Store planning

Strategic, results-driven planning and design

CGI delivers specialized store planning services that attract customers, optimize product placement and maximize sales per square foot. We help retailers strategically manage space allocation, achieve the best flow and placement of departments and products, and enhance the customer experience. Our team works closely with the buying office, merchandising, vendors and store management to ensure a smooth concept-to-delivery store planning project. We also implement cost-saving practices, including reverse auction bidding and value-engineered fixture design.

In addition to store planning, we offer the following related services:

New store opening project management

A new store opening is a big investment and project. CGI’s retail team has the experience and expertise to make it a success. Our team handles the following:

  • Coordinate initial meetings between corporate offices, architects and store personnel to confirm family of business space allocations and adjacencies
  • Manage follow-up meetings with the buying office and store teams to establish vendor adjacencies, space allocations and generic fixture requests, as well as visual fixture and collateral needs
  • Finalize budgetary guidelines, vendor copay agreements, contracts and purchase orders
  • Distribute AutoCAD location plans to vendors and approve final layouts, including visual elements, as required
  • Collaborate with construction and store personnel to develop scope of work documents, timelines and phasing plans
  • Schedule delivery of shops, generic fixtures and visual collateral to coincide with construction phasing plans
  • Provide accurate and detailed communication to all cross-functional teams throughout the project
  • Coordinate installation teams to set up shops, merchandise fixtures and place visual elements
  • Ensure vendor support is scheduled to execute according to original intent

Store/shop remodel management

When you want to remodel your store, CGI’s retail team is here to help. Through our store remodel managed services, CGI will execute your project seamlessly from beginning to end. Our team handles the following:

  • Coordinate initial meetings between corporate offices, construction and store personnel to confirm business space allocations and adjacencies
  • Develop creative floor plan options to drive sales, improve traffic and enhance the customer experience
  • Manage follow-up meetings with the buying office and store teams to establish vendor adjacencies, space allocations and generic fixture requests, as well as visual fixture and collateral needs
  • Finalize budgetary guidelines, vendor co-pay agreements, contracts and purchase orders
  • Distribute AutoCAD location plans to vendors and approve final layouts, including visual elements, as required
  • Collaborate with construction and store personnel to develop scope of work documents, timelines, and phasing plans
  • Schedule delivery of shops, generic fixtures and visual collateral to coincide with construction phasing plans
  • Provide accurate and detailed communication to all cross-functional teams throughout the project
  • Coordinate installation teams to set up shops, merchandise fixtures and place visual elements
  • Ensure vendor support is scheduled to execute according to original intent

Shop-in-shop installation

To successfully conduct shop-in-shop installations, CGI’s retail team works with the buying office and store teams to establish vendor adjacencies, space allocations and location plans for each store. After finalizing budgetary guidelines, vendor co-pay agreements, contracts and purchase orders, the team provides AutoCAD location plans to vendors, and works with vendors to ensure the final design is customer-friendly and complements the existing store environment.

Throughout this process, CGI manages all phases of delivery, including budgeting, bidding, scheduling, permitting, construction, installation, merchandising, visual execution and follow-up. Our retail team executes regional and national launches in a timely and cost-effective manner, achieving the results you desire.

Fixture procurement

With a deep understanding of the retail environment, CGI’s retail team implements and oversees the fixture procurement process, including budgets, orders, tracking, delivery and installation. To effectively procure your fixtures, we incorporate retail specific design criteria, including hang/fold capacity and flexibility, as well as visual/graphic accommodation. From there, we implement strategic sourcing initiatives, leveraging existing and potential supplier relationships. Bids, quotes and proposals are then assessed based on price, design, quality of materials and durability. We negotiate and manage purchase agreements and contracts to cover dock deliveries, sales floor deliveries and installation, as required. In carrying out these tasks, CGI partners with internal and external clients to forecast future needs and budgets to ensure client satisfaction.