It’s getting expensive! Rising energy costs are forcing everyone to think about saving energy. Customers look in horror at the “Receipts of Doom” they receive at the checkout and often limit themselves only to the most necessary purchases. And retail chains continue to raise prices, as inflation and surge in energy prices make it increasingly expensive to maintain outlets.
While there is not much that retailers can do about price increases at manufacturers and distributors, there is a field in which a skilful store or retail chain manager is able to generate savings and thus make it easier for customers to keep their shopping basket at its current level.
The field is saving energy in retail outlets. But how exactly?
First things first
Let’s start with a method that everyone practices in their own home. It is, of course, replacing old light sources with energy-efficient ones. Replacing traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs with LEDs can reduce energy costs by several tens of percent! And if we add to this the much longer lifespan of LED light sources, it turns out that replacing old lighting systems with modern ones becomes a no-brainer.
Unfortunately, there is one ‘but’ (there is always a but). For chains with a large number of large-format outlets, replacing lighting with LEDs can prove to be a very expensive and unprofitable undertaking. What then?
Going further
If this is the case, it is important to analyse the electricity consumption of other equipment operating in the shop. Energy-efficient fridges and coolers, self-service cash registers with screens that turn off when not in use or ensuring that HVAC systems are maintained in a timely manner are just a few solutions to consider.
A producer of retail furniture can also help. Illuminated shelving units, sometimes additionally equipped with screens, catch the customer’s eye and drive sales. But can you make them more energy-efficient and budget-friendly?
Yes! Perfecta has for some time now been fitting Eco LED lighting in its racks, displays and dispensers. It uses up to 33% less energy than classic LEDs – that’s called saving! This is particularly important for retail shelving units, which run on average 18 hours a day for several years!
What next?
But super-energy-efficient lighting is not everything, because even the least energy hungry light source or appliance still uses electricity! But does it really have to? Does a shelving unit in front of which a customer is not standing still need to be lit up? What about a solution that only activates the lighting when it is needed?
As a responsible producer of retail furniture, Perfecta is working on introducing motion sensors that dim the shelving unit by 50% when there are no customers around. By the way, a similar solution can also be applied to other shop lighting, such as fridges and even entire shop aisles!
We will provide more details soon, but if you are interested in how we are approaching the issues of reducing energy consumption and reducing our carbon footprint, you can read one of our earlier posts: https://perfecta-retail.com/carbon-footprint-of-perfectas-products/
In addition to this, Perfecta is working on a system based on the shop’s operating schedule, which will automatically switch the rack on when the store opens, and then turn it off when it closes.
A total approach
There is another way, but this one, unfortunately, is currently only available to some market players. It is the use of own renewable energy sources. There are already some retail chains in Poland that see this as an opportunity to reduce costs and keep prices relatively unchanged. Those players with access to large roof space are in a particularly privileged position. By installing a photovoltaic system on the roof, they are able to largely take control of their electricity costs and start making real savings. And if you add to this the energy-saving solutions we offer, it turns out that there is an opportunity to strongly stir up the market and put the competition to shame!
But you don’t have to proceed with huge and expensive investments to feel the difference. A number of even the smallest changes can result in big savings, so it’s worth keeping an eye on trends and new developments so you don’t miss out on the chance to become more competitive and make your customers’ shopping experience a pleasure again!
