McCUE DELIVERS NEW HAMLEYS TOY STORE'S £1.75m FIT-OUT IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

It is a case of 'infinity and beyond!' for a Northern Ireland company as it has just delivered the perfect 'toy story' to one of the world's most prestigious retailers.

Carrickfergus-based McCue Interior Fit-Out Solutions has delivered an early Christmas present to leading toy retailer Hamleys in time for the busiest shopping period of the year.

McCue was awarded the £1.75m contract to co-ordinate and implement the fit-out of the latest Hamleys store and warehouse in the St Enoch's Centre in Glasgow.

McCue Managing Director Les McCracken said: "The Hamleys brand is global with a reputation for excellence so naturally the company works with the best in the business when it comes to their high street presence. We are delighted to have been awarded this contract and to have very successfully delivered Hamleys' only UK store opening this year.

"Hamleys flagship London store is synonymous with magic and excitement and this has made it a must-visit destination for shoppers and tourists. Therefore, the bar was set very high in terms of fit-out standards for this particular project. We had an exacting specification to work to and are delighted to be bringing such a high quality retail outlet to Glasgow."

David Meekings, Strategic Programme Manager of The Hamleys Group said: "We chose McCue primarily through strong recommendation of previous work, and they came out top in a strict competitive tender process. We are delighted with the finished job, and the fit out of our first UK store outside of Regent Street, has been completed to a very high standard.

"McCue have been fantastic to work with, professional, supportive and continually focused on providing the highest quality shop fit environment. We pride ourselves on being a quality retailer therefore it is extremely important to ensure we choose a contractor who has the same dedication and commitment to quality - it was a perfect fit with McCue."

Against the recent industry trend, McCue has won and completed a number of high-profile contracts in 2009 with a varied client base in what has been one of the most challenging periods in the company's 55 years of trading.

McCracken adds "You don't have to look any further than the building industry to see the negative impact the economic downturn is having. We are not immune to this but we have done our best to combat the situation with a mix of clever management, a wealth of experience and skills and a competitive pricing policy without compromising on quality,"

"Our contract wins in the last quarter of 2009 have been significant totalling £8m along with a number of prospects for 2010, some of which have already converted to orders."

Notable wins for McCue in 2009 in addition to Hamleys include a number of new KFC outlets in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and England as well as 15 re-fits, Belfast's new Bengal Brassiere, DW Sports Fitness in Bangor and Milton Keynes, The Wright Venue in Dublin and Victoria Square's China Buffet King along with several Starbucks.

McCracken said: "The quality of our fit-outs regularly lead to repeat business, such is the case with China Buffet King and their latest restaurant in Dundrum. This win is yet again testament to our commitment in optimum quality of a product and service at all levels of our business."

McCue's success in 2009 is in part due to the company's strong emphasis on staff development which is rewarded by a motivated and productive workforce dedicated to the company's success.

McCue successfully achieved Investors in People standard proving their commitment to support, train and develop their workforce at all levels. This award was further enhanced when they attained Quality Assurance ISO 9001:2008 recognition which saw the company formalise a 'best practice' system of work and also implement a 'Quality Management System'.

You can find out more about McCue Interior Fit-Out Solutions by visiting www.mccuefit.com or by calling 028 9332 9000.