How To Maintain Brand Standards On Retail And Office Contracting Projects

Many retail and officer contracting projects have brand standards. These are requirements imposed by corporations to ensure the public sees a consistent version of the company. Branches and franchises often have to conform to these rules.

If you're moving ahead with office or retail contracting work, you may wonder how to approach this problem. You can do these four things to make life easier for both you and the contractors.

Obtain Official Copies of the Standards

Corporations love to print standards so your first task is to obtain an official copy of the standards. These usually cover colors, logo placements, dimensions for stations, and other basic configurations. For example, a regional bank might require the main desk for greeting customers to be so many feet from the lobby doors.

Depending on the company, these standards can get very specific. For example, a retailer may need to have a certain number of display areas, and they may be limited to certain maximum and minimum dimensions.

Codes and Samples

A typical brand standard should include a set of colors that correspond to the corporate identity. Generally, companies use color codes to ensure consistency. These codes will let your contractors match paint and other materials to the standards.

It's also a good idea to ask if corporate can supply some samples so you can make side-by-side comparisons. Likewise, samples will give you an idea of what kinds of materials you may need, such as tile for office floors.

Touch Base Regularly

Not all locations are perfect for all brands' standards. A retail contracting firm might need to make some adjustments to fit a fast-food franchise into an existing urban building, for example. It's best to find a contact at the corporate level. Touch base regularly with them to discuss the standards and progress on your project.

If you need a variance, you should get the ball rolling as soon as you learn there's an issue. Ask the contractor to confirm the changes and the reasons for them so you can run them up to the corporate level.

Checklists and Punch Lists

When you start the project, you should develop a checklist of everything you need, including items conforming to brand standards. You'll also want to develop a punch list. This is essentially a checklist for the end of the project. You and the contractor will walk through the site, verify work accuracy, and identify anything to fix. The contractor will rectify the problems, and then you can declare the project complete.

For more information about office contracting, contact a contractor in your area who has experience in this area.


Share