Introduction

Recruit Retail Services plc have been providing nationwide merchandising support to Homebase for over fifteen years. Large teams of skilled merchandisers are provided over a period of four weeks for new stores and up to 12 weeks for refurbishments. They replenish and merchandise stock, allowing Homebase staff to focus on their customers and continue business as usual.

Situation

One area of new store delivery that was not outsourced was the initial receiving and replenishment of all stock – known as “stockfest”. Taking place over a four-day period, stock arrives within the first 24 hours and is replenished and merchandised by existing store staff and colleagues from other stores, one week prior to the store opening.

In 2006 Homebase evaluated the stockfest procedure and found there was a threefold detrimental impact on the business: 

• The secondment of staff from other stores affected the operation of the providing stores, compromising their offer and service
• The host store incurred high transport, accommodation and overtime costs of the staff being provided
• The new store staff responsibilities to assist in replenishment and merchandising, meant their familiarisation in the new store and outstanding training would be overridden

In summary Homebase required a solution to ensure the new store openings could be delivered fully merchandised and stocked in a short space of time, at a reduced cost without impacting other stores.