Retail Expansion Planning

Who this is for

Independent retailers with one trading shop who are seriously considering a second site — whether that means a high-street frontage, a shopping-centre kiosk, or a market stall that has outgrown its footprint. You already know your product and your customers; you need someone to pressure-test the numbers and the operational load of doubling your footprint.

What you receive

A written expansion plan covering site shortlist criteria, a 24-month cash-flow model for the new door, stock split recommendations between locations, a staffing roster draft, and a week-by-week opening checklist. We attend up to three shortlisted sites with you and review lease heads of terms before you commit.

What is not included

We do not act as buyers’ agents, negotiate leases on your behalf, or provide legal advice. Fit-out project management and ongoing bookkeeping are referred to trusted partners when needed.

How it works

Week 1–2: Discovery sessions at your current shop. We review two years of trading history, peak-hour patterns, and supplier lead times.

Week 3–4: Site visits and foot-traffic context. We compare rent-to-sales ratios against your category benchmarks.

Week 5–6: Financial model and stock plan. You receive draft scenarios for conservative, expected, and strong trading outcomes.

Week 7–8: Final plan delivery and a 90-minute handover meeting. You leave with a document you can share with your accountant and bank.

Provider

Led by senior adviser Claire Whitfield, who has spent fourteen years working with Victorian retailers on second-site openings. Claire previously managed operations for a six-store homewares group before founding Poplar Way Advisory Partners in 2014.

Next step

Submit an enquiry through our contact page with your current suburb, category, and target opening window. We will confirm whether the engagement fits and send a scoped proposal within three business days.