CWS

CWS, a national UK co-operative, decided to exit the traditional department store arm of their business in order to refocus their organisation on food retailing.  To achieve this, they engaged Gordon Brothers to help formulate and deliver a store closure and inventory clearance plan, involving 38 stores across all parts of the UK, in 4 significant exit tranches.

Gordon Brothers worked closely with management to formulate a strategy that resulted in an orderly wind-down of department store operations.  This involved taking responsibility for managing the promotional closure sales, including an £11m supplementary merchandise augmentation programme incorporating all sourcing and purchasing, that enabled the timing of store closures to tie in with previously agreed property transactions.  This provided an enhanced customer offer throughout the closure trading period and resulted in a significant overall increase in revenues for the Client.

As part of this process, Gordon Brothers created high-impact macro- and micro-marketing campaigns to drive footfall and derived further value through the sale of fixtures and fittings, once all merchandise was sold.  All activities undertaken by Gordon Brothers were underpinned by a financial guarantee, (agreed with the Client up front), providing peace of mind and enabling them to focus their attention on implementing their new strategy for their food business.

Gordon Brothers provided a tailored solution to ensure maximum value was extracted from both store and inventory disposition.  This allowed management to direct their attention and effort towards other parts of the business with the confidence that Gordon Brothers were able to deliver the required results.  Success achieved with this Client has resulted in a successful ongoing relationship which has lasted over 9 years.

John Forrest, Head of Non-Food for CWS, said, “Gordon Brothers conducted an extremely professional, commercially focussed and dignified trade-out of the non-food estate. They increased sales exponentially and, importantly, maintained excellent operational and service standards throughout the process. Their management of the additional merchandise intake – and the subsequent profit-share arrangement with us - proved a very lucrative enhancement.”