Retail

Eco has worked on energy efficient lighting projects in the retail and restaurant environments ever since the company was founded. Our past performances have been as diverse as single stores with limited selling area to complete regional retrofits for entire chains. We have worked on complex national projects involving millions of square feet across the entire brand and have upgraded complete shopping malls. Retail is challenging for the lighting industry. Our experience offers some critical insights and key learnings about energy efficient lighting projects in the retail and restaurant marketplace.

National Presence and Timing

National retailers typically schedule remodels to their sales environment every 3 – 4 years to keep their look fresh and interesting. Retailers should consider lighting retrofits as an on-going, multi-pronged program rather than a massive, all at once initiative. Technology changes rapidly in the lighting industry and new solutions may mean a huge difference in energy savings and aesthetics at any given time. For retailers with many stores, in many different energy-using regions, served by multiple utilities and widely varying rebate/incentive programs, it becomes cumbersome and unmanageable to coordinate the efforts of multiple local and regional lighting service providers. Eco has a national presence and a central management system to assist retailers with the management and tracking of all of their energy efficient lighting programs.

Impact on Merchandising

Appealing and attractive visual merchandising of products can be just as important as the overall layout and selling environment. Knowing which lamps and fixtures best accomplish visual merchandising objectives is both art and science. Knowing how to properly apply lighting focus or angels can create the most dramatic effect and enhance the appeal of the store for shoppers or the dining room for the guests. Eco has significant experience in these domains and we can work with merchandising specialists to offer added benefits, all while maximizing savings that will bring a smile to both your customers and accountants.

Protection of Assets

Retail selling space is typically a maze of fixtures, bins, cash wraps and displays, and there is lighting both above and within that selling space. Installing lighting requires work space and can generate debris. The utmost care must be taken in the construction and building phases of any lighting project in the retail environment. That care is magnified in the restaurant dining and food preparation areas. Protecting the hard assets of merchandise, equipment and displays insures the investment in inventory and fixtures remains at current values. Implementation teams may have to move fixtures and display units while protecting the selling floor with drop cloths. Altered areas must be restored to their original layout and cleanliness before the next day’s shoppers or guests arrive on the scene.

Project Prioritization

When prioritizing energy savings projects, the top consideration is the ROI and pay-back period associated with the initiative. While these variables are also important in the store environment, the unique metrics and information systems of retailers require other considerations to enter into the design and payback analysis. Other variables include market share of the specific store, sales per square foot, geographical variances in energy costs, rebate availability differences and if the space is owned or leased.

Key Clients: Retail and Restaurants

Federated Department Stores
JC Penney - Case Study | Reference Letter
Sears
OfficeMax
Valvoline Instant Oil Change - Reference Letter
Yum Brands
Frisch’s Restaurants
Kenwood Towne Center
Standard Parking - Reference Letter

Markets Served