Category: Industry News

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today’s retailers are seeking new and innovative ways to extend their brands through various omni-channel strategies; CS Hudson and International Retail Management and Consulting Group (IRG ) have partnered to meet this need by delivering truly unique, immersive experiences. This first-of-its-kind experiential pop-up shop offers consumers the opportunity to interact with digitally native, direct-to-consumer and licensed brands—a new “R_Evolution” in the retail industry.

“We’ve been searching for a pop-up shop experience that can both stand the test of time, and feature fresh merchandise, rotating brands and exciting experiential events,” says Joseph Scaretta, co-founder and co-CEO of CS Hudson. “We couldn’t find exactly what we were looking for, so we decided to assemble the best partners and build it ourselves!”

This experiential masterpiece that is R_Evolution is slated to pop up mid-summer at Long Island’s Tanger Outlet Center and will last until the end of the year. International Retail Management and Consulting Group (IRG) and CS Hudson are collaborating on this joint venture in an effort to push the boundaries of retail.

“We are excited to partner with CS Hudson to launch this incredible new kind of pop-up experience,” says Linda Johansen-James, CEO and founder of IRG. “CS Hudson and IRG have done extraordinary things when it comes to pop-ups and both companies know how to bring communities together and think outside the box.”

CS Hudson and IRG will release more R_Evolution pop-up shop information in the coming weeks, including exclusive retailer, sponsorship and partnership opportunities. To learn more about the opportunities available, please contact Linda Johansen-James, ljohansen-james@inrmcg.com, or Joseph Scaretta, jscaretta@cs-hudson.com. For more information visit, www.r-evolutionpopup.com.

“We are creating R_Evolution with the goal of developing a best-in-class rotating pop-up experience unrivaled by others in the retail industry,” continues Scaretta. “CS Hudson and IRG plan to flip retail on its head with the launch of R_Evolution. This is only the beginning.”

About CS Hudson: CS Hudson – a leader in experiential pop-ups, shop-in-shops and marketing activations specializing in turnkey services and purpose-built solutions nationwide. Innovative, resourceful, versatile and creative, CS Hudson’s experienced professionals are renowned throughout the industry for their expertise in developing, implementing and managing immersive experiential, capital refresh and facility projects within the retail, restaurant, healthcare and commercial sectors. Working throughout the U.S. with companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500s, CS Hudson provides a tailored approach to meet the needs of its clients, all with unique concepts, brands, budgets, challenges and goals. For more information on our full-service solutions, visit www.cs-hudson.com/experiential.

About International Retail Management and Consulting Group: International Retail Group Pop-Up (IRG) is a trusted leader in direct-to-consumer retail operations, pop-up locations and carts, kiosks for some of the world’s top brands—perfecting the art of specialty retail marketing with direct experience in the operation of more than 1,000 locations and automated retail locations throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Headquartered in Las Vegas, IRG evolved from the largest owner-operated specialty retailer in the world, American Kiosk Management (AKM), which proudly served over 52 million guests, amassing more than $1.7 billion in sales for Proactiv®, the company’s most prominent client. Their customized specialty retail marketing includes testing, launching and operating multiple pop-ups, carts, and kiosks for leading companies, including Guthy-Renker, Blue Moon Hemp/Swiss Relief, One Two Cosmetics®, ABC Mouse, Revlon, Solar City, Vivint Solar, Great Foods, and Hess Toy Trucks to just name a few. For more information about IRG, please visit www.irg-retail.com.

OAK BROOK, Illinois (July 1, 2019) – Let’s Pave, a leading national provider of specialized paving services and solutions, is pleased to announce the company has selected Saw Mill Capital Partners II, LP and affiliated private equity investment funds managed by Saw Mill Capital LLC (“Saw Mill”) as its financial and strategic partner. The management team at Let’s Pave will retain significant ownership and continue to lead the business going forward. The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. 

C.B. Kuzlik, CEO and Founder of Let’s Pave, commented, “Our partnership with Saw Mill Capital represents a great step forward for Let’s Pave. The Saw Mill team brings significant facilities maintenance expertise, actionable strategic account relationships, and a strong suite of research, technology, and resources to support Let’s Pave’s continued growth. We are excited to find a partner that shares our vision and commitment to delivering the highest quality parking lot maintenance service and creating significant value for our customers.”

