property
There are essentially three core and distinct functions within property for Claire's - Real Estate, Construction and Property Services. And whilst each is quite separate, by virtue of the way our business operates they have strong links with each other.
Real Estate. We work closely with our external property agents, drawing on their knowledge of the retail markets alongside their understanding of Claire's and our needs. Whether it's reviewing lease renewals, re-site or re-fits, or sourcing new locations, it's an extremely slick operation. One which involves working closely with virtually every other department in the business via a system of weekly real estate meetings.
Construction. Once our Heads of Terms are agreed, we instruct architects to carry out a survey of the location and draw up plans for the store build. The construction process will take on average 6-8 weeks which is an exceptionally fast operation and the envy of many retailers. Refits are only completed during non-critical trading periods so the pressure is on to complete the refit programme in as short a time as possible, with 5-6 projects on site and 30-40 projects being managed at any one time. Coping with pressure and multi-tasking is a prerequisite of working in our team!
Property Services. Once the store is handed over to this team, it essentially stays with them until the store is either disposed of or refitted. There are two types of maintenance managed by property services, planned maintenance and proactive maintenance. Claire's has a legal obligation to ensure our store environments are safe and secure and this is done by making sure all electrical installations and the store shop-fits are in excellent condition at all times. And with the team handling over a hundred calls a week, there's never a dull moment.
