Best Retail & Store Design Consulting Services in the USA

United States Retail & Store Design Consultants

The U.S. retail landscape is undergoing rapid transformation. Digital-first brands are investing in physical experiences, while legacy retailers are reimagining stores to align with shifting consumer behavior. In this environment, retail & store design consulting services are not just about aesthetics—they’re about customer engagement, brand strategy, and measurable results.

This article highlights standout consultancies based in the U.S., selected through research-driven criteria and client feedback.

Methodology: How We Chose These USA-based Retail & Store Design Consulting Services

We curated this list using a transparent, authenticity-first process:

🔎 Research-driven: Firms were vetted against public case studies, proven frameworks, and measurable outcomes.

🗣 Client-reviewed: Selection was guided by verifiable client feedback, ROI-backed success stories, and industry credibility.

📍 Location-based: All firms are U.S.-rooted, with founders actively shaping the American retail design ecosystem.

This ensures the consultancies featured here are more than recognizable names—they are proven partners that deliver meaningful results.

🌟 USA Retail & Store Design Consultants - Provider Spotlights

Retail Works Inc.

What they do
Retail Works Inc. delivers experiential retail design and sensory branding, transforming spaces into customer-focused environments. Their work combines storytelling, interior architecture, and merchandising science to enhance both aesthetics and sales.

Who they work with
Regional retail chains, DTC brands moving into brick-and-mortar, and professional service firms with customer-facing locations.

Operating model
Retail Works employs collaborative workshops and phased rollouts to minimize disruption and maximize measurable adoption.

💡 Why they stand out

🎨 Expertise in visual identity systems that unify signage, layout, and merchandising

📊 Proven ability to deliver 15–20% sales uplifts for retail clients

🌿 Sensory branding pioneers, integrating environmental psychology, lighting, and audio design

Lyn Falk, President of Retail Works Inc.

Lyn Falk is an award-winning designer and retail strategist with over 35 years of experience in store planning and customer psychology. She is known for her pioneering work in sensory branding, blending visual merchandising, environmental psychology, and storytelling into retail design. As a leader, Falk takes a research-first and collaborative approach, engaging both clients and their customers in shaping spaces. She has consulted for regional chains, banks, and national retailers, consistently producing evidence-backed ROI improvements. Her ability to merge aesthetic creativity with measurable business outcomes has made her a recognized authority in retail design.

Sergio Mannino Studio

What they do
Sergio Mannino Studio creates avant-garde retail environments, pop-ups, and immersive showrooms that often blur the line between art and commerce. Their hallmark is bold, narrative-driven design that commands attention.

Who they work with
Luxury fashion labels, disruptive DTC brands, and cultural institutions.

Operating model
A design-intensive studio model where each project is developed with storytelling at its core, led directly by Sergio Mannino.

💡 Why they stand out

✨ Renowned for immersive installations showcased worldwide

🏆 Award-winning projects redefining experiential retail

📈 Behavior-informed layouts that optimize customer flow and interaction

Sergio Mannino, Owner of Sergio Mannino Studio

Sergio Mannino is an Italian-born, New York–based designer trained in architecture and industrial design. With over two decades in practice, he has worked across retail, furniture, and cultural projects. His leadership style is concept-driven yet highly adaptive, pushing brands to think beyond functional layouts into storytelling. Mannino’s studio has delivered global retail projects for KITH, Lexus, and startups, building spaces that double as cultural statements. Known for bold, colorful, and experimental aesthetics, he has earned international recognition in the design press.

Christian Lahoude Studio

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What they do
Christian Lahoude Studio designs luxury flagships and boutique experiences, crafting spaces that embody exclusivity and high-touch retail. Their work emphasizes artisanal detail and global brand expression.

Who they work with
Global luxury fashion houses, high-end lifestyle brands, and premium retailers.

Operating model
Runs as a New York-based boutique studio with a global reach, supported by a network of artisans and international collaborators.

