RE: ENERGY
Switching on to energy savings
Retailing is an unpredictable game with a number of political and socio-economic factors aff ecting the bottom line and margins. With retailers taking a hit as a result of the recession it is more important than ever to manage costs. While energy is essential to every business, it can account for as much of 20% of the overheads. It may be obvious that using less energy means lower bills, what is not so obvious is how retailers can achieve this.
Some larger fi rms are taking the lead and implementing all out energy reduction strategies such as supermarket chain Asda which aims to reduce its energy consumption in stores 35% by 2015, despite its growing business.
heads.
Understandably, retailers tend to focus on the bottom line but the increasing price of energy is starting to turn takes a look
at what options retailers have to drive down costs
32 RETAIL ENVIRONMENT | JUNE 2013
However there are a number of other options on the market which can help reap substantial energy and cash savings through less intensive eff orts. British Gas, which works with a number of retailers across the UK, says while the sector is diverse there are common areas where energy is often wasted and if managed correctly retailers could cut their bills by up to a quarter. British Gas’ head of energy consultancy, Angela Needle, says: “The economic environment for any business continues to be tough, and with weak consumer confi dence, a lack of credit and increasing costs is making it hard for many retailers. We work with retailers across the UK…and we know our customers are very focused on their core business, often thinking about their energy use and costs only once a year when they come to renew their contracts.” She adds: “By helping our retail customers understand where and
how energy is being used and implementing simple, low (and often no) cost effi ciency measures, we are seeing customers cut their bills by as much as 25%.” One high street retailer which worked with British Gas cut its energy bill by £1.5 million over two years - about the same as the gross margin of all of its stores in the north of England. The chain had previously spent £7 million a year on energy.
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