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| Chubb will handle the service of both fire and security equipment for the stores nationwide |
Chubb Fire & Security UK has been named the preferred supplier for the installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) and intruder alarm systems for shoe manufacturer and retailer Hotter Comfort Concept. The company will also handle the service and maintenance of both fire and security equipment for the stores nationwide. Chubb, a leading provider of electronic security and fire safety solutions for business and industry, is part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp.
Hotter Comfort Concept is the UK’s leading shoe-maker, selling quality branded footwear direct through an onsite call centre and through independent retailers. Eighteen months ago, the company embarked on a retail expansion programme to add to its five stores, says Ian Stonehouse, national account manager, Chubb.
“The joint fire and security contract covers all of Hotter’s 25 existing retail sites, as well as any new stores that open in the future,” Ian says. “Whilst it was initially a security-led contract for the installation and maintenance of CCTV and intruder alarm systems, it has been extended to include the maintenance of fire alarms and emergency lighting, and the supply and maintenance of portable fire fighting equipment. Now Chubb is offering Hotter a comprehensive package of fire and security services.”
Established in 1959, Hotter Comfort Concept makes one in every three pairs of shoes in the UK and produced a record 1.3 million pairs of shoes in 2011. Ian Laws, retail operations manager, Hotter, says that the company has worked with Chubb for more than seven years on other contracts:
“Since moving to Chubb, we have definitely noticed a superior degree of efficiency in the way that our account is managed,” he says. “We are a large business, and we rely on Chubb’s national network to support our fire and security requirements.
Ian has been impressed by the level of support that Chubb has provided to date:“Chubb has been very flexible and accommodated practically everything that we have requested of them,” he says. “The service and maintenance part of the contract has been particularly well-managed, and anything that we have highlighted in the way of repairs or upgrades has been dealt with smoothly and efficiently by Chubb.
“Furthermore, having one central point of contact at Chubb, Ian Stonehouse, works very well for us and allows me to make the best use of my time. If there is an issue, I just contact Ian and he solves it.”
Chubb’s CCTV systems are an effective deterrent against crime, utilising the latest digital technology to monitor access to secure areas and to detect unauthorised activity, such as theft, criminal damage and trespassing. Similarly, Chubb’s intruder alarms detect incidents of forced entry and unauthorised access, and generate an effective response in the event of an alarm activation.
“We use a portal site that enables all key-holders to access the system and monitor what is going on at each of our stores simultaneously, which is a very useful tool and makes the whole process much easier to manage,” Ian says.
