Introducing The Help Desk: Personalized Retail Advisory & Coaching Services for Small Businesses
Since starting Entwine, we’ve had the privilege of working with the most remarkable emerging brands. It’s been such a rewarding experience using our extensive expertise to help them find their perfect place!
That being said, it doesn’t happen overnight—and more often than not, there’s a learning curve. Whether you’re an emerging retail brand evaluating expansion or a first-timer moving into the brick and mortar space, the process can be overwhelming for many reasons:
Lingo barrier
No external team of experts
No expansion strategy
No expectations
No one is returning your calls
Negotiations nuanced
Complex retail real estate processes
Does this sound like you? We’re here to help you feel less overwhelmed! Before we launch into our unique service offerings, here are five tips to empower you throughout the retail real estate process…
Your Quick Guide to Navigating the Retail Real Estate Process
Photographer: She Exposure
1. Create a Business Plan
Before you begin, write down your business plan. Not only will it show credibility—this exercise will be a living, breathing document to clarify your process.
First, tell your story: Who are you? How did you get to this point? What’s the passion behind your business?
Next, jot down your brand’s concept; this might include your services, pricing, space size range, specifications, etc.
From there, you’ll want to outline your target market (aka, the geographic areas of interest), as well as your target customer’s profile (for example, their age, economic base and personality).
Gather inspiration! You’ll want to include some visual aesthetics behind your brand. Pinterest is a great resource for this.
Lastly, figure out how much money your business will produce. Get familiar with start-up costs, build-out and vendor expenses. This is the only way you’ll know what you can afford.
2. Find Your People
While navigating this tricky process, you’ll want a group of advocates in your corner who understand how to run point, manage site selection, and negotiate on your behalf. Our advice? Invest in an experienced team of patient, organized and trustworthy professionals. This might include a retail real estate advisor, a retail real estate attorney, an experienced local contractor, an architect, or all the above. Because of all the nuances involved in a retail transaction, relying on a group of specialists is essential. You’ll also want guidance on what’s worth pushing for and when to pull back!
3. Date the Market
While searching for your new location, it’s easy to fall in love with the first space you see. But let’s be honest: You wouldn’t marry the first person you met on a dating app, right? Explore your options! Stay grounded and respectfully take time to evaluate all information to determine if it’s worth the long-term commitment.
4. Stay Curious
Don’t be afraid to educate yourself! If you’ve already put together a team of trustworthy, experienced professionals, be sure to advocate for yourself by asking them a lot of questions—yes, even the ones you think are silly or stupid (spoiler alert: they’re not!). Lastly, know your numbers at all times. Where does your budget stand? Understand what you can afford at any minute.
5. Have Fun!
Whether you’re an emerging retail brand or a first-timer, the process can be overwhelming. It’s hard to stop and smell the roses when you’re juggling a million different deliverables at one time. Remember, this is a huge milestone for you that’s worth celebrating! Empower yourself to recognize your wins, even if it feels like a long journey ahead. We’re here to help!
Book a Session
It all begins with asking for help. No matter where you are on your retail real estate journey, our advisory and coaching services were designed for small businesses just like yours. Whether you need a quick consult, an hour to ask me anything, or an intensive month-long deep dive—these sessions will get you one step closer to reaching your goals (without spending an arm and a leg). Drop us a line if you want to learn more about each service, as well as pricing for each.
Let’s Explore | 20 minuteS
Commitment issues? We totally get it! This consultation is a way for us to connect to see if we’re a good fit for your retail real estate journey. Let’s get it booked!
Advisory Session | 1 hour
Let’s spend some time together! These hour-long sessions are designed to clarify retail real estate processes and help you execute your goals. During our time together, I’ll answer your burning questions, provide tips on your business plan, guide you through your brick & mortar proforma, and so much more. You can book with us as needed, or keep yourself accountable with recurring sessions until you’re ready to kick off the retail real estate search.
Monthly Intensive 1:1 | 2x per week
Let’s get down to business. For an entire month, we’ll meet twice a week to dive deep into the trenches of getting your retail real estate journey up and running. This intensive one-on-one will offer tangible next steps, progress tracking, Q&A, business plan creation, brick & mortar proforma, and more. Book your first session with us—we’ll plan the rest of our visits during our initial call.
Every project is an opportunity to create a narrative, one that speaks to the future while honoring the past. Through our modern, aesthetic-forward approach, coupled with market knowledge and collaborative relationships, we aim to provide our clients with an experience that transcends the transaction. Together, we don't just build places; we build legacies.
Ready to unlock your highest potential within the retail landscape? Contact Entwine today!