The Dadson Diaries

2012-02-15T15:00:00.002-06:00

Larry Myer, F.C. Dadson's VP of Business Development, performed Monday, February13 with the Franchise All-Star Band at the recent International Franchise Association (IFA) Convention, Orlando, FL. Check out their website http://www.franchiseallstarband.com/

F.C. Dadson Welcomes Joei Vander Kooy to Sales Team

2011-12-22T13:06:00.000-06:00

F.C. Dadson is very excited to introduce Joei Vander Kooy as the newest member of its sales team. She brings to the company over 15 years of sales experience with an emphasis in retail and restaurants. Throughout her career, Vander Kooy has had the pleasure of working with a variety of businesses, spanning from small ventures up to Fortune 500 companies.

At F.C. Dadson, Vander Kooy will serve as Account Executive focusing on the retail and service markets. She’ll be responsible for identifying prospects, developing targeted sales strategies, and establishing and growing new accounts. Joei can be reached at 715-470-2620.

Unique Solutions Design, Ltd. Announces Partnership with F.C. Dadson for Rollout of Body Scanning Kiosks Across North America.

2011-10-28T14:12:00.001-05:00

Unique Solutions Design, Ltd, developer of innovative body fit solutions and technologies, is pleased to announce that it has retained the design and manufacturing services of retail technology company F.C. Dadson for an aggressive rollout of over 300 body scanning kiosks that will be installed at large shopping centers and other high-traffic venues throughout North America. The partnership begins with the design, production and initial launch of Me-Ality - Measured Reality body scanning kiosk at North Point Mall in Alpharetta, Georgia on October 3rd, 2011. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.me-ality.com/.

Unique Solutions holds the exclusive license for the only body scanning technology to measure the body while fully clothed. Unique's highly acclaimed apparel size-matching service, Me-Ality - Measured Reality - premiered in 2010 at the King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania, and has been a dream come true for consumers by taking the guesswork out of finding their best fitting apparel styles. In addition to body measurement technology expertise, Unique Solutions holds the largest and most comprehensive database of body measurements. The application of the technology, and subsequent aggregate data, will have far reaching impact in apparel retailers’ development of products and services that require accurate body size data.

"F.C. Dadson’s partnership will allow us to rapidly deploy our ground breaking new shopping service," said Tanya Shaw, CEO of Unique Solutions Design Ltd. "Since the widely reported success of our King of Prussia location, both shopping mall operators and consumers from across the country have been pressing for the opening of more kiosk locations. This partnership provides an aggressive expansion opportunity."

Let's Talk at the Restaurant Finance & Development Conference

2011-10-28T13:25:00.003-05:00

Learn more about how F.C. Dadson can save time, money and resources during restaurant build-outs at the 2011 Restaurant Finance & Development Conference - November 7-9 in Las Vegas. Call Larry Myer at 800-728-0338 to set-up a meeting at the show.

See you at the West Coast Franchise Expo

2011-10-25T12:14:00.004-05:00

Going to the West Coast Franchise Expo? The conference is November 4-6 in Los Angeles. Tim Matey and Troy Schwehr from F.C. Dadson will be in attendance. Call Tim or Troy at 800-728-0338 to set up a meeting during the show.

Thanks for a great Franchise Leadership & Development Conference

2011-10-20T10:26:00.003-05:00

We met so many great people and look forward to connecting again. If you missed us at the conference, don't worry. You can learn all about F.C. Dadson's turnkey, interior build-out program by calling Marie or Tim at 800-728-0338.

Restaurant Industry Trends - Part 2

2011-10-13T14:12:00.013-05:00

Continuing with our restaurant trends, below are more from Andrew Freeman & Co. in Restaurant Hospitality:

1. Pies: Move over cupcakes, make way for pies.

2. Mom & Pops: The spirit of entrepreneurship has resulted in smaller restaurants with fewer than 40 seats.

3. Single-Purpose: Single-item restaurants specializing in one thing such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hot dogs or pies.

4. Smaller Portions: Smaller portions for pint-size budgets. Look for mini-size pizzas, bagels, hot dogs, tacos or pies.

5. Windows: Restaurant expansion with the addition of a quick-serve window.

6. Key Ingredients: Restaurants are keeping things simple with only highlighting the key ingredients on menus and skipping the marketing fluff.

7. Dry Powders: Chefs are in search of more simplistic flavors using more powders and crumbles instead of sauces.

8. Wood-Fired: Wood-fired pizzas or anything else cooked over fire is hot.

9. Hot Dogs: The hamburger receives competition from hot dogs with gourmet toppings.

10. Vegetarian: More meatless entrees will graze the menus.

11. Deep-Fried: Everything from brussel sprouts to kale chips are deep-fried.

12. Soft-Serve: Look for more soft serve frozen fruits, yogurts and other cocktails.

13. Junk Food: Chefs are reinventing junk food in a gourmet and healthy way.

14. Pop Rocks. Salty, sweet, spiked and exotic popsicles.

15. Processes: Expect to see more sun-dried, freeze-dried, smoked, pressed and other processes.

16. Swede Inspiration: Swedish ingredients and trends are rising in popularity.

17. Breads: Speciality, house made breads are filling restaurant bread baskets.

18. Goat and Lamb: Both meats are are making gains over pork and other meats.

Restaurant Industry Trends - Part 1

2011-10-13T11:57:00.009-05:00

What are some restaurant industry trends? According to an article in National Restaurant News, Chicago-based market research firm Technomic Inc. indicated 11 trends including:

1. Increase in Alcoholic Beverages: Higher-end alcoholic drinks, such as retro cocktails and high-end spirits, along with craft beers are gaining popularity in fine dining and independent restaurants.

2. Food Trucks: They're moving into more cities and with a variety of items including healthy and gourmet foods.

3. Farmers and Producers. Farmers and producers are being spokespeople for restaurants, including Domino's with its commercials taking place on a dairy farm.

4. Social Media: New technology and applications, such as iPads and hand-held devices for ordering and table side payment.

5. Korean Influence: Korean barbecue and foods are rising in popularity.

6. Indulgent Menu Items: Consumers who are tired of being frugal will decide to treat themselves with a few indulgent menu items. Restaurants could see an increase in order of high-margin and high-priced point dishes.

7. Value: Opposite of indulgence, consumers will still demand value with everyday items when dining out.

8. Branding: More restaurants will update their brand positioning through remodeling and new formats.

9. Comfort Foods: Consumers continue to turn to comfort foods, such as southern foods and Italian favorites.

10. C-Store Competition: Convenience stores upgrading their food service sections are competition with restaurants.

11. Healthy: There is a move to redo menus to include healthy items.

Chapter #11 - Finding the Magic Number to Pilot

2011-10-10T09:57:00.008-05:00

Marie Van Drisse is back with the final chapter of her kiosk development story. In case you happened to miss the previous chapters, you can check them out here: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10

Deciding how many kiosks to build for a pilot or full rollout is different on every project. Logically, the more you build that are alike, the more can gain from the economies of scale. The cost per kiosk will come down.

There is no "Silver Bullet" answer to how many units should be deployed in a pilot and it really depends on the individual situation, the budgets and the cost of the pilot units. The primary factor affecting the number of kiosks in a pilot is strictly budgetary.

If you have 10 locations and can afford only five complete units to test your idea, than you have your answer. You have to do it right, so to speak, but putting out 10 cheaper kiosk will not give you the results you want to test.

How Many to Consider:

Here is a quick calculation to provide you with stages in the life of a kiosk project:

Prototype = 1 unit (could be a factory test program)

Pilot Deployment = 10-15 units (Ideal for minimal costs and manual on-site revisions)

Limited Deployment = 25-50 units (Refine the fixes discovered in the pilot program)

Full Rollout = Unlimited (Make sure your comfortable with all aspects and that your vendor can handle the production and install volumes)

Worth checking out...

2011-09-30T10:47:00.003-05:00

Some great friends have just announced key dates for the 2011 Over The Top Franchise Recruitment Experts Workshop. Worth check out at www.overthetop2011.com

Collin and Larry attending IFA's Public Affairs Conference

2011-09-09T09:34:00.004-05:00

F.C. Dadson is pleased to announce that Collin Gruthoff, President and Larry Myer, VP of New Business Development will be attending the annual International Franchise Association (IFA) Public Affairs conference. The conference, which will take place September 13-14 at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C., features 2 days of networking with industry professionals, information on the latest business and economic trends that impact franchising, and political insights from Washington insiders. The conference will address key issues in franchising including credit, health care reform, and supporting veteran franchise ownership, along with an opportunity to honor outstanding achievements with the Franchisee of the Year Award recipients and IFA Legislators of the Year Awards. If you are interested in meeting during the conference, feel free to call either Collin or Larry at (800) 728-0338 to set-up a time.

Going to the 2011 Franchise Leadership & Development Conference?

2011-08-26T10:53:00.007-05:00

The Franchise Leadership & Development Conferenece is October 12-14, 2011 in Atlanta, GA. Marie VanDrisse and Tim Matey from F.C. Dadson will be in attendance and we were wondering if you'll be there too.

Marie will also be speaking on Thursday, October 13 at 11: 30 am on "Site Selection and Build-out Programs that Can Drive Sales". If you are interested in learning more about F.C. Dadson, feel free to call either Marie or Tim at (800) 728-0338 to set up a meeting at the show.

Chapter #10 - Rollin' Out the Dough

2011-08-26T09:45:00.011-05:00

Marie VanDrisse is back with the next chapter of her kiosk development story. In case you happened to miss the previous chapters, you can check them out here: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9

Chapter #10 - Rollin' Out the Dough

Of course, there are advantages to skipping the pilot phase and going to a full rollout of a kiosk program. For those of you out there with experience and confidence in a kiosk program, economies of scale can dramatically cut the cost per kiosk.

That's in part because design and engineer costs can add up each time you modify a custom kiosk. With a larger number of kiosks, you can spread the cost of engineering development over multiple units.

If you have experience from other concepts and fully understand the value and ROI of an effective kiosk system than you may concern bypassing the pilot phase and move directly into full deployment. If you have previously managed a deployment of an ice cream concept and now you're employed by a corporation that sells yogurt you past knowledge can certainly be carried over.

Some kiosk companies will offer price breaks for commitment to a large number of kiosks. For instance, some will waive the kiosk engineer fees if the customer commits to a certain number of kiosks. Amortizing a $5000 engineer fee over 100 units will get a buy-in every time. But the same fee over 10 units could break the bank.

With so much to be gained financially on a full rollout, the pressure to gamble that everything is correct within that kiosk program, without full in-the-field testing, can be persuasive.

-Marie VanDrisse (For more about me, visit my LinkedIn page.)

2011-08-23T08:21:00.002-05:00

F.C. Dadson's turnkey, interior build-out program gets franchise locations open faster - open 4 weeks faster than industry average - so franchisee can start generating revenue sooner and franchisors can obtain royalties. We also use our expertise and buying power to make your build-out program is a as cost-effective as possible. Our streamlined program has been proven to save franchises time (and money) during build-outs.

One-Stop Shopping with F.C. Dadson

2011-07-14T16:33:00.005-05:00

Opening a location is a serious investment of time and money. Not only do you have to prepare your location, but you also need to hire staff, order inventory, and promote your location. F.C. Dadson's one-stop shopping helps save you time and money in the build-out process. Our turnkey program includes pre-construction, construction management, and creating, ordering, delivery, and installation of fixtures, decor, interior & exterior signage, and equipment. For more information, visit http://www.fcdadson.com/ or call 800-728-0338.

Maintain your franchise brand from location to location

2011-07-08T16:05:00.005-05:00

Maintaining your brand look and feel from location to location is key to franchise success. Using multiple vendors can lead to inconsistent design and quality. F.C. Dadson's turnkey, interior build-out program keeps your brand intact no matter the location or size. Plus, we can take your existing design and "value engineer" it to best suit it for multiple locations, while still maintaining your brand integrity.

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-01T14:45:00.001-05:00

Have a great 4th of July weekend. The F.C. Dadson Team.

