One of the most common regrets I hear in my conversations with retail teams is; “We just don’t know with any certainty what exists across our network of stores”. The people who are charged with executing merchandising, remodel or maintenance programs are often forced to adopt a generic solution because of a knowledge gap – the delta between what we think vs. what we know.

Measurable Savings

In dollar terms, the difference between carrying out a store specific vs. a one-size fit all project, can be dramatic. When cross-functional teams have easy access to an accurate Store Attribute Database it gives decision making better context. This translates into lower production and field labor costs on everything from branding identity programs and adding new equipment to rolling out new merchandising resets.

Speed To Market

Equipping your team with information they can trust comes with another very significant advantage – speed to market. When you have the facts associated with the conditions in the field you can act decisively. In today’s market, preempting your competition has become a critical competitive advantage against a backdrop of retail innovation occurring at a relentless pace.

Capture and Maintenance Made Easy with Cloud-based Mobile Tools

Store Attribute Databases are nothing new; they’ve been around for many years. As anyone whose managed one can tell you, they can be valuable as they are time consuming to maintain. What’s new is the ability to apply a technology solution to the challenge. The right cloud-based / mobile platform can reduce maintenance to a very manageable level. Mobile data collection features like those offered by Site-Specs™, can capture data and photos in a tailored manner, providing the foundation for a powerful Retail Attribute Database. The ability to deploy attribute audits digitally across an extensive team, throughout a broad network of stores, makes store attribute capture much more efficient than conventional email or paper based methods. Add a flexible project tracking and reporting platform and you have a powerful collaboration tool.

Results-based Store Design

There is another dimension of value that can be leveraged with the right Store Attribute Database, the ability to draw connections between sales results and field conditions / store attributes. Consider assessing layout configurations and related assets against department or overall store performance. With the right platform, retail teams can draw meaningful parallels, truly putting their execution efforts in context. Making connections with rich data means store design solutions can be better validated based on what actually works in the real world.

Mind The Gap

When considering a Store Attribute Database you may be tempted to start by assessing platform capabilities. To get the best results you should begin by evaluating the retail depth of potential partners. Mind the gap between techno prowess and true retail expertise. The options for structuring a Store Attribute Database vary broadly across the retail spectrum. The key is to work with a team that understands how to best respond to today’s needs – who and how the information will be used, as well as down stream opportunities. Choosing the right team will give you the best chance of closing the gap between what you think and what you know.