— By Graham Campbell — Choosing a new POS: 5 tips to avoid unexpected costs in the long run. Shopping for a new POS system can be a difficult process. Whether owners have a restaurant, salon, retail store or other type of business, the right POS system can help drive sales, manage their business and even leverage e-commerce features like online ordering, third-party delivery or loyalty programs. However, the wrong POS system can cause serious problems for any business, including unexpected costs. To avoid these incremental costs further …
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— By Matt Dailey — Creating efficiency in property management through technology. It’s no secret that technology is changing the way we live, work and shop now more than it ever has. Tech has disrupted nearly every industry, and although a little slower to the game, it has finally made its way to commercial real estate. On one end, we know that tech is enabling retailers to customize shopping experiences with an added-level of convenience, resulting in increased foot traffic and ultimately higher profits. But tech implementation can …
— By Mac McConnell — How to create a consistent luxury shopping experience across locations. Imagine you’re a shopper who just stepped into a luxury goods store. You are greeted by a sharply attired, uber-friendly store employee who hands you a tall glass of chilled sparkling wine and offers to give you a guided tour of the newest inventory. “No thanks for now,” you say, explaining that you’d rather do some browsing first. As you stroll through the aisles, you take in the impressive sights: the finish of …
— By Steve Peldiak — A spilled glass of water can easily be resolved. But the same amount of water on the floor from an unknown source could represent a major costly repair. Spring showers and the winter thaw have begun. Rain or snow melting from the rooftop finds its way to a clogged gutter, causing the water to run between the interior and exterior wall. This could unknowingly go on for days and weeks. By the time the water is visual, the damage has already been done. Mold …
— By Steve Smith — Start of spring is go-time for facility managers to assess and repair winter roof damage and prepare for spring showers. With the start of spring, facility managers of commercial buildings across the country are advised to immediately inspect their roofing to assess damage from the winter months and make necessary repairs before the showers of spring begin. Commercial roofing service providers recommend taking advantage of this window of opportunity between winter and spring to avoid costly repairs resulting from neglect. In many cases, …
— By William Gagnon — Hand dryers and restroom maintenance work well together. These days, it’s increasingly uncommon to walk into a commercial restroom and find paper towels as the sole option for drying hands after washing. Especially in a larger, busier facility, one is bound to see at least one electric hand dryer on the wall — evidence of the number of retailers, restaurants and other businesses worldwide that are making a sustainably smart switch. High-efficiency hand dryers not only provide unique benefits but address virtually all …
— By Katie Lee — Tropical Smoothie Cafe has opened more than 100 restaurants each year for the past 3 years — and continues to grow on pace to reach 1,000 locations by 2021. When Retail & Restaurant Facility Business last interviewed Tropical Smoothie Cafe (TSC) more than 3 years ago, we were talking about its milestone 500th location. Now, with more than 830 cafes open — 124 opened in 2019 alone — the fast-growing concept remains on track to reach 1,000 locations in 2021 and 1,500 locations …
— By Blake Callahan — Essential steps to plan for success. There are many phases of a remodel project depending on the size of the project: planning, budgeting, demolition, construction/build-back and cleanup. There’s also a great deal of questions that go with each of these phases. I’m going to focus on the ever-important budgeting aspect of the remodel phase. It’s been determined that nearly 2/3 of companies surveyed did not make expected profit and three or four large budget fails is enough to put most companies out of business. …
— By Dr. Andrae Holliday, Sr. Accessibility requirements for your retail and restaurant parking lots. According to ADA.gov, more than 50 million Americans — 18% of our population — have disabilities. Each one is a potential customer. Studies show that once people with disabilities find a business where they can shop or get services in an accessible manner, they become repeat customers. Are your parking lots ADA compliant? If you’re unsure, you could be losing business or — worse still — facing lawsuits and fines. Since its inception …
— By Eric Brownlee — Is your landscape management program doing all it can to highlight your brand? How do you see the landscapes on your properties? Do you consider landscaping as a brand asset, or is it simply something you must maintain to avoid violation notices or adhere to landlord requirements? Often a facility’s landscape is overlooked, expectations are not aligned, and the overall asset is not providing all the possible benefits. One key benefit not to be overlooked is curb appeal. When dining out, you may …