New School Restaurant Design Trends

Always a sucker for Top 10 lists, Eater NY, the trendy New York dining/bar scene-reporting website, dished up a great one last week: New School Restaurant Design Trends for 2010.

One of my favorites that made the list is aptly titled "Recycled Junk." I think there's something really unique about discovering reclaimed or repurposed items in a business. It's always neat to see the new and clever uses designers can come up with. These pieces add a certain character and charm that isn't always achievable with new items. And, as the article points out, they also suggest "an eco-friendliness," which is something many diners appreciate these days.

"Boiler Room Chic" is another trend I've seen a lot of lately. Eater NY classifies this one as including "exposed brick, tan wood accents, and utilitarian lighting fixtures." I'd also add stainless steel and other metal accents, exposed ceilings and cement and/or wood flooring to the list. I've seen these elements used in ways that play up a building's history and I've also seen them come together to create cool, modern spaces. I think this versatility is part of the appeal for restaurant owners.

Keep in mind as you read the list that these trends come from observations made in NYC-area establishments. Still, certain elements of each have broad enough appeal and could be successfully incorporated into concepts anywhere.

The list is also far from definitive. In fact, as I was reading through it, I came up with two I would as to it as restaurant trends: sustainability and something I call "cafe casual." First up, sustainability has been talked about for years, but more and more, we're seeing requests for eco-friendly, recycled/recyclable and sustainable materials.

The second, "cafe casual," refers to the upscaling of QSRs and downscaling of full service concepts I see happening. Heavily influenced by the growing popularity of the fast casual segment, concepts on both sides are incorporating elements into their own designs that either add a touch of sophistication (McDonald's and their McCafes) or a touch of casual (such as upscale eateries forgoing dress codes and table cloths).

What do you think? Agree with the list? Like my additions? Have any that you would add? Share your thoughts here.


--Liz Blohm

Chapter #5 - Custom vs. Off-the-Shelf Kiosks

After taking May off to report on the NRA 2010 show, Marie is back in kiosk mode with her latest installment in her kiosk program development story. In case you missed them or just need a refresher, you can read the previous chapters here, here, here and here.

Chapter 5 - Custom vs. Off-the-Shelf Kiosks

Some people believe that there is no clear distinction between custom and off-the-shelf kiosk programs. But there are differences. Let's start with off-the-shelf.

There are a couple of areas to mull over when choosing an off-the-shelf program. First is the number of units you plan to open. If you're opening just a single unit and there is no plan to grow beyond that, off-the-shelf is the way to go. The upfront investment is generally lower than a custom kiosk and with the multitude of designs available, you should be able to find something that will work for you.

If you're planning to roll out more than one unit, however, off-the-shelf may not be the way to go. I always tell my customers that the biggest mistake start-up businesses can make when developing a kiosk program is not building a solid branded design platform and maintaining that identity throughout the entire program. Stock kiosks don't always allow for this to happen.

Another area to consider is if you plan to test your concept before rolling out additional units. If yours is a brand-new, unproven concept, it would make sense to start with an off-the-shelf kiosk because of their lower upfront cost. Once the concept has been proven and you decide to develop more kiosks, then you may want to look into a custom program.

I must say that too often, the decision really comes down to money. If you're very price sensitive, off-the-shelf is the better option.

And now for the other side - custom kiosks. Virtually all regional and national kiosk programs will incorporate some level of customization. This is because there are so many different elements to a kiosk's design including branding, size, number of product display areas and overall functionality for your customers and employees. Additionally, you have to take into account the mall property groups you plan to lease from as each one will have different design criteria. If you're planning a national roll out, custom is definitely the way to go as it'll help strengthen brand identity and recognition while allowing you to make necessary revisions to accommodate mall guidelines (plan for at least 3 to 4 designs to enable you to lease within these properties).

If you're deciding between off-the-shelf and custom, here's a quick list of pros and cons for each to consider:

Off-the-Shelf

• Lower cost
• Ideal for testing an unproven concept
• Speed to market -- about 4 weeks
• Standard design concepts
• May not express your brand
• May not fit your parameters

Custom

• Ideal for building brand identity/recognition
• Unique design
• Will be functional for selling your product/service
• Higher cost
• Lengthy design process -- about 2-3 months

--Marie VanDrisse (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)

"'Custom' doesn't have to mean 'expensive'"

It's a common misconception in the retail fixture world: to get custom-designed fixtures, retailers need to shell out big bucks. So not true says the fixture pros in this article on VSMD.com. And we have to agree. As long as retailers are willing to be creative and flexible, a uniquely-branded look is well within most store design budgets.

F.C. Dadson specializes in designing and producing custom fixture packages, and not all of our clients are the larger, national chains one generally thinks of as having the budget for personalized designs. In fact, many of our customers had just a handful of stores (some less than that) when we started working with them.

Many also came with the challenge of a small budget. Still, we made it work and here are a few ways you can make it work too.

• Explore the different material options that are available. If you're digging the look of a pricier wood or solid surface, there's likely to be a comparable veneer or laminate on the market that's a more cost-effective option.
• Smartly engineer designs to reduce tooling time. Intricate cuts and extensive assembly increase production time, adding to the project's cost.
• Use graphics for the perfect finishing touch. Graphics can turn even the simplest fixture into an exciting branded element. Plus, they can be updated regularly, extending the life of your display.
  

