Industry Voices

By Design

by Katie Lee July 19, 2023

— By Tony Hunsoo Ahn — A bakery concept that features delicious design and a tasty layout. Store design and layout are pivotal to making a favorable first impression — and to maintaining the feeling for returning guests. Walk into any TOUS les JOURS (TLJ) location across the U.S., and you’ll find an inviting ‘cafeteria-style’ grab-and-go environment with a large display of individually wrapped pastries, encouraging customers to add their items — all-time favorites and new desires — to a tray as they approach the register. TLJ is committed to …

July 19, 2023

Features green news Industry Voices

How to Make a Positive Impact

by Katie Lee July 19, 2023

— By Krystal Vasquez — Sustainability moves every retail owner should consider. Retailers continue to struggle with tackling sustainability in their properties. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the urgency of engaging in environmentally friendly practices, and retailers are facing more and more pressure to reduce their impact on the environment. Unfortunately the desire to make a retail business sustainable and achieving sustainability are two very different things, and the path to long term retail sector sustainability remains a challenge. Commercial properties, in particular retail stores and restaurants, have plenty of room …

July 19, 2023

exterior services/landscaping Industry Voices pest control

Bye, Bye Birdie

by Katie Lee July 12, 2023

— By Sarah Carter — The benefits of bird abatement at your retail facility. It’s opening time! Customers are lined up at the door, ready to shop. As they walk through the entrance, they are greeted with a smile from a friendly associate letting them know they’re available if any assistance is needed. The customer tells them they are only here for a few things since the weather’s getting warmer and it’s time for a little gardening. The customer continues to the outside department, down an aisle, searching for the …

July 12, 2023

construction and design exterior services/landscaping Industry Voices property management

The Retail Comeback

by Katie Lee July 5, 2023

— Interview with Tom Real — How restaurants and retail stores can capitalize on the post-pandemic revival. Although brick-and-mortar stores and restaurants were among the real estate sectors that suffered the most during the pandemic, these sectors also came roaring back as the crisis subsided. Owners of retail and restaurant properties are now looking for enticing amenities and engaging experiences that will pique investor and customer interest. We spoke with Tom Real, vice president of engineering and preconstruction at OTL, a leader in water features, rockwork and themed environments, about …

July 5, 2023

Industry Voices restaurants

Support Local

by Katie Lee June 29, 2023

— By Andrew Munday — What’s next after ghost kitchens? Restaurants are expanding their reach with a new business model: a partnership with ‘Local Kitchens.’ The restaurant industry has evolved rapidly over the last decade, with much of this evolution accelerating since the pandemic. We’ve seen new technologies emerge with consumer behaviors evolving in tandem. These changes have forced restaurant founders to adapt, pushing them to seek out new partnerships for expansion and to explore new business models emerging within the industry. When a restaurant is successful, the owners face …

June 29, 2023

Industry Voices restaurants retailers vendors

Next Generation

by Katie Lee June 16, 2023

— By Michael Spataro — Why intelligent automation will be key for successful workforce management in 2023 and beyond. Throughout 2022, many businesses were left scrambling to fill shifts, properly serve customers and attract and retain hourly employees. In 2023, businesses in the retail, hospitality and restaurant industries will need to find new ways to manage their hourly workforce, find ways to streamline their labor operations and operate more effectively — while also delivering a better experience for their frontline employees and customers. The solution: intelligent automation powered by …

June 16, 2023

franchise development Industry Voices restaurants

Lending Your Expertise

by Katie Lee June 7, 2023

— By Jon McClure — Responsible, creative financing supporting QSRs — how to find success in a challenging economy. How is it that with high inflation and high costs of borrowing, many QSRs owners continue to manage successful buyouts and acquisitions? One answer is creative deal structures in partnership with a responsible lender. Inflation — while beginning to ease — is still at levels not seen since the 1980s. In an effort to rein in rising prices, the Federal Reserve raised the Federal Funds rate seven times in …

June 7, 2023

Industry Voices restaurants vendors

The Big Squeeze

by Katie Lee May 31, 2023

— By George Lessmeister — 3 areas of margin pressure on restaurants. Operating a restaurant can feel like a roller coaster ride. Revenue and volume plummeted during the pandemic and then climbed back to pre-COVID levels in 2022. Rising costs, however, are now squeezing profit margins. These ups and downs can make it difficult to plan. What’s the outlook for 2023? Supply Chain Challenges While supply chain bottlenecks are easing somewhat, they are expected to continue as a problem for the restaurant industry well into 2023. Some operators are …

May 31, 2023

Industry Voices restaurants retailers software/technology

Essential Convenience

by Katie Lee May 23, 2023

— By Bart Waldeck — Retailers will need to embrace creative innovations in order to thrive in 2023 and beyond. The retail landscape doesn’t look like it used to anymore — from buy online, pickup in store (BOPIS) and curbside delivery, to touchless shopping and scan-and-go checkouts, retail shopping trends have dramatically changed, both out of necessity due to the pandemic and evolving consumer preferences. Since COVID-19, retailers have had to shift store layouts, rethink operations and leverage new technologies to offer customers an innovative — and seamless …

May 23, 2023

Industry Voices security/loss prevention software/technology vendors

Threat Detection + Rapid Response

by Katie Lee May 18, 2023

— By Dave Fraser — Protecting facilities with AI gun detection technology. The grim reality in today’s day and age is that active shooting incidents are on the rise. In fact, according to the FBI, active shooter incidents jumped more than 50% in 2021. And as we already saw with multiple mass shooting events in 2022, and 2023, the problem is not going away. This alarming trend is placing increased pressure on facilities to be ready in the event that a mass shooter walks through their doors. …

May 18, 2023

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