Retail today is extremely competitive; most stores have tight margins and are constantly looking for ways to attract consumers. To this end, merchants are realizing the importance of lighting. In addition, many retailers understand the significant operating cost of lighting and are looking for ways to reduce their expenditures.
March 01, 2003
Retail today is extremely competitive; most stores have tight margins and are constantly looking for ways to attract consumers. Whether it is a grocery store, convenience store, “big box” or high-end retail, merchants have realized the importance of lighting to help attract customers and sell merchandise. In addition, many retailers understand the significant operating cost of lighting and are looking for ways to reduce their expenditures.
A high-quality, energy-efficient lighting system can help add to a retailer’s competitive advantage by attracting more customers and reducing operating costs, which directly helps the company’s bottom line. The U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR program’s retail experts state that for grocery stores, “saving $1 in energy costs can improve profits as much as increasing sales by $80.” That’s a lot of tomatoes. (more…)
From room makeovers to gutter cleaning, your present can be time and expertise
If you’re stumped about holiday gifts, you can take a cue from a home-improvement project that changed Phyllis Leach’s life.
The Kansas City, Mo., woman returned home one day to find her screened porch was no longer a dumping ground for old magazines and the lawn mower.
Now it’s an attractive space where she drinks her coffee, reads her newspaper and plays with her beagle, Cooper. (more…)
Many of us have visited a home that exudes so much warmth and coziness that we curl up on the sofa and find ourselves falling asleep. But what is it that makes guests feel comfortable and want to linger? Is it the inviting colors, the clutter-free surfaces or the lively conversations around the kitchen table? And how can you get that feeling in your home?
You’ve painted the walls, purchased decent furniture, hung art and bought accents from Ikea and Pier 1 Imports, but you silently wonder, ‘‘Why doesn’t my place feel like that?’’
Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, author of ‘‘Apartment Therapy: The Eight-Step Home Cure’’ (Bantam Dell, $14), says making your apartment or house feel more homey doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. The solution could be as simple as rearranging your furniture for better air flow or adding small touches such as fresh-cut flowers and burning candles. (more…)