The Redesigned Store Fitting Room

2011-04-07T15:06:00.019-05:00

Recently, I read an article on store fitting rooms in the Wall Street Journal, "Why are Fitting Rooms So Awful?" Why are fitting rooms so awful? To agree with the article, the doors don't shut or lock, the lightening is poor and mirrors don't help either. However, "customers who try on clothes in fitting rooms have a conversion rate - meaning they ultimately buy something they tried on - of 67%" compared to "customers who don't use the fitting rooms have only a 10% conversion rate." Stores can't afford not to pay attention to the fitting or dressing room area. They are transforming it into a warm and friendly environment much like your own bedroom. They are giving it extra space for others to join too. "Inside the fitting rooms, wallpaper and back-lit mirrors aim to flatter, not frighten." And, they are designing great seating areas for both women and men to wait outside, with nice furniture and televisions. In addition, I recently watched a YouTube video from Metro Group on the Smart Dressing Room where the room could have interactive units that scan your image and show you what you look like with the outfit. I especially like the make-up unit where you can see what lipstick or eye shadow would look best on you without having to walk out of the store with lipstick stains on your hand. What is the result of this redesigned fitting room? Increased sales! "Because fitting rooms are highly trafficked areas, stores must make the design durable as well as aesthetically pleasing." At Ann Taylor, wallpaper is designed to "hide scuffs" and leather benches were chosen with durable materials to "resist stains and tears." What is the future of the store fitting room? Vital to the selling process and F.C. Dadson is a key part by creating, constructing, fulfilling and installing brand environments, including innovative and durable fitting room areas.

2011-03-18T14:39:00.009-05:00

Shopping in the Future
When email first came out, I can remember the discussions about becoming a paperless society. While email has certainly had its impact, we are far from paperless. So, when I read the article, "What's In-Store for the Future," I thought to myself, stores are not going away.

Years ago, when the Internet first arrived, I was leery of online purchasing. I'd view a store's Internet site, found items I liked, and hopefully could find it at their local store. I eventually became confident of online shopping and enjoyed the convenience. But, online shopping just wasn't the same. There's certainly no substitute to the availability of touching, feeling, and trying on clothes immediately. Shopping is an enjoyable experience. As the article indicates, "at its core, shopping has much less to do with economic need and a lot more with human gratification." The gathering of friends to take a trip to the mall, listen to the music, and smell the perfume is a great, social activity and stores are all about enhancing this customer experience.

What is the future of shopping? According to this article, stores will become more about marketing. They will be less about simply selling products and "more like interactive galleries, showrooms and workshops - places where consumers can have aesthetic, visceral, and emotional experience with the brand." F.C. Dadson helps create those sights, sounds, and excitement of stores by creating, constructing, fulfilling and installing brand environments. Visit http://www.fcdadson.com/ and see for yourself.

2011-03-18T11:32:00.009-05:00

I met so many great people at the Franchise Finance Conference, March 8-9 in Las Vegas. I appreciate your friendship and look forward to connecting again. If you missed me at the conference, don't worry. You can find out all about F.C. Dadson's turnkey, interior build-out program by giving me a call at (920) 757-1486 x 123.

Marie VanDrisse

Executive National Account Manager

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

As 2010 comes closer to a close, F.C. Dadson has a lot to be thankful for. First, there's our amazing customers who give us the opportunity to serve them everyday. Then, there are our vendors and network friends that help us to serve our customers everyday. And last, but certainly not least, are our dedicated employees who serve our customers everyday.

To all these people: you helped to make 35 years in business possible, so thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Chapter #9 - Take Me to the Pilot

2010-11-22T11:03:00.002-06:00

Marie VanDrisse is back with the next chapter of her kiosk development story. In case you happened to miss 'em, you can check out the previous chapters here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Chapter #9 - Take Me to the Pilot

The real world is unpredictable. No matter how much you test your kiosks before deploying them, there's always the potential for unforeseen design defects to come up while in operation. The last thing you want is to have to invest a great deal of money and time in order to fix a bunch of kiosks out in the field. By creating a pilot program, you can put your kiosk design to the test of the real world and make any adjustments before launching a full-scale roll out.

Running a pilot kiosk program is a lot like baiting a fishing hook. If there are fish, you will at least have some hits on the line or even catch a few if you're really giving them something they want or like. However, if you still have bait on the hook at the end of the day, you didn't have to waste an entire jar of worms before realizing that you need to make some changes to your bait.

The biggest advantage of a pilot program is obvious: if there's something wrong with the kiosk that wasn't detected on the designer's desk or shop floor, the pilot's real world experience allows you to make adjustments before a full roll out is ordered. Changes can be difficult to make on location, but in limiting the number of kiosks in the field, changes become less expensive to carry out.

Ultimately, the pilot program gives you the opportunity to learn important lessons during its deployment that may affect the overall customer experience. It then allows you to tweak the design in a more cost-effective manner in order to make it something that meets your wants and needs in the actual operating environment. That way, when you dive into a full-scale roll out, you can be assured that your kiosks will work for you.

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

Stuck in a Creative Rut?

2010-11-18T11:24:00.003-06:00

I'm sure many of us have experienced this: it's time to work on a project that requires a little creative thinking, but you're finding it really hard to get going, so you put it aside to work on some other menial tasks that you deem more pressing at the time. And you're probably getting a little stressed out because you just can't seem to get out of your creative rut.

If you've ever found yourself in this situation, I strongly suggest that you check out this article, "Getting Around the Block," by Laura Sommers, on the VMSD.com website. It turns out that creator's block isn't your fault! It's actually due to your brain's physiological response to the stress you're feeling about not being able to create.

I won't get into the details here. You can read the article for that, but what I will share is what I found most interesting -that there are warning signs that your creative brain is starting to be taken over by your instinctual brain.

If you find yourself

postponing starting the project,
starting the project and suddenly "needing" to do five other things first,
sitting down and then popping out of your chair,
looking for answers at the water cooler or refrigerator,
staying busy with less meaningful or lower priority tasks,
endless research beyond what's really needed,
trying to involve others or dumping it on someone else's desk,
being critical of yourself,
being critical of others, or
feeling rigid, not being open to new ideas,

odds are that you're either already in or on your way to a creative funk.

So how does one get out of it? Well, you'll just have to read the article to find out!

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

Maximum Impact Retail Fixtures

2010-11-15T08:48:00.002-06:00

According to this article on the New York Times website, it seems that retailers are taking to smaller spaces to sell their wares. Some brands, like Nike, are rolling out more compact prototypes. Others, like Anchor Blue, are partitioning off areas of their current stores to reduce their selling space.

The reasons for the shrinkage are many, but one thing's certain: smaller stores call for smartly-designed retail fixtures. And that brought to mind an article that F.C. Dadson put together a while back called "Maximum Impact Fixturing." Here's an excerpt:

Fixtures as function.
Beyond looking good, fixtures serve a purpose. From point-of-sale to merchandising and everything in between, you want to make sure your fixtures are performing to the max. Building in functional details is one way to keep your fixtures working for you. Work surfaces and storage areas can be stylishly incorporated or cleverly hidden in a fixture. Adding literature racks or interactive media screens to merchandising pieces not only allows consumers to see the product but learn about it as well.

If you're looking to increase the function of your fixture design, consider going modular. Modular components allow a fixture to change with your needs. So when that hot, new product comes in, you can essentially create a new fixture to display it.

For more ideas to maximize your fixtures' impact, check out the rest of the article at FCDadson.com.

-- Liz Blohm

Lessons Learned at the West Coast Franchise Expo

2010-11-11T09:05:00.003-06:00

The franchise industry is like a little community where everyone knows -or at least knows someone who knows- everyone else. That's why I like attending franchise conferences and trade shows. I know I'll connect with old friends and make new acquaintances, and last week's West Coast Franchise Expo didn't disappoint in either department.

Talking with people at the show, however, it seemed not every franchisor was enjoying the same success. At first I thought that's just how it goes at shows -sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But is that really true? Thinking about it more on my flight home, it became clear that's not exactly right.

In fact, I discovered two major commonalities among those franchise concepts that were finding the show successful when I talked with them:

They were all based on or near the West Coast.
They had all mentioned that they had spent time prior to the show encouraging prospective franchisees to come to the show.

We always hear about how important brand recognition is for business. It turns out that it's also good for franchise expos. The local attendees had likely heard of most of the West Coast-based concepts prior to stepping foot on the show floor. They may have even visited a location or utilized their services before. This previous experience and knowledge likely made attendees more apt to stop by these concepts.

Now that doesn't mean that non-local franchise concepts are automatically going to have a less successful show experience. The second commonality, promoting your appearance at the show, plays a large part as well -especially for those brands with weaker recognition among attendees. Reaching out to prospective attendees beforehand gives any franchise -regardless of where they are based- the opportunity to introduce their concept and entice attendees to stop by their booth to continue the conversation.

I learned a lot of things at this year's West Coast Franchise Expo, but this one was big: brand recognition goes a long way, but targeted pre-show promotion can take you just as far, if not further.

-- Troy Schwehr (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)

Retail on Wheels

2010-11-08T12:56:00.003-06:00

Move over, food trucks, there's another brand of mobile business hitting the road. According to this article featured on Entrepreneur.com, some enterprising retailers are choosing to go mobile with their merchandise.

While still quite new and novel, these retail trucks do offer an allure and certain benefits just not found in the bricks-and-mortar setting. To start, mobile retailers can do away with costly rent payments and outfit a vehicle for a portion of the price. They also have the freedom to go to where the customers are, and their visibility increases the opportunity for enticing impulse purchases. Plus, just like how food trucks are the new "it" thing in their industry, mobile retailers are often seen as being cool and trendy in their uniqueness.

To counter the benefits, there are some drawbacks too like certain government regulations that bricks-and-mortar concepts don't typically have to deal with. It may be too early to say whether retail on wheels will really go far, but retail concepts ranging from national companies all the way to small artsy-types have given it a try, and it doesn't seem to be going away.

First online and now on-wheels, bricks-and-mortar stores are facing some stiff competition. Now more than ever, it's incredibly important for traditional retailers to continue to create compelling reasons for customers to step into their stores. Product selection is part of it, but an even bigger part is the overall experience -and that's certainly something to think about when designing or redesigning a store.

-- Liz Blohm

Words to Franchise By

2010-11-04T15:32:00.003-05:00

In "How to Build Your Dream Franchise," a slide show featured on Inc.com, Zane Tankel, CEO of Apple-Metro (An Applebee's franchise company in the NYC area), shares some wisdom for achieving franchising success.

It starts with location -make it a good one- and being nice to your neighbors. Test something on a small scale before going big and "celebrate small victories" are two other ideas Tankel offers.

Some may call him unconventional, testing Applebee's corporate's limits every now and then, but much of what he has to say is actually quite conventional in its thinking. To check out what else he had to offer, click here for the full slide show.

-- Liz Blohm

F.C. Dadson Goes West

2010-11-01T09:06:00.002-05:00

F.C. Dadson is almost ready to close the books on another successful trade show season -but not before we head west one last time for the West Coast Franchise Expo later this week and the Restaurant Finance & Development Conference next week.

Having participated in the West Coast Franchise Expo for a few years, we know first-hand the value this show brings to franchisors, potential franchisees, and even industry suppliers. Starting this Friday, Nov. 5, the Expo will bring hundreds of franchise concepts to the Los Angeles Convention Center for 3 days of education, exhibition, and networking with thousands of entrepreneurs and business owners. Franchising has shown resiliency during the downturn and continues to be a popular option for those aspiring to open their own businesses. If you're on the West Coast and interested in franchising, this show is a can't miss!

The Restaurant Finance & Development Conference rolls into Las Vegas's Bellagio Hotel Monday, Nov. 8, and with it comes thousands of restaurant operators and industry suppliers. Complete with keynote speeches, educational sessions, and a "Finance & Development Mall" where F.C. Dadson will be exhibiting with our friends at Javelin Solutions, this show is sure to bring value to all who attend.

Will you be attending either show? Are you interested in learning more about F.C. Dadson's cost-effective and time-saving build out solutions while you're there? Give us a call at (800)728-0338 prior to the shows to set up an appointment.

-- Liz Blohm

Chapter #8 - Prepping Your Kiosk for the Real World

2010-10-28T15:06:00.003-05:00

Marie VanDrisse is back with the next chapter of her kiosk development story. In case you happened to miss 'em, you can check out the previous chapters here, here, here, here, here, here and here.

Chapter #8 - Prepping Your Kiosk for the Real World

Planning your kiosk roll out should be a common task in your kiosk program, but many times this is a valuable step that isn't taken.

The kiosk may have been carefully designed and engineered. You might have had a prototype made and had all the peripherals checked out for compatibility. Your manufacturer may have even set up your prototype at its facility and everything is working properly.

If everything is working properly, roll out should be a breeze, right? Wrong. The "real world" is a very different can of worms than your manufacturer's shop floor.

I once had a customer suggest that we set up its kiosk in our facility, test it by having our production team place orders for the concept's food offerings for a couple of days, and then evaluate the functionality of the kiosk based on the test run. However, the more we talked about the idea, the more pitfalls we discovered.

To start, we quickly identified that the normal dayparts that the concept operated during couldn't be duplicated within our facility's operating hours. We also realized that the ebb and flow of traffic to the kiosk would be quite different, too, because our production team has scheduled breaks throughout the day. There would likely be a mad rush during break times and the lunch hour. In a mall setting, typically traffic is more sporadic and spread out throughout the day, with the possibility of a slight rush (generally no more than 10 customers in line at a time) around lunch and dinner hours -depending on the type of fare you serve.

