Why retail schedules are tight
Rent usually starts before the store does. Inventory, staff and marketing are lined up for a specific date, and delays cost real money. That makes coordination the main job on a retail project.
HSM works on new builds and on renovations and tenant improvements up to $50,000,000. We can get involved before the lease is signed, to review the space, landlord work letter and construction cost.
Trades that matter in retail
Retail is heavy on lighting, power, HVAC, signage and finishes. HSM self-performs electrical, led by a Master Electrician, and mechanical (HVAC and plumbing), along with low voltage and security, framing, drywall, ceilings, carpentry, millwork, painting, and doors and hardware.
Fewer subcontractors means one schedule and fewer places for delays to hide.
Retail building types we build
Every retail format has its own needs, from refrigeration in a grocery to display lighting in a flagship. See the pages below for details.
- Shopping mall stores
- Strip mall units
- Flagship stores
- Clothing stores
- Electronics stores
- Grocery stores
- Convenience stores
- Big box retail
- Pop-up and kiosk units
- Cannabis retail stores
- Liquor stores
What to plan for
Mall and landlord rules shape hours, deliveries, hoarding and approvals. Permits, signage approvals and fixture lead times are common causes of delay, so we plan them early.
HSM also provides turn-key services such as security systems, digital signage, computer networks and building maintenance, so the same team supports your store after it opens.
Working in winter
Alberta winters affect deliveries, entrances and exterior signage. We plan the sequence and the temporary protection of entries so your store opens warm and ready, even in January.
A word on cost control
Retail budgets are often set before the space is chosen. Early involvement lets us price a space against the landlord's allowance and your fixture plan, so the budget reflects the building you will actually occupy. With our own trades pricing most of the work, quotes are firmer and changes are easier to manage.
We keep one project manager as your point of contact, and our phones and email are answered 24/7/365.
Questions we hear
Can HSM work with a landlord's design criteria?
Yes. We review mall and landlord requirements early and build to them as part of the project.
Do you only build new stores?
No. We handle new construction, renovations and tenant improvements.