Partnering for Retail Merchandising Solutions
Modern retail is complex, requiring an integrated partner with specialties in retail design, graphic production, fixture manufacturing, kitting, warehousing, logistics, and maintenance. When top brands plan large-scale rollouts, they require a retail partner proficient in all aspects, from concepting to global fulfillment.
To help you cut through the noise, we’ve analyzed The Bernard Group’s capabilities against its competitors: Great Northern Instore, Chandler Inc., Taylor Corporation, Array Marketing, Imagine Group, and WD Partners.This analysis offers a data-driven perspective on which company provides a comprehensive, end-to-end retail merchandising solution.
Who is truly positioned to be your strategic retail partner, not just another vendor?
Key Takeaways:
- Print: The Bernard Group delivers category-defining print that goes beyond output and into brand experiences. Quality print is the cost of entry. Precision is the differentiator. And TBG owns precision at scale.
- Material: The Bernard Group is one of the few partners in the U.S. that can work across every standard material in the retail ecosystem without compromise or outsourcing chaos. The material isn’t the limitation—your imagination is. TBG removes that ceiling.
- Design/Engineering: Great design dies in bad handoffs. The Bernard Group eliminates the handoff. Alignment of creative and technical means faster iterations, fewer trade-offs, and launch-ready solutions that actually survive retail environments.
- Fulfillment/Logistics: The Bernard Group operates one of the most advanced retail logistics engines in the industry. Integrated kitting, assembly, marketing-on-demand automation, a high-velocity distribution center, and digital transparency from production to store-level delivery. Brands gain speed, accuracy, and control, without the friction, rework, or uncertainty typical of multi-vendor rollouts.
- Sustainability/Ethics: Sustainability isn’t a selling point; it’s a responsibility and The Bernard Group acts like it. This isn’t a marketing program; it’s an operational standard woven into decisions, materials, and every build. Clients get a partner who can scale complexity without compromising their ESG commitments.
Print and Production Capabilities
Here’s where the critical difference lies: All production companies can print signs. What separates a true partner is their ability to handle the specialized techniques required for premium or ADA-compliant retail environments and visual merchandising solutions.
| Capacity | The Bernard Group | Great Northern In Store | Imagine | Taylor Corporation |
| Commercial/ Standard Print | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Large Format/ Display Print | YES | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SEGs | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Textured (Braille) Printing | Yes | No | N/A | Yes |
| Dye-sublimation to metal and fabric | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Neon Color | Yes | No | N/A | Yes |
| Edge Finishing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wall Paper | Yes | No | No | No |
| Speciality Texture and Color Teams | Yes | No | No | No |
The Description
The chart compares four companies, TBG, Great Northern, Imagine, and Taylor Corporation, on eleven printing/finishing capacities. TBG is the most comprehensive, with a “YES” in all eleven, including “Speciality Texture and Color Teams.” Taylor Corporation is close, matching TBG in nine capacities, only lacking wall papers and Speciality Texture and Color Teams. Imagine has a strong base (standard/large format, dye-sublimation) but has unknowns (“?”) for Textured (Braille) Printing and lacks Speciality Texture and Color Teams and wall paper. Great Northern confirms only Commercial/Standard Print, Large Format/Display Print, and Edge Finishing, missing other specialized printing and color capacities.
The Decision
The Bernard Group has the most diverse capacity, offering unique services like SEGs, Braille, Dye-sublimation, Neon Color, and specialized texture/color work.
Proof your potential with our expert specialty printing services.
Materials Scope Capacities
Choosing your right retail partner starts with understanding their material infrastructure; this section details how The Bernard Group’s unique materials capacities, including sustainable sourcing and advanced substrate processing, measure up against their competitors.
| Material | The Bernard Group | Great Northern In Store | Chandler, Inc. |
| Acrylic | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Plastics | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wood | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Certified Wood | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Metal | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wire | Yes | Yes | No |
| LED Lighting | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Corrugate | Yes | Yes | No |
| Display Quality Paper Pulp | Yes | No | No |
| Packaging Paper Pulp | Yes | Yes | No |
| Paper Board | Yes | Yes | No |
The Description
When materials limit your vendor, they limit your design. TBG removes those limits. The Bernard Group and Great Northern In Store stand out as the most capable retail partners, both possessing the comprehensive ability to work with every material listed, including Acrylic, Plastics, Wood, Metal, Wire, LED Lighting, Corrugate, Paper Pulp, and Paper Board.
