Features

— By Ian Eyberg — Secure servers in foodservice: how to freeze the hackers out cold. 2018 was a record-breaking year for data breaches. Everyone from Facebook to Marriott to even Google suffered and continues to suffer. What’s the rub? Unfortunately, every year seems to be a record-breaking year. Restaurants have traditionally not had to worry as much about all the nastiness involving technology — after all, what’s a frying pan or an oven have to do with computers? In the past, restaurants have only had to pay attention to …

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— By Shane McCoy — How technological developments are changing pest management. Pest management is an ancient practice, one that has existed since crops have been cultivated for food. Just because it’s been around since the beginning of time, though, doesn’t mean it’s stayed the same. In the last 10 to 15 years, technology has revolutionized how we communicate, how we socialize and how we do business. The pest management industry is no exception. The use of technology, whether created specifically for or adapted to the pest management industry, has …

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— Interview with Anthony Vross — R&R: Where are you based and how long has Simon Roofing been in business? Anthony Vross: Simon Roofing is a family-owned commercial roofing company being operated today by third- and fourth-generation family members. Founded more than 100 years ago, our company is headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio. R&R: What is your title and how long have you been with Simon? Vross: Co-owner, 41 years. R&R: What trades/services do you offer retailers and restaurants? Vross: Simon Roofing’s customer list includes many large retailers and restaurants who …

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— Interview with Sean Gillespie —   R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? Sean Gillespie: Harrison Contracting Company began in 1995 and recently celebrated 20 years in business. Our main national office is based in Villa Rica, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. We also have offices in Destin and Tampa, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia. R&R: What trades/services do you offer retailers and restaurants? Gillespie: We are a commercial painting contractor serving both new construction and repaint/reimage projects across all of our office …

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— 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, …

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— 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 …

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— 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 …

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— 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 …

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Skechers grows its brand by growing its physical retail presence — from 1,000 stores 5 years ago to more than 3,000 today. — By Katie Lee — Grow. From its store count and sales to expanding corporate headquarters, grow is what Skechers does best, regardless of physical retail climate, regardless of industry trends. In 1992, when Robert and Michael Greenberg (father and son, respectively) launched a new footwear brand inside a small beach house in Manhattan Beach, California, little did they dream that by 2010 — during a recession, no …

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While developers might take a decade to plan, design and build a project, how many technological changes take place in that time? Here’s how Urban-X Group has been planning for almost a decade with its River Landing Shops & Residences, to open in 2020 in Miami. — By Katie Lee — Trends and technology tend to burst on the scene, evolve and grow with ferocious speed — often faster than you can plan for them. While an entire rideshare industry has been born and boomed within just the last decade …

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