— By Jennifer Morris — Fast-casual concepts breathing new life into historic buildings. In the competitive restaurant industry, it’s often a challenge for concepts to break away from the pack. The dining experience and brand identity aren’t solely limited to the cuisine and culinary approach, but rather also developed through the site, decor and ambiance. Looking to differentiate themselves, many fast-casual concepts are taking the approach of choosing older, historical buildings to invest in, as opposed to commercial space that is new, modern or sleek. In the process, …
Industry Voices
— By David Goodwin — Should I retrofit my sign with LED lights? The commercial sign market has experienced a watershed shift in the use of one of a sign’s crucial components. Fluorescent bulbs long were the favored technology for giving signs their glow, but LED bulbs have emerged in recent years as a preferred choice for many sign-makers and their customers. Newly fabricated signs now often are installed with LED bulbs. In addition, shopping center operators and others increasingly are weighing the value of retrofitting their existing …
— By Borja del Nido and Brian Cook — Retail continues to grow through mixed-use developments. The retail industry is in the middle of a major transition. Traditional, pure retail developments are decreasing, but that doesn’t mean retail construction itself is on its way out. Instead, developers are successfully incorporating retail space as part of larger, mixed-use projects. These developments focus on being unique and experiential — places where people want to live, socialize and shop. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of national retailers …
— By Belinda O’Kelly — How to captivate ‘captive’ audiences at airports with stunning design. The thing that makes the design industry interesting is that our world as a context is constantly changing, and in turn, the changes influence design. The current innovations of the sharing economy, immersive technology and strides in wellness allow society to capitalize on the one fixed constant, the passage of time. There is now an elevated expectation on service, amenity and environment as we judge what is worth the time. There is a premium to …
— By William Gagnon — High-speed hand dryers offer total solution for retail restroom challenges. Cleanliness and general appearance are top concerns for successful retail and restaurant establishments, which often rely on positive brand reputation and word-of-mouth advertising to keep their businesses running. Even one patron complaint about this aspect of a facility — including its restroom — can have detrimental consequences. These establishments are often tasked with finding solutions that will not only keep the restroom environment visibly clean for employees and patrons, but ensure that they meet even …
— By Angela Tucker, Ph.D. — It’s not just a restaurant problem: Here are some common pests in retail facilities. With frequent deliveries, changing inventories and new visitors every day, retailers face a unique set of pest control challenges and problems. Customers may be alarmed by signs of a pest issue, and these unwelcome visitors may even lead to costly damage to inventory and facilities. Retail facility executives should familiarize themselves with general pest control processes and ensure they are followed. Of course, some pests call for special attention. It’s …
— By Carol L. Carey — It’s also what’s OUTSIDE that counts with customers. Your company has prepared by making sure the market research has been done, you have all the latest gadgets, toys, clothing and items everyone would want to buy. Each location is stocked, product and staffing budgets are approved, but are you really prepared? Do you see what I see? Many companies plan and budget for interior cleaning and maintenance. They outline preventative maintenance programs for janitorial services, HVAC, flooring, painting and even lighting. Their focus is …
— By John Goetz — Establishing a food safety culture with chemical dispensers. In a 2017 study published by Kline & Company, food safety compliance in commercial kitchens and food preparation areas was rated as the Number 1 emerging trend by the 750+ end users surveyed.1 Compliance with food safety standards is so important because it can make or break the success of a restaurant. Take Chipotle’s food safety crisis as an example. In 2015, E. coli and norovirus outbreaks forced some locations to close temporarily after 55 customers …
— By Jay Black — LEDs are the secret to success when it comes to reducing facility costs. Facility maintenance and management can no doubt be expensive, hence why many managers are left to find options that can help them cut costs and be more efficient with their budgets. Of these everyday expenses, one which offers the most potential for reducing costs is energy — more specifically, lighting. According to Energy Star, approximately 657,000 retail buildings in the U.S. consume more than $20 billion in energy each year. While lighting …
— By Jesse Wood — How document management software can help the restaurant industry. When your entire business is focused on bringing customers the services they need, paperwork often feels like it just gets in the way. However, in the digital age of virtual documents and cloud storage, the hassle is completely unnecessary. What is a Document Management System? Imagine a world without collating, sorting or searching for hours through big filing boxes of old documents for a single form. What if you didn’t even have to organize your own …