Our production facility, without a doubt, isn't set up like a mall either. In a mall, an employee may have to replenish stock from a kitchen/storage area away from the kiosk. Testing the kiosk in our facility wouldn't help our customer understand how many employees would be needed to service the kiosk. There was no way to determine the amount of time spent outside of the kiosk getting inventory and whether one employee could work the kiosk for an extended period of time.

Lastly, our production team didn't match the customer profile that the concept was trying to target, so there was no way to really measure the utility of the prep stations and tell if there was enough room to assemble menu items.

What it all came down to was that no matter how we tried to simulate the kiosk environment, there was no way we could recreate the experience of an actual customer ordering the product under normal operating conditions. Therefore, we wouldn't be able to really determine if the kiosk "worked." For that, the client needed a pilot program, which is what I'll be discussing in my post. So be sure to stop by next month to find out how to pilot a kiosk project for testing a concept.

-Marie VanDrisse (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)

The Evolution of Green

2010-10-25T10:22:00.003-05:00

Green, while still a topic of conversation, is not quite as hot a buzzword as it was a few years ago. In a VSMD.com piece titled "Smart Talk," Anne DiNardo gives us some insight as to why this is: "If five years ago the retail community was thinking about introducing the topic of sustainability into their store design strategies, today they're sharing concrete examples and data of what's already working in the field."

For many companies, sustainability has become a corporate initiative -or at the very least an operational cost-cutting strategy. Having been in the game for a few years, it seems that the conversation has changed from "What can we do?" to "How can we do it better?"

This makes for an exciting, yet challenging time for retail designers. Those that haven't much experience working with green ideas are now finding the need to expand their repertoires while those that have a green portfolio are being challenged to push the envelope further.

And in the end everyone stands to win. Retailers benefit for operational cost-savings, designers grow with the challenge, and the customers are treated to innovation mixed with great design.

-- Liz Blohm

Retail Design's Increasing Importance

2010-10-21T09:06:00.003-05:00

DDi Magazine released the results of its "State of the Retail Design Industry 2010" survey earlier this month and it presented a lot of interesting information. One piece that caught my attention was that 49% of survey respondents feel that the "importance of a retail designer's role" is much more important now than in the past and that 57% think "the average retail designer's job importance will rise even more in the next five years."

How can that be? Aren't people making more purchase decisions based on price these days? True, the majority of consumers may be more cost-conscious, but with so many retailers competing on price, eventually factors beyond price (like store design!) are going to weigh into their decisions. Janis Healy, Vice President of Visual Merchandising and Design at Orchard Supply Hardware and one of the survey's participants, explains it like this, "When given an option of a great price versus a great price and enhanced physical environment, I believe they want it all. In a price-competitive market, the retailer who can offer a complete package will win."

Maybe that explains all the innovation happening in retail right now. Another topic covered in the survey, almost 90% of respondent companies had tested out new ideas in recent years. Retailers are experimenting with everything from alternative store formats to new technology. Some are even adding entirely new product categories as a way to enhance the shopping experience -- all of which mean new challenges for retail designers to solve.

I, for one, can't wait to see what's to come in the near future for retail design. If this much has changed during a down economy, imagine the possibilities as we head into recovery.

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

Color: It's No Afterthought

2010-10-18T15:24:00.003-05:00

We've talk about the implications that color selection has on your customers' emotions before. The right color combination can set the mood for a prositive interaction. The wrong colors, on the other hand, could keep customers from even stopping in.

This afternoon I came across a new article that offers more support for this idea. While the content is more geared toward product and packaging color, I think its message is quite pertinent to the store design world as well: color selection should be more than just designer discretion, it should be viewed as a strategic business choice.

"'The first point of interaction is shaped by the color, and color is the most memorable sense,' says Leslie Harrington, the executive director of The Color Association and a color consultant. 'Before anything else, they see color.'" So why not put color's power and influence to work for you and create a great impression from the start?

--Liz Blohm

People Hours

2010-10-14T09:26:00.003-05:00

Building out new stores or restaurants is a BIG investment. Most obvious is the money involved, but what new owners may find surprising in the amount of personal time that they could potentially have to spend overseeing build out activities.

First there's the time it takes to find an architect to draft up floor plans for your space. Then there's the time spent soliciting bids from General Contractors, reviewing those bids, and negotiating a construction contract. Your GC may help get your architectural plans through permitting, but if he or she doesn't, you can expect to add a few days-worth of time to your plate filling out forms, submitting plans, and arranging for any necessary revisions. And this is all before construction even starts!

Once construction gets going, there will be the time spent on the phone answering contractors' questions and addressing any issues that come up. You'll also have to set aside some time for placing orders for equipment, graphics, furniture, small wares, etc.. When those shipments start arriving, you'll have to receive them, inspect the items, and file any damage/warranty claims as needed.

This isn't a comprehensive list either. There will be other little tasks along the way that can add up over the entire project. It's easy to see how managing a store build out can quickly become a full-time job. Some businesses have dedicated internal staff that exclusively handles store construction. Unfortunately, not every business owner can afford that luxury, but luckily for them, there are vendors out there that can help lighten their build out responsibilities. And after applying costs to the hours involved, you may just find that it's worth your while to check one out.

-- Troy Schwehr (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)

Case Study: Creating a Prescription for Build Out Success

2010-10-11T11:26:00.002-05:00

F.C. Dadson has worked with a variety of clients in our 35 years in business, and we've created solutions as varied as the clients' problems we've solved. The company has created a series of case studies highlighting some of these solutions. Here's an excerpt from our latest case study on one of our valued clients, Doctors Express.

Doctors Express is an urgent care concept that specializes in providing a convenient, lower-cost alternative to the emergency room. The first medical franchise of its kind, Doctors Express sets itself apart by having licensed physicians onsite to see patients and treat a wide-range of non-life-threatening illnesses and conditions.

The Situation
Doctors Express had one location and plans in place to begin franchising. The company's founding team had a feeling the concept had high potential, but being the first franchise in the industry, it remained an unproven business model. This made selling and forecasting franchise locations difficult, but Doctors Express had two distinct advantages on its side:

Doctors Express had developed a model that allowed franchisees to operate centers in all states.
Banks remained more inclined to lend to medical concepts in spite of the economic downturn.

Doctors Express knew it needed to create a strong build out program that included a branded design and a repeatable, turnkey process that reduced the need for franchisee involvement. With a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) already in place, Doctors Express also knew that the selected partner would need to work within the budget parameters laid out in the FDD. Finally, it needed a partner with flexibility in its processes in order to be able to incorporate existing program elements and accommodate the franchise's indeterminate growth.

Click here to read the full case study and find out how F.C. Dadson created just the build out program Doctors Express was looking for.

Take the Ordinary And Flip It

2010-10-07T14:17:00.003-05:00

On Monday I wrote about rethinking store shelving to make it more exciting. Admittedly, this may not be an easy task due to the fact that we're accustomed to seeing fairly similar shelving from one store to the next. Not very inspiring, is it?

But what if you took something normal, like shelving, and flipped it? Turn it on its side. Flip it completely upside down. Now you have something interesting. Of course, some tinkering with the hardware will be necessary to make it functional, but it would certainly make for a sight we don't see every day.

Click here to see how a New York cafe took something as ubiquitous as the book and made it exciting again. (Careful: it can be a little disorienting at first.)

--Liz Blohm

Stand Out Shelving

2010-10-04T11:41:00.003-05:00

Retail shelving can be -and often is- quite mundane. I know, I know. The product is always supposed to be the star of the show. But what if your shelving units could be more than just showcases for your products and become an attractive part of the store design too?

How about something like this? It's pretty to look at, shows off the products, and even offers a subtle reference to the company's logo. The shapes and mounting techniques create depth and dimension while the monochromatic color scheme keeps it from being too "in your face" and overpowering the merchandise.

If you're looking to set your brand and your products apart from the rest, a custom shelving solution may be just the thing to give your store design an added edge over the competition.

--Liz Blohm

Share Your Story

2010-09-30T11:04:00.003-05:00

There's no better marketing tool than an authentic and memorable story. It gives your brand character and creates a point of difference that customers and fans can rally around.

Every brand has a story (whether you think you do or not), but not every brand is taking the opportunity to tell it in their physical spaces. Whether you've incorporated green materials into your design to promote your company's focus on the environment or you donate a portion of each sale to support a local, national or global cause, why not find a why to share that with your customers?

The closer you can connect your customers to your story, the better. Tell your story through graphics, video, literature at the POS counter, etc. Share it with your store employees so they can pass it on as well when interacting with customers. There are so many possibilities that there's no reason not to incorporate it somewhere, somehow.

You know your story best. It's up to you to get it out there.

Know of any brands that are fantastic storytellers? Share your thoughts here!

--Liz Blohm

Start Up Quote

2010-09-27T12:23:00.003-05:00

For me, one of the coolest things about working at F.C. Dadson is helping new business owners create a place to open up shop. It's like we're producing the physical manifestation of all their planning, hard work, and dreams. Their excitement is contagious and their motivation is inspiring.

Of course for as much excitement and motivation they have, I'm sure they also encounter a little fear and frustration along the way. Who better to understand these trials than other entrepreneurs?

If you're lacking in the inspiration department, check out Startupquote.com. It's a fun little website full of quotes from famous entrepreneurs who've trudged through the same start-up trenches to get to where they are today.

I'm still working my way through the site, but this quote from Omar Hamoui, Found of AdMob, struck a chord with me this morning:

"The largest opportunities are found in ideas that go against the grain."

--Liz Blohm

Chapter #7 - Think Inside the Box

2010-09-23T08:44:00.004-05:00

Resident kiosk expert, Marie VanDrisse, is back on the blogging scene with the latest chapter in her kiosk development story. In case you happened to miss 'em, you can check out the previous chapters here, here, here, here, here and here.

Chapter 7 - Think Inside the Box

We're so used to being told to think outside the box, but no, that's not a typo in the subject line. While a little creativity in kiosk design helps attract customers, kiosk designers need to also consider what's going on inside the enclosure of a kiosk to ensure a positive customer experience. There are more things to mull over than ever before as more and more kiosks are being opened up to encourage customer interaction and/or offer self-service opportunities.

In planning a kiosk, it's important to understand how you want your customers served within your shopping environment. Do your products lend themselves better to being display in a glass counter with an employee standing behind them? This type of kiosk is quite common and popular for items like cell phones where the products are higher-priced and the vendors need the additional storage for inventory and accessories.

Two developing trends within kiosks, however, are increasing customer interaction with products and offering self-service. Customers, in general, want to pick up and touch items and compare them with other products. They may not want a salesperson hovering over them either. Imagine not having to settle for a standard-size dish of frozen yogurt and being able to decide and serve yourself as much as you want. Self-serve frozen yogurt kiosks like this are setting up shop and providing fun and interactive experiences for mall walkers around the country.

Designing interactive and self-service kiosks will take more thought and consideration on what elements need to be included. Here are some questions to ask yourself during the planning process:

Is there a "purchase path" customers will have to take through the kiosk to purchase the product (i.e., will they have to select one product or complete one step before moving on to the next)?
How much storage will be needed to replenish stock?
What accommodations for spillage or easy clean-up need to be made?
How many point-of-sale stations will you need and will you need to incorporate scales or other measurement tools into the point-of-sale area?

Successful interactive and self-service kiosk deployment requires thorough planning upfront and well-considered, functional design. It's like Hunter S. Thompson said, "Anything worth doing is worth doing right." That means thinking a little outside the box, but not forgetting to think about the insides too.

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

FC Dadson @ the Franchise Leadership & Development Conference

2010-09-20T10:58:00.004-05:00

Franchise Update's Franchise Leadership and Development Conference is this week and F.C. Dadson's excited to once again be a hospitality sponsor for the show. The conference, which runs September 22-24 at the Ritz Carlton, Buckhead in Atlanta, is an annual event that features two days of education and networking opportunities for franchise leaders and those affiliated with the franchise industry.

We're also excited because Troy Schwehr, who will be representing F.C. Dadson at the show this year, has been selected to co-facilitate a business solutions round table. His round table, titled "Selecting the Right Real Estate and Lease Negotiations," will take place Thursday, September 23 from 4:15-4:45pm with another 30-minute session immediately following. Troy will be joined by franchise real estate expert Ryan Cunningham of Javelin Solutions.

For more info about the Franchise Leadership and Development Conference, please visit the show website.

Selecting a Franchise Supplier

2010-09-16T09:17:00.004-05:00

Anyone that's been involved with franchising in some way, shape, or form knows that it's quite a unique business model. For a franchisor that's just starting out, the idiosyncrasies can be overwhelming. That's when he or she turns to partners and vendors to help him or her figure things out. Unfortunately, not all suppliers understand the franchise model themselves.

