Article Number : 5321 |
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| Date | 2/24/2010 9:12:34 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=5321 |
| Abstract | Welcome to “Business Tips,” the latest educational feature from FCNews. We recognize many of our readers are owners or managers who try to stay on top of the business as much as possible, but things tend to slip through the cracks as you get caught up in the day-today issues of... |
| Article | Welcome to “Business Tips,” the latest educational feature from FCNews. We recognize many of our readers are owners or managers who try to stay on top of the business as much as possible, but things tend to slip through the cracks as you get caught up in the day-today issues of operating a flooring store. Likewise, FCNews not only has a bird’s eye view of all levels of the industry it is privileged to have at its disposal a wide variety of business sources from around the world. As such, this column will be dedicated to all kinds of useful business tips, information and advice. Sometimes it will be about ways to cut costs that go directly to the bottom line, sometimes it will focus on successful hiring practices, sometimes it will feature ideas to make better uses of marketing and advertising resources. Unless you live in a cave, utility bills are a fact of life. For a business, these monthly payments eat directly into the bottom line. And, in these tough economic times when getting existing customers to come in and spend is hard enough—not to mention getting new people to come in and buy—one of the easiest ways to boost your business’ bottom line is to reduce those annoying bills. Whether you own or rent the property, there are many opportunities to save energy and reduce operating costs without major capital investments— turning off lights in unoccupied areas and adjusting thermostats can greatly impact energy bills. The Department of Energy calls these type of energy savers—adjusting thermostats, turning off lights—“no-cost” upgrade options. Before doing anything, an owner should get a free energy audit from the local utility company. Many electric companies offer these to ensure you’re using energy efficiently. Some state technical colleges or land grant universities through extension offices also conduct free or low-cost energy analysis for manufacturers and other businesses. There are also energy calculators online where you plug in factors and find out areas where you can save. Even before getting an outside authority to audit your energy use, the Seattle state government recommends taking time to review your energy usage and understand how your business consumes it. According to seattle.gov, from turning things off to maintaining and cleaning equipment “you and your employees can do a lot to save money.” One more no-cost example is to reduce paper usage, by using e-mail instead of memos and faxes and, if you need to print, consider double-sided and reusing paper. The less paper you use, the less you make use of the printer and the less energy—petroleum—you spend having to get paper and printer supplies. Low-cost options If you want to take your savings to the next level, there are many inexpensive things that can be done to reduce your monthly bills—some of these you may even be able to negotiate a lower rate with your landlord. For example, instead of just lowering the thermostats invest in a programmable one. The device can be quickly paid off from just a few nights of not cooling or heating the store when no one is around. Also, occupancy sensors in conference rooms or other areas not continuously occupied, such as restrooms, can be quickly paid off from the overall savings they provide. Speaking of restrooms, fix leaky faucets and toilets to conserve water. Another way to reduce bills is to caulk and weather-strip. Many businesses lose substantial portions of money to small drafts no one notices. An energy audit as noted earlier can help locate these spaces. A careful air sealing can have a dramatic affect on your bills. While it may not be feasible to replace your HVAC system with a new energy-efficient one, cleaning condenser coils, replacing air filters, and checking for damage can add up to big savings each month. Because flooring is a fashion item that acts as the lynchpin for a room’s decoration, showrooms should be lit to mimic how consumers will see the product in their homes. With many consumers switching to the more efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, dealers are advised to make the switch. For a business, their long-term savings are considerable. Retrofit incandescent or fluorescent signs with long-lasting, low-energy LED ones as they last up to 15 times longer, and use much less energy. To further save energy, use power strips for all your electronic devices. Whether it is the coffee pot, radio, television or microwave, they are all energy vampires, slowly stealing energy and wasting valuable dollars when they’re not in use. Put them on a single power strip, and turning it off at night will yield big dividends. The same is true for printers and other devices usually left in “sleep” mode—turning them off at night is even better. When it’s time to replace old or broken office equipment, consider purchasing Energy Star models. If appropriate, use laptops and inkjet printers as they consume 90% less energy than standard desktop computers. This also applies to outside equipment, such as cars and installation vans. In addition to trading in for a newer, more efficient model, adding a GPS can help save gas and reduce the overall amount of wear and tear the vehicle receives. Finally, start establishing energy-efficient standard practices throughout the business. Get everyone in the company involved and on the same page, such as making sure the last person out properly closes the shop for the night. With a smart energy strategy, you can increase the appearance and comfort of your business, and every month your energy bill will be much lighter, which will also make the standard upkeep of your business that much easier. And as an added bonus, customers walking through a clean, comfortable store will spend more time shopping and, hopefully, spend more money. If you have any Business Tips you’d like to share with your fellow FCNews readers, contact Matthew Spieler, senior executive editor, at 516.932.7860 or email fcnewsmatt@yahoo.com. |