💡 Why they stand out

💎 Extensive luxury retail expertise with brands like Gucci, Jimmy Choo, and Alexander Wang

🌍 A global design perspective with deep U.S. roots

🖼 Renowned for craftsmanship and material innovation

Christian Lahoude, Founder & Creative Director of Christian Lahoude Studio

Christian Lahoude is a retail architect originally from Belgium, now based in New York City. With more than 20 years of experience, he is celebrated for designing flagship environments for the world’s leading luxury brands. Lahoude’s leadership is hands-on and detail-oriented, emphasizing craftsmanship and timeless design principles. His career highlights include collaborations with Gucci, Lanvin, and Nike, where he helped define the modern flagship store aesthetic. He is respected for blending brand storytelling with architectural precision, making him a trusted partner for global luxury houses.

Mapos

What they do
Mapos is a New York–based design studio specializing in retail, hospitality, and urban mixed-use environments. Their design ethos centers on functional beauty and sustainability.

Who they work with
Lifestyle retailers, hospitality groups, and developers driving community-focused projects.

Operating model
Mapos employs a research-driven environmental design process that balances customer needs, sustainability, and local context.

💡 Why they stand out

🌱 Sustainability-first design integrated from strategy to build

🏙 Expertise in mixed-use and community-focused spaces

🔍 Evidence-based planning built on extensive user research

Caleb Mulvena, Founder and Principal of Mapos

Caleb Mulvena is an architect and designer with over two decades of experience shaping retail, hospitality, and cultural spaces across the U.S. and abroad. Before co-founding Mapos, he worked with firms like Rockwell Group and NBBJ, where he gained expertise in large-scale brand environments and innovative architectural systems. His leadership style is collaborative and research-driven, ensuring each project reflects both the client’s brand story and the end-user experience. Mulvena is best known for guiding Mapos’ award-winning work with clients such as JetBlue, Escape Brooklyn, and Dean & DeLuca, blending sustainability with immersive brand design. Under his direction, Mapos has earned recognition in outlets like Architectural Record and Fast Company for pushing boundaries in experiential retail.

Richardson Design

What they do
Richardson Design is a Cleveland-based consultancy specializing in branded environments, interiors, and product design for retail and hospitality. They combine design thinking with market insights to create engaging experiences that drive brand loyalty.

Who they work with
Consumer-facing industries such as retail, food & beverage, hospitality, and experiential marketing activations.

Operating model
The studio follows a strategy-to-execution model, supporting clients from concept to full rollout, with a strong emphasis on brand continuity across touchpoints.

💡 Why they stand out

🎯 Brand-first methodology ensuring cohesive identity across product, packaging, and store design

🍴 Expertise in food & beverage retail environments, from cafés to national chains

🛠 Strong prototype-to-rollout execution, bridging creativity and operational efficiency

Scott Richardson, Founder & Chief Creative Officer of Richardson Design

Scott Richardson founded Richardson Design over two decades ago, leading projects for both national and regional retail brands. His background spans industrial design and interiors, with a leadership style that balances creativity with commercial pragmatism. Richardson is known for his ability to translate complex brand strategies into tangible environments, particularly in food retail and hospitality sectors. His work has helped companies like Heinen’s and Aramark elevate customer experiences. Recognized for cross-disciplinary expertise, Richardson continues to influence retail design with a holistic, brand-driven approach.

Api+

What they do
Api+ is a Florida-based architecture and interior design firm specializing in retail, office, and mixed-use development. They are particularly known for big-box retail, grocery, and multi-site rollouts.

Who they work with
National retail chains, developers, and corporate offices needing scalable, repeatable design systems.

Operating model
Api+ runs on a multi-disciplinary team model, combining architecture, planning, and design under one roof to streamline project delivery.

💡 Why they stand out

🏗 Multi-site rollout expertise across hundreds of locations nationwide

📐 Proven ability to deliver end-to-end services, from architecture to interiors

⚡ Efficiency-focused processes that minimize time-to-market for major retailers

Juan Romero, President & CEO of Api+

Juan Romero has over 30 years of experience leading architecture and design initiatives for national retail and corporate clients. As CEO of Api+, he has spearheaded the firm’s growth into one of the Southeast’s most trusted retail design providers. Romero’s leadership style emphasizes efficiency, scalability, and long-term partnerships, making Api+ a go-to partner for brands expanding nationwide. His portfolio includes collaborations with Publix, Rooms To Go, and Darden Restaurants, reflecting a deep understanding of retail rollout dynamics. Romero is recognized for driving strategic growth through design innovation and operational rigor.

