Photo courtesy of Clean the World.
As recently as five years ago while working in Florida, it often felt like a struggle just to recycle white paper. So, I was pleasantly surprised to discover at the third annual Green Lodging & Hospitality Conference in Orlando a few weeks ago, that hotels from all over the region are now pushing to be as green as possible.
As CEO of the Mitchells Family of Stores, which is one of the country’s most respected upper end clothing store chains, Jack Mitchell and members of his third generation family--nine of his family members are actively working at the company--have created a unique business philosophy in which top-tier customer service and strong relationships with your employees are valued above all else. That may seem a bit clichéd at first, but it has helped the Mitchells build a business in which 70 percent of the transactions are conducted at regular price as opposed to at a discount.
Irwin Miller 
Last week Apple announced a new, free App called Apple Store that allows customers to use their iPhone or iPad to scan a UPC barcode in any Apple Store and – using EasyPay – login with their user ID and pay for the item with the credit card on file. A receipt finalizes the purchase, sent directly to the customer’s device, or via email.
Irwin Miller 
I recently read the BBC News article about Google launching its Street View technology to document interior retail spaces and other environments. I believe the implications for the architectural and design profession are immense: By “being there” through richer online experiences, we can engage in more compelling conversations with clients about relevant retail environments around the globe in real time. It seems a logical evolutionary step following the growth of smartphones, higher quality cameras, Facebook and location check-ins.
As designers, we’re constantly challenged to renew, refresh and innovate. But how do you achieve newness and modernity without compromising customer expectations and disrupting brand loyalty? That’s the challenge our San Francisco design team faced on when we partnered with San Francisco’s iconic department store, Wilkes Bashford.
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