B&Q
Overview
RMS was appointed to deliver the complete transformation of a former Homebase store into a brand new B&Q store in Harringay, North London.
Located at Arena Shopping Park in Finsbury Park, the 51,000 sq ft site was handed over as an empty unit following the closure of the previous retailer. Within a 12 week programme, RMS completed a full store build and converted the space into a fully operational B&Q store, ready to serve the local community.
The new store employs 64 colleagues and offers over 10,000 products in store, alongside timber cutting, Valspar paint mixing, a garden centre and rapid Click + Collect services.
Our Approach
RMS managed the full store build from an empty shell to finished retail space, carefully coordinating project management, logistics, installation and merchandising within the constraints of a central London location.
With an average of 40 RMS team members on site each day, split between installation and merchandising, our teams worked in parallel to maintain programme momentum.
Dedicated on site project management ensured tight coordination of equipment, staff and deliveries, keeping the 12 week schedule on track.
The store was empty at handover, allowing RMS to manage the complete transformation and store build, including heavy duty racking installation, department fitout and garden centre installation.
By controlling logistics and kit management, ensuring the right equipment was in the right place at the right time, RMS could ensure everything was ready for installation as and when needed to keep the project on track.
Key Tasks Delivered
RMS delivered a full turnkey solution, including:
- Full internal store build from an empty shell
- Heavy duty racking and shelving installation
- Back of house and warehouse fitout
- Equipment coordination and delivery management
- Shopfloor merchandising across all departments
- Garden centre installation
- Signage and category implementation
- Safety, quality and compliance inspections
- Final compliance checks and handover support
Our integrated installation and merchandising team allowed departments to be built, stocked and signed off efficiently, reducing downtime and maximising productivity.
Challenges
Delivering a retail transformation in central London presented logistical complexities.
The site was subject to:
- Strict noise restrictions
- Limited delivery and access windows
- Parking constraints for workforce and suppliers
- High surrounding retail footfall
Careful planning and structured delivery scheduling were critical. Our team coordinated all equipment and material movements precisely, ensuring compliance with local restrictions while maintaining programme pace.
Result
The completed B&Q Harringay store stands as a modern, fully merchandised retail environment, delivered on time and ready to trade.
The project demonstrates RMS’ ability to manage complex retail conversions at scale by transforming empty units into fully operational stores through disciplined project management, coordinated installation and expert merchandising.
This project demonstrates RMS’ capability to deliver a full retail transformation on schedule, whilst efficiently coordinating installation, merchandising and logistics in a complex, urban environment.