Planforce

What they do
Planforce specializes in architecture and workspace design with a strong retail practice, focusing on how space impacts performance and customer experience. They bridge interior design, architecture, and brand development.

Who they work with
Retailers, office tenants, and developers seeking data-informed design that boosts engagement and productivity.

Operating model
Planforce emphasizes a consultative, research-heavy approach, aligning design with client business goals.

💡 Why they stand out

📊 ROI-centered design, showing measurable improvements in sales and workplace efficiency

🏢 Expertise at the intersection of retail and workplace design

🧭 Strong use of strategic planning tools to inform physical environments

Weld Ransom, Founder of PlanForce

Weld Ransom is an architect and strategist with more than 25 years in retail, workplace, and commercial design. As founder of Planforce, he is known for linking design decisions directly to client outcomes, a rare discipline in architecture. Ransom’s leadership style is data-driven and consultative, engaging clients with frameworks that clarify both brand and operational needs. His career includes delivering projects for Best Buy, The Tile Shop, and healthcare groups, blending retail psychology with spatial efficiency. He has earned a reputation for creating evidence-based environments that measurably improve performance.

The Retail Doctor

What they do
The Retail Doctor is a consulting and training firm focused on sales, customer experience, and retail operations. While not a traditional design studio, their expertise lies in optimizing the human and operational side of retail environments.

Who they work with
Independent retailers, national retail brands, and retail-adjacent businesses looking to boost customer experience and sales performance.

Operating model
The firm operates as a consulting and training practice, offering workshops, digital courses, and one-on-one advisory led by Bob Phibbs.

💡 Why they stand out

💬 Known for practical, ROI-driven training programs

📈 Demonstrated ability to help retailers achieve double-digit sales increases

🤝 A trusted advisor to small businesses and Fortune 500 brands alike

Bob Phibbs, CEO of The Retail Doctor

Bob Phibbs, widely recognized as “The Retail Doctor,” is a retail consultant with over 30 years of experience advising brands on sales, customer service, and retail performance. His leadership is characterized by direct, actionable guidance that simplifies complex challenges for retailers. Phibbs has worked with companies like LEGO, Omega, and Hunter Douglas, providing frameworks that boost sales and enhance customer engagement. Known for his straight-talking, results-oriented approach, he has become a leading voice in retail consulting, appearing in outlets such as the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Phibbs’ work consistently demonstrates measurable impact through improved sales conversion and customer loyalty.

The Power of Retail & Store Design Consulting in the USA

Retail and store design consulting in the USA has become a critical force in shaping how brands connect with customers. These consultancies deliver strategies that merge storytelling, sensory branding, and architecture to create spaces that elevate customer engagement and drive measurable sales results. Their work spans luxury boutiques, national retail rollouts, lifestyle-driven spaces, and hospitality environments—all designed with precision, creativity, and business impact in mind. By blending research, design innovation, and operational execution, they ensure retailers can adapt and thrive in evolving markets. The relevance of these consultancies lies in their ability to merge artistry with ROI, helping brands transform spaces into powerful customer experiences.

At Digital Reference, radical authenticity is not just a principle but the foundation of meaningful connections, ensuring strategies reflect genuine identity and measurable impact. This focus on radical authenticity empowers organizations to design with intention and foster trust that lasts.

Explore more from Digital Reference—a place where practical insights meet strategic depth to reshape perspectives and uncover new opportunities.

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Retail and store design consulting illustrates how innovation, research, and experience-driven strategies can reshape entire industries. The same principle applies when exploring new frameworks that extend beyond physical environments and into the foundations of business. By combining authentic strategy with relevant insights, organizations can unlock greater clarity and long-term growth. For those seeking a trusted guide to align vision with impact, explore more at Digital Reference.