Saturday, March 29, 2025
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Industry Voices

Industry Voicesrestaurants

Need a Skilled Workforce?

by Katie Lee

— By George Lessmeister — Navigating staffing trends for 2025. As 2024 wound down and the new year came into view, we asked our managers across the country for their insights about what’s happening in staffing. They were asked similar questions that resulted in some consistent trends. The team also offered input about how retail and restaurant business owners can navigate the sometimes-tricky waters of staffing while continuing to provide high level customer service. While regional variations exist, these are the trends our managers identified most consistently. Budget Consciousness From …

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exterior services/landscapingIndustry Voicesparking lotsvendors

Smarter Solutions

by Katie Lee

— By Bob Zaprzal — The benefits of comprehensive pavement assessments. In retail and restaurants, a customer’s experience starts long before they enter the building and continues after they leave. Parking lots, sidewalks and other pavement features create critical first and last impressions. This article will explore ways in which to redefine pavement services through innovative, systematic property assessments. A tailored pavement maintenance plan not only protects your brand reputation but also enhances customer satisfaction, increases safety and saves money over time. Why Pavement Maintenance Matters Picture pulling into a …

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HVAC/RIndustry Voicesrestaurantsvendors

Warming Up Winter

by Katie Lee

— By Jaime Tuinstra — How infrared heat can help fill your restaurant and breweries’ seats. As the days grow shorter and temperatures begin to drop, service or entertainment establishments that utilize outdoor seating areas face a challenge: How to keep guests comfortable and extend the outdoor dining season. Providing comfortable al fresco dining or social options, even when temperatures drop, can significantly boost revenue and customer satisfaction. Thus, in lieu of hoodies or jackets, when there’s a nip in the air, addressing comfort proactively is essential for customer satisfaction …

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Industry Voicessecurity/loss preventionsoftware/technologyvendors

Turning Retail on its Face

by Katie Lee

— By Thibaud Denolle — Unlocking retail efficiency with the rise of facial biometrics. Ordering your favorite meal at a fast food restaurant could soon be as effortless as unlocking your phone. With a quick scan of your face, you can skip the lines and get straight to enjoying your meal. This exciting new reality is powered by facial biometrics, a technology that’s set to transform the shopping experience. From speeding up checkouts to boosting customer loyalty, facial biometrics offers a world of possibilities for both consumers and retailers. This …

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construction and designexterior services/landscapingIndustry Voiceslightingparking lotsProduct Spotlightsecurity/loss preventionsignagesoftware/technologyvendors

Eyes in the Sky

by Katie Lee

— By Ron Harwood — The future of outdoor media systems and the capability of wireless controls and data collection. The police and fire chiefs run the public safety areas along with road commissioners who try to give their officers fast access to information. Environmental planners and water resource commissioners deal with water, earth and air quality and are always in need of much more data to monitor and control their systems. Public lighting is concerned with keeping the lights on, paying for energy and maintaining vast amounts of equipment. …

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green newsIndustry Voicesrestaurantsvendorswaste management/recycling

For Good Measure

by Katie Lee

— By Frenchie Audette — Why tackling wasted food is good for sustainability — and good for business. Every year, the foodservice industry contributes a staggering amount of waste to U.S. landfills. Consumer-facing businesses are responsible for 20% of all wasted food, with restaurants accounting for nearly half of that. That’s almost 9 tons of food waste annually. And 70% of that waste comes from plate waste — what’s left uneaten on customers’ plates. This all points to the unique challenge that the foodservice industry faces when dealing with wasted …

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exterior services/landscapingIndustry Voicespaintingrestaurantsvendors

Ambiance For All Seasons

by Katie Lee

— By Rich Kilgannon — How winterization and preventative maintenance can give restaurants the upper hand. When it comes to dining experiences, people eat with their eyes. Studies have shown that the way food looks can alter the diner’s perception of its taste and flavor. But it’s not just the look of the food, it’s the look of the place. We all have our own stories about visiting one of our favorite restaurants and thinking the food might still taste OK, but the stale look on the outside and in …

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disaster recoveryfacilities managementIndustry VoicesProduct Spotlightretailerssoftware/technology

Radio Revolution

by Katie Lee

— By Caleigh Peterson — How Spice Village improved communication and store operations with two-way radios. With the retail industry facing more challenges than ever before, effective communication is crucial. A study published by the International Journal of Business Communication found that clear communication is correlated with higher sales performance. This is especially evident for the retail industry. To ensure a business runs smoothly, it’s essential for retail owners and managers to find solutions to address these issues. In the bustling heart of Waco, Texas, Spice Village, a sprawling retail …

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disaster recoveryfire protectionHVAC/RIndustry Voicesjan/sanplumbingvendors

Risk Assessment

by Katie Lee

— By Josh Miller — Preventive maintenance measures before disaster strikes. As a business owner, you’re always thinking about how to scale to the next level. You’re focused on what to do to improve daily operations, outshine the competition and attract more customers. But amid all of the strategic thinking and execution, one key aspect that often gets overlooked is planning for the worst-case scenario. In all my years in the restoration industry, I’ve seen firsthand how devastating these events can be whether in retail spaces or restaurants. One moment …

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exterior services/landscapingIndustry Voicespest controlvendors

A Season of Prevention

by Katie Lee

— By Sarah J. Carter — Colder weather is the time to plan for the return of migrating birds next spring. [EDITOR’S NOTE: This article originally appeared in the November 2024 magazine issue.] The seasons have changed, the autumn foliage is starting to brown and crisp early mornings greet you as you walk out the door. Every year, with the change of seasons, we make little adjustments, switching from iced coffee to a warm cup of cocoa, exchanging T-shirts for sweaters and jackets. Just as we make these minor changes …

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