Market Sector： Retail Programs

Australian fashion brands are opening more U.S. stores & distribution centers

Modern Retail’s Julia Waldow spoke with Melissa Gonzalez about Australian brands such as Bared Footwear, Princess Polly, Camilla and Outcast Clothing expanding into the U.S. Women’s brand Outcast Clothing, for example, does not yet have a physical store in the U.S., but sells its merchandise online and has been experimenting with pop-up stores. “Pop-ups like Outcast Clothing’s can be a great way for brands to dip their toes into new markets like the U.S.”

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The Home Depot

The Home Depot, the largest home improvement retailer in the United States, recognized the need for an innovative, efficient, and sustainable approach to their store rollouts nationwide after a decade of construction dormancy. The company sought a partnership with a firm that would not only elevate the customer experience in their stores but design and manage a rollout program tailored to save the brand money and time as it continued to grow.

Tackling Retail Expansion with Data-Driven Design

It faced the challenge of overhauling and transforming its development program to build new stores quickly and efficiently while also easing the burden on its administration staff.

Together in its new strategic partnership with MG2, which provides the brand expertise in cost management, entitlements, and full-scale program design and delivery services, the companies aimed to reduce The Home Depot’s new build construction schedule by 30%, as well as achieve a number of other goals including determining the right construction methods, implementing sustainable solutions, and appealing to communities and jurisdictions alike.

Using Data Analysis To Guide Construction Methodologies

To determine the most suitable construction method and location for The Home Depot’s new stores, MG2 conducted a series of data-driven site analyses comparing pre-engineered metal buildings (PEMBs) against concrete tilt-ups. These analyses, which took into account and outlined each option’s proven advantages and potential volatilities, revealed significant benefits in choosing Houston, TX, as its new location and supported the brand’s decision to invest in a PEMB for its warehouse.

Streamlining Designs for Efficiency and Innovation

With a data-driven road map established, designers at MG2 began by creating and validating an in-depth prototype. Through this process, the team confirmed the potential to transform and streamline The Home Depot’s development and build process. With MG2’s holistic approach, the home improvement leader has been able to remain virtually hands-off, overseeing the projects from a high-level perspective without handling the day-to-day tasks.

As the partnership continues to grow, MG2 continuously targets efficiencies to deliver a greater return on investment for The Home Depot. Beyond cost and speed-to-market optimizations, the resulting store designs offered customers a cleaner, friendlier, and lighter interior experience. Updated wayfinding and educational initiatives further empowered The Home Depot’s clientele in their home improvement endeavors.

Cost Savings and Elevated Experiences through Data-Driven Decisions

MG2’s data-driven site analyses played a crucial role in The Home Depot’s decision to invest in a pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) for their new Houston, Texas location and will continue to play an important part in determining the locations and construction methodologies of future stores. Despite initial higher material costs, the accelerated construction schedule of the PEMB warehouse led to overall savings of 0.7% to 3.2% for the year. In addition to its sustainability benefits—which appeal particularly to urban jurisdictions—the PEMB offers numerous advantages, including:

  1. A faster construction schedule: 130 days, compared to 190 days for a concrete building.
  2. Better insulation: An R-value of 21.6, compared to 17.3 for a concrete structure.
  3. Energy cost savings: 5% to 9% over a 60-year lifecycle, depending on the region.
  4. Greater quality control: Unlike concrete, PEMBs can be erected in nearly any weather.
  5. Smaller environmental footprint: Less maintenance and fewer repairs over time, with a more durable metal roof.

Shaping the Future of Home Improvement Retail

Leveraging combined expertise, MG2 and The Home Depot have effectively developed innovative, efficient, and cost-conscious solutions that align with the brand’s rollout objectives. The PEMB warehouse in Houston, Texas, showcases the partnership’s achievements and underscores the importance of data-driven program design in the evolution of retail spaces.

As the collaboration continues, both companies aim to further transform the home improvement retail landscape, providing enhanced value and experiences to customers across the nation.

Costco Wholesale Santa Fe

Costco Santa Fe Mexico City

A community-oriented haven blending retail and recreation

Parque La Mexicana is a 70-acre urban green space centrally located in the Santa Fe neighborhood of Mexico City. The area is home to over 5,000 trees, two lakes, a skatepark, an amphitheater, playgrounds, a dog park, bike paths, a running track, restaurants, and so much more. This award-winning, one-of-a-kind park is designed to be financially self-sufficient, strategically partnering with retailers as an integral part of its business plan.

