For restaurants and retailers, customer service doesn’t stop at the front door. It extends to the sidewalks and parking lots. During the winter months, prompt snow and ice clearing is essential for ensuring guest safety and maintaining smooth business operations. “A strategic snow and ice removal program is critical for mitigating safety hazards and preventing downtime and lost revenue,” says Dana Russell, vice president of exterior operations at MCS & Chain Store Maintenance. “Having a program in place as far in advance as possible helps ensure your business can keep …
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Will AI Improve HVAC Performance?
Given the high cost of purchasing and running heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment, restaurant and retail operators want their HVAC units operating efficiently to minimize utility bills and extend the working life of system components. In as little as a few years, however, business owners may have a powerful new tool to help meet those goals. This digital aid would not only monitor HVAC performance and alert owners to perform preventive maintenance or needed repairs, but may also suggest subtle operational adjustments or equipment substitutions to boost efficiency and cost …
11 Preventive Maintenance Services Retailers, Restaurants Need
Restaurants and retailers move fast. There’s no time for unexpected maintenance issues to slow you down. Preventive maintenance (PM) programs can help you avoid disruptions. “For retailers and restaurants, preventive maintenance programs are vital, but often overlooked,” says John Catanese, senior vice president at Chain Store Maintenance, an MCS Company. “They ensure your business can provide the best service to your customers consistently, safely, efficiently and cost effectively.” Why PM Matters Preventive maintenance delivers several key advantages: Enhanced reliability. By addressing minor issues before they escalate, you can prevent unexpected …
How Facility Maintenance Drives Success in Restaurants
When ranking the maintenance and repair challenges associated with everyday commercial real estate spaces — especially those that could just as easily be owned by smaller investors as by institutional capital — putting restaurants at the top of the list is a pretty easy argument to make. The issues that arise in retail stores or even offices usually aren’t as messy or varied as those that emerge in food-and-beverage operations, points out Bill Schaphorst, vice president of business development at MaintenX, a Tampa, Fla.-based company that provides “curb-to-roof” facility maintenance …
— Interview with Herman Wilkinson — R&R: Where is MaintenX based, and how long has it been in business? Herman Wilkinson: MaintenX is based out of Tampa, Florida. We have been in business for over 40+ years! R&R: You are the new chief operating officer of MaintenX — how long have you been with the company? I think I read that you worked your way up from previous positions in the organization. Wilkinson: I have been with MaintenX for 16+ years. Yes, I started as a regional service coordinator, and …
Colt: Signature Vendor Spotlight
— Interview with Tracy Gaw — R&R: Where is Colt based, and how long has the company been in business? Tracy Gaw: March 2023 until the present — so 1 year, 10 months. Colt is based in Dallas. R&R: Please describe its connection to MaintenX. Gaw: Colt has shared ownership and shared executive leadership with MaintenX. Our vision, principles, processes and overall mission are in line with MaintenX. R&R: You are the new vice president of service at Colt — how long have you been with the company? Gaw: I …
Winter-Proofing Your Business: Essential Steps to Prepare Restaurants, Retail Stores for the Cold
Winter storms and plunging temperatures present special challenges to restaurants and retailers. To keep customers and employees comfortable until spring, operators should act now to winterize their properties and perform preventive maintenance before a crisis occurs. “When you know that winter is coming, it’s always better to be proactive than reactive,” says Michael Garcia, regional service manager in the Dallas office of Colt Facility Maintenance, a maintenance service provider. Winterization should begin before the cold sets in and while there is still time to address vulnerabilities discovered in buildings or …
Holiday Prep for Retail Success: Why Maintenance Matters Before the Holidays
The holiday season can present an existential challenge for retailers, testing the skills and endurance of marketing and sales teams in a six-week race to reach revenue targets by the end of the year. It is not a time to inconvenience customers and staff with building maintenance or repairs. “There’s a reason they call it Black Friday,” says Bill Schaphorst, vice president of business development at MaintenX, a commercial facility maintenance and repair company. “Because of the surge in traffic and sales on the fourth Friday in November, that typically …
Protect Your Retail Space from Car Damage
By the time you finish reading this article, somewhere in the United States, a car will have run over the curb of a busy road, crossed the sidewalk and crashed into a retail space. “There’s not a doubt in my mind that somebody is driving into a storefront right now,” says Jessica Suazo, regional service manager for Colt Facility Maintenance, based in Dallas. Suazo’s company specializes in systems of bollards that protect buildings from these collisions. Also, for buildings not properly protected from collisions, companies like Colt provide emergency services. …
Smart Roofing Strategies Help Retail, Restaurant Facility Owners Trim Costs
For retail and restaurant facility owners, a proactive roofing maintenance strategy is essential to prevent costly issues down the line, says Bill Earl, director of roofing operation at MaintenX. “You just spent $200,000 on a roof. Preventive maintenance is about protecting that investment,” he explains. Many roofing issues are not caused by material failures but by external factors like mishandling equipment or damage from storm debris. Earl emphasizes that routine maintenance can prevent small problems from escalating into major repairs. For restaurants, where foot traffic on roofs is common, damage …