New Member Series: Associated Projects and Retail Fixtures Australia
For over 70 years, Associated Projects has been building Australia’s commercial and retail environments with precision, partnership, and purpose. From feasibility and design through to construction, fit-out, and installation, Associated Projects provides a fully integrated service model that ensures efficiency, transparency, and quality across every stage of a project.
As a licensed Commercial Builder and Master Builders-approved partner, Associated Projects’ expertise spans retail, education, government, child care, and hospitality. Its vertically integrated approach is enhanced through its specialist division, Retail Fixtures Australia (RFA), which delivers scalable, high-quality shopfitting and fixture solutions for Large Format and specialty retail. Together, Associated Projects and RFA form a complete delivery ecosystem that combines creativity, construction, and craftsmanship under one roof.
From feasibility to fit-out: a seamless project journey
Associated Projects’ delivery begins long before construction. Its Feasibility and Site Audit process ensures clients make informed decisions from the outset. Each project starts with a 101-point site audit, detailed test fit plans, and a comprehensive fit-out construction budget, providing clarity on cost, compliance, and timeline to delivery.
“Our feasibility framework gives clients the confidence to invest, knowing we’ve captured every variable, from site suitability and time constraints to regulatory approvals,” says Mark Gale, CEO of Associated Projects. “We’re not just builders, we’re partners in our clients’ success.”
Once feasibility is complete, Associated Projects’ Design & Construct model bridges creative vision and technical precision. From 3D walkthroughs and documentation to permits and construction management, the company ensures every design is both inspiring and buildable. This single-point accountability streamlines communication and reduces risk, keeping projects on schedule and on budget.
Expertise in live retail and complex environments
With extensive experience in retail settings, Associated Projects has delivered hundreds of refurbishments and reconfigurations across Australia, all while keeping retailers trading.
“Our priority is always to keep our clients’ doors open,” says Mr Gale. “That means careful staging plans, close stakeholder coordination, clear communication, and a proactive safety culture from day one.”
Associated Projects’ fit-out capabilities extend across reconfigurations, refurbishments, full store fitouts, mezzanines, and ongoing maintenance, tailored for retail, office, and hospitality environments. Each project is supported by industry-leading management platforms such as Procore, 1Breadcrumb, CM3, and Avetta, maintaining the highest standards of compliance and safety.
Retail fixtures Australia: custom fixtures that complete the experience
As the shop fixtures division of Associated Projects, RFA supplies both custom and off-the-shelf shopfitting solutions, delivering high-quality retail displays, joinery, and commercial-grade fixtures at scale. With a strong foundation in fit-out, manufacturing and logistics, RFA provides end-to-end solutions for retailers seeking consistency, flexibility, and brand integrity across multiple locations.
By working closely with Associated Projects’ construction and project management teams, RFA ensures design intent is carried seamlessly from concept through to installation.
“Our role is to bridge the gap between design and delivery,” says Mr Gale. “With our manufacturing and project teams fully aligned, we’re able to maintain quality, shorten turnaround times, drive cost efficiency, and bring brand experiences to life across multiple stores.”
This integrated manufacturing model, combining design, manufacturing and installation, enables RFA to support some of Australia’s leading retailers with efficient, scalable and uniform rollout plans.
Case study: Total Tools
The collaboration between Associated Projects and RFA is best demonstrated through their long-term partnership with Total Tools, one of Australia’s leading Large Format Retail brands. Over more than a decade, the teams have delivered over 100 stores nationwide, combining consistent design standards with rollout programs typically completed within four to five weeks.
Through integrated project management, local manufacturing, and on-site precision, Associated Projects and RFA have helped Total Tools’ national expansion while maintaining brand integrity and operational excellence.
A partner for the Large Format Retail Association
As proud members of the Large Format Retail Association, Associated Projects and RFA continue to set the standard for end-to-end delivery. Their combined strength, from strategic feasibility to bespoke fixture manufacturing, provides retailers with complete confidence in every project outcome.
“Building partnerships, delivering performance and creating retail environments that last, that is what drives us,” says Mr Gale.
