Harvey Nichols, The Mailbox, Wharfside Street, Birmingham

The Challenge

Birmingham’s Harvey Nichols store is located at The Mailbox, just five minutes’ walk from Birmingham New Street station. This huge luxury department store stocks over 200 high-class brands selling products such as clothing and perfumes. As one of only five large-format Harvey Nichols stores in the UK, the Birmingham site is one of the flagships of the brand.

Andy Charles Flooring was the flooring contractor employed to fit the matting in the entrance to the department store. There were several requirements for the matting. Most importantly, it would have to be resistant to slips, trips and falls. This applies not just to the matting itself, but to how the matting would sit in the four matwells. There are two round pillars in the entrance to the store, and the matting would have to encircle these pillars. If the matwells were not carefully measured, it could result in loose matting or gaps which could be a trip hazard.

The matting itself would need to gather as much dirt and moisture as possible from shoppers entering from the street. If it failed to do this adequately, it could lead to the danger of people slipping on the slate floor beyond it. Due to the reputation of Harvey Nichols, the matting would also have to complement the elegant décor of the store.

The Solution

Andy Charles Flooring contacted Quantum Flooring Solutions and asked for its on-site measuring service. The unique Quantum Specialist Measuring Service (QSMS) is completely free on request. Within 48 hours Shaun Roe, one of Quantum’s surveyors, had visited Harvey Nichols and electronically measured all aspects of the matwells. These measurements were sent on to Andy Charles Flooring, and to Carpet and Flooring Birmingham, a company which supplies Quantum products to the local area.

Shaun recommended Quantum’s 17mm Connect Closed Construction Matting with textile inserts. This matting consists of a series of aluminium bases which are connected to each other with no gaps in between. This method of closed connection makes the matting sturdy and durable. Quantum Connect Matting is excellent at removing the dirt and moisture that can be brought in from outside on peoples’ shoes or on wheeled traffic. Anthracite coloured textile inserts were used to give the matting a fitting look for the entrance to such a prestigious department store.

The Outcome

Carpet and Flooring Birmingham expertly cut the matting according to the precise measurements of the QSMS system. This allowed Andy Charles Flooring’s fitters to use their specialist knowledge to fit Quantum’s matting with the minimum of material waste. The matting sits perfectly in the matwell, including around the pillars near the doorway. The anthracite coloured textile inserts are ideal for the entrance to Harvey Nichols and add to the lobby’s sophisticated design.

Quantum Flooring Solutions’ matting helps to prevent slips, trips and falls in the entrance to the Mailbox. Harvey Nichols’ staff can have peace of mind that Quantum’s Connect Matting will be helping to keep its customers safe for years to come.