Freshening up DIY’s biggest selling product…paint!

Overview

RMS recently completed a UK wide rollout for a paint range change across over 100 stores for one of the UK’s largest DIY retailers, with the last store completed just before Christmas 2022. 

The aim of the project was to implement a new layout and range of paint products across the stores to improve the customer experience and enhance the product offering. This was a huge project because for any DIY retailer, paint is one of the biggest selling products, so it was important to get right across each of the stores we supported, whilst ensuring all products remained on sale at all times.

RMS supported the project from start to finish with:

 

  • Pre programme planning activity
  • On site project management
  • Racking and shelving installation 
  • Temporary racking installation in most stores to ensure all product remained on sale
  • Display installation
  • Planogram and shop floor relocation changes 
  • Merchandising of stock to fixtures
  • Daily store audits and reports

 

We deployed a skilled team of merchandisers and installers to complete the range change across the stores.

Approach 

Planning commenced well in advance of the project to ensure we had every last detail nailed down before going into the first stores.

In order to prepare for the paint range change, it required redesigning and resizing the decor areas in 16 stores. This was carried out to give more space to the forthcoming range change for the paint project.

We then undertook work in 2 pilot stores to view and understand how the work could be completed most efficiently enabling us to steer and ultimately support the rollout across the other stores. Then it was time to finalise the phasing and planning for the forthcoming stores that would be completed during the main rollout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Challenges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a significant sized project in terms of display changes, installation and merchandising, with each store having a very large section of floor space allocated to paint products. Store implementation ranged from 5 nights up to 15 nights, with our teams working from Sunday Night - Thursday Night.

There were many elements of the range change to get exactly right such as the equipment and displays being changed and moved in the right sequencing order and changes in product lines, with new products being added and some being discontinued. Any operational challenges were dealt with quickly by the central project and logistic teams here at RMS to keep the project running smoothly. 

In addition, as we were mainly reusing existing equipment to minimise the requirement for new equipment to be sent into stores, this added complexity to the planning and phasing when moving uprights and other integrated displays from one aisle to another.

Conclusion 

The final outcome for the client was a full range change to the paint department in stores, giving the range a new look and feel to optimise the customer experience and sales opportunities.

“Paint has been a huge project that has required a real team effort across the RMS project management team in the office and the all-important implementation teams out in store. The standards delivered have been fantastic and showcase exactly what RMS are all about – working closely with our client to create excellent and on time project delivery.”

Mark Cockram, Project Manager.

“This project for me, was all about bringing everyone together for successful store transformation: the client, project managers, logistics team, operations team and the installation teams who are in store making the magic happen.

It was critical to meet and exceed expectations, all whilst being super agile if we hit any challenges throughout the project to allow us to respond quickly and effectively to keep things running smoothly.”

Stephen Bodle, Business Relationship Manager.