Kingfisher PLC's U.K. home improvement business B&Q is in talks with 700 employees whose jobs will be affected by a revamp of its sales processes, Retail Gazette reported June 8, citing a company official.
The company is simplifying its sale of kitchens and bathrooms so that customers need to interact with only one member of staff, speeding up the time from design to delivery, the report said.
B&Q is also ceasing its installation services beginning in December as 90% of the customers prefer to choose their own fitters. As a result, 300 Homefit service providers across 14 B&Q locations will be affected, Retail Gazette said.
The other 400 affected employees represent its in-store design arm, according to the publication.
"We recognize this is a difficult time for those employees who are affected, and we are supporting them in a number of ways," Paul Crisp, B&Q retail director, was quoted as saying. The report did not say what those ways were.
B&Q added that the overhauled service would create 400 new jobs.