When Costco Wholesale, which sought to take up residence in the Santa Fe district, became one of those retail partners, the company collaborated closely with MG2, the community, city, and the park itself to ensure the aesthetic and functional unity of Costco’s built environments into the existing landscapes, resources, and sustainable operations. In addition to hurdles presented by the site’s environment, teams faced the incredible challenge of virtually hiding the entirety of Costco’s massive warehouse, parking structure, and loading bays from public view. 

The resulting structures are, arguably, one of the most sustainable, beautifully designed Costco Wholesale developments in the world.

Strategic Value Engineering

Constructed on a former landfill site, Costco Santa Fe’s location also resides in a high-seismic area in Mexico City, creating soil variables and structure risks. In order to mitigate both challenges, designers implemented the use of piles and a pre-engineered metal building, which simultaneously reduced overall cost and contributed to its LEED-ready design.

Hiding a Costco in Plain Sight

To achieve this feat, designers worked to physically and operationally integrate Costco’s structures with the surrounding park, further going above and beyond by matching—or exceeding—the park and the city’s sustainability standards. 

With just one side of the building fully exposed to the public, the remaining three are strategically hidden from view, blended into the existing landscape. “Montanitas”, or tall berms covered in native plants, trees, and grasses work double duty to camouflage the warehouse exteriors while minimizing the irrigation and water usage required to allow them to flourish. Green facade screens with native crawling vegetation planted at its base as well as cascading down from the roof above will grow over time to further obscure the warehouse and parking structure’s appearance.

A Green Roof Unlike Any Other

The warehouse’s 144,522 sq/ft metal deck high-performance green roof—three times bigger than any other landscaped space for a Costco in Mexico—was meticulously curated with thousands of native plants and grasses spanning 10 varieties, each reviewed and approved by local environmental agencies. In partnership with Secretaria de Medio Ambiente, insect “hotels” have also been installed, further nurturing nearby flora.

The roof was custom engineered to collect and transport stormwater runoff to the park for landscape amenities such as fountains and ponds. Unique waterproofing and leak-detection systems were also developed to ensure the facility’s rainwater accumulation and operations function correctly and prevent water from seeping through the membrane. 

Due to the roof’s green-centric design, the installation of standard HVAC systems required customization. Just one block of machinery lives atop the building, while additional mechanics, including air handling units designed to chill the warehouse with cold water, reside underneath.

 

Seamless Integration with Community & Recreation

Atop the parking structure: a veritable playground for city residents and visitors, purposely designed with sustainability, wellness, and community in mind, and seamlessly blended into the existing Parque Mexicana beyond. Carefully configured, a fútbol field, padel court, and hybrid basketball/volleyball courts sweep across the roof, while a pedestrian bridge extends the existing jogging path, looping it back into the park. 

Adjacently overhead Costco’s receiving area lies a beginner’s roller skate park, designed for children, to get the hang of basics before graduating to more advanced terrain.

The one-of-a-kind design, solidifying the concealment of the Costco warehouse, parking structure, and loading bays, unifies the amenities’ connections to the established park experience while offering a new array of spaces for the community and visitors alike to enjoy.

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消费者体验

灿烂的地球

jewelry-show-room-brilliant-earth-mg2-design

Approachable luxury

Since 2005, Brilliant Earth has offered the world ethically sourced, award-winning fine jewelry through its elevated web-based platform and personalized appointment-only showrooms. When the digitally-native company sought to expand its brick-and-mortar portfolio with open retail spaces, they partnered with MG2 to seamlessly translate the spirit of their digital brand and unique offerings into a real-world experience.

Like its jewelry, the retail design and rollout program for Brilliant Earth’s new showrooms was curated with thoughtful craftsmanship in every production phase. Previously, all the brand’s in-person experiences were appointment-only, with most of their spaces hidden away from window-shopping consumers on the upper floors of retail centers.

Utilizing a light, luminous, bright, and warm palette that reflected its online presence, MG2 designers brought an approachable luxury to Brilliant Earth’s new showroom experience. This new iteration of the store—the first of its kind for Brilliant Earth—brings an inviting, interactive, and educational retail experience into the brand’s program, diversifying its real estate potential with more premium, ground-level spaces, increasing awareness and engagement.

Brilliant Earth_Brooklyn

From planning to fixture design, the team boldly broke many industry barriers often seen in jewelry, such as the traditional horseshoe-shaped counters that often act as barriers.

