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For the Greater Good

On Memorial Day weekend, my significant other and I stopped at the Riverside Recycling Center to deliver 80 pounds of aluminum cans and plastic on our way to Hermosa Beach. The experience made me reflect on how sustainability has moved from a fringe movement to mainstream.

At home we now use ceiling fans instead of air conditioning; we have replaced our commodes with low-volume models; we have changed from incandescent to CFL and LED lamps; and we take reusable bags on grocery store trips. At DSA, we have seen a dramatic shift in demand toward LED illuminated products. In 2008, our mix was 2 percent LED illuminated and 98 percent fluorescent illuminated. Last year, the mix was 47 percent LED and 53 percent fluorescent—a dramatic shift in only four years.

In our upcoming issue of Retail Environments (which mails in a few weeks), we have several articles built around the theme of sustainability. There is an article discussing the state of sustainability in retail environments, based on surveying retailers, as well as our supplier and designer members about the current state of sustainability in our industry. Another article focuses on how a mall developer, Destiny USA, not only qualified for LEED for the shell of a major expansion, but also worked with its tenants to qualify for LEED certification for their individual spaces.

Retail environments in the headlines
It’s not often that you see retail environments topics in the consumer news, but two topics are inspiring much discussion in the industry right now. One is the Hudson+Broad lawsuit against JCPenney, which revolves around ownership of a custom fixture design that H+B says it created for the retailer, which was then outsourced to another manufacturer for production. (Watch for our article in the July/August Retail Environments.)

Then there are the bribery allegations against Walmart, brought to light by The New York Times. Author and lawyer Steven Fellman wrote about the dangers of the FCPA in our November/December 2011 issue of Retail Environments, and offers some follow-up commentary in our upcoming issue. Both of these offer implications for a wide variety of member companies.

Have you agreed to provide design services and prototypes at reduced, or at no cost with the understanding that your company would receive the rollout that would follow? Do what you can to protect your intellectual property, and make sure that your clients know that you understand and will protect your rights to proprietary designs and engineering drawings.

And for those of you using or developing manufacturing facilities in other countries, make sure you understand the rules and enforce them with your contractors onsite.

Don’t forget that A.R.E.’s Convention and Industry Summit will take place November 7 to 9 at the historic Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. Put the dates on your calendar now! The event promises to bring members together for great seminars, keynote speakers, roundtable discussions, and many informal (and fun) networking events. I look forward to seeing you there!

Back to the theme of sustainability—I’m packing for a customer visit in Atlanta, where I’m sure my hotel accommodations will assure my continued progress toward greenness. You know, the showerhead that is stingier than Scrooge, the 5-watt CFLs about as bright as 20 fireflies, and the guilt-inducing sign on the nightstand encouraging me not to have the sheets changed.

Oh well, it’s for the greater good.

—Bob Riley

Created By: Bob Riley On: Thu, Jun 28, 2012 12:57 PM

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