Tim Nelson, a Partner at Saw Mill Capital, said, “We are excited to partner with Let’s Pave to accelerate the penetration of the company’s innovative business model across the U.S.  Let’s Pave’s leadership team has built an impressive organization and extensive network of local paving partners over a short period, and we look forward to partnering with the company in realizing its growth potential.”
 
Pictured from L to R: Mike Rosen (Let’s Pave), Peter Holton (Caber Hill Advisors), Nick Kuzlik (Let’s Pave), C.B. Kuzlik (Let’s Pave), Tim Nelson (Saw Mill Capital), Todd Earnest (Climate Pros), Mike Zator (Let’s Pave)

ABOUT SAW MILL CAPITAL:
Based in Briarcliff Manor, New York, Saw Mill Capital is a private equity firm that acquires industrial and commercial service, specialty distribution and manufacturing businesses with enterprise values of $25 million to $200 million. Since 1997, Saw Mill Capital has been partnering with management teams to help successful businesses reach their full potential.

ABOUT LET’S PAVE: 
Let’s Pave provides complete preventative and structural parking lot maintenance services to commercial and industrial properties nationwide as well as partner solutions including pavement planning, contractor procurement, and project management.  Supported by a team of experienced professionals, each with a long history of serving in the national parking lot management industry, Let’s Pave offers unmatched service and quality, all at a lower cost and better value than other paving companies.  For more information, visit www.letspave.com. 
 
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 Ferrandino & Son, a leading national facility maintenance company, has acquired BlueSky Paving, a national asphalt and concrete maintenance and installation company.

Branded Group employees on the east and west coasts recently participated in the company’s second annual Habitat for Humanity bicoastal build project. The event was facilitated by the respective Habitat for Humanity local chapters in Suffolk County, New York and Orange County, California. They also provided the tools and materials to ensure that the construction activities followed all local regulations.

The #BeBetter team in California was responsible for laying the foundation for homes in Fullerton, while simultaneously, across the country, the New York team assisted with the installation of a roof. Both teams acknowledged that having the Habitat volunteers onsite was instrumental to the success of each project.

“As a business owner, it’s important to me to be able to give back to the communities in which we do business,” Michael Kurland, CEO, said. “Additionally, instilling this same commitment in my teams and seeing how rewarding this volunteer experience has been for them is equally fulfilling.”

Branded Group’s award-winning One-for-One social impact program is the foundation for the Habitat for Humanity partnership. Every completed client service call is transformed into one minute of volunteer time. Last year, Branded Group volunteered over 250 hours, which is the equivalent of the time it takes to build an entire home.

For more information about Branded Group, contact Michael Kurland at mkurland@branded-group.com.  

About Branded Group

Through its “Be Better” experience, Branded Group’s team of industry experts promptly diagnoses and efficiently resolves facility maintenance issues, providing clients with peace of mind.  With its award-winning One-for-One social impact program, each completed service call is transformed into volunteer time. Branded Group is driven to deliver on its #BeBetter experience and is guided by its vision to build a conscious business that inspires future humanitarian leaders. www.branded-group.com

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Redner’s Markets named inaugural honoree for Pig Safe Floors Spotlight

Tipton, PA – New Pig Corporation, the world’s leading provider of revolutionary products that keep floors clean and safe, is kicking off National Safety Month (June) by launching an annual program to honor customers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to promote floor safety. Named the Pig Safe Floors Spotlight, New Pig has selected Reading, Pa.-based Redner’s Markets as its inaugural honoree. 

“Since our founding in 1985, we’ve made it our mission to create ingenious products that clean up messes and help companies avoid common workplace safety risks,” said Daniel Silver, VP of product development at New Pig Corporation. “Instituting a program that highlights customers who help us carry out that mission just feels right.” 

