Industry Voices

— By Rashida Salahuddin — Why retailers must navigate muddy waters of ESG requirements.   The need for more corporate responsibility has evolved for today’s corporations and the next generation of business leaders in the form of environmental, social and governance (ESG). Investors, activists and regulators are now requiring proactive, community-structured commitment and accountability that is designed to step above shareholder returns. Today’s global capital markets aren’t interested in more marketing from companies in every industry. Instead, they are demanding sustainability and eco-friendly business practices as well as a reasonable …

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— By Rodney Jarboe — How modular trash enclosures keep dumpsters out of sight, but not out of mind.   In the not-so-distant past, almost nobody was paying attention to the design or materials used for dumpster enclosure construction. A dumpster is a dumpster, right? Cover it up! These days dumpster enclosures are getting more attention due to three key factors. Key Factors Affecting Trash Enclosures First, the enclosures themselves are taking up a larger footprint than ever before due to the new recycling bin requirements in addition to the …

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— By Kristin Hiller —   As the nation emerges on the other side of the pandemic, the retail and restaurant industries are tasked with adapting their store designs and business models to match consumer behavioral shifts. Shoppers and diners alike want to make purchases easily with multiple options for ordering and pickup. Border Foods, one of the largest privately held Taco Bell franchisees in America, enlisted the services of Minneapolis-based design consultancy Vertical Works Inc. in 2020 to create a new restaurant design. The result was Defy, a two-story …

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— By Matt Smitheman — Protecting lone workers in a retail or restaurant setting.   As retailers and restaurants continue to revamp their business models to keep pace with customer expectations, many are increasingly relying on lone workers for opening, closing, third shifts, curbside deliveries and other customer interactions outside of the traditional store premises. While lone employees play a critical role in keeping these businesses up and running, they are more at risk of encountering threats at work with an estimated 48% of HR professionals reporting that their organization …

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— By Jason Srain — How to use your parking lot to make a great first impression.   According to a Princeton study published by the Association for Psychological Science, first impressions are made within the first 7 seconds of meeting. That does not leave much time to showcase your business, impress customers or charm potential investors. So what can you do to make a better first impression? You can start by fixing up your parking lot. Like long lines, dated waiting rooms and bad customer service, a poorly maintained …

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— By Bruno Hanelt —   Unlocking hidden value and difference-making savings in restaurant (re)construction projects.   Restaurant owners and operators looking to expand to new spaces are facing some structural market headwinds right now that makes completing reconstruction and buildout projects on-time and on-budget extremely challenging. The combination of inflation, steeply rising prices for construction materials, and increasingly common (and costly) supply chain disruptions can make planning and budgeting for commercial development projects an exercise in frustration. Even in this uniquely challenging moment, however, experienced commercial construction companies can …

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— By Doug Groves — Is your retail business insured for a cyber attack?   A critical piece of information for retail businesses and franchisees to consider is the exclusion of cyber liability from standard insurance policies. In fact, most don’t even sell or offer cyber coverage. As reports of cyber incidents increase by the day, now is the time for every business owner to review their insurance coverage with their provider. The upside of this 21st century risk is the growing availability of tailored coverages and policies offering protection …

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— By Tom Dawson — Tips to extend the life of a roof.   A new roof is a substantial investment that can cost thousands of dollars. With adequate maintenance and attention, a roof’s lifespan can be significantly increased. If a roof is left unmaintained or ignored, expensive repairs or replacement costs will arise. The purpose of this article is to provide several money-saving suggestions that can be immediately implemented and introduce other long term strategies to extend the lifespan of a roof. Keep the Manufacturer’s Warranty Valid Many businesses …

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— By Garrett Fishaw — Storefront crashes: the incoming cost you can’t afford.   60 times a day. More than 4,000 injured annually. As many as 500 killed each year. According to the Storefront Safety Council, those are the statistics for storefront crashes in the United States. There’s no argument anymore. Storefront crashes are an epidemic in this country and something that every business owner needs to be aware of when designing their storefront layouts. The Storefront Safety Council estimated that the cost of a car-into-building crash that does not …

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— By Jon Jaggers — Cross-pollinating your retail experience: store-within-a-store, dual brands, and sub-brands.   In today’s retail climate, many customers are looking for experiences beyond the store. These days, more and more brands are partnering with other businesses to offer a unique experience that both brand partners can share. This is called cross-pollination within retail, and it has become one of the hottest trends in the business world. In this column, we’ll explore what exactly cross-pollinating your retail experience means and how you can use it as an opportunity …

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