Discover How Our Paper Pulp Snowdrifts Won Bronze at the Shop! OMA Awards
While both TBG and Great Northern demonstrate broad material versatility, The Bernard Group’s real advantage emerges in how those materials are activated through integrated engineering, proprietary finishing capabilities, and sustainability practices.
The Decision
The Bernard Group stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the strongest print industry players in versatility, but goes further by pairing this breadth with engineering integration, carbon-neutral production, and one of the most advanced distribution ecosystems in the industry. When brands need a partner that can handle any material and deliver a frictionless, end-to-end experience, TBG is the one that consistently rises above.
See How We Bring You Sustainable Materials
Design and Engineering Capacities
When evaluating a partner, ask: Can they construct the complex fixture AND create the premium graphics? This section dives into the design to production pipeline of each competitor, analyzing how their engineering departments approach critical factors compared to The Bernard Group’s integrative model.
| Capacity | The Bernard Group | WD Partners | Taylor Corporation |
| Structural/ Fixture Engineering | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Visual Merchandising Design | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Store Planning | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Build Integration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Software Development | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video and Motion Graphics | Yes | Yes | No |
| Low-voltage PCB prototyping | Yes | No | Yes |
| Custom Voiceovers | Yes | No | No |
| Life-cycle Design | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The Description
A comparison of design and engineering service capabilities among TBG, WD Partners, and Taylor Corporation reveals TBG as the most comprehensive full-service provider. TBG is unique in offering every service listed, including specialized areas like Custom Voiceovers and Video and Motion Graphics (VMG). While all three firms share core competencies such as structural engineering, store planning, software development, Life-cycle Design, and Build Integration. WD Partners does not provide Low-voltage PCB prototyping or Custom Voiceovers. Similarly, Taylor Corporation is missing capabilities in Video and Motion Graphics and Custom Voiceovers. Within the comparison group, TBG stands out as the only firm with a “YES” across all nine technical and creative categories.
The Decision
TBG is your go-to “full-stack” partner offering a seamless, end-to-end solution. Capabilities that competitors lack may force “vendor fragmentation,” increasing costs, complicating communication, and extending timelines for clients choosing other firms. By prioritizing TBG’s integrated workflow, clients can leverage their unique technical capabilities and minimize operational risk by keeping digital, physical, and technical elements under one roof.
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Fulfillment and Logistics Capacities
An outstanding fixture is worthless if its delivery is delayed or if it conflicts with your company’s sustainability objectives. These two elements distinguish a progressive retail partner from a traditional vendor. This section analyzes who is the true retail merchandising solutions partner, the one who owns the entire distribution and rollout lifecycle, from kitting to store-level delivery to end-of-life.
| Capacity | The Bernard Group | Great Northern In Store | Array Marketing | Taylor Corporation |
| Warehousing and Storage | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kitting and Assembly | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Distribution and Rollout | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Supply Chain Tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| End-of-life | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| SAAS Integration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Client Interfaces | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compact Campus Logistics | Yes | No | No | No |
The Description
TBG, Great Northern, Array Marketing, and Taylor Corporation share core strengths in warehousing, kitting, distribution, supply chain tracking, SAAS integration, and custom client interfaces. Within the comparison group, TBG is the only company that provides Compact Campus Logistics, a model that centralizes its facilities in close geographic proximity, significantly reducing carbon emissions, fuel consumption, and transportation costs by eliminating long-distance shipping between corporate buildings. By placing our operational distribution center closer to your primary corporate hubs, we ensure a more responsive supply chain and a direct decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.
Learn About Our State-Of-The-Art Distribution Center
The Decision
The Bernard Group provides a fully integrated service model, including the unique advantage of Compact Campus Logistics. With a commitment to “operational security,” TBG offers superior operational agility, marked by faster lead times and localized collaboration, in addition to comprehensive End-of-life support. TBG is capable of delivering these localized efficiencies and full-lifecycle management under one roof.
