 With offices in 23 countries worldwide, ISG delivers fit-out and construction services internationally and is seeing the demands for its retail services grow, particularly across Europe and Asia. John Mawhinney, Director of International Business Development at ISG, talks to RLI about the group’s innovative and diverse range of retail projects.
ISG is the UK’s largest fit-out contractor with an enviable portfolio of clients.
The London-based group has recently completed a number of significant fit-outs including the group’s first Disney Store in Lyle, France, its first project for Apple in Hong Kong and the Louis Vuitton flagship store in Marina Bay in Singapore - an iconic store in the middle of the Marina accessed by an underwater tunnel.
ISG has also completed a selection of Hollister stores and is beginning a number of Abercrombie and Fitch flagships across Europe.
John Mawhinney, Director of International Business Development at ISG, said: “We are the largest shopfitter in the UK and that has come about through repeat business and growing relationships with clients and that’s where our strength lies.
“We have seen a lot of growth in retail; last year in the UK alone our retail turnover was circa £320 million. We are seeing the demands for our services grow in Continental Europe and in Asia and we have carried out projects for a number of significant clients.
“It is paramount that when clients go into a different country they have brand consistency. Because we have a great track record with existing clients in the UK and understand their brand, how their stores go together and how they operate, there’s a high degree of comfort and confidence in working with us when they go into new territories. We can provide the same level of service and brand consistency that we do in the UK across Europe and beyond.”
Mawhinney said ISG’s diverse workload also includes continuous programmes of work with a number of major high street banks including Lloyds TSB, Barclays, HSBC and the Halifax Building Society.
The company has also won the contract for ‘Everything, Everywhere’ - the merger of T-Mobile and Orange mobile phone providers. Mawhinney said Continental Europe, Asia and the Middle East are key areas of growth for the company.
He said: “In those regions, most of the shopping is not in high streets, it’s in malls and these are very different in the UAE – they are entertainment destinations. We are seeing a reemergence of activity in retail and there are a number of retailers, particularly in the UK, who are beginning to show a lot of interest again.”
In Asia ISG has three offices in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, UAE, Qatar, and in Europe the group has offices in Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, UK and Russia and through these offices it can cover the whole of mainland Europe.
He said: “We are well placed to serve American retailers coming into the UK and then Europe, such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister, and give them advice on the countries they wish to enter.
“One of the big stumbling blocks for retailers is the different building consent, legislation and approvals needed in each country. What we are offering clients more and more is specialist services.
For the full article, please see the November 2011 issue.
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