The International Franchise Association is one of the best resources for franchisors out there. Within the Association they've assembled a Supplier Forum whose member companies cover a wide variety of functions -marketing, finance, legal, franchise sales, consulting, and even equipment and displays (like F.C. Dadson). If you're looking for suppliers for your franchise, this is a great place to start.

What makes these suppliers different from the rest is that they've made the commitment to understanding the franchise model and have developed products and services that are specially designed for franchise systems. While every franchise will still have its own unique set of needs and requirements, these suppliers tend to be better prepared to respond to those needs.

Because the suppliers a franchisor selects have a big effect on the rest of the system including the franchisees' businesses, it's incredibly important to thoroughly evaluate supplier options and select the one that is the best fit for the company. And it also makes sense to select a supplier that not only fits the system now, but can continue to fit the system as it grows. That way you can avoid the hassle and expense involved in seeking out new suppliers and getting them acquainted with your business.

So, how can you help weed out the bad seeds to find suppliers for your franchise? Here are some important questions to ask:

Who are their clients and is there a good representation of franchise companies?
How have the suppliers' products/services worked for those franchise clients?
Are those franchises still clients?
How would the suppliers' proposed products/services suit your franchise?

And always, always, always ask if you can contact their franchise clients for references.

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

Seeking a Project Manager

2010-09-15T15:19:00.004-05:00

The Dadson Diaries is excited to announce that the F.C. Dadson team is looking to grow...AGAIN!

This time we're seeking an experienced Project Manager to add to the team.

As Project Manager, some responsibilities will include:

serve as clients' direct contact for all project-related activities
set up new accounts
prepare project proposals and handle project revisions
direct project teams to stay on budget
keep production and purchasing on schedule
schedule, track, and follow up on order shipments
field questions from clients and outside contractors and vendors
follow up once projects are finished to ensure all aspects are complete -includes making sure all paperwork is filled out, all payments made, all orders received, etc.
oversee all warranty and damage claims

The candidate must possess 3 to 5 years of relevant experience within a commercial or retail environment. He or she must also be proficient in reading architectural drawings and have exceptional communication, organization, and customer service skills.

Interested individuals may send their resumes to: F.C. Dadson, N1043 Craftsmen Dr., Suite 2, Greenville, WI 54942 Attn: Human Resources no later than Thursday, September 30, 2010.

No phone calls, please.

How Much Build Out Support Is Enough?

2010-09-09T10:15:00.003-05:00

A big selling point of franchise opportunities is the support franchisees receive from the franchisor. While each system is a little different, the three things most franchisees can expect when signing their franchise agreements is an established operations manual, extensive training, and marketing/advertising direction.

When it comes to building out a new franchised location, the support level becomes more varied across systems. It's not uncommon for franchisors to assist with site selection. They will also likely provide design guidelines and equipment lists as well as approve floor plans for the space. From there, it becomes less predictable as to how involved the franchisor will be.

Some franchisors take their programs a step further and contract with vendor partners that work with the franchisor to create an entire build out program that offers everything from construction management to interior decor and equipment. This approach helps the franchisor retain control over the final outcome, keeps the franchisee from becoming overwhelmed and bogged down with the build out details, and keeps costs fairly constant and predictable from one location to the next.

Other franchisors leave their franchisees to find their own contractors and suppliers to complete the build out. For an experienced franchisee that has built locations in the past, this may not be a big deal because they likely have a team of suppliers already in place. For the new franchisee, however, this can be a huge undertaking. With all the details involved in build out, it's all too easy to get tied up in the process applying for permits, managing the contractor bid process, and answering questions once build out begins. If the franchisee is tied up with these things, it's likely that other areas like pre-opening promotion and staff hiring and training are suffering because of it.

So the question I'd like to ask is how much build out support should the franchisor really supply? In my line of work, I've seen plenty of franchisees (And even a few franchisors) struggle to manage the build out process on their own. I've also seen a handful of franchisees master it beautifully. It really does come down to how experienced the franchisee is with construction and purchasing; and is it fair for franchisors to implement programs that can find new franchisees struggling?

--Troy Schwehr (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)

Seeking a Commercial Draftsman

2010-09-08T08:49:00.002-05:00

The Diaries is excited to announce that the FC Dadson team is looking to grow.

CAREER OPPORTUNITY - COMMERCIAL DRAFTSMAN

FC Dadson is seeking a Commercial Draftsman to add to our team.

The candidate must possess 3 to 5 years of experience, be proficient with AutoCAD, and have strong communication, organizational, and customer service skills.

This is a full-time position and is located at our Greenville, WI office.

Interested individuals may send resumes to F.C. Dadson, N1043 Craftsmen Drive, Suite 2, Greenville, WI 54942 Attn: Human Resources no later than Friday, September 17, 2010.

No phone calls, please.

Fall Franchise Conferences to Attend

2010-09-02T11:05:00.004-05:00

Summer is winding down and kids are getting back to school. That usually means that it's getting time to start thinking about franchise trade shows and conferences again. I have to admit that after spending most of the summer in the office, I'm really looking forward to getting out and seeing many old friends, clients, and meeting new prospects.

The International Franchise Association (IFA) website has a fairly detailed list of franchise events listed but a few highlights for consideration through the end of 2010 are:

Sept. 12-15: IFA Public Affairs Conference, Fall Leadership Meetings & Development Conference in Washington, DC
Sept. 22-24: Franchise Update's Franchise Leadership & Development Conference in Atlanta.
Nov. 3-4: IFA Franchise Development Super Session in Los Angeles.
Nov. 5-7: West Coast Franchise Expo in Los Angeles.
Nov. 8-10: Restaurant Finance Monitor's Restaurant Finance & Development Conference in Las Vegas.

Many of these events also qualify for credits through the IFA's Certified Franchise Executive program. Perhaps now is the time to seriously consider getting credit for attending events that many of us franchise industry folks go to anyway. It's easy to register and the IFA does a great job of keeping tracking of your status for you. Once registered into the CFE program, a simple email to the IFA letting them know what event you participated in quickly shows up on your online credit report so you can see how close you're getting to claiming CFE status.

There are complete books written and numerous online articles available about how to "work" a trade show or conference. All have very good advice on pre-show marketing, show floor strategy, etiquette, and the importance of post-show follow-up.

If I could add one more small bit of advice though: it's been my experience that the show doesn't end when the floor closes or the sessions end for the day. It's just as important to get involved in the evening networking opportunities that are generally available. Attending cocktail receptions and sponsored parties or setting up a small (or large) dinner party with some close networking associates to invite key business prospects to are all great business development opportunities. I know that I have gained new clients and networking contacts through these interactions. Some would even say that I do my best work with a beer and a cigar in my hand. Hey, it works for me and it might just work for you too.

See you at the shows!

--Tim Matey, CFE (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)

Rarely As Simple As It Seems

2010-08-30T10:28:00.004-05:00

The Subway restaurant by my house was in the process of renovating an adjacent space into a larger dining room for its eatery. While having lunch there, I overheard the store's owner having a conversation with a customer about the project. The customer was clearly surprised at how much work went into what he thought was a pretty simple project. He didn't realize that plans had to be drawn up, permits needed to be obtained, licensed contractors had to be hired, and so on.

They say things are rarely as simple as they look. This is SO true when is comes to store and restaurant build outs and remodels. Even the smallest details get scrutinized by building review committees before approval is given and the project can begin. New store owners are often unaware of this. Those of us who have been in the industry for a while know it all too well.

Surfing around NYTimes.com this morning, I came across this blog post about the process involved in putting up a sign in front of a restaurant in Southampton, NY. While I'd like to say that Mr. Buschel's experience is the exception, it's actually quite normal.

Cafe vs. Coffee Bar

2010-08-26T10:28:00.003-05:00

The more I read up on the coffee market, it seems like more and more coffee shops are doing away with offering free wi-fi or deciding against offering wi-fi all together. It may be that they want their employees to focus more on the art of brewing the perfect cup of coffee instead of providing tech support, but one message rings loud and clear -these coffee shops are not offices.

In addition to doing away with wi-fi, some coffee shops are taking it a step further and getting rid of the plush furniture and tables that have become synonymous with American cafes. In their place, coffee shop proprietors are installing counters and bars in the hopes of inspiring conversation but cutting down on the lingering.

In this article featured on The New York Times' website this morning it's clear to see that moving from cafe to coffee bar has spurred much debate. I, personally, see valid points coming from both sides of the equation, but if the coffee shops highlighted in the article are any indication of a new trend in the industry, we designers and build out companies may have to retool our line of thinking when it comes to creating new coffee joints.

What do you think? Are coffee bars the wave of the future or are cafes here to stay? We'd love to hear where you weigh in on the cafe vs. coffee bar debate.

-- Liz Blohm

Design Lessons from The Gap

2010-08-23T15:35:00.005-05:00

Designing with brand longevity in mind is a tricky task. If you're too trendy, you run the risk of becoming irrelevant in a short period of time, but if you're too neutral, you may bore customers right out of the store. The Gap has seen its ups and downs over the years, but one thing has remained constant in its brand lifetime -smartly-designed stores that go the distance.

In this article on EventDesignMag.com, Erin Alley, Gap's Director of Store Design, divulges some of the brand's design secrets. Here are some tidbits worth hanging on to from this designer's tool box:

Avoid becoming too thematic -unless a certain theme fits your brand. "It's more important to understand -and stay true to- your brand than it is to pay attention to what other retailers are doing."
Incorporate flexibility into your fixtures to allow for reconfiguration. This will help accommodate changing merchandise as well as different store footprints.
Durability is hugely important -and don't forget to consider maintenance and the costs associated with it. "White tables are horrendous in terms of upkeep."
While a store may look finished, "the design process never ends." Reviewing and refining should be constant as the design rolls out.

--Liz Blohm

The Great Cookie-Cutter Debate

2010-08-16T14:25:00.004-05:00

In QSR Magazine's "Second Location" feature for August, a design firm exec makes the case that national chains taking a cookie-cutter approach to designing new locations pretty much have the wrong idea. I mean, cookie-cutter -saying it even sounds hum-drum, doesn't it? People want excitement. They want energy. They want to have new experiences. If every one of your locations essentially looks the same, that's going against what the people want. Eventually they'll develop a "been-there-done-that" attitude about your restaurant brand.

Well, that's what he had to say anyway.

While some good points were made, I don't think that a cookie-cutter (or modular or whatever you want to call it) approach to new locations is necessarily the kiss of death that some reading the article might conclude. In fact, I think it has a couple of advantages -some of which are touched on in the QSR piece but really deserve another look.

First there's brand recognition. There's no mistaking a Perkin's Family Restaurant. That green sign, those striped awnings. The lighter wood-toned furniture and casework and the abstract-patterned fabrics. Driving past and walking in, there's no doubt what it is. It makes it easy for people who seek out their home-style fare to find it.

Second is the control you keep over build out budgets and timelines. This can be incredibly important for franchise brands whose build out costs are laid out in their Franchise Disclosure Documents. You can cut out some of the necessary design time required for the space. You can also use the same vendors from project to project, which helps keep costs consistent. Plus, incorporating similar components into each of your stores not only helps you dial in the process to gain efficiency, but it may also give you the opportunity to take advantage of any volume discounts your suppliers offer because you're able to make more than one store order at a time.

Lastly, while we may be people that seek new experiences, I'd also argue that we are a group that seeks comfort and assurance as well. Tying it back to the brand recognition point, if people enjoy your food and the experience, they'll come back and they'll be likely to seek out your brand when away from home too.

A little design variation from space to space isn't terrible. It may even be required due to space restrictions or landlord requests. However, I'd caution against changing up too many things because the easier it is for your fans to find you, the better.

The Dadson Diaries would love to hear how you weigh in on the great cookie-cutter debate. Share your thoughts here!

--Liz Blohm

Made There? Can't Come Here.

2010-08-12T10:02:00.005-05:00

When F.C. Dadson first started out, we worked with companies based in the Midwest. Each project presented a few surprises, but nothing too big. As our customers started to grow nationally, we went right along with them. We learned a few more things along the way, but, again, nothing too major. Then our customers explored Canada and The Caribbean and we had to learn a lot about how to get our products into different countries -things like passing border inspections, charging and paying the right taxes and fees, and transporting goods across water to name a few.

As our customers expand even further from home base, we're learning new things every day. The lessons are often quite mundane and involve policies and regulations, but every once in a while, we learn something that catches us by surprise. Yesterday was one of those days.

On of our project teams is currently researching regulations and restrictions we'll be subject to as we build out a new international location for a client. It's the first build out we'll be doing in this country, so there's been a lot to go through, and yesterday they discovered that the country had strict rules about what countries products could and couldn't come from.