Simply Your Ordering Workflows with Our Marketing on Demand
Sustainability and Ethics
Sustainability is not a mere talking point; it comprises non-negotiable requirements in the retail industry. Today’s consumers, increasingly informed and ethically minded, are no longer content with passive claims; they demand demonstrable proof of a brand’s commitment to responsible practices. A retail partner’s commitment to responsible sourcing, eco-friendly operations, and ethical labor standards must be foundational to its business model.
| Capacity | The Bernard Group | Great Northern In Store | Array Marketing | Taylor Corporation | WD Partners |
| Emissions & Energy | 100% Carbon Neutral (Scopes 1 & 2), Energy Audits, ISO14001, CDP Disclosure | Process improvement for reduced energy | GHG Inventory, ISO 14001 | DP Disclosure | ESG Focus |
| Certifications & Compliance | EcoVadis Gold and Platinum Status, FSC Certified, ISO 14001, EPA Partner | SFI Certified, EPA Compliance | EcoVadis Gold, ISO 14001, FSC Certified | FSC/SFI Certified, ISO 14001 Certified Sites | LEED Design |
| Number of Recycling Streams | 18+ | 3+ | 3+ | 5+ | N/A |
| Uses only Recycled Magnets? | Yes | No | No | No | N/A |
The Description
The Bernard Group (TBG) stands out as the industry leader in environmental commitment, surpassing its key competitors, Great Northern, Array Marketing, Taylor Corp., and WD Partners, through a comprehensive strategy focused on four critical sustainability domains. TBG’s initiatives include an ambitious goal of 100% Carbon Neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 operations, supported by rigorous Energy Audits and full public CDP Disclosure. This commitment is complemented by elite EcoVadis Gold and Platinum Status certifications and an advanced waste management system featuring over 18 distinct recycling streams. While TBG leads, competitors exhibit commendable efforts: Array Marketing holds an EcoVadis Gold rating and tracks climate impact via a formal GHG Inventory, while Taylor Corp. maintains multiple ISO 14001 Certified Sites. Other retail partners, Great Northern and WD Partners, focus more narrowly; Great Northern on operational efficiency, process improvement, and SFI certification for material sourcing, and WD Partners on the built environment through extensive LEED Design capacity. A clear metric for material-specific commitment is the tracking and disclosure of Recycled Magnets, which TBG, Array Marketing, and Taylor Corp. all proactively confirm, highlighting a distinct commitment to circular economy principles that Great Northern and WD Partners currently do not track or disclose.
The Decision
The collective data reflects a commendable effort across the board, as each company demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and ethics through various certifications, waste management programs, and sustainable material initiatives.
The Bernard Group stands as the ideal retail partner for projects with ambitious environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, providing unparalleled transparency and support for sustainable material choices. Within the comparison group, TBG is distinguished as the only company with 100% Carbon Neutral status (Scopes 1 & 2) and holding EcoVadis Gold and Platinum statuses for the last six consecutive years.
View our Sustainability in Action
By reconfiguring operations from five buildings into a two-building campus (alongside our Distribution Center), we are significantly reducing our carbon footprint by eliminating the need to transport materials and unfinished projects between separate locations, thereby cutting down on vehicle emissions and the associated energy consumption from internal logistics.
Choosing Your Retail Partner
Choosing the right retail partner for your branded experience depends on its primary complexity. If you’re looking for a single, integrated partner to handle complex, multi-material visual merchandising with best-in-class specialty printing, a robust supply chain, and a verifiable carbon-neutral commitment, The Bernard Group offers the most comprehensive and well-rounded solution available.
Looking to streamline your next product launch or retail environment design? Contact The Bernard Group today to discuss your project.
Questions
What are SEGs?
Silicone edge graphics (SEG) are a sleek alternative to traditional signage, utilizing dye-sublimated fabric to produce lightweight and wrinkle-resistant visuals. These graphics elevate spaces from retail stores to corporate offices.
How do we do dye-sublimation?
Dye sublimation is a printing technique where special inks turn into a gas when heated. This gaseous ink works primarily on polyester or polymer-coated substrates, but not all polymers, embedding the color within the substrate. This process is distinct from many other printing methods where most of the ink remains on the substrate surface.