We don’t cover retail facilities in Building Operating Management often, but they make up a market segment that has very specific challenges. With the economic downturn only starting to show signs of letting up, many retailers have been hit hard in the bank as consumers are decreasing spending on all types of products.
This morning, I attended a session at NFMT for facility managers of retail establishments. Often, facility executives for large brands work in the company headquarters. That can raise a host of problems, not the very least of which is that they may never even step foot in most of the company’s retail stores. Imagine managing a facility sight unseen while receiving pressure from the C-suite to lower operating costs but still support the company’s brand and retail sales. That’s a big challenge.
The good news is that these challenges can bring opportunities for facility managers, according to session presenters Patricia Dameron, executive director of the Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association, and Duane Smith, director of store and maintenance facilities for Limited Brands.
Even in these economic times (or perhaps because of it), sustainability is growing among retail companies, both for money saving energy efficiency measures and as a way of appealing to potential customers. That gives facility managers a little wiggle room for upgrades and improvements and can provide an opportunity to get creative with some green programs. That in turn opens the door for more effective data logging and reporting of retail locations and more helpful, detailed analysis. And with many retail companies in such a dynamic state, store closings, relocations and conversions can offer opportunities to renegotiate leases.
So let’s hear from the retail facility managers or maintenance managers out there. How has your company been affected by the recession? What have been some of the challenges you’ve faced, and perhaps more importantly, how have you risen to the challenges?