Rolling Out New Retail Concepts Across Chain Outlets Efficiently

1 Introduction
2 Retail concepts that may aid the situation
3 Design partners
4 Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

[edit] Introduction

Ringing in new concepts may produce fanfare among certain quarters and is bound to face a healthy snort of scepticism in others. And for good reason. Change is not always easy. Large retail chains, most of which have been working fairly well on the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ mantra, must nevertheless adapt to changing times, circumstances and processes.

A series of unfortunate events, though different in nature from the ‘Lemony Snicket’ story but similarly tragic in intensity, has rocked the retail world – large-scale consumer data breaches, bankruptcies and a dollar-shredding pandemic. Retail store design must evolve.

Fortunately, every cloud of doom has a silver lining, and BIM (Building Information Modelling) technology provides a fine foil, enabling 3D BIM modelling to help create accurate retail design drawings and other necessary 3D architectural visualisation services. These BIM modelling services will help to roll out new retail concepts across chain outlets efficiently.

[edit] Retail concepts that may aid the situation

[edit] Focus on sustainability

Retail giants are promoting sustainability in retail design, with sporting goods firms taking the lead by:

Using refurbished items and recycling damaged material for interiors to reduce waste.
Luxury companies worldwide increasing the drive to reuse, recycle and repair equipment and furniture in retail design.
Increasing the use of easily biodegradable materials.
Designing outlets to maximise the use of natural light and minimise power consumption.

[edit] Downsizing

Large retail chains are trying to use minimal space while utilising technological advances to aid customer services and optimise product placement.

A global furniture chain, sporting goods giants and famous book stores are investing in small format stores.
Localised products, an intimate ambience and the use of mobile technology for browsing and purchasing are some of the features.
Services offered include product reserving and in-store pick-up lockers rather than extensive in-store displays.
Furniture retailers are showing furniture in house-shaped rooms of a single-home layout.
With reduced floor space, retailers are increasing experiential in-store services.
Large independent department stores are shrinking their physical size to fit into malls.

[edit] Expanding retail services

A more personalised consumer experience is something retailers are striving to achieve.

Employees of large supermarkets have in-store apps that enable the ordering of and payment for items on its website by customers in the physical store.
Large retain chain stores are using native digital stores and their models to entice shoppers.

[edit] Incorporating technological features

Retailers want to use modern technological advances in their outlets to enhance their consumers’ convenience:

Fashion retail giants display one clothing item on a hanger and use multiple touchscreens to view the entire range of products, of every size and colour.
On selection of a specific item, the screen guides the shopper to a dressing room, where a store employee brings the item to the shopper via a wardrobe that opens in the front and the back and can be controlled by a touchscreen in the dressing room to try different items without walking out.
Department store customers can return any item purchased from any of its stores, both digital and physical, at a physical store, and they can register their returns on a screen before placing it in a designated box.

[edit] Design partners

As there are a range of new retail concepts that can be introduced to chain outlets, retailers will need a reliable design partner to provide detailed design and drafting services that adhere to customised branding and design guidelines. The design partner must understand client needs thoroughly and have experience in the requisite technical software.

Retailers require accurate branding, seamless communication and strict adherence to style guidelines, all of which can be detailed and complex. Some of the services retailers will need include:

Space planning design.
Interior design.
Elevations.
Store refurbishing drawings.
Modified designs after updating with the new concept’s design guidelines.
Design and detailing of the new concepts in the store.

Using BIM technology helps designers create detailed 3D models to plan how to incorporate new concepts into either an existing design or as part of a new design:

Retailers, architects and designers can create designs of a new concept in a collaborative space.
Easy modifications during any design stage.
When new values are added to existing parametric values, corresponding changes are made automatically throughout the project.
Initial data can be sized up, creating servicing schedules, with manufacturing dates, maintenance schedules and developing installation data.
Materials and components are automatically calculated based on design and schedules, reducing waste from human error.
Required 3D views can be created from the main model.
The merging of 3D views and standard 2D plans and elevations, allowing flexibility.
Project progress can be tracked at any time and changes, even at the last minute, can be incorporated.