National Recolor Project of 135 Stores

CASE STUDY

A retailer had a recolor project that needed to be completed in 135 of their stores across the country. The material specified by the visual department required three coats. The project needed to be completed within a firm ten day window.

Scope
The scope of work needed to execute this National Recolor Project included:

1. Completing site survey to establish scope of work to be completed
2. Covering and protecting surfaces not to be painted
3. Patching and painting walls as designated by scope of work
4. Complete project overnight, returning store to “ready for business” by 9 AM
   

Challenges
The constraints of this project included:

1. Project needed to be completed in ten days
2. Paint material specified selected required 3 coats
3. Store personnel would need one hour at close and another hour before open to re-merchandise store, limiting number of work hours for paint crew

Solution
We understood that this project was going to be fast paced and to execute it properly, we were going need to establish a specific set of instructions for each team to follow. The time constraints created a need for multiple project coordinators. Our plan to develop a process to project included:

1. Collaboration with visual department and store managers to understand their goals, concerns and constraints regarding the project
2. Submittal of alternate material that would cut project down from 3 coats to 2 coats, eliminating a second day on each location and saving time and money. This improvement in material specification was approved by visual department.
3. Collaboration with each painting crew to develop a schedule as well as a step by step checklist to execute the project properly
4. Execute the first location with someone from our Management Team on-site to look for any potential breakdowns that could occur
5. Finalize the process
6. Schedule projects with all store managers and mall managers
7. Email photos per our checklist ensuring that standards were met
8. Call each store the morning after the project was executed, verifying that the project was completed up to standard and that the store was left in the proper condition
   

Summary
Specifications are to be followed, without variance. When opportunities arise where the specification can be improved upon, we believe in following the proper protocol in making a recommendation. Had the visual department not approved the submittal, we would have completed the 2 day, 3 coat project as designed. Ultimately, the project was completed successfully in nine days.