— 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, …
Features
— 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 …
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 …
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 …
— Interview with Tina Swanson — R&R: Where are you based and how long has Restaurant Technologies been in business? Tina Swanson: Restaurant Technologies is based in Minneapolis and has been providing automated solutions to restaurants for more than 20 years. R&R: What is your title and how long have you been with the company? Swanson: I lead the field sales, customer experience, account management and sales force effectiveness functions. I have been part of the Restaurant Technologies team since 2012. R&R: What trades/services do you offer retailers and restaurants? …
— Interview with Melissa Jones — Melissa Jones is business unit leader of Pentair Residential & Commercial Filtration. R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? Melissa Jones: Pentair was founded 1966 and is based in Golden Valley, Minnesota. Everpure, our industry-leading foodservice water treatment brand, was founded in 1933. R&R: What trades/services do you offer retailers and restaurants? Jones: Products: Everpure brand water treatment products. – Point-of-use solutions for a wide range of water-using foodservice applications including coffee/tea, fountain beverage, steam cooking, ice …
— Interview with Taylor Rhodes — R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? Taylor Rhodes: We’re celebrating an exciting milestone in 2019 — 20 years! It’s amazing to see how SMS Assist has evolved. What started as a floor care business with three employees is now a facility maintenance company with more than 800 employees working within our cloud-based platform, One by SMS Assist. R&R: What is your title and how long have you been with the company? Rhodes: My name is Taylor …
— 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 …