Wednesday, February 26, 2025
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Industry Voices

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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energy managementfacilities managementHVAC/RIndustry Voiceslightingsoftware/technologyvendors

Riding the Tailwinds into 2025

by Katie Lee

— By Jay Fiske — Connected equipment lays the foundation. Happy New Year! Brick-and-mortar retailers are starting 2025 with the wind at their backs. According to worldwide commercial real estate services and investment company CBRE, average monthly foot traffic in top retail districts could surpass pre-pandemic levels by late this year. But whether getting more customers in the door will elevate stores’ top and bottom lines remains an open question. To capitalize on this foot traffic, facility managers must help their stores provide a great experience while controlling costs. Balancing …

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energy managementgreen newsHVAC/RIndustry Voicessoftware/technologyvendors

Growing Grocery

by Katie Lee

— By Tony Atti, Ph.D. — How omnichannel can unlock and accelerate growth in the grocery sector — and can save retailers billions of dollars.  In recent years, the promise of omnichannel for grocers loomed on the horizon — a concept that felt like a future problem, not necessarily a problem that demanded immediate attention. The pandemic changed all of that and forced the need for a functioning omnichannel front and center, placing that need squarely on the shoulders of logistics managers. Major grocers answered. In fact, online grocery orders …

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energy managementHVAC/RIndustry Voicesvendors

Diffusing the Situation

by Katie Lee

— By Marc Mascarello — How retailers can maintain optimal airflow and air quality by using non-metal diffusers to enhance the efficiency of their HVAC system. A crucial yet often overlooked component of any HVAC system is the diffuser, which is responsible for dispersing conditioned air throughout a space. Even so, over the past 75 years, innovation in HVAC diffuser design has been minimal. Historically, the focus has been on manufacturing ease and profitability rather than enhancing functionality and visual appeal. Metal diffusers, while inexpensive and straightforward to mass-produce, tend …

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fire protectionIndustry Voiceskitchen equipmentkitchen exhaust/grease controlrestaurantsvendors

Going the Distance

by Katie Lee

— By Nathan Willard — Kitchen cleaning and maintenance is a marathon, not a sprint. For restaurant managers who already have enough on their plates, preventative maintenance (PM) can easily get swept away in the busyness of a daily routine. As a result, PM items that need to be performed on a regular basis often get pushed to the side. In the blink of an eye, a fire safety inspection that restaurant managers and owners should be prepared for is only weeks away, catching managers and their kitchen staff off …

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