FIT-OUT COST EFFICIENCY ON STORE ROLLOUTS

When it comes to a new store rollout, the fit-out budget is always high on the list of factors that need to be considered.  To ensure you are making the most of your fit-out budget, here are some hot tips, which can be applied to any quantity of stores - but which specifically considers larger rollouts. 

1)      Material Selection

There are two aspects to consider when selecting finishes & materials for your fit-out:

-          Durability / suitability for purpose

-          Cost per sqm

Materials are one of the quickest ways to reduce fit-out costs, and when cost-cutting, this is generally the first area to be reviewed.  Ensure you review & consider the per m2 cost of all finishes specified.  When it comes to retail, hospitality & rollout brands, as a very general rule – usually over $100 per m2 is too high.  If essential to use finishes that are of a higher cost – limit the quantity used, and balance it out with more budget friendly options. 

2)      Site Selection

If you’re planning a store rollout, where possible:

-          Establish the best site size & proportion for your brand

-          Aim to lease sites that align with your ‘ideal site size’

If you can, aim to lease sites that are of similar size (even better – the same size).  That way, when it comes to both design & shopfitting, the design & construction created on one site, can be repeated for the next.  This is particularly true when it comes to kiosk-type sites (within shopping centres).

 3)      Concept Design

Any brand rollout should aim to have one concept design that can be rolled out across multiple stores.  Generally, this may be adjusted, improved and developed along the way – but, if you produce one design and roll it out across multiple stores, this should result in the following efficiencies:

-          Lower design costs (only pay for the concept once, then each site thereafter can go straight to construction drawings)

-          More efficient Shopfit costs

-          Possible cost savings on finishes (larger purchase orders)

 4)      Joinery

Following on from concept design – consistency in joinery is key to efficiency in design & construction.  For every new concept that is developed, there are also detailed construction drawings for joinery (a joinery pack).

 Aim to produce one joinery pack that can be used across all sites.  A joinery pack may include items such as: Signage details / Sales counter details / Racking, seating, tables etc… and any standard items that will be used across all sites.  In working with one standard joinery pack:

-          You will save cost in the construction drawing phase in re-using the joinery pack across multiple sites. 

-          Your shopfitter will be able to manufacture more efficiently and will be able to pass on better pricing as a result.

5)      Tender Process

Tendering documentation drawings is a standard process and is a key opportunity to ensure cost efficiencies.  Top tips for tendering:

-          Always tender to x3 shopfitters

-          Compare quotations, ensure quotes are comparable & everything is included

-          Ensure there are no PC sums, or exclusions (that may result in added extras)