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News Release from: EC Harris | Subject: B and Q Hong Kong
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 04 November 2005
EC Harris helps launch B and Q Hong Kong
EC Harris is playing a major role in the opening of B and Q Asia's first-ever store aimed at the home improvement market in Hong Kong.
EC Harris is playing a major role in the opening of B and Q Asia's first-ever store aimed at the home improvement market in Hong Kong The international consultancy has been appointed as project and cost managers on the 120,000 square feet concept store which is part of Hong Kong Developer Kerry Properties' MegaBox Development
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 21 Jan 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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The site, which is due for completion in the fourth quarter of 2006, boasts 1.1 million square feet of retail space and B and Q are currently the largest tenant on the site.
In addition, EC Harris helped B and Q and Kerry Properties agree the technical aspects of the lease on the two-floor store.
B and Q Asia is part of the Kingfisher Group - the world's third-largest home improvement retailer - and already has 600 stores worldwide and 50 stores in China.
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The two floor store in Hong Kong - which will be linked by a travelator - will offer products ranging from hardware to soft furnishings including ceramic tiles, floor and ceiling materials, lighting, doors and windows, kitchen appliances and bathroom suites.
The store will also feature a paint mixing area where customers will be able to make use of a computer assisted paint machine to match any colour.
Potential customers for the store include homeowners, tenants, interior decorator, contractors, property developers, building management agencies and hotels.
Andrew Macpherson, Partner for EC Harris in Hong Kong, said: "This is a new concept for Hong Kong.
Unlike in Europe, homeowners in Hong Kong generally do not have the time or inclination to do their own DIY.
In Hong Kong, builders or interior decorators are usually approached to carry out home improvements on a design and build basis.
Where homeowners prefer to select and purchase their own materials, at present this invariably means time consuming trips to various small speciality shops selling a limited range of products.
The aim of this store is to become a one-stop shop for all DIY equipment and building materials.
What we could see is the customer coming to the store with their builder or interior designer to buy everything they need from under one roof.
Another unique concept is the 'In-house Design Centre' where customers can seek specialist advice in the store.
"The store includes samples of many of its products from paints to shower heads to increase the customer interaction and help develop its reputation as a one-stop DIY shop".
London based design consultancy, Astound - who have worked with clients such as Tesco and 3M - were appointed to create the distinctive format of the new B and Q store.
Kingfisher is Europe's leading home improvement retail group and the third largest in the world, with leading market positions in the UK, France, Poland, Italy, China and Taiwan.
Kingfisher operates over 600 stores in ten countries in Europe and Asia and also has strategic alliance with Hornbach, Germany's leading DIY warehouse retailer, which operates 117 stores in Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Sweden and the Czech Republic.
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