Join the global community setting the standard for space strategy

The Space Planning Community is a collaborative, non-competitive environment for retailers, consumer goods companies, and brokers to learn, connect, and advance the retail space management profession. Launched by the Association of Retail and Consumer Professionals, headquartered in Chicago, IL the community provides value to its members through networking, best practice sharing in visual merchandising, training, events, thought leadership content, and more. With both corporate and individual membership options, participating in a way that suits your needs has never been easier.

Become a Certified Space Planning Professional

Ready to advance your space planning career?

Earn the industry’s first retail space planning certification and gain the skills, knowledge, and credentials to stand out as a true professional in the retail space planning industry. Through our comprehensive training, you’ll master everything from strategic product placement that drives real business results to the foundational principles of macro and micro space planning.

Whether you’re validating existing skills or building from scratch, this structured program helps you grow faster. The program is open to everyone and members of the Space Planning Community receive training credits and exclusive discounts.

Start your certification journey today and unlock new career opportunities!

Goals of the community

Elevate And Advance The Space Planning Profession

Create a safe space for collaboration to leverage shared experiences

Build Communal resources for education, development and accreditation

What our Members are Saying

“Interfacing with this impressive group of professionals has helped push the boundaries of how i think within my own role in space management and has raised my awareness about what is possible.”

Kent Rodina

Director Merchandise Presentation

O’Reilly Auto Parts

“A major gap in the industry is the lack of common language and standardized vocabulary; while some shared best practices exist, this is often a result of system implementations forcing organizations to adopt similar tools, with little objective information about industry-specific technologies and tools.”

Flora Delaney

Original Charter Facilitator

“Ultimately the community should help pave the way for what space management of the future should look like.”

Community Member

“Space planning is very operational, and we get none of the glory.”

Community Member