Instead, in a direct reflection of the brand’s unique educational approach to the diamond shopping experience, MG2 designed a fixture package program that flexes and scales with each new space; a customizable kit-of-parts that can fit any format.

An entry kiosk once used to check customers in for their appointments evolved into a multi-functional digital tool. Now used to assist shoppers in industry and diamond education, the sizing of rings, and the check-out process, it’s a feature that further underlines the seamless integration of Brilliant Earth’s digital and physical offerings.

Caseline throughout the store is designed like furniture; display cases float lightly in the space, while round consultation tables equalize the service experience. This highly customized design and rollout program was achieved without raising the cost of construction for Brilliant Earth.

Brilliant Earth_Brooklyn

The Brooklyn location of Brilliant Earth represents a step forward for the brand while still adhering to the same kit of parts utilized in their other showrooms. Its unique building in Williamsburg features a vaulted ceiling and exposed brick, giving the space a larger and more roomy feel. This has granted merchandising room to grow, expanding the brand’s retail offering with six cases, an additional appointment station, and a more retail-focused reception area. With an emphasis on showcasing its fine jewelry products, this evolution in Brilliant Earth’s showroom design successfully balances its minimalist roots with an elevated, flexible retail agenda.

Similarly distinctive in its design hurdles and opportunities, Brilliant Earth’s King of Prussia showroom location—situated within a mall with limited egress and no natural light—presented unique challenges for the team to overcome. To bring the space to life, designers reprioritized the showroom’s configuration, eliminating the need for glazing, and added greater visual impact by utilizing large format graphics, wall casework, and incorporating merchandising above the cases. The warm and inviting retail story is solidified through the incorporation of recessed lighting, plush sofa seating, and education-centric pedestals at the front of the space.

The showroom’s private appointment stations were strategically relocated to the back of the space, providing guests with greater privacy while maximizing the overall flexibility of the design. By utilizing the same kit of parts as its other showrooms while adding new elements that reflect the brand, designers ensured that Brilliant Earth’s iconic bright and light personality prevailed within the confines of the darkened shopping center.

With each showroom brought to life across the country, this global leader in ethically sourced fine jewelry continues to seamlessly preserve its online identity while defining new retail experiences for its consumers, each with its own unique flair.

Costco Wholesale Asia

The secrets to a successful global expansion

When industry leader 开市客 sought expansion overseas, there were numerous nuanced considerations—culture, capacity, jurisdictional requirements, materials, cost, timeframes, structure variants, building codes, and beyond—that Costco needed to consider in order to ensure their debut in Asia would be an outright success. They employed long-time partner MG2 to help them tackle these challenges and provide a localized, reliable, inherently “Costco Wholesale” experience for new consumer bases across multiple countries.

Taking up residence in urban areas experiencing explosive population growth, real estate and structure footprint are major considerations with each Costco Wholesale designed and built in Asia. The employment of multilevel retail warehouses—a more common practice overseas than here in the United States—provide spatial solutions, but still require careful programming and custom resolutions that designers consider and tailor to each unique location.

虽然在美国的批发零售商那里购物是独一无二的，但在日本，中国，台湾和韩国这样的国家（在Costco Wholesale里度过一天可以成为目的地的家庭），体验可能会不同且新颖。范围的事件。 Costco和MG2团队认真分析并记录了每个地点的购物习惯，并考虑了容量控制，文化规范和社区偏好等变化。部门的设计旨在在商店内部进行调整，以适应地区口味，例如日本强大的寿司部门。

即使是脚印和集成技术也已本地化（移动坡道，电梯，增加停车位等等），可以确保熟悉的客户流和提升的用户体验，而这已成为一种非常流行的购物体验。

凭借我们对Costco项目知识的广度和深度以及数十年来与国家/地区经理的合作，MG2不断为特殊挑战（例如在开业后增加新部门）提供即时解决方案。根据每个地点的独特设计要求，我们的团队已与Costco Wholesale运营部门紧密合作，就每种结构的需求进行了标准化，以充分利用空间。除了简化我们的流程外，MG2还能够控制因国家/地区而异的软成本，从而确保没有任何项目超出预算。

我们的共生关系一直持续到今天，我们最新的项目利用突破性技术（例如VR演练）让高管在新地点开业之前查看楼层。随着Costco Wholesale在中国和其他地区的扩张计划不断壮大，MG2的设计不断突破界限，并彻底改变了亚洲的批发购物体验。

