HMKM is designing the new concept department store for the Hyundai Department Store Group in Seoul, South Korea.
TeamPoS is ideal for retail industry software that requires expandability and compatibility. Built around international standard architecture (with PC/AT compatibility), the system allows users to upgrade functions such as processing speed simply by changing CPU boards. With TeamPoS, upgrading to a more advanced system is possible at any time. And because it's not necessary to change the software to achieve system enhancement, unnecessary expense can be avoided. The Pusang store's TeamPoS is designed to evolve and keep pace with the growth of the store itself.
TeamPoS can also be connected to various peripheral devices, including key-locking POS-type and PC-type keyboards, magnetic card readers, operator and customer displays, POS printers, scanners, and closed-circuit and radio LAN equipment. The user can combine various types of peripheral devices to achieve the desired configuration.
Best known in the UK for its vehicles offering, the Hyundai Corporation is a huge business which also counts shipbuilding, retail and chemical production among its activities.
Christian Papa, director of HMKM, says, "As with Japan, South Korea has major conglomerations, involved in everything from heavy shipbuilding to making cars and building huge department stores."
"There are ten- and 12-storey stores in every suburb. The scale of retail is incredible."
HMKM was appointed following a paid five-way competition towards the end of last year, and has been tasked with creating the new concept department store in the Lakins Mall in Il-San Kintex, Seoul, which is being designed by US architect RTKL.
The development is currently on-site and is due to open in spring 2010.
The consultancy is looking at retail planning, interior design, brand elements and wayfinding across the ten-storey, 40 000m2 store.
Papa says, "Most retail development in South Korea looks towards Japan, [but] we were briefed to challenge that with a European perspective."
The store will feature a food hall and delicatessen in the basement, and the upper floors will house cosmetics, accessories, clothing, technology, homewares, sports equipment and a sit-down dining offer.
This will culminate on the top floor with an event space, which will feature an auditorium, lecture theatre and, according to Papa, the capacity to host wedding services.
Papa says Hyundai is in negotiation to develop the roof space, and HMKM was asked to create designs for a roof garden.
The consultancy has also set up a partnership with an office in Seoul to form HMKM Korea, which will service this contract and any future work in the country.
Mr. Kim continues, "One of the great advantages of TeamPoS was the establishment of a radio POS system using radio LAN equipment. There are no cables, so it's easy to change the location of the POS system, and even change the layout of the store. The ability to change the floor layout is especially important in special event areas, where the items on sale are always changing. This can't be done without a radio POS system".
He also points out, "Thermal printers contribute greatly to a reduction in customer check-out tie when compared with conventional POS systems. In the evenings our food sections are particularly crowded, filled with customers buying food for dinner. Now they don't have to endure long waits in the checkout lanes. If it weren't for TeamPoS, I'm sure they'd have to wait in long queues". (The thermal printer used in the TeamPoS system is a high-speed unit that prints at a rate of 125 mm/second.)
Mr Kim added, "TeamPoS also reduces the burden on the cashiers. After closing time, cashiers were responsible for counting the money in the registers and sorting out the receipt slips, but now TeamPoS performs all this calculation and processing work automatically
The Seoul department store designs will be rolled out by Hyundai in its new department stores across South Korea