A Perfect Time to Grow

At the beginning of the year I read a blog post on RetailSmartGuys.com that really struck a chord. It was all about how NOW (or then, I suppose) is the perfect time for retailers to map out growth strategies. Thinking back to late 2009/early 2010, those in retail were more interested in maintaining their current levels and even cutting back when necessary. I would read of some growth happening, but it was generally the same handful of stores that I had been hearing about for the last few years. To encourage growth strategies at a time like that, I thought, was pretty gutsy.

Fast forward to today and I find myself thinking about that blog post again. It's looking like retailers have heeded Mr. Jablons's advice and started focusing again on growth. The downturn saw retailers going out of business and closing stores. This has left openings in markets for growth-minded companies to come in and gain market share.

It's like Jablons concluded months ago, "This economy has had us all worrying, contracting, suffering, weeping, struggling, and enslaved for far too long. The time has come to do something proactive, something amazing, something bold, and something historical."


--Larry Myer (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)

Small Business Love

Despite pressure from larger chains and a lack of attention from financial institutions' lending departments, small business owners are still feeling the love -from local consumers, celebrities and even a handful of of larger businesses.

In this article on Businessweek.com, it's reported that a February Gallup poll found the term "small business" receiving the most positive reaction from respondents. Additionally, a recent Pew Research study found small business owners earning higher rankings than the other institutions asked about in the survey. Even Tom Hanks extolled the virtue of small business in a recent visit to a small stationery store in Altadenta, CA.

And while times may still be a little tough for the little guy, a number of businesses have created perks and special offers only available to small business owners. From hotel deals to Bank of America's recent pledge to increase lending to small- and mid-sized businesses by $5 billion in 2010, there's a variety of things happening that should give small business a major case of the warm and fuzzies.

After reading this, I'm curious if and how our small business readers are feeling the love. Feel free to share your experiences here!


-- Liz Blohm

Placing a Value on the Intangibles

It's something I hear almost everyday: "That's great, but if I go with these guys I could save 5%." While budgets have loosened a little these last few months, it's still very clear that businesses are in money-saving mode. Being cost-conscious is always an important characteristic for business owners to have, but it's just as important to really look at what you're getting for the lower price tag. As they say, sometimes you get what you pay for.

Which brings me to the question of the day: "How do you place a value on the intangibles that come with selecting a certain vendor?" Things like customer service and timely delivery. You may save 5% on the upfront cost, but if everything is arriving late, are you really saving 5%?

Before choosing one vendor over another, take some time to figure out what things aside from the product itself are important for you and your business. Do you value personalized service and prefer working with a dedicated account manager or are you comfortable placing orders online or over the phone with any customer representative? Are the products time-sensitive for your business or do you have some leeway in delivery times? Depending on your answer, you might find that the cheapest option isn't the best one for you.

Then the question becomes, "how much are those intangibles worth to you?"It's not always easy to figure out, but once you do, you can choose the vendor that's best for your business, not just your budget.


-- Troy Schwehr (Find me on LinkedIn.)

Are LEED Buildings Really that Great? New Study Says No.

In the last few years -and especially since LEED for Retail was implemented, we've seen more and more projects come through that are either working toward LEED certification or are trying to be a little more LEED-friendly by incorporating some of the environmentally-conscious building principles into their plans. Some do it for the purported energy savings and tax benefits. Others see it as being the "right thing to do." But is the program really as great as many think it is? Connecticut-based Environment and Human Health, Inc. thinks not.

In a recent study conducted by the non-profit group (and as reported in an article on FastCompany.com), it seems that the LEED program, while providing some benefit, still allows "all sorts of harmful stuff, whether pesticides in tap water or formaldehyde-laden particleboard." The study's lead author, John Wargo, also had this to say to the Fast Company reporter: "even the Council's most prestigious Platinum award does little to ensure that hazardous chemicals are kept out of certified buildings."

And this isn't the first time LEED has come under the scrutiny of an environmental or health group. Most see it as being "eco-lite and a little too industry-friendly." These criticisms many not be too far off the mark as even a 2008 study conducted by the U.S. Green Building Council found that "one-fourth of freshly certified projects weren't conserving as much energy as their LEED seals indicate." Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

While few can argue that LEED isn't a step in the right direction, it seems that there is still room for improvement -as is generally the case with most things.

Links to the study as well as more commentary from both sides can be found in the article, located here on FastCompany.com.


--Liz Blohm

Summer Reading

They say that people listen to their peers more than other people. For franchisors looking for sage advice or a little reassurance from a fellow franchisor, your peer group just got one blog bigger.

Founder, President & CEO of Beautiful Brands, David Rutkauskas, recently launched a personal blog. In it, he shares his experiences, secrets to success and why he does what he does. He also offers up a special "Ask David" email that readers can use to submit their own questions to be answered in future posts.

They also say that to get an answer, you should go directly to the source. I'd say David's a pretty good source.

Find it here: http://davidrutkauskas.com/


-- Liz Blohm