In this tough economy independent store owners need every break [Read More]]]> RetailMob.com has launched a new B2B Daily Deals site for Independent Retailers. Store owners get 50% or more off on displays, signs, store supplies, fixtures, lighting, advertising, merchandise, professional services, employee training, business software and more.  The site is dedicated to helping independent retailers be successful.

In this tough economy independent store owners need every break they can get. Many retailers are giving great discounts to their customers via sites like Goupon and Living Social. RetailMob.com is the only Business to Business Daily Deal site focused exclusively on serving the business, store operations, and visual merchandising needs of independent retailers. At RetailMob.com retailers get the deals!

RetailMob.com offers a free sign-up to retail store owners. Just go to RetailMob.com for an easy email sign-up. Get an email when great new B2B deals are available. Check it out!

They offer a variety of products from eco-friendly graphics panels, to pegboard graphic skinning, to custom slatwall panels. The application of customer [Read More]]]> Retailers can quickly rejuvenate their pegboard displays with pegboard graphic overlays by Panel Processing. This is a US based, employee owned company, focused on custom panel fabrication and specialty coatings serving the retail industry.  

They offer a variety of products from eco-friendly graphics panels, to pegboard graphic skinning, to custom slatwall panels. The application of customer selected graphics can transform any panel product from a mundane backdrop to an eye catching display that supports the retailer’s brand and engages their customers. For more information on Panel Processing check out their web site at Panel.com.

This video give a quick review of some of their feature products.

While the shear amount of paper, [Read More]]]> Great move by Starbucks on their new logo. Obviously they are freeing the brand from the constraints of being a coffee business and preparing to move toward areas that are intrinsic to their founding principles. Look for moves into social media, social shopping and environmentally friendly products and services.

While the shear amount of paper, plastic wrap and cash and carry merchandise, not to mention the impact of expanded coffee cultivation, may run counter to the idea of environmental concern, Starbucks has always been a visionary company and all things “social” and “environmental” are where the consumer is headed.

Unlike the disastrous GAP log redo, which simply scrambled the elements of a well loved standard, the new Starbucks logo creates a real “icon” as potentially powerful as the Nike Swoosh. The distraction and limitations of the text are gone. The image is iconic in the most direct sense of the word and the color scheme is blatantly green.

Hats off to Mr. Schultz and team.

The project is being led by the Consumer Goods Forum and it aims to define measurable standards for packaging that will be more friendly to the environment.

Members of the Global [Read More]]]> GreenRetailDecisions.com is reporting that a group of major consumer marketers are planning to create standards for sustainable packaging under the mantle of the Global Packaging Project.

The project is being led by the Consumer Goods Forum and it aims to define measurable standards for packaging that will be more friendly to the environment.

Members of the Global Packaging Project include the Food Marketing Institute, Target, Tesco, Kroger, Kraft, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Pepsico, Sara Lee and Colgate-Palmolive and over 80 other companies.

Not unlike Walmart’s efforts to rank retail products based on their environmental impact, the retail packaging initiative aims to standardize the methods used to measure the environmental impact of product packaging. This retail trend toward measuring the environmental impact of products, product packaging and product transportation will have long range impact on all aspects of retail operations for both small and large retailers.

More info on the new sustainable retail packaging standards can be found in the full article at GreenRetailDecisions.com

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Every franchisee territory in the United States has [Read More]]]> We are taking a series of quick looks at retail leasing trends for 2011 starting with some expansion minded companies in the Quick Serve / Fast Casual restaurant segment. These fast growing retail real estate prospects are suggested courtesy of our friends at CreditTenants.com

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Every franchisee territory in the United States has been spoken for… not bad for a company that didn’t start expanding until 2002. So while Wendy’s has been stalling since its buyout by Arby’s in early 2008, Burger King has seen same-store sales decline, and McDonald’s facilities and menu looking outdated. There is a new fast-food “guy” in town. (See Making over McDonald’s for some great new designs that franchisers just aren’t buying.)

As of August 2010, there are only 610 Five Guys restaurants in 40 states and Canada (compared to McDonald’s 13,300). Combine that with explosive sales at 50% year-to-year making it the #1 fastest growing restaurant with sales over $200 Million. There’s no question that you should see more of these “guys” in 2011.

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Why look for Chipotle in 2011? Well, you won’t have too, they will most certainly find you. A 3-year growth over 62%, gross sales over $1.5B with only 1,000 locations, and, a business model based on corporately owned stores for quality, is a recipe any landlord likes to see.

Don’t worry about their quality fading. The founder Steve Ells, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, philosophy on Chipotle is simple, he says “It’s important to keep the menu focused, because if you just do a few things, you can ensure that you do them better than anybody else.” Let’s see, a Big Mac, Fries and a Coke $6.99, or, a seasoned rice, chicken, beans (pinto or black), sautéed green peppers and onions, and a little cheese, and you’re at $6.99. And while you’re squirting ketchup messing up your hands, I’m having it “my way” with a one of three flavored bottles of Tabasco sauce. ( Some notes on Chipolte’s green building approach and more photos here. )

Buffalo Wild Wings

Let’s just nickname this place, “the ultimate man’s sportsbar.” It’s got 3 great things about it, 1. Choose from 14 “signature” sauces 2. 360 TV’s 3. Hooter-like waitresses. They’re just testing the waters with 642 restaurants in 42 states with 206 of them opening in the last 3 years. Grand Opening sales are off the charts and Wall Street is predicting just 25% percent increase in sales over the next 5 years? Really?

Alternately called “audaciously innovative” and “self-serving greenwashing” the jury is still out on the true motivation behind the [Read More]]]> Wal-Mart, “Your source for crummy plastic stuff”,  has taken on the mantle of environmental leader with their Sustainable Product Index.  The project, initiated by Wal-Mart,  is actually managed by a consortium of industry leaders, NGO’s and university researchers.

Alternately called “audaciously innovative” and “self-serving greenwashing” the jury is still out on the true motivation behind the initiative and the ultimate value it may provide to both consumers and the environment.  To Wal-Mart’s credit they don’t call themselves a “green” company, saying only that they are actively moving in that direction.

The shear scale of the task , providing a certified sustainability rating for all products would argue against success. It has been compared to the placement of nutritional labels on food products, yet it is inherently more complex and difficult to standardize.  The process of nutritional measurement is well documented, standardized and easily tested.  The Wal-Mart initiative must start at the level of creating the standards, tests and documentation putting it miles away from the labeling end game.

Assuming Wal-Mart and the other major retailers involved succeed in creating a framework that provides accurate ratings that can be used to compare products, and assuming that consumers come to trust this system, where does that leave all the other retailers, large and small, who don’t have the clout to force suppliers into testing and compliance or who sell products from unstandardized niches?

Can a top down initiative from the biggest player in the industry really hope to drive a revolution in vendor accountablility, retailer responsibility and consumer decision making? Or do we need a more grass roots, ground up, dare we say… organic approach! Either way, this won’t happen overnight.

Check out the video…

Here’s what some others are saying…

Fast Company

Tree Hugger