WINSTON RETAIL | Structuring a 256-Location Rollout

In-Store Retail Refresh, Rollout Operations, Process Design, Athletic Lifestyle Apparel

January - April 2025

256 Partner Retailer locations across the US

In early 2025, Winston Retail was tasked with refreshing branded spaces for a Sport & Outdoor Apparel client across 256 partner retail locations in just nine weeks, following a five-week, 105-location pilot in late 2024. The rollout was timed to align with the client’s Spring/Summer campaign, adding urgency to the compressed timeline. To manage the added complexity and volume, I partnered with Winston’s Project Manager as an additional lead, focused on execution and ensuring the rollout stayed on track.

• Unclear ownership across multiple stakeholders created accountability gaps
• Deliveries, installs, and merchandising overlapped, with variables such as weather, illness, and damaged materials adding delays
• Communication lags with retail partners caused missed signals and misalignment

• Built a RACI chart (see Figure 1) to define ownership and eliminate accountability gaps
• Designed an operational flow (see Figure 2) mapping dependencies, lead/lag measures, and handoffs to reduce bottlenecks
• Established a structured cadence of daily/weekly check-ins (see Figure 3) with reporting to surface risks early and keep the rollout moving

• 96.5% first-pass completion rate: only 9 of 256 installs required rework (primarily external/vendor/weather related)
• Improved alignment: clear roles, visual workflows, and consistent comms kept the rollout on track despite the compressed timeline
• Secured repeat business: client deemed the rollout a success and re-engaged Winston for Fall/Winter 2025

Due to client confidentiality, project photos are not shown. Supporting diagrams (Figures 1–3) illustrate how the rollout process was structured, clarified ownership and kept 256 locations on track within a nine-week window.