Industry Voices

— By Brice Bledsoe — “Do I really need this inspection?” The answer is almost always “yes!” In all my years working in fire and life safety (FLS), the most common question I receive from building owners/managers is, “Do I really need to get this inspection performed?” And regardless of facility or system type, almost every time the answer is a resounding “Yes!” Fire inspection codes are in place for a reason and have been developed over the last 120+ years as a result of reviewing accidents, close calls and …

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— By Tom Roberts — How energy efficiency measures can help mitigate the risk of rising energy costs. As many retailers and restaurants are feeling the impact of rising inflation, increasing labor costs and other supply chain challenges, making any reduction in energy costs can be an immensely helpful step toward better budget management. But, reducing your organization’s energy spend isn’t the only reason to be concerned with improving energy efficiency. In fact, organizations with sustainability goals should consider efficiency efforts as the first step in their carbon reduction journey. …

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— By Sean Gillespie — 5 important reasons you should repaint your commercial building. When it comes to building a solid, consistent image, many owners overlook the power of paint. A good paint job can have a direct impact on your marketing efforts by creating a sophisticated look and feel that makes your business more inviting to potential clients. There are lots of reasons that painting your commercial building is beneficial, so let’s dive into the details. First Impressions Matter A person’s first impression of something is influenced by surface …

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— By Scott Attman — The future of sustainability programs is more important and beneficial than ever. Sustainability and green programs in retail and commercial businesses are no longer fly-by-night industry trends. The call for sustainable and eco-friendly programs has grown louder over the past decade and many facility managers, owners and retail operators are heeding the call to reduce environmental impact and foster a culture of responsibility. By embracing green initiatives, facility managers can lower energy consumption, reduce waste and minimize carbon footprints.  Even beyond the environmental impacts are …

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— By Andrew Pudalov — How to make the most of restaurant spaces with less square footage. It’s natural in the restaurant industry to have the perception that more is more, such as more menu offerings or more seating options. While some concepts may function better with this approach, it’s important to look at the individual restaurant and examine what those target customers desire and what makes the most sense operationally. For square footage, Rush Bowls is guided by an efficiency-driven model that benefits each of its locations in many …

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— By Alec Zaballero — Experiential design in brick-and-mortar retail offers competitive advantages. Retail is on the rise. Despite continued discussion of rising inflation and a possible recession, U.S. gross domestic product grew by 2.1% year over year in 2022 vs. 2021, and the National Retail Federation economists expect it to continue growing into 2023. E-commerce has grown exponentially in recent years, but brick-and-mortar stores still offer a substantial competitive advantage for retailers. Customers crave physical retail experiences after being locked to digital shopping for so long; 63% of customers …

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— By Ethan Cohen — Serving fryers in multiple Ballast Point kitchens. Ballast Point is an iconic name, not only in California but nationwide. The brewery is known not only for its proud and pioneering hops history, but for equally fastidious food offerings in its topnotch restaurants. Kitchens with 50- to 85-pound fryers require frequent and demanding service to keep fried food tasting delicious and kitchens running faster, greener, safer and cleaner — it was a tall task to begin servicing Ballast Point. Arguably first on the ground of the …

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— Interview with Cameron Funk — How separating your waste streams can maximize sustainability. Following is a Q&A with Cameron Funk, chief sustainability officer of CheckSammy, an on-demand nationwide waste removal and sustainability services company headquartered in Dallas. We were interested to learn what options facilities managers may have to divert materials from the waste stream, and what challenges they may run up against in their quest to achieve maximum profitability through sustainability. R&R: What are the biggest challenges for retail and restaurant facility managers who are looking to divert …

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— By Savneet Singh — Balancing automation and workforce: navigating the future of restaurants. In an era of shrinking workforces and rising costs, the restaurant industry faces significant challenges in maintaining operational efficiency and profitability while delivering exceptional customer experiences. Many establishments have implemented automation — including robots and artificial intelligence (AI) — to address these pain points and supplement their human workforce. While automation enhances productivity and streamlines operations, restaurants must balance relying on technology and prioritizing the hiring/retention of employees. A Growing Need for Automation In a labor-driven, …

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— By Jon Jaggers — How to leverage brand heritage in the restaurant industry and beyond. Have you ever found yourself drawn to a restaurant not just because of the food, but because of its unique history and story? Maybe it’s a local diner that’s been around for decades, or a chain that’s been passed down from generation to generation. Whatever it may be, brand heritage is a powerful tool in the food and beverage industry. In this post, we’ll dive into why brand heritage matters, and how it can …

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