— By George Lessmeister — 6 reasons to ‘go gig’ — and give hourly workers the flexibility they want. Sitting at a restaurant we’ve all become more patient. We know staffing is tight. And we know the people who are working…are working hard. Still, there’s no doubt you’ve asked the question — where has everyone gone? Back in 2019, headlines were all about low unemployment, the gig workforce was growing, and things were great. Then came COVID. Our world got smaller. First, we all had to stay …
— By Sonja Berry — From LED retrofits to lighting controls and daylight harvesting, this is where efficient, cutting-edge commercial lighting is headed. It is well known that upgrading your company’s lighting system to LED greatly reduces energy consumption as well as utility bill costs. LEDs can save 60% to 80% over other energy saving or standard retail lighting. A straight replacement of halogen or incandescent bulbs with LEDs — called an “LED retrofit” — can dramatically reduce a building’s lighting energy consumption and thereby reducing utility bill …
— By Shawn Morrow — Proactive practices to protect your retail/restaurant roof when severe weather strikes. Severe weather events can be considered the Number 1 enemy to a commercial roof. Depending on where a building is located in the country, a roof can fall prey to snow and ice storms in the winter, high wind, hail and rainstorms in the spring and summer, and hurricanes in the fall. Unfortunately, severe weather events are on the rise due to global weather pattern changes. In fact, the EPA recently reported that …
— By Rob Reiter — A new law in California creates insurance incentives for installation of safety barriers to protect outdoor diners and other pedestrians. As outdoor dining and similar streetside venues became commonplace throughout the U.S. during the pandemic, so too did deaths and injuries from vehicles crashing into those diners and pedestrians. California Assemblymember Dr. Bill Quirk (D-20) saw the same trend in his state and introduced legislation that created incentives for installation of safety barriers in the context of outdoor dining and related activities …
— By Cindy Price — Superpowers your business can’t ignore: customer service and customer experience. Are you aware that your business possesses superpowers? It’s true. Like Dorothy and the ruby slippers, you’ve had them all along. So what are these superpowers? Customer Service and Customer Experience. The two are direct contributors to your business’s success — and reputation. Attracting and retaining customers is always your goal. What helps you reach it are these unique to you superpowers. Although linked together, customer service and customer experience also possess notable differences. …
— By Ashik Ahmed — Scheduling hacks to foster a thriving workplace. Across industries, happy employees are likely to be more productive and yield favorable customer satisfaction rates in return. This is especially true for restaurants and retailers. Most hourly workers today juggle other responsibilities when they’re not clocked in — from attending classes to raising a family, or holding down another job. It’s crucial for employers to demonstrate empathy toward employees and meet them where they are. One of the most effective ways to accomplish this …
— By Jared Bradley — Anticipating the future of wellness F&B in construction. Participating in the wide world of architecture, design and construction takes on different meanings to each individual, especially when it comes to cultivating spaces that speak to each client’s ethos and purpose. The pinnacle of good commercial construction comes from marrying a brand’s concept with a design that meets the evolving needs of its industry –– in the case of food and beverage (F&B) spaces, we’re seeing an increasingly popular shift toward incorporating health and wellness …
— By Doug Groves — Is your commercial property insured correctly? The world of property ownership has changed dramatically in recent years. With interest rates increasing, the overall cost of building materials going up, and the market value of properties also on the rise, it is more important than ever to know what’s covered in your insurance policy and what you are actually paying for . . . and if you are paying enough. More and more property owners who experience loss are shocked to learn after the fact …
— By Balmiki Bhattacharya — Micro fulfillment centers are on the rise — and here to stay. The fundamental changes in consumer behavior have caused an essential shift in how items are delivered. The rise of e-commerce has transformed supply from its physical and limited state to a virtual state — which is “always available.” According to Digital Commerce 360, 68% of online shoppers cited fast shipping capabilities as the determining factor for placing an online order. Part of the solution for this lies within micro fulfillment centers …
— By Jason Roeder — Advancing restaurant and retail sustainability: the power of equipment data. Last March, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed new rules that will impact every publicly traded multi-unit retailer or restaurant. If the regulations are adopted, these organizations will have to disclose their greenhouse-gas emissions, climate goals and the effect of climate risks on their businesses. This development adds a new level of urgency for these sectors, which are already working to reduce their carbon footprint. It’s far from easy; a previous study cited …