Working primarily in within the United States' borders, we often take "Country of Origin" for granted when specifying materials and buy-out items for our clients. With only a few exceptions, we are a country that accepts products from most other countries. So we've been free to find the best fitting products at the best prices. Moving forward, that may not always be the case.

That "Made in" or "Product of" label is such a small part of a product, but it is growing in importance as clients continue to take their concepts across the world.

--Troy Schwehr (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)

ADA's Affect on Common Retail Fixtures

2010-08-09T10:18:00.002-05:00

Having recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, the American with Disabilities Act is receiving a lot of press coverage lately. Reading all these articles brings to mind a piece that F.C. Dadson's Troy Schwehr wrote a while ago about how ADA guidelines affect event the smallest details in store design.

To keep the ADA celebration going, here's an except from that article. The entire article can be found here.

Measuring Accessibility
Designing accessible stores is heavily based on measurements. The United States Access Board, the federal agency that oversees the list of design standards, has assigned appropriate heights, widths, amounts, etc. -when applicable- to everything from toilets to door handles. While not as obvious a candidate for ADA intervention as bathrooms or entrances, store fixtures also have their own requirements. Let's take a look at two common types of retail fixtures: counters and displays.

Counters
ADA guidelines for counters depend primarily on what the counters are used for. For example, counters with cash registers require that at least a 36 inch long section of the counter measure no higher than 36 inches from the finished floor. Service or reception counters, on the other hand, may have either a portion similar to the cash counter or show reasonable accommodation through something like a drop-down shelf for customers in wheelchairs to complete written transactions or an open area alongside the counter where customers may be helped. Food serving counters have still different guidelines. Despite these differences there are three key things to remember that apply to all counters: 1) they must be on an accessible route - an aisle that is at least 36 inches wide, 2) the accessible route must provide access to the accessible entrance and other areas where merchandise and service are provided, and 3) all counters need to have an area of clear space, at least 30 inches by 48 inches, directly in front of the counter to allow customers in wheelchairs to pull up.

Displays
Guidelines for merchandising displays aren't quite as stringent as those for counters. Not all merchandise has to be within the reach range of a customer in a wheelchair as long as sales associates are available to help retrieve items. However, permanent display fixtures must be located on accessible routes with additional space at corners for maneuvering, though it doesn't hurt sales to make all floor fixtures, permanent and temporary, accessible is space allows.

Lottery Art

2010-08-05T11:01:00.003-05:00

With F.C. Dadson's president officially on vacation for the rest of the week, The Dadson Diaries decided it would only be appropriate to offer ourselves and our readers a little respite as well in the form of an article on FastCompany.com that shows us all that there's beauty to be found in the dashed dreams of loser lottery tickets.

Take a couple minutes to enjoy...and then get back to work. :)

Converting Spaces, Saving Places

2010-08-02T09:37:00.003-05:00

National chains have long been seen as the arch-nemesis of "mom-and-pop" businesses. Could they now be a struggling local business's saving grace? It appears so as this article on Entrepreneur.com points out.

Conversion franchising, or taking an existing business and converting it to a franchise brand, gained momentum during the downturn. Many sought it as a way to keep their businesses open and bring more customers through the doors. While no longer an independent entity, these new franchisees typically maintain ownership of their property (should they already own them) and pay less in franchising fees and royalties than a new start-up location would. These franchisees are finding additional benefits like access to state-of-the-art equipment and operating systems that they wouldn't have had access to before. They are also benefiting from the recognition the national brand has built.

Part of the reason franchisors are comfortable with offering lower fees is that converting an existing store is often cheaper than a new store build out. F.C. Dadson is in the process of helping a client's franchisees convert stores and the total package price is a fraction of what a new store would cost. While a few new fixtures are being brought in, they are incorporating the sites' existing displays and counters into their design. Apart from these few fixture pieces and new signage and graphics, there isn't much else besides possibly painting the walls to better match the brand's color scheme and updating the point-of-sale system.

Admittedly, conversion build outs aren't always this simple as there may be new equipment or a more extensive decor package that needs to be introduced to the space. Still, franchisees are finding the remodeling hassles worth it to gain the support of a national brand. And franchisors are enjoying it too as it's a way to quickly grow their presence within new and existing markets.

--Liz Blohm

Guiness World Records & Customer Service

2010-07-29T13:27:00.002-05:00

We've all heard of Guiness World Records. Maybe you or someone you know even holds one. Given how thick the book is, it shouldn't surprise me to hear about a seemingly obscure record being broken. But as I was reading this blog post about why Microsoft Xbox support pays attention to profane as well as positive tweets, another record I had never heard of had me saying, "They really have a record for that?" It was the Guiness World Record for Most Responsive Brand on Twitter and it currently belongs to Microsoft's Xbox Elite Tweet Fleet (@XboxSupport).

Now that you know it's out there, if you aspire to hold the title someday, SocialMediaExaminer.com's Casey Hibbard offers these hints:

Respond to all @s.
Find and reply - identify what your audience tweets and monitor for those words/phrases.
Deliver a personal connection.
Broadcast about incidents - tweet the issues as well as the good news.

Unattached

2010-07-26T10:02:00.002-05:00

When it comes to creating something, it's really hard to remain unattached and unemotional about it. It's your idea. It's your hard work. How dare these other people come in an criticize it, right?

In certain instances, having a strong conviction really does help. Unfortunately, in the world of store and kiosk design, becoming too attached and emotionally-involved in the process can ultimately hurt progress, not help it.

For designers, becoming too attached to a specific design could lead to missing the mark and perhaps even losing the job. Clients come to us for our expertise and experience, but they are the experts of their businesses. They may find that a certain fixture doesn't provide the functionality they need, a decor element doesn't quite represent the brand as well as they'd like or that they just don't like how something looks. In some cases the designed solution may actually be the best, but being unwilling to take the clients' constructive criticism into account could keep you from seeing an even better solution than what was originally developed.

For design clients, it's also important to remain open-minded during the design process. While you may not initially care for what a designer presents to you, if you're unwilling to listen to their rationale behind their design choices, you may end up with a store or kiosk that doesn't represent your brand or that doesn't fully meet your functionality needs.

It all comes down to keeping in mind the reason client-designer relationships exist in the first place: designers help and serve their clients, and clients hire designers because they lack the knowledge, experience and/or resources to do the work themselves. Being unable to acknowledge the other half -more often than not- will lead to disastrous results for both sides.

Chapter #6 - Plan for Peripherals

2010-07-22T09:26:00.003-05:00

Continuing her kiosk story, Marie brings us Chapter 6. In cased you missed them or want a refresher, the earlier chapters can be found here, here, here, here, and here.

Chapter 6 - Plan for Peripherals

Often people think that the only thing they have to do is install their kiosk and they are going to be up-and-running. If only it were that easy.

Throughout the life of your kiosk program, you'll encounter a number of unforeseen situations -some positive and, unfortunately, some negative. Let me tell you about a catastrophe I witnessed in the mall during the busiest of shopping seasons -Christmas. I came across what appeared to be a newly-installed kiosk complete with a huge handwritten sign reading "Cash Register Out of Order!" With my curiosity piqued, I stopped by to ask what the problem was. The kiosk owner proceeded to tell me all about how she had been open for 6 weeks with software problems causing her computer system to malfunction. All she was able to do was take down people's names as they stopped by to contact at a later date to see if they were still interested in purchasing her product. Wow! Can you imagine the lost revenue caused by the unexpected error?

Many times, problems you'll encounter have little to do with the kiosk design, but rather they involve the equipment used to operate your business -things like printers, computers, touch screens, audio and video, and point-of-sale systems and software. Crafting a fully-operational kiosk that can properly accommodate these peripherals is like solving a multidimensional puzzle in which all the pieces affect all the others. That's because not only does the kiosk have to house all these components, it must also create adequate space for transactions, offer proper ventilation and room for wiring, and secure components to deter theft. Fulfilling other requirements, such as United Laboratories (UL) certification or providing easy access for maintenance, can pose even more of a design challenge.

Designing a kiosk so that all these pieces effectively work together takes time. It helps to hire a firm with experienced designers and engineers that can help address these situations. It also is beneficial to incorporate a testing phase into your roll out program. That way issues that come up can be more easily-managed and dealt with in this smaller scale.

Here's a list of other things to keep in mind when deciding on peripherals for your kiosk:

The kiosk's size and the environment it'll be placed in.
Service and maintenance issues (best considered during the design phase).
If and how UL and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) rules will affect your kiosk.
Any budgetary restraints. (Can I do what I want to do with the money I have?)
Equipment/component requirements, the vendors that supply them, and whether the components will be compatible.
Be sure to communicate your responses to 1-5 to your designer.
Request the layout of the components within your kiosk, reviewing it for "human factors" with customer service in mind.
Consider building a prototype so you can actually place your components within your kiosk, see if the layout works, and move forward if it does or make changes if it doesn't.

Too Much Design?

2010-07-19T10:38:00.003-05:00

Here's an interesting question: can a store ever be "over-designed?" After a recent conversation with a customer of ours, I'd argue that, yes, it's entirely possible.

Our client mentioned that she noticed a few of her competitors making some miscues in their designs and were suffering because of them. In spite of positioning themselves as "cost-effective alternatives" in their industry, these companies were putting together grandiose designs that essentially ended up being too big and having too many niceties than their business model could support.

While we all want to put our best face forward and project an attractive image, retailers also have to take into consideration what type of build out and design costs are reasonable for their businesses or franchisees to incur. In other words, if you're working in the value sector, that marble counter top probably isn't necessary.

Harry Cunningham, VP/Creative at Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, summed it up best in his "Think Tank" column in July's issue of DDi Magazine: "At the end of the day, it's our responsibility to create great design -and it's equally our responsibility to remain cognizant of costs. We should both value DESIGN, and VALUE design."

--Liz Blohm

Plan for the Unexpected

2010-07-15T12:50:00.004-05:00

Just over a month ago, I experienced the most excruciating pain in my back. Several weeks and doctor's office visits later, I'm still not operating at full speed -but I'm getting there. For the first few weeks, I worked a little here and there, but couldn't focus long enough to really get anything done. I had trade show follow-up to do, plans to work on, and phone calls to make. Talk about an unexpected disruption!

Since I wasn't expecting taking time off, I really had no plan in place to take care of business while I was off. Now I'm back in the office part time and plenty busy playing catch up. They say hindsight is 20/20. I'd say they are absolutely right.

My recent experience is just another reminder of how important it is for businesses to plan for the unexpected. It's a surprising world out there and you just never know. ActionCOACH's Josh Slavitt echoes that same sentiment in a recent article for Westfair Online.

Some of his suggestions for preparedness include:

Create a manual detailing all of your business activities and who is responsible for each.
Back up your data regularly.
Keep emergency contact info for all employees.
Review your disruption insurance policy limits.

Has your business had to face an unexpected situation? How did you get through it? Share your stories here.

-Larry Myer (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)

Wedding in Aisle 5

2010-07-12T08:32:00.003-05:00

Remember when you were a kid and your friends would say "If you love it, why don't you marry it?" Some retail (and restaurant) fanatics are taking that philosophy to the next level, except in their case it's "if you love it, why don't you get married there?"

Retail weddings have been popping up the news lately. Remember the couple that got married in Taco Bell a while back? USA Today recently featured that as well as a handful of other couples choosing to walk down store aisles to say their "I do's." Some are employees that met while at work, others are just big fans of the the brand, and most are saving a little cash by choosing a retail venue over more traditional wedding sites (as it turns out most stores don't charge to host weddings).

For a little Monday morning fun, we're wondering what store or other type of business would be your ideal wedding site? Some place with an extensive garden center? A favorite restaurant where you could stay for the food? Share your answers here!

Putting the TEAM in Teamwork

2010-07-08T09:26:00.003-05:00

I've heard people say on more than one occasion that in business, it's not what you know, it's who you know. One of the most challenging things for a business owner is deciding who should be a part of his business team. Some think they can tackle everything themselves or that they can ask a family member or friend to help out. I'll admit that in some cases this works out, but more often than not, businesses suffer without having the proper support team in place.

Whether you're choosing a person to join your management team or are looking to hire an outside consultant, it's important to give serious consideration to their background. Not only should this person have relevant experience in the functional area you're looking for them to help with, they should also be knowledgeable about the industry your business serves. Each industry has its nuances and people familiar with those particulars can help your business better meet the market's needs and run your business more efficiently.

Qualified professionals can also help you get started and keep you focused in the right direction. I've seen companies without the proper support team try to bite off more than they can realistically chew and it never ends well. Someone who has been in this position before can offer insight and help steer the business down a more sustainable path.

