms and 'specialist display' units (for the electrical and perfumery department for example).
Achievements
- Inherent knowledge of the JLP brand ensures lean delivery
- Site teams working 'out of hours' ensure minimal disruption to trading stores
- Commercially driven to meet benchmark levels
- Sustainable options incorporated:
- Quality manufactured product with lengthened life cycle
- Timber by-products are recycled to heat manufacturing facility
- All products manufactured from FSC materials
John Lewis at home
Fit-out of new format store
John Lewis opened its first new format store in 20 years in October 2009. The leading store, branded as 'John Lewis at home', focuses exclusively on the home sector and is approximately a third of the size of a typical John Lewis department store. The first branch of the new format, located on an edge of town retail park, is situated in Poole, Dorset.
Interserve's specialist interior fit-out and joinery fabrication team has worked closely with the John Lewis Design team on the development of the store's interior, and provided a number of perimeter and freestanding fixture prototypes prior to the commencement of the fit-out. The project at the 45,000 sq ft store, set across two floors, included the manufacture, supply and installation of all freestanding gondolas, display cubes and multi-channel display units. All works were completed in four weeks.
In-house experience and expertise enabling lean delivery to John Lewis:
- Close working relationship with store designers and project managers to ensure minimal variations
- Detailed surveys enabled the pre-manufacture of all fittings, which led to a reduced period of installation
- Dedicated John Lewis Contract Manager and Fixing teams enabled a faster installation process
- Fast response to orders enabled the factory to make required goods in advance, thus providing full lorry loads to site
John Lewis at home, Swindon
Fastest fit-out completed to date
Being at the corner stone of retailing and keeping ahead of competitors through new and exciting store design concepts cannot be more visible than at the Swindon retail park store. The JLP designers have used the space to its very best advantage, not only does it seem light and airy, whilst providing an amazing amount of stock, it provides customers with the retail leisure experience – shopping for pleasure. This shopping experience even extends to multichannel retailing with facilities dotted around the store.
With an aggressive expansion plan to roll out this concept Interserve undertook the sole supply and installation of the internal fittings to this single store. This is something that has never been done on these stores before, as normally delivery would be split with up to six shopfitters. However with other shopfitters engaged on other projects JLP looked to the experienced Interserve team to fast track this project and achieve the impossible.
Interserve's accelerated, five-and-a-half week programme was impressive considering the size and complexity of the store, whilst manufacturing was completed in just 10 weeks. Interserve remained focused on keeping the client's design as a priority, as compromising the design would ultimately compromise the success of the store's trading. A proactive and flexible approach based on regular communication between Interserve and the John Lewis was vital to the successful completion of this project.
The three-and-a-half week site duration was a challenge, however all the teams pulled together in a cohesive fashion that ultimately brought about a successful practical completion to meet the tightest of deadlines so that the store was able to be merchandised in sufficient time to enable the official opening to the queuing public to be a resounding success.
