Upscale British Retailer Chooses A&O Danner For 5 Shops In New England
Jack Wills Trusts A&O Danner for High-End Construction
In 2010, Jack Wills University Outfitters a British high-end clothing and accessories retailer, decided to cross the Atlantic and expand into New England. Following exhaustive due diligence and referrals, the company chose A&O Danner Companies, Inc., a builder and general contractor based in Plymouth, Mass., to build their first U.S. stores.
The first store was on the island of Nantucket, followed by upscale shops in Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard, and on trendy Newbury Street in downtown Boston. Two others were built in Connecticut, and Jack Wills is in negotiations with Danner for another Cape Cod store.
According to Steve Danner, A&O Danner’s President, “Jack Wills continues to choose us for these high-profile stores because they have been impressed with our workmanship, our work ethic, and our ability to stay on schedule and on budget despite numerous challenges. Still, each store was completed on time and within budget.”
Jack Wills’ Project Manager Clifford Sutherland said, “Thank you so much for all your hard work on these projects. Your commitment to getting the work done is something you really don't see that much in our business. I know we will work through these projects to a successful finish and I look forward to working together on many new ones.” For more information, visit www.jackwills.com
Following the successful 2010 projects, Jack Wills continued to contract with Danner who completed retail fit-ups in Greenwich and Westport, CT. While their U.S. stores usually range from 1,300 to 3,400 square feet, Newbury Street is the largest at 5,300 square feet. Construction costs for that store were about $1.2M. The five custom-built stores have a combined total of 15,000 square feet, and cost some $3M. All told, the chain operates 11 stores in the U.S.
Danner says, “There are many unique challenges when working with an international company, especially a retailer that incorporates imported antique fixtures and furnishings in order to define their brand. Also, for their U.K. stores, they prefer authentic historic buildings such as old pubs and town houses. We had to match the final look to Jack Wills’ specific brand guidelines, working on tight time schedules with many design-build variables.”
About A&O Danner
A&O Danner, a full-service General Contracting company servicing all commercial, retail, residential, historical renovation, and healthcare industries, is licensed and insured in several states. The company has completed several upscale condo renovations, upgrades and conversions, and has completed numerous first-class office buildouts. Danner says about 80% of their business comes from referrals from satisfied clients or is repeat business from past clients. For more information, visit www.aodanner.com.
SOURCE: A&O Danner Companies, Inc.