And finding knowledgeable professionals doesn't mean that you have to "break the bank" to get the best of the best in your industry. There are plenty of qualified resources at all price points that can help. It does take time to search out and find the best candidate for your business, but the time is well worth it.

-- Troy Schwehr (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)

Yay for 3-Day Weekends!

2010-07-02T09:31:00.004-05:00

The team at F.C. Dadson hopes you all have a safe, relaxing holiday weekend. There'll be no new blog post on Monday as we'll be recovering from all the hamburgers and brats (we are in WI after all), salads and delicious desserts we'll be indulging in over the weekend, but we'll be back Thursday for your reading pleasure.

Happy 4th of July, all!

Indoor Tanning Tax: Burning Some, Avoiding Others

2010-07-01T10:35:00.002-05:00

With the new fiscal year comes the first tax of the recent healthcare legislation to take effect -the indoor tanning tax. Starting today, patrons of certain tanning beds around the country will have to pay an additional 10% for that summer glow.

Having clients that operate in the tanning and fitness industries, I've kept this on my radar to see how it will ultimately affect these concepts. It turns out that not every establishment that offers tanning will be required to charge the extra tax if certain conditions are met. For example, if a health club or gym offers tanning as part of its annual membership, the tanning service stays tax-exempt. If, however, tanning is offered as an upgrade to that annual membership, the 10% applies.

So what's to keep customers switching their unlimited memberships at their tanning salons to an annual membership at one of these gyms? Not much, and I can see how that's leaving some tanning salon owners feeling burned.

It also turns out that not every tan is taxable. Traditional tanning in beds is. Spray tanning isn't. This fact has many owners scratching their heads over how to calculate the tax on unlimited tanning that often offers both services as an option. It's a bit of a point-of-sale quandary (but a huge opportunity for POS providers to the industry!).

What do you think about the tax? I see both positives and negatives to the issue, and I'd love to hear what you have to say about it.

--Tim Matey (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)

New School Restaurant Design Trends

2010-06-28T10:30:00.003-05:00

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

2010-06-24T08:38:00.005-05:00

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'"

2010-06-21T15:31:00.004-05:00

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

2010-06-17T08:32:00.003-05:00

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

2010-06-14T16:03:00.003-05:00

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

2010-06-10T09:46:00.002-05:00

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.

2010-06-07T14:41:00.004-05:00

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

2010-06-03T14:16:00.006-05:00

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

Memorial Day

2010-05-28T08:08:00.004-05:00

The Dadson Diaries hopes that you and yours have a relaxing, fun-filled Memorial Day weekend. Our team will be out enjoying the 3 consecutive days off, so there won't be a new post on Monday. But we'll be back on Thursday with some refreshing new material for your reading pleasure.

I Survived My First Trip to NRA Show

2010-05-27T14:20:00.003-05:00

This is the first year I attended the National Restaurant Association's NRA Show, in which some 50,000 other food and restaurant professionals also gathered to learn about the latest and greatest trends and innovations within the restaurant and hospitality industry. As you may already know, the NRA Show is the largest restaurant and hospitality trade show in the Western Hemisphere and it's the Restaurant Association's goal to create a 4-day, super-sized industry event.

A major component of the industry just happens to be food and, let me tell you, there was no shortage of it here! When I first stepped foot onto the show floor, the buzz I heard was more about the fabulous food samples served on toothpicks that made a person wonder how these exhibitors could get so much flavor packed into just one bite. There was everything from oysters in the shell to deep fried cheese hot dogs. I know that my manager will be really happy when he sees my expense report for the show because there weren't a lot of charges racked up in the meal column!

In addition to the weird and wonderful food, I was also grateful for the opportunity to speak at an educational session about expanding brands into non-traditional locations. The session focused on educating the audience on some of the do's and don'ts of going into non-traditional markets like airports, universities, office buildings and more. I was incredibly lucky to recruit a panel of seasoned industry professionals that represented all areas of expertise. They included Greg Powell, VP of Concept Innovation for Denny's; Lynette McKee, Chief Development Officer for Checker's Drive-In; Marie Gill, Director of Business Development & Brand Strategy for Seattle's Best Coffee; and, finally, Steve Brush, Principal of Brush Enterprises, a non-traditional development consultancy.

I was so proud of our panel and the energy and enthusiasm everyone put forth to make this session a success. We had around 100 attendees from all over the globe -especially impressive considering our session was one of the first ones on Sunday morning. There was plenty of banter between the panelists and the attendees and a good time was had by all (or at least I hope!). In fact, it was so successful, we're thinking about taking the presentation on the road and see what other trade shows would be interested in having us present. (I'll keep you posted on where and when our next engagement will be.)

With the show's size, it was hard to get around to meeting everyone that I wanted to, but I still had the opportunity to meet quite a few amazing people and I'm really looking forward to my future conversations with them. All in all, I enjoyed my first time at NRA Show and felt that I accomplished quite a bit. Now let the follow-up fun begin!

--Marie VanDrisse (Catch up with me on LinkedIn.)

Store Remodels and Your Employees

2010-05-24T10:16:00.003-05:00

There have been many signs of returning retailer optimism in recent months. One that we're particularly excited to see is increased spending on FF&E (fixtures, furniture and equipment).

A few of these FF&E purchases are for new locations, but we're finding that many retailers are instead choosing to focus on improving their current stores and turn them into smooth, revenue-generating machines.

Some of these remodels are small-scale while others have been more intensive. Whichever it ends up being, it's incredibly important to keep your store employees in the loop. After all, they are the ones who not only have to deal with a change in their working environment, but they also have to help your customers cope with the changes as well. The more information they have, the better equipped they'll be to get through the process.

On the VMSD.com website, Steve Kaufman offers commentary on two different trips taken to two recently-remodeled stores. The interesting thing about it is that he doesn't focus on the updates themselves so much as he does the employees' reactions to the changes. At the first store, he overhears employees griping to customers, while at the second, the employee he chatted with had a very positive response to the updates.

Now, Mr. Kaufman does note that the first store remained open during the remodel and that might have played into the employees' complaints. (The second store closed during the transformation.) Still, I can't help but wonder that if these employees have been kept informed on the project's progress and trained on how to address customer complaints/comments, would the interaction have been more positive?

It's certainly something to consider if you're planning any store updates of your own.

--Liz Blohm

See FC Dadson at ICSC RECon

2010-05-20T08:34:00.004-05:00

While F.C. Dadson's Marie and Troy are busy working NRA Show this weekend in Chicago, our Director of New Biz Development, Larry Myer, will be heading out west for the 2010 ICSC RECon (May 23-25 in Las Vegas).

And while he's there, he'll be taking part in a panel presentation Sunday morning (the 23rd @ 9:45am, to be exact) about cutting edge ways to reduce the cost of store openings. With money and financing being such a hot-button issue these days, the session's all about delivering timely advice for making both new corporate and new franchise locations more affordable.

From the show website:

"From reassessing site selection parameters to developing multiple footprint sizes to value engineering fit out, retailers and food concepts need to find ways to lower the cost to open new units. With lower upfront costs, financing becomes easier, more units can be opened on the same budget and unit profitability increases. Hear from site selection and design/construction experts as well as cutting edge retailers and food providers on ways to reduce costs and increase profitability."

Joining Larry is the moderator, Ryan Cunningham of Javelin Solutions and fellow panelists Jim Valentino, President & CEO of Tropical Smoothies; Jacqueline Vanella, Development Lead East for Burger King; and Dan Wieber, EVP New Business Development for Great Clips.

Going to NRA Show 2010?

2010-05-17T12:01:00.004-05:00

The National Restaurant Association's NRA Show 2010 starts this weekend in Chicago. F.C. Dadson's resident kiosk expert Marie VanDrisse and restaurant guy Troy Schwehr will be in attendance, and we were wondering if you'll be there too.

If you are attending and are looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of the show floor, Marie will be moderating a panel of seasoned restaurant development pros as they talk about expanding into the non-traditional market. The session will take place on Sunday (the 23rd) from 10-11:30am. More info can be found here.

Or if you're interested in learning more about F.C. Dadson, feel free to call either Troy or Marie at (800)728-0338 to set up a meeting during the show.

Hope to see you there!

Where is Your Time the Most Valuable?

2010-05-13T08:48:00.004-05:00

As a new franchise owner the task of getting a location can feel very daunting. First, you have to find a space. Then there's choosing an architect, finding a general contractor, permitting -don't even get me started on this one- and the actual construction itself.

Studies have shown that a new franchisee can easily spend over 300 hours overseeing the pre-construction and construction phases of their store openings. In most cases, these new franchisees have little experience in these areas, so even more time gets spent researching contractors, comparing pricing and ensuring all your bases are covered -once you've figured out what bases you need covered in the first place.

And then there are all the questions that will inevitably come your way during construction. "The demising walls don't coincide with the drawing and need to be changed. What do you want to do?"

While all of this is going on, there are store orders to place and staff to hire and train. And on top of all of that, you have to find time to market your new business to ensure the community is aware you are opening your doors.

The time spent on all of the above quickly adds up. So, how do you prioritize what's important for you to focus on in the time you do have? Getting to know the brand, hiring and training your employees, setting up your location for opening and marketing your business so the cash registers will be ringing once your store opens are all pretty important areas to focus on as these are where your return on investment lies.

But what about the store construction? True, this is important, but there are also many companies out there that can help you out by moving that portion of store opening off your plate and putting it on theirs. It may cost you 3-5% more to have them manage the process, but when you break down the numbers, the additional cost is minimal. Plus, these companies utilize economies of scale and existing vendor relationships to keep build out costs affordable and use their expertise to keep things moving along so your store opens on time and on budget.

So, whether you are looking to open a location, move your brand to a national stage or have just begun franchising your concept, the most important advice I can give is to make sure you have a program in place that will allow you and/or your franchisees to focus on what is important and that is the long-term success of your brand.

--Troy Schwehr (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)

How to Negotiate a Lease

2010-05-10T15:18:00.003-05:00

With the International Council of Shopping Centers' big RECon show just around the corner (May 23-25), it's not surprising to have real estate on the brain.

To help get other RECon attendees into the spirit, I thought I'd share this neat little article from Entrepreneur.com on how to negotiate a lease. It touches on the basics like finding a good location and calculating monthly lease payments, while explaining the critical points to iron out in a letter of intent.

It might seem overwhelming at first, but hiring an experienced real estate broker and an attorney to help makes it that much easier to get favorable terms on your desired location.

And if you happen to be in the market for a real estate broker and/or attorney, there's sure to be plenty at RECon!

--Liz Blohm

FranDev 2010

2010-05-06T10:52:00.005-05:00

Franchisors looking for a new conference experience should check out FranDev 2010, taking place June 12-16 in Tucson, AZ. Put on by a few of F.C. Dadson's good friends, the conference gives attendees the opportunity to have their franchise companies analyzed by 6 franchising experts (Bob Gappa of Management 2000, Amit Pamecha of FranConnect, Martin Greenbaum of Greenbaum Marketing, Brian Schnell of Faegre & Benson, Ron Feldman of Siegel Financial, and Jerry Darnell of Benetrends), and gain insight in areas like:

Philosophy, structure, process, and procedures,
Lead generation and recruitment systems,
Website design and use, and
Financing and legal options.

As the brochure says, "Never in franchise history, has there been an opportunity for a VERY few select brands (franchise companies), to spend such a concentrated period of time focusing on ways to improve: their brand, their process and every aspect of their franchise 'sales' process and system." Plus the "experts" are throwing in a ton of extras -$17,000 in added value to be exact and that's not even including the increased results you're likely to see after implementing the solutions you develop at the conference!

For more information on FranDev 2010 or to register for the conference, visit the conference page or contact Management 2000 at (800)847-5763.

--Tim Matey (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)

Articles and Tips at fcdadson.com

2010-04-29T09:26:00.004-05:00

One of the coolest things about the F.C. Dadson team is that we aren't just experienced salespeople, project managers, engineers, designers, fabricators and installers -we also represent a collective wealth of design and build out knowledge.

Rather than let this expertise go to waste, we've decided to share it with anyone who might be interested. Over at fcdadson.com, we have a handful of how-to and advice-filled articles with more being added as our team creates them. Here's an excerpt from our newest article to give you a sneak-peek of what you'll find:

4 Tips for Creating a Multi-Unit Build Out Program

Making the decision to grow a business concept from a single location to many can be quite exciting. Visions of new customers and additional revenues are enough to bring a smile to any business owner's face, but before you can fully enjoy the benefits, you need to negotiate the leases and prepare these new spaces for business. Without a proper plan in place, multi-location build out can quickly become a nightmare. To help you avoid your own horror story, here are four tips for developing a solid build out program.

