A curated list From grocery to fashion, home goods to restaurants, electronics to beauty, retailers look to small-format stores to adapt to ever-changing real estate, consumer shopping habits, and the “local” movement. Concept stores are nothing new for retailers. In fact, at CBSF we’ve had a hand in testing what became foundational retail concepts (Bud Morris, founder of CBSF recently …

A curated list of fast-casual restaurant design ideas that you will love. Over the past 2 years, we’ve watched the swift response as restauranteurs shifted from formal dine-in to take-out (for obvious reasons), but a few trends within the industry as a whole were almost overshadowed by the pandemic. Of course, the number of QSR brands and locations continues to …

How your retail ops team can get ahead of the production delays holding up new store builds and remodels. Is your retail ops team working on new store builds or remodels? If so, you already know the news: North America’s largest retail shelving and gondola producers are giving notice to all customers and suppliers that production backlogs are delaying delivery …

Growth through acquisitions, to discount retail, to online shopping, to home goods… this year’s list reflects clear trends. Each year the US-based National Retail Federation releases its Hot 25 Retailers list. If you’re not familiar with the NRF’s Hot 25 Retailers, compiled by Kantar, the list ranks the fastest-growing retailers with $300m+ revenue in the US, based on a percentage …

THE VAPOURS CANADA OSHAWA LOCATION – A REAL-WORLD PROJECT REVIEW. As every independent retailer knows, you have to start with what you have and grow from there. And for Vapours Canada, a leading e-cigarette retail chain with seven vape stores across Ontario, it seems that their original move into retail was only brought on by customer demand. You see, for …

Industry leaders Lozier & CASI team up to develop automated shelving and BOPIS pickup solutions. As a retailer, is BOPIS a temporary solution or a long-term customer play? Are your store operations teams simply getting by, or is it time to invest in long-term solutions that not only reduce customer wait times but also reduce staffing demands? Of course, the …

The Summerhill Market Annex Location – A real-world project review. For well over a decade, we’ve been a part of a massive shift in the Grocery shopping experience – a change that proves one thing: Shopping for everyday staples doesn’t have to be an everyday experience. And for one of our clients, Summerhill Market, they set out to show that …

3 ways retailers are taking advantage of restrictions and lockdowns. Those on the inside, working within retail ops teams understand the power of an efficient merchandising team. But those on the outside, within the other departments at a head office, or even people working within the stores often overlook just how important it is to have a responsive, detailed, and …

For independent recreational cannabis retailers, early success often lies in opening a new store fast and on a tight budget. “Retail Ready” is more than a moment in time; for independent recreational cannabis stores, it’s a mindset. But let’s take a step back – what exactly is “Retail Ready”? In short, it’s the term we coined to describe what it …

From MDF & particle board to melamine, laminate, and veneers.  From solid and engineered wood to natural and manufactured stone. Picking the right materials for your custom retail fixtures is about more than just looks. Designing and buying custom retail fixtures is not a simple decision.  As we covered in our recent Retail Fixture Buying Guide, with each retail fixture …