HVAC
In the UK for example, analysis shows that when temperatures are just 1°C higher or lower than the average seasonal temperature, retailers experience an approximate 1% fluctuation in sales.
Researcher Kyle Murray, found that exposure to sunlight also impacts levels of consumption. The study showed that consumers would willingly pay 37% more for green tea and 56% more for gym membership after being exposed to sunlight. These findings have not been ignored by retailers, which following many other studies, use bright halogen lighting to mimic the effect of daylight in their stores.
MANAGING TEMPERATURE Managing the temperature in a retail
1. Trying on garments. Customers are unlikely to try on clothes if they’re feeling hot and sticky
2. The option to buy there and then. Customers will often go into a store to buy an immediate purchase rather than wait for it to be delivered. Customers don’t want to leave the store more hot and flustered than they arrived
3. To find a gem. The best stores encourage customers to move around the shop, browsing for something special. If the environment is too warm, customers won’t stay and look, but may instead make their way to a more comfortable store – which could be a competitor’s!
4. Advice. Despite there being an abundance of advice on the internet, some questions can only be answered by speaking to an in-store expert. A relaxed and comfortable environment will more likely lead to a sale
SHOPPERS’ HABITS IN
DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES When the sun is shining, it’s very apparent that the British public seem to feel much happier. In fact, research has found that the weather and temperature affect our mood much more than we might think.
www.tomorrowsfm.com
environment can be particularly challenging for store owners and facilities managers, especially when exterior doors are required to remain open to entice shoppers throughout the summer months. Many retailers worry that closing doors to maintain temperatures during these periods will result in reduced footfall and lower profits.
“MANY SHOPPERS WON’T TRY ON
GARMENTS IF IT’S TOO WARM OR TOO COLD.”
The best solution for this type of challenge is to utilise evaporative cooling. The evaporative cooling process works by filling the air conditioning units with tap water, which is then spread across an internal filter media. As room air is blown across this wet media, the water evaporates causing the air to lose its heat. This method works effectively in this type of scenario and can be enhanced by introducing an external airflow that open doors will create. Additionally, it has the
advantage of not needing any form of ducting or pipework to expel the heat, which many retailers find intrusive and unsightly.
This is just one temperature related issue faced by retailers, with additional challenges including:
• Large open spaces result in temperature fluctuations as it’s difficult to manage temperature in a very open environment. The solution to this is to look at a more localised or ‘spot cooling’ arrangement as cooling the whole area would be impractical. Critical areas such as changing rooms, tills and door entrances will benefit from such equipment, providing customers with a cool breeze.
• Varying levels of footfall throughout the day lead to different heat loads at different times. High footfall tends to result in an increased heat load. The most suitable approach here is to look at hiring a tailored air conditioning package to accommodate either forecasted or unexpected peaks in demand.
• Lease agreements can affect the ability to install fixed air conditioning solutions as there may be difficulty getting permission from the property owner and often the cost of installing a new system will not be recouped during the remaining lease period. In these instances, temporary units tend to be the best solution. It’s also worth considering that given the unpredictable British weather, the flexibility of hiring temporary units can actually be a more cost- effective option.
Specialist providers such as Andrews Air Conditioning are able to assist retailers in identifying the most suitable and cost-effective air conditioning solution for their particular needs. Serving retailers of all sizes on a 24/7/365 basis, Andrews Air Conditioning is able to deliver units on site from one of the company’s nationwide depots in as little as four hours.
www.andrews-sykes.com TOMORROW’S FM | 39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68