#1: Modular design: a multi-location business's best friend.
Available real estate doesn't come in just one shape or size. Finding a location that perfectly fits your original design specifications every time is nearly impossible. Since it's generally more time and cost-effective to fit a design to the space as opposed to the space to a design, modular fixtures and displays are perfect tools for the multi-location business to use. Their layout can be easily reconfigured to make the most of any size (within reason) locations without compromising the overall "feel" and branding of the original design.

Click here for the remaining three tips as well as other articles for you to browse.

--Liz Blohm

When Passion Isn't Enough

2010-04-26T10:01:00.003-05:00

Often times, the question emerging entrepreneurs get asked the most is: what's your passion? Starting a business takes a heck of a lot of passion, so it helps to start one that revolves around something you're passionate about. Unfortunately, sometimes being passionate isn't enough to build a profitable business. Sometimes it takes a little more.

If you're in need of "a little more" or just looking for some new ideas, Entrepreneur.com has a great article up that showcases five different entrepreneurs and what they did to "bridge the gap" between passion and profit.

A quick read to help get the gears turning on this Monday morning...

--Liz Blohm

Chapter 4 - Is Time on My Side?

2010-04-22T09:01:00.003-05:00

Our kiosk guru, Marie, is back with her 4th chapter in kiosk development. In case you missed them, here's Chapter 1, 2 and 3 to get you caught up.

Chapter 4 - Is Time on My Side?

One of the biggest differences between a national kiosk program and a regional launch is the time it takes to get to market. Depending on the complexity of your design and how many mall properties your kiosks will be in, it could very easily take up to 8 months to design, get mall approval, test functionality and operate a public location.

If you're hoping for a more speedy development, a solid option to consider is growing regionally within one mall property group. That way, you only have to design to one mall group's specifications, get their approval and presto -you can have a fully operational kiosk ready for the real world in about 2 1/2 months. This approach is also likely to give you opportunities to leverage cost- and time-saving elements in your kiosk program.

But if there's any possibility that you may expand your concept nationally and you can afford a little extra time on the front-end, then I'd recommend designing your regional program as though it may some day go national -meaning creating a kiosk that will comply with a variety of mall groups' guidelines. This should allow for a smoother approval process across most mall properties while keeping the brand look of your kiosk consistent from one location to the next.

Keep in mind, however, that this may cost more money upfront because you may have to use more expensive materials required by certain malls if you want to locate in their properties. The extra effort upfront does have its benefits though, as your design can now essentially be mass-produced and that will drive down your unit cost. Otherwise your kiosk vendor may view each kiosk as a one-off and price it as such.

-- Marie VanDrisse (Learn more about me here.)

Design Considerations

2010-04-19T09:20:00.003-05:00

That Paco Underhill is always so insightful. For his "Shopping with Paco" column in March's issue of DDi Magazine, he talks about personal security and the cleanliness of a space. Women, in general, are more aware of both, by the way, but that's not why I picked this column to write about this morning.

Actually, what got me thinking doesn't show up until the very last paragraph. Underhill starts out, "In retail, we recognize that what is easy to keep clean, is more likely to stay clean. (Totally agree with him there!) Then he challenges readers to ask themselves "at what point in your design process does maintenance get factored in?"

Well, Paco, I'd guess the answer you're looking for is that maintenance should be a consideration from the beginning. However, the reality is that maintenance is often an afterthought -if it even gets any thought during the design process at all. I mean, design's all about look and function, isn't it?

Not entirely. It's also about making sure the look and function keep working for as long as you need them to. And that comes down to the more mundane details of production, assembly/installation, and -yes- maintenance. Using quality, durable materials is a start. Making the components easy to assemble and install in the space is another important piece. And simple cleaning and upkeep procedures are the frosting on the cake and makes keeping your store in top shape that much easier.

-- Liz Blohm

Using Shopper Motivations to Shape Design & Growth Strategies

2010-04-15T10:15:00.004-05:00

So often I see store designs revolve around a shop owner's likes and needs. This strategy does have the potential for success -if the shop owner also happens to be part of the store's target demographic and an avid shopper. But it's more likely that you'll find more success if you consider your customers when drafting up new store designs and growth strategies.

In their article, "From Plague to Paradigm: Designing Sustainable Retail Environments," IDEO's Steve Bishop and Dana Cho introduce readers to the five different "modes" that people generally shop in.

Mission Mode: shoppers go in knowing what they want and are looking to get in and get out as quickly as possible.
Restock Mode: shoppers pretty much switch on the "autopilot" and fall back on ingrained buying habits while replenishing the basics.
Background Mode: shoppers in this mode aren't actually intending to purchase anything, but use shopping "as a means of accomplishing something more important" (i.e., shopping with friends -the shopping is the "background" to being with friends).
Celebration Mode: shoppers are making purchases to treat themselves and are generally more open to visiting new stores and trying new products.
Beyond-the-Store Mode: shoppers in this mode are already picturing how and when they'll use the products they are checking out within the store, and this influences their purchases.

While shopping modes are largely based on context and you'd be hard-pressed to find a customer that consistently falls in one of these categories, considering these motivations can help give direction to your store design and growth strategies.

For example, if you find that most of your customers come in "mission" or "restock" mode, you'd want to pay attention to your store layout to ensure a swift traffic flow as well as your directional signage to facilitate the quick finding of desired products. You'd also want to consider locations that are "convenient" for your shoppers -close to their homes, offices or other businesses they frequent. Or for the "beyond-the-store" moders, it might be nice to set up merchandise vignettes that showcase how your products can be used. Furniture stores like IKEA are great at this.

Finding ways to accommodate these modes within your store will help create a pleasurable experience for everyone, no matter what frame of mind they're in.

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

Retail Build Out Relief by F.C. Dadson

2010-04-12T12:17:00.003-05:00

Browsing the Fast Company website, I found out about one of the coolest things -Google created a tool on YouTube that lets anyone create their own version of Google's "Parisian Love" SuperBowl Ad (read the article here).

It looked like so much fun, I decided to create one for F.C. Dadson to share with our lovely blog readers. So, without further ado, here's "Retail Build Out Relief by F.C. Dadson."

What did you think?

-- Liz Blohm

Investing in the Shopper Experience

2010-04-08T09:55:00.004-05:00

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to sit in on a RetailWire webinar titled, "Investing in the Shopper Experience - Weighing Customer Satisfaction vs. ROI," which revealed the results of a Dechert-Hampe/RetailWire study of top influencing factors of shopper experience and ROI.

For anyone doubting the importance of store design, survey respondents listed "customer-centric store design" as one of the top influencing factors of the shopper experience. Also grouped into this category were ambiance (lighting, music, etc.) and directional signage/graphics.

On the ROI side of things, "customer-centric store design" ranked in the upper-middle of ROI-delivering factors. I was a little surprised not to see it ranked higher considering the high scores it received on the shopper experience side. Still, respondents saw it as producing a solid return on a retailer's investment, which is something we all like to hear.

And if you're wondering how some of the leaders in shopper experience like Apple, Starbucks and Whole Foods got to their top positions, it turns out they all have three things in common:

They are uniquely positioned.
The shopper experience is integral to that positioning.
They carry out consistent messaging from one channel to the next.

Just a few things to keep in mind if you're contemplating a new design for your stores.

-- Liz Blohm

International Franchise Expo

2010-04-06T12:53:00.002-05:00

If you possess an interest in franchising and you'll find yourself in and/or around Washington, DC this weekend, you should seriously think about stopping by the International Franchise Expo. The show, taking place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on April 9-11, offers access to some of the nation's top franchise concepts as well as the industry's premier suppliers, consultants and supporters at a very affordable price.

F.C. Dadson is excited to once again be an exhibitor at the show. Company reps will be on-hand at Booth 439 during show hours to meet with those interested in learning more about us and our services. Or you can call (800)728-0338 before Thursday and Tim or Troy would be happy to set up a time and place to meet.

A Gift Registry for Divorces?

2010-04-01T09:22:00.003-05:00

It is an untapped market. And it's a growing one. What enterprising retailer would pass on an opportunity like that? (Well, maybe a happily married one, but anyway...)

Divorce creates a whole market of people moving into new living spaces and depending on the terms of their settlement, they may not be bringing much money or loot along with them. This means that they'll need to make a few purchases for their new place. Ironically, it's sort of like a cash-strapped newlywed couple putting together their first home. So why not a gift registry for divorcees?

One creative British department store has launched just that -a divorce gift registry service. The concept behind it is the same as a more traditional registry. While some criticize it as a "cynical attempt by a high street chain to cash in on the misery of people whose marriages have come under pressure," the chain is taking a more optimistic view and sees it as "a way for friends and family to help that person on their way a bit."

Being a married man myself, I hope I never have a need for such a service. But it's hard to argue with the logic behind it. And it makes me wonder what other untapped markets retailers will uncover next.

--Tim Matey (Connect with me on LinkedIn.)

Non-Traditional Development Questions: Have Any?

2010-03-29T11:03:00.004-05:00

Non-traditional growth is a hot topic these days...especially in food service. At the National Restaurant Association's NRA Show 2010 this May, F.C. Dadson's own Marie VanDrisse and a panel of esteemed concept development pros will deliver an educational session on expanding food service concepts into non-traditional locations.

The panelists are busy preparing their presentation and would love some help from you! Non-traditional growth may be growing in popularity, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's easy for everyone to understand. What are some questions you'd like to see addressed regarding non-traditional development? Leave them as a comment and we'll put together some answers for you.

For those attending the NRA Show, the session, titled "Expanding Your Concept Into Non-Traditional Locations" will take place Sunday, May 23rd at 10-11:30am and feature:

Marie VanDrisse, Executive National Account Manager, F.C. Dadson
Greg Powell, VP of Concept Innovation, Denny's Corporation
Lynette McKee, Chief Development Officer, Checkers Drive-In Restaurants
Marie Gill, Director of Business Development & Brand Strategy, Seattle's Best Coffee
Steven Brush, Principal, Brush Enterprises

For everyone else, keep an eye here on The Dadson Diaries where we will feature highlights from the presentation as well as answers to our readers' questions.

Chapter #3 - Making the Right Design Choice

2010-03-25T08:23:00.002-05:00

Picking up from last month, here's the next chapter in our kiosk story...

Chapter #3 - Making the Right Design Choice

Creating a kiosk is like making a salad. Some people prefer the freedom and creativity of making their own and that is why restaurants have salad bars. Others prefer to leave the salad making up to the chef and will order the house salad. It's usually less expensive than a trip to the salad bar, and provides a satisfying -if unspectacular- prelude to the meal.

With kiosk designs, custom applications can really turn heads -especially if you're incorporating unusual shapes and metal components. Depending on what the mall will let you get away with, you have the potential to use innovative materials and design elements to create a real show stopper. However, show stoppers can and often do come with a show stopping price tag.

But if you're budget doesn't afford you the luxury of a custom design, most pre-designed "house" kiosks do come with some flexibility. Just like getting to choose what kind of dressing you want on that house salad, customizing your graphics can add a flavorful punch to your kiosk. In fact, some experts say that the use of signage can do as much to customize a look as incorporating custom design elements.

The decision on which way to go is a difficult one. Often it's driven by budget, but it also comes down to what best fits your needs and the scope of the project. Let's just say that if Disney came to F.C. Dadson and asked us to create a kiosk that resembles Cinderella's Castle, that wouldn't be too surprising. The again, if a start-up business came to us requesting an over-the-top design, we might try to steer them in a more realistic direction.

Once you've decided whether you're heading to the salad bar or ordering the house salad, the designing can begin. And once you have a design, then you need to figure out where the kiosk(s) will go -a topic covered in my next chapter. Stay tuned...

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

Antonio Ballatore Writes a Prescription for Store Makeover Success

2010-03-22T10:05:00.004-05:00

Do you have a favorite "go-to" TV channel? You know, that one channel you can switch on and be entertained for hours on end when nothing else is on? For me, that's HGTV. Whether they're redecorating, remodeling, building, buying, selling or flipping, I'm hooked. (Even more so now that my husband and I have started on the road to home ownership, but that's besides the point.)

Sunday nights are generally a bust for me and TV, so I found myself flipping to my go-to channel just before 9pm. Just in time to catch The Antonio Treatment, a fairly new design show that features former Design Star winner Antonio Ballatore making over a variety of spaces in the span of an hour-long show. Last night, he stopped at a vintage-inspired clothing and accessories shop called Pull My Daisy and asked to make it over. A store makeover? Now he's speaking my language!

As it turns out, Ballatore is no stranger to store displays as his father was an influential visual merchandiser back in the day. In fact, throughout the show, we see the host call up dear old dad and ask his opinion. My favorite gem of fatherly wisdom offered up: you have to find the right mannequin and then go from there. Said like a true visual merchandiser, but I think it can be translated into even broader terms to mean, "Find a design element that inspires you and start there." (And as an interesting side note, did you know that prior to the 50s and 60s, mannequins were designed with actual facial expressions? During the mid-20th century, mannequin makers opted for a more neutral face, or as I like to call it, a pout.)

