RECENT ARTICLES

Regency Centers’ Hilltop Village shopping center in Thornton, Colorado.

Riding the Wave
Regency Centers rolls out new outdoor water conservation program at many of its centers — and realizes both environmental and operational success.
By Brian A. Lee
The tidal wave of environmental urgency is building, and retail property management operations can either be caught in its undertow or ride the crest to new performance heights. Through its “greengenuity” sustainability initiative, Jacksonville, Florida-based Regency Centers has produced savings that certainly aren’t watered down. How does 96 million gallons of water or the equivalent of 4,800 average-sized swimming pools conserved per year sound?
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Swept Under The Rug
The hidden side of customer satisfaction: floor maintenance.
By Doug Bradford
Have you ever walked into a store and immediately noticed how many spills are on the carpet? How about a sticky hard surface or wood that is in need of attention? How about a countertop in disarray? Even if these things do not draw your attention immediately, subliminally they can have a lasting impact on your first impressions of the store and its product line.
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Study in VOCabulary
Understanding volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), their effect on the environment, and what they mean for the painting industry.
By Michael Fairclough
Whether or not you subscribe to the theory of global warming, everyone agrees that industrialization impacts our planet in one respect or another. The abundance of chemical compounds floating in our atmosphere and oceans, mixing through the soil, has created an unsustainable cycle. The net result will be a changed Earth, changed ecosystems and subsequently changed life styles.
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Secure Your Store
Increase in shoplifting has retailers turning to new technologies to combat crime.
By Lee Pernice
A recent search of Google news returned more than 80 articles on shoplifting within a 24-hour period. Those arrested for the crime were males and females in their teen, 20s, 30s and older. One mother enlisted the help of her two daughters to steal cosmetics from department stores. Police in cities across the country report shoplifting is on the rise.
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August-September 2009

What’s In Store
New York City drug store chain Duane Reade embarks on an ambitious re-branding campaign that aims to increase customer and employeesatisfaction.
By Katie Lee

Creating Consistency and Comfort
Performance management is a key component to achieving a positive customer experience.
By Jeff Walters

Growing Green
A green roof is good for the environment and good for your pocket book.
By Robert Bajarunas

Challenges In Store Remodels
For one solution, start looking up (at the ceiling, that is).
By Ken Woolf

Experience Speaks: Roofing
Retail Facility Business asked several experts about roofing issues pertaining to retailers and shopping centers.

June-July 2009

In Their Shoes
Flip Flop Shops achieves and maintains its goal of “environmentally responsible retail.”

Turning Green into Gold
How retailers can implement cost-effective green practices.
By Dawn Shoemaker

Paving Q&A
Retail Facility Business recently talked about new trends in the paving industry with Gary Rabine, CEO of Rabine Paving America and ConcreteLot.com.

The Plan behind the Curtain
Retailers discover new green and IAQ uses for air curtains.
By Michael Coscarell

Deferred Maintenance...at what cost?
Before delaying maintenance, know the true costs.
By Kellie D’Andrea

EXPERIENCE SPEAKS: Plumbing
Retail Facility Business asked several experts about plumbing issues pertaining to retailers and shopping centers.

May 2009

Fresh Ideas
The Fresh Market’s centralized organization and open lines of communication within its maintenance group serve the grocer well.

Designing Operational Efficiency
When designing a new lifestyle center, design teams and developers often
do not involve operations and facilities personnel in the decision-making
process until it is too late. This article serves to outline some of the many
ways that operations and facilities teams can contribute to create a
successful project.

Taking Action
Divaris Group’s property management team takes a proactive approach to
retail and management of mixed-use developments.

Experience Speaks: HVAC
Retail Facility Business asked several experts about HVAC issues pertaining to retailers and shopping centers, specifically about readying their stores for summer and the impending 2010 phase-out of R-22 refrigerant.