There are numerous articles about bankrupt retailers like Toys “R” Us and Nine West that are closing and laying off employees. But this story is about the opposite. It’s what we’re seeing through our Retail Development Programs: retailers that are opening and expanding. We’re standing alongside retailers, developers, and design-build contractors that are adapting to the worldwide changes of e-commerce and the buying habits of consumers. They are opening multi-sites, diversifying their services, and understanding how in-store and face-to-face interaction still brings value to the consumer.
One example of this is AAA, North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization. AAA provides its members with a full range of travel, insurance, financial, and automotive-related services through a network of 1,100 offices, as well as its full-service website. AAA’s brand was associated with roadside assistance, but to grow their 100-year-old company and attract millennials, they expanded their business model to include insurance, travel, and car care. This growth has resulted in the opening of more physical stores.
Timmons Group was able to use the fundamentals of our Retail Development Programs Tier System to walk alongside AAA and Progressive AE during their expansion in Richmond, NOVA, and Maryland. Our structured program kept the team on track with their new business goals by identifying rewards and risks through the site selection process, due diligence, and the zoning/entitlement phase. As the site plans advanced, AAA could focus their time on program management instead of tending to the civil design.
The AAA brand is a well-respected brand. Working with them and watching their commitment to their business legacy makes a great story to tell. They had a clearly defined vision of navigating through our changing, technology-influenced world, and we helped them get there.
Learn more about Timmons Group’s Retail Development Programs and to download a copy of the Retail Development Programs Tier System here.
