Building a brand that lasts in every store | Corbis news

Building a brand that lasts in every store

by Diego Amadeo

June 29, 2023

 

To achieve consistency in a multi-site program, it becomes essential to work with processes and resources that ensure success. Here we address the most typical challenges faced by brands in managing their portfolio.

Working on standards is the first requirement for consistency in a program for brands. Standards involve not only a technical or a design definition of a model or models of stores but also a way in which projects within a program are deployed, resources are managed, and progress is reported. No matter which stores the clients visit. A great standard design allows clear brand recognition across units and markets, while a customer-oriented interior design provides a unique experience that visitors recognize and adopt as a place they know.

For McDonald’s Rollout program, we collaborated with Freiheit Architecture to deliver 140 stores, mostly remodels located on the West Coast.

To achieve this consistency in a multi-site program, it becomes essential to work with processes and resources that ensure success. Our trained team provides support backed by a tried-and-true methodology and BIM technology.

Diego Amadeo, Director of Solutions for Retail

It’s crucial to anticipate and prepare every step for successful project delivery. Through an integrated project delivery management (IPDM) approach, we can help achieve successful results in any type of project – whether it is a new store or a remodel. We do this by bringing every resource into the process early on to ensure that every detail is defined, and any problems are solved before construction begins. This helps to avoid extra costs and delays, which are always a major concern in retail projects.

No matter which stores the clients visit. A great standard design allows clear brand recognition across units and markets.

Challenges for brands to improve their portfolio management

Understanding what information about a store is relevant becomes the first step in portfolio optimization. So, every brand should work on defining that set of data (location, area, opening date, key assets, etc.).

After the standard set of information is defined, an inventory survey should take place to gather this information about every existing unit. Finally, access to this data in an easy and suitable form will provide highly valuable input for planning based on a reliable and accurate source.

Once the portfolio information is arranged in a standard form, with all the relevant data included an agile platform results in the best supplement, allowing flexible and valuable reporting. Customization of this reporting must be available to respond to changing needs or different audiences that pull their reports and analysis from the same base but with different objectives.

Moreover, technology managed by the correct team is a game changer in a multi-site program, as a competitive advantage for excellent project delivery.

Diego Amadeo, Director of Solutions for Retail

Speed, accuracy, and predictability are highly improved using technologies like BIM modeling. That allows, for example, a drastic error reduction in construction documents and easy, fast, and accurate quantity take-offs that provide the possibility of sourcing improvement and cost reduction. This includes, among many benefits, the establishment of a digital model for any brand's portfolio management base, which can be accessed at any time for future plans.

Vera is an innovative platform for managing your construction program and portfolio assets through the entire life cycle.

Build your business. We help you build everything else

For more than 20 years in the market, we have worked for many iconic brands, delivering over 1,000 domestic stores, from Quick Services Restaurants (QSR) to retail or Big Box programs. For McDonald’s Rollout program, for example, we collaborated with Freiheit Architecture to deliver 140 stores, mostly remodels located on the West Coast, in over two years of work. Every store features an average gross floor area of 4,000 sq. ft. and is all low-rise construction types.

For another world-class retail brand such as Target, we did the architectural production of 604 stores, both remodeling and new constructions, with an average gross floor area per location of 130,000 square feet. Those programs were in partnership with renowned studios, such as MG2, MBH, and Cushing Terrel.

Likewise, we worked with MG2 to produce the complete set of construction documents for several Nordstrom Rack stores during 2022. Each store averages around 35,000 square feet, and they are located throughout the States. Mod Pizza, Uniqlo, Starbucks, Sephora, Adidas, and Petco are just a few other examples of brands we have proudly worked with.

Based on a go-to-market program provided by Mod Pizza, we worked closely with the lead architect to deliver consistent set of drawings to meet the program deadlines.

Our multidisciplinary team of architects and engineers by profession and construction problem solvers by trade covers all areas of expertise to provide you with a seamless and smooth project flow.