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开市客

Costco Wholesale has partnered with MG2 for over 30 years.
Costco Wholesale Santa Fe La Mexicana by MG2

与全球零售业巨头的长期合作

30多年前，我们与开市客（Costco Wholesale）的合作始于一个仓储式建筑。彼时，这个今日仓储零售业的引领者正忙于在广阔的乡村和郊区扎下根基。不过，随着该品牌越来越受欢迎，其业务范围扩展到城市社区，这为项目开发带来了更大的挑战和更多的限制条件。同时，开市客开始大胆地拓展产品范围，提供包括光学和听力中心、药房、加油站和新鲜优质的肉类、熟食和海鲜等各种产品和服务。随着项目相关的规范变得愈加复杂、要求愈发严格，需要有富有创意的设计方案加以应对，也需要一个了解他们的目标、赞同他们的价值观并有意与他们共同成长的敬业的合作伙伴，而他们的选择是MG2。

三十多年的发展，开市客在全球拥有了超过780个门店，MG2则是其延续至今的合作伙伴。我们之间的合作关系不论是在人员方面还是在专业层面都得到了发展提升。我们共同努力，优化建筑设计和交付、成本管理、授权服务、建筑资产管理和项目管理方面的组织效率。 MG2对开市客的需求会做预测，与其共同发展，随着时间的推移不断提升项目完成的速度和一致性。

Costco仓库：路易斯安那州新奥尔良（图片来源：George Kuchler）

通过与MG2作为计划合作伙伴，Costco Wholesale通过创建和维护优化部署中的铂金标准来树立标杆： 从施工开始到向会员敞开大门仅需110天。 他们的“高质量，最优惠价格”的建筑设计方法（也反映在他们的产品和客户服务中）是Costco Wholesale品牌承诺的固有组成部分。 

MG2每个月都会对开市客仓储建筑的原型设计进行更新变动，寻求创新方法实现升级和概念改进，同时保留敏捷的开发速度和高质量标准。

我们的合作关系超越了MG2所提供的资源深度和服务广度；我们与开市客的团队之间有着默契共识，共同推动这一广为人知的零售业巨轮不断前行。我们共同创造现代、清洁、安全且符合开市客交付质量标准的现代工业时代的零售环境。我们共同应对无数新的挑战，在携手同行中一次次从看似不可能的机遇中找到问题的解决方案。 

在此过程中，我们对开市客的项目设计进行了优化，让其得以获取每年数以百万计的业务收益，同时继续帮助他们不断发展，拓展全球新的消费市场。

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Nordstrom Rack百货

任务驱动型设计的新发展

如今顾客逛商场期望能享受简单有趣而富有个性化的购物之旅。为了满足这一不断增长的需求，Nordstrom向MG2寻求咨询建议，对我们的团队而言也是一项挑战，要求我们为其Nordstrom Rack各个门店提供富有创意和灵活性的“未来百货店”的概念方案。 

最终的设计方案为Nordstrom呈现出可信赖的新方案和优雅而大气的细节设计，包括具有冲击力的店内图示、标牌和凸显商品陈列的零售装置。MG2还设计了性别中立的试衣区和用户友好的收银区。这些成本中立的设计方案帮助Nordstrom实现为客户提供最佳的服务、选择，质量和价值的目标。

MG2将继续与Nordstrom的合作，持续完善门店规划设计和概念设计，为美国和加拿大超过25家门店的顾客体验带去积极影响。这些富有创意的设计至今仍活力满满，在为消费者带来欢乐购物时光的同时也帮助他们实现自己的购物目标。

消费者体验

Target超市

发现之旅的乐趣

秉持超越客户期望的共同信念，MG2和Target已携手合作了超过15年，完成了包括新建项目、适应性改造等各种项目。MG2已成功完成了遍布全美境内600多个门店设计，将店面原型设计方案因地制宜地实施到每一个项目之中，吸引更多新的顾客。

MG2升级改造的门店规模在8000多平米到13000平米之间，通过细致的项目监督和原型设计方案调整，在保有Target广受好评的品牌体验的同时，能够很好地融入本地特色元素。MG2与Target共同致力于打造让每位顾客都感到宾至如归和富有包容性的空间，为他们的购物之旅带来欢乐时刻。

CityTarget Seattle designed by MG2
CityTarget西雅图