Retail portfolio strategy for an international fashion brand

The client commissioned DI Experts to align strategy and processes in retail portfolio management worldwide and to establish a consistent framework for all relevant decisions.

Before the project began, there was no globally standardized process for managing the branch network. Decisions on location openings, closures, relocations and conversions were made on a decentralized basis without clear role and responsibility models, which led to inconsistent processes and increased costs.

DI Experts moderated several workshops in which the existing decision-making processes along all retail locations were analyzed. DI Experts systematically assigned process gaps to the areas of real estate management, architecture, merchandising and visual merchandising. DI Experts then used the findings to develop a global framework with defined roles, responsibilities and escalation mechanisms, which serves as the basis for all portfolio decisions.

With the new process, location decisions can now be made in a structured and transparent manner. At selected locations, the standardized approach led to a reduction in rental costs of up to 15 percent, maintenance and repair costs fell by around 30 percent and space productivity increased by around 14 percent.