Regional vs. National Facilities Management Today, retailers are faced with many decisions when it comes to maintaining their facilities. Lighting, electrical, HVAC, janitorial, floor care - the list goes on! There is one question that must be answered first before outsourcing store services: Do I want to use regional self-performing companies or a national facilities management firm? Read entire pdf article  Beyond Borders In 2005, Borders — a leading global retailer of books, music, movies and gifts — made the decision to begin an HVAC planned unit replacement program to proactively replace its older HVAC units prior to failure. Read entire pdf articles   The business of service Stumble upon a business that doesn't take customer service seriously, and you'll see a business with very few customers. Of course, professional expertise or knowledge about a product you're selling is critical, but in a crowded marketplace, service is often the defining factor between success and failure. Read entire pdf article Before and after audits can save time, money with HVAC systems When it comes to HVAC equipment, most facility managers know the proper way to keep up with and maintain their fleet. They understand that having preventative maintenance in place will extend the life of their units. Read entire pdf article Elder Beerman Case Study With 71 stores to consider, Elder Beerman Stores Corporation, a Midwest retailer and division of Bon-Ton Department Stores Inc., was faced with some interesting facilities management challenges several years ago. Read entire pdf article A Well-Oiled Machine Thomas J. Winstel and his sister, Ann, both remember their father, Thomas A., coming to the office one day with a copy of Contracting Business. It was January 1992, and Aircond Corporation in Atlanta had just been named CB’s 1992 Commercial Contractor of the Year. Read entire pdf article Perfecting The Recipe For Success CINCINNATI — Engineering Excellence, Inc. President Thomas J. Winstel believes the secret to his company’s success is in its “sauce.” "If someone went to a recipe maker and asked, ‘What is the secret to your sauce?’, they would be taken to a vault and shown the recipe," explained Winstel, before adding, "If you ask us, all you need to do is look around and see the people who are here. They are the secret to our success. Our 'secret sauce' is our people." Read entire pdf article