When the show finished, I jotted down a few quick design notions I got from the store makover -the prescription for The Antonio Treatment, if you will:

A single design element repeated throughout the space can have a big visual impact. For Pull My Daisy, Ballatore brought in 48 palm tree cut-outs, painted in white, to line the perimeter walls with. In between the tree trunks, he hung clothing hooks and rods to create merchandise display areas.
Keep it uncomplicated with a simple color scheme and incorporate "pops of color" with accessories and graphics. A black ceiling and gray walls provided a neutral backdrop for the yellows, peaches and blues Ballatore brought in. Thinking ahead though, the black and gray are basic enough to go with a multitude of colors should the store owner decide to bring in new fabrics or artwork.
To really create a "wow" factor, take a design element and blow it up. For the store, Ballatore used a floor-to-ceiling wall mural to cover the entire back wall. The result was a conversation piece that drew people into the space.

And lastly, in the words of Antonio Ballatore himself, designers should aim to "bring something to the client that the client couldn't think of" themselves. Well said.

-- Liz Blohm

Doing More on the Store Floor

2010-03-18T08:20:00.003-05:00

Last week, The Dadson Diaries featured an excerpt from an article discussing how you can put your store design and layout to work for you, creating an environment that practically sells itself. This week, I'd like to switch things up and take a look at the operational side of the store floor.

In this connected world we live in, the store floor has become a hub of activity. First, it must serve those traditional customers who come into your store, find a product they want, and make a purchase. But with more and more retailers going cross-channel with online storefronts, store floors are also becoming order takers, inventory managers, distribution centers and so on. There are so many options available for purchasing these days: order online/pick-up in store, research online/reserve in store, order online/return to store, buy in store/ship it home, etc. Without the right IT systems and employee training in place, cross-channel retailers risk losing the sale and the customer.

In this white paper prepared for Stores.org by Manhattan Associates, the implications of a poorly-functioning store floor are made apparent as well as what cross-channel retailers can do to build and support their internal operations and help them become a "fully functional supply chain 'node,' capable of managing both the in-flow of merchandise as well as the out-flow of goods to customers and other store locations."

Multi-channel customers represent a sizable sales opportunity and as consumers become more and more connected, one can only expect this opportunity to continue to grow. One of the most important things for any cross-channel retailer is to create a consistent, quality experience for its customers across all the channels it operates in. A big part of that is having the merchandise available when the customer wants it and being able to deliver it in the manner that she prefers. The retailers that are able to do this as efficiently as possible are the ones that will win in the long run.

-- Larry Myer (Hook up with Larry on LinkedIn.)

Turn It Upside Down

2010-03-15T11:51:00.003-05:00

You know what I hate? When there's a deadline for a project fast approaching and I have a bad case of creativity block (very similar to writer's block, in case you're wondering) happening. The ideas just don't flow, or they do flow but just fall flat.

Find the same thing happening to you? After hearing what The Gap did at a Vancouver, B.C. store to promote its new loyalty program, I think I might have the answer: turn what you're working on upside down and approach it from this new angle. (Side note: I mean this figuratively, but if literally turning something upside down works, I say go for it.)

-- Liz Blohm

A Retailer's Best Salesperson

2010-03-11T12:37:00.006-06:00

Did you know that one of your best salespeople is not a person at all? Your store layout can drive people to certain areas, highlight certain products and even facilitate the purchase process. Pretty impressive, huh? Since we all like top-notch "workers," this month's featured article on the F.C. Dadson website is all about making your layout go to work for you. Here's an excerpt:

Fixture Design and Layout
Aisles lead people to the merchandise. Once there, your fixtures take over as traffic cop. Just as how our eyes follow the lines and curves of things, so do our feet. Considering this and the fact that people can't generally walk through merchandising displays, the design and layout of your fixture pieces can play a large role in directing people through a retail area.

How does this work? Fixtures create pathways for shoppers to travel and, in a very unobtrusive way, guide them towards certain areas of the store. There are two main reasons this happens and one is the fixture's design itself. The piece's shape influences how people will interact with it. For example, an angular fixture is great as a directional piece. People will follow its lines to the next stop, be it an aisle, counter or merchandise. A fixture with a more rounded or circular design encourages people to follow the curves and walk around it -perfect for corners and end caps.

The second reason deals with how the fixtures interact with each other, or the layout. Want to make sure store visitors check out certain areas of the store? Try angling the surround fixtures toward these spots. It's sort of like having a salesperson shouting, "Come this way!" Want to move people from the front of your store to the back? Aligning your fixtures creates long aisles that lead customers from one end of the store to the other. Depending on your fixtures, available space and traffic flow goals, you can achieve a number of outcomes with your fixture layout.

Click here for the rest of the article.

-- Liz Blohm

And the Award Goes To...

2010-03-08T12:33:00.003-06:00

Did anyone else catch the Oscars last night? I have to admit, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were actually pretty entertaining as co-hosts, but I was not a fan of all the "George Clooney Angry Face" close-ups. But I digress...where was I going with this again?

Oh yes, awards. While the entertainment industry reveled in the glitz and glamour of the Oscars, Chain Store Age magazine crowned some award winners of its own this month during its 28th annual store design competition. With categories ranging from pop-up stores to shopping centers, this year's award-winning designs are fresh and innovative, vibrant and fitting of the brands they encompass. And they serve up an ample amount of inspiration for all of us in the retail industry. If these designs represent the direction retail is going, I really like where we're headed.

Just look at the overall winner, Barbie Shanghai. It's a total experience from top to bottom including the fitting rooms, and it's the stuff that little girls' dreams are made of. For pictures of the Barbie store, as well as all the other winners, check out this month's issue of Chain Store Age.

Yes, We Also Do Kiosks.

2010-03-04T09:56:00.006-06:00

While F.C. Dadson's mostly known as a retail fixture manufacturer and build out company, we like to remind people that we do kiosks too. They've been a focus of some recent Dadson Diaries posts and with good reason: the kiosk market is growing as non-traditional locations continue to serve as an attractive avenue for expansion.

Two of our clients, BrowArt 23 and Shapes Brow Bar, are taking advantage of mall traffic with national kiosk programs, and here's a little taste of what we've been able to do for them.

BrowArt 23 (website)

Shapes Brow Bar (website)

For more about F.C. Dadson's kiosk programs, click here.

-- Liz Blohm

Where You Are May Trump Who You Are

2010-03-01T10:52:00.003-06:00

It's a "buyer's market" out there in real state world and businesses are surely taking advantage of it. Now may be the time to nab up some additional square footage, but please don't go at it all willy-nilly.

Due diligence is so important in real estate selection. Even having the power of a nationally-recognizable brand may not be enough to overcome a less-than-stellar location. So, avoid the lure of a "good deal" and stick with the "good investment"- an affordable space the ultimately meets your real estate requirements in a neighborhood that's also home to your target demographic. Not only will you be setting yourself up for a better chance at sales success, but you might also find build-out cost-savings by taking the time to find a more suitable space.

Inc Magazine's website is featuring a pretty solid article on real estate selection in it's Office & Operations section. For those Franchise Finance & Development Conference attendees seeking more on site selection and build out, stop by the F.C. Dadson/Javelin Solutions booth during show hours.

Chapter #2 - Kiosk Budget Basics

2010-02-25T11:15:00.003-06:00

Back in the Featured Blogger spot, kiosk ace Marie VanDrisse continues her dialogue from last month to tackle one of the hardest -but more important- parts of kiosk planning: setting a budget.

Perhaps the most frequently-asked and important questions in kiosk planning revolve around budget. Knowing the budget helps answer many of the other questions regarding your kiosk deployment. We'd all love an unlimited budget, but the reality is that most of us have limited budgets to work with. This means we need to squeeze maximum results from minimum dollars.

The budget of any project directly affects the quality and time involved in the process. In fact, time, quality and resources are the three primary variables of any project. The more limited your resources, the more difficult it will be to hit the desired deadlines with high-quality products.

On the other hand, money can speed things up by allowing you to work on different parts of the project simultaneously; and if you can afford better manufacturers and equipment, the quality level on the product goes up too. That's not to say that effective results can't be achieved at lower price points. It just means you may have to be a little more creative to get where you want to be with what you have.

Some of the most important questions that need to be asked that will affect the budget are:

What equipment will be required?
How will the customer interact with the kiosk?
What brand elements must be incorporated into the look of the kiosk?
How much storage is needed for your product?
What is the annual volume of kiosks that will be installed over the next year?
What are the price point expectations for the project?
What mall properties are you looking to get into?

All kiosks are designed to generate revenue and you must determine what will deem the kiosk a success and what the return on your investment will be. Keep in mind when doing your budgeting analysis that an innovative kiosk design will attract a higher-level of consumer. Better merchandising not only leads to better sales, but will also enhance the credibility of your product.

I will tell you too many kiosk projects don't get financed beyond a pilot stage because the project was assigned unrealistic expectations from the onset. Thinking inside, outside and all around the box is the best way a kiosk project manager can bring ideas from concept to completion within a given budget.

-- Marie VanDrisse (Check out my LinkedIn page for more about me.)

Franchise Finance & Development Conference

2010-02-22T09:31:00.003-06:00

It's no secret that financing is a hot-button issue in franchising these days. Next week's Franchise Finance & Development Conference is sure to offer attendees a plethora of ideas and possible sources for finding financing for franchisees.

F.C. Dadson will once again be taking part in the conference though we're doing things a little differently this year. Joining up with our good friends at Javelin Solutions, we'll be co-exhibiting in the conference's networking area. From questions on real estate to how to lower build out costs, you'll be able to find an answer at the Javelin/F.C. Dadson booth.

If you're interested in setting up an appointment to meet with an F.C. Dadson rep while at the show, please call Larry Myer at (800)728-0338 ext: 110 by Friday, Feb. 26th to make arrangements.

-- Liz Blohm

Physical Fitness Is Good for Business

2010-02-18T14:03:00.004-06:00

I guess I'm not the only one drawing parallels between business owners and athletes these days. Head on over to Entrepreneur.com and you'll find this piece by Aaron Kwittken. Don't be fooled by the title, "Physical Fitness Is Good for Business," it's more that just a bit about how working out is good for your business.

So, in adding to my list from Monday's post, Kwittken posits that like endurance sports, business ownership requires "training, preparation, and goal-setting."He also offers some "tips for getting your game on" that are worth a look.

You don't have to be a triathlete to be a good business owner, but we can all learn a thing or two from the sport.

--Liz Blohm

More Alike Than You'd Think

2010-02-15T11:28:00.004-06:00

Ok, I am a total Winter Olympics junkie. I have favorite athletes that I cheer for. (Go Evan Lysacek!) I check out the schedule in advance so I don't miss the must-see events. Heck, I'll even watch cross country skiing and long track speed skating if they're on! So, it's really no surprise that this weekend's Olympic coverage provided the inspiration for my post today.

Now, you may not think that Winter Olympic athletes and small business owners have much in common. Sitting on my couch watching the opening days of competition, I started to discover that they are more alike than you'd think.

1) Both have to be risk takers.
It was either Bob Costas or one of his many in-studio guest commentators that said it: the events in the Winter Olympics are among some of the riskiest out there. Not only are there the inherent dangers like slippery surfaces, tight turns, and sharp blades, athletes are pushing it harder than ever to gain even the slightest edge over the competition. They know playing it safe 100% of the time won't get them to the podium.

Being a small business owner is risky too - especially in today's competitive business climate. Owners are finding they have to push harder than they've had to in the past to get their doors open, win customers and beat their competition. All of that involves taking risks, and just like in the Olympics, sometimes they pay off and sometimes they don't.

2) Both need strong support systems to succeed.
In an interview following his medal-winning moguls run, Canada's Alexandre Bilodeau said that -and I paraphrase here- every Olympian needs a strong support team to be successful. This includes coaches, family, friends, etc.

Small business owners also need a support team. From family members to business partners, vendors to employees and beyond, successful owners surround themselves with a network of people who help them to achieve their business goals and raise the bar.

3) Both persevere.
Even the best athletes fall. Listening to the many broken bones and corrective surgeries many of these athletes have endured, it's incredible that they get right back up and do the things that caused the injuries in the first place! Just months after his speed skate blade sliced through his leg, taking 60 stitches to close the cut, J.R. Celski took home a bronze medal in the men's 1500m race Saturday night.

Very rarely do small businesses become overnight success stories. They take time to grow and there are usually set-backs along the way. Still, successful owners stay dedicated to their goals and press through the hard times in order to celebrate the fruits of their labor.

Go Team USA!

Go small business owners!

--Liz Blohm