— By Michelle Egan — What you need to know when adding or updating curbside pickup service. Prior to the pandemic, it could be argued that many (if not most) restaurants offered takeout while some actually had curbside pickup. The same could be said about some retailers that, in an effort to outpace competitors with stellar customer service, had already introduced online or phone ordering with in-store pickup or in-car delivery. However, curbside pickup today has shifted from being a nice-to-have to a must-have as consumers continue to seek …
parking lots
— By A.J. Dilenno — The importance of your parking lot during and after COVID-19. COVID-19 may have put dining out on hiatus in many areas, but that doesn’t mean customers have abandoned their favorite restaurants. To meet customer demand while practicing social distancing, many retail stores and restaurants have turned to curbside pickup and drive-thru, with some stores delivering groceries right to people’s cars. In fact, demand for alternative dining and delivery options have made the parking lot the go-to area for many businesses. For other establishments, weeks …
Cheshire, Conn. — Park Assist® has been awarded the Parking Guidance System (PGS) contract at Whole Foods Market’s headquarters and flagship store in Austin, Texas. The multinational supermarket chain, founded in 1980, quickly rose in popularity thanks to its focus on quality, sustainability, and natural and organic foods. The parking installation is set to go live by the end of 2020. Whole Foods’ headquarters and flagship store see an extremely high traffic volume, causing parking shortages within the underground garage. Employee parking is often overfilled, and team members are left …
— 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 Jaron Srain — How to tell if your parking lot meets commercial standards. The first thing a client sees when they pull up to your business is not your sign, your landscaping or even your building. It’s your parking lot. You don’t want your new client driving over a bumpy, faded driveway only to step in a giant pothole full of water when they park the car. Believe it or not, the quality of your parking lot makes a lasting impression on your business. That’s why …
— By Bob Lester — Keep your outdoor walkways as safe as your interior floors: How to avoid parking lot slips and trips this winter. The weather has gotten colder, precipitation in many regions of the country has turned into snow, and the likelihood of accidents caused by slick conditions has increased. While most restaurant and retail workers know to keep their floors clean and free of fall risks, they may not think about their outdoor walking spaces quite the same way. To keep customers safe this winter, retail …
— By Chris Scheppmann — A smart, simple solution to a holiday nightmare. Retail executives across the United States recently had to face their annual holiday parking nightmare. Holiday sales represent about 20% of annual sales each year (with some stores reaching as much as 30%), and this increased business results in a corresponding increase in auto traffic to and from shopping centers. For retail executives, particularly those managing busier complexes, this increased traffic can cause a nightmare scenario of dozens of cars circling parking areas looking for a …
Oak Brook, Ill. — Let’s Pave, LLC, a leading national provider of specialized paving services and solutions, has hired three new employees to help lead its growing sales team and accounting department. Jim Breech, director of business development, has more than 20 years of experience in sales and sales management leadership. He joined Let’s Pave from a closely related industry where he built long term relationships with many similar accounts which resulted in extraordinary sales growth. Breech’s executive experience in corporate strategy and business development is valuable to his new …
— By Ted Stouch — Parking area liability: are you vulnerable? In a retail or restaurant setting, a dark and foreboding parking lot or garage is a business owners’ worst nightmare. While a perfect setting for a horror movie, in real life, an unlit or poorly lit parking area is a recipe for disaster. Assault, robbery, rape and even murder are a few of the rampant occurrences plaguing parking areas across the U.S. They have low lighting, shadowy expanses and distractions, which make for a tempting invitation for criminals. According …
— By Mike Rosen — How your parking lot can drive down operating costs. Of all the areas you’re responsible to maintain, the parking lot is one of the largest. And, in the fast-paced retail and restaurant industry, it isn’t always convenient to make repairs to it. This is a significant challenge for c-stores in particular where downtime is especially costly. How do I know? Recently, I had the privilege of attending the National Leadership Conference for a leading retailer of gasoline and convenience merchandise. My participation gave me …