A dedicated user of New Pig’s Grippy Mat – the world’s first adhesive-backed absorbent floor mat – Redner’s Markets is a regional grocery chain that operates 40+ stores throughout its home state of Pennsylvania, as well as Delaware and Maryland. Redner’s was selected for its top-of-the-line Safety Walk program that has helped the company significantly reduce one of the most common business risks: slip, trip and fall accidents. The program, developed in tandem by Redner’s’ Director of Risk Management John Flickinger and ECBM insurance broker Tony Kamnikar, requires employees to make hourly walks through the store to identify and electronically record slip, trip and fall hazards. 

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, slips, trips and falls account for 25 percent of reported injury claims, costing businesses millions of dollars each fiscal year. Through use of the Safety Walk program and Grippy Mat, Redner’s has nearly eliminated slip, trip and fall claims at every location. 

“We’re very concerned about our customers’ safety, and we understand that they’re not always paying attention to their surroundings, whether when pushing their cart, reaching for items on a shelf or simply walking through the door. It’s up to us to be ahead of them by sourcing innovative solutions to keep them safe,” said Flickinger. “I have a lot of passion for what I do, and I’m proud of our program. New Pig has been a huge part of our success and it’s a privilege to be recognized by their team.” 

As a thank you to Redner’s for the team’s commitment to safety, New Pig is awarding four $250 Redner’s gift cards to shoppers throughout the month of June. Each week, New Pig will launch a contest on the Redner’s Facebook page encouraging users to like/comment for a chance to win. One winner will be selected weekly until the contest closes on June 30. Gift cards will be valid at all Redner’s Markets locations and will be gifted directly to the winning party. 

“Over the years, we’ve found that many business owners treat trip slip, trip and fall claims as an inevitable cost of doing business rather than a problem with a simple solution,” continued Silver. “Redner’s is the exception. This program is our way of drawing attention to some of the unsung heroes who are creating safe environments for employees, customers and guests.” 

Each year during National Safety Month, New Pig will honor customers like Redner’s with a reward specific to the recipient. Information on how to apply for next year’s Pig Safe Floors Spotlight will be released on the New Pig website and on social channels in January 2020. 

To watch a video case study of the Redner’s story, click here.

About New Pig 

New Pig is the number one brand that helps companies manage leaks, drips and spills to protect workers, facilities and the environment. A multi-channel, multi-brand supplier of over 2,700 spill control and liquid management solutions and industrial maintenance products, the company serves industrial, commercial, utility, military and government facilities in over 100 countries worldwide. Among the leading New Pig brands include the PIG Original Absorbent Sock, PIG Grippy Mat, PIG SpillBlocker Dike, and PIG Flammable Safety Cabinets. For more information, please visit www.newpig.com. New Pig is headquartered in Tipton, PA. 

About Redner’s Markets 

Redner’s Markets, Inc., an employee owned company, currently operates 43 Grocery Stores and 21 Quick Shoppes throughout Eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.  Our mission is to create rewarding experiences by being a great place to shop and work!

PERRYSBURG, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–OnPoint Group today introduces TrueSource, an integration of the industry-leading, national maintenance solution brands, Metro Service Solutions, Miner National and NG&G. TrueSource combines more than 40 years of expertise in doors, locks, dock levelers, glass repair service, plumbing, emergency services and floor care/cleaning services. Through its 20,000+ qualified affiliate technicians nationwide, TrueSource offers rapid response and unparalleled first-trip resolution to maximize uptime and safety of critical facility maintenance operations.

TrueSource services equipment throughout the entire lifecycle, including preventative maintenance, facilities management and replacement. Its complete, value-driven solutions achieve the lowest system cost of maintenance and reduce downtime for facilities. The company’s proprietary, technology-enabled solutions dramatically simplify the challenge of managing multiple facilities by enabling customers to access their account information for any location, from anywhere, at any time.

A new website (truesource.com) has been launched to tell the TrueSource story.

“We understand the urgency and the impact on revenue when facility equipment goes down. We have the largest network of expert technicians who can resolve facility needs faster and with fewer trips. It’s important for facility managers to know that when operations face an interruption and they need immediate assistance, one phone call is all it takes to get the facility up and running,” said Carrie Zuchorski, TrueSource’s Chief Operating Officer.

“Our team is really excited to tell the market about TrueSource,” says Peter Biagioli, Chief Customer Officer. “Our hard work in taking the best of the three organizations and bringing them together is captured through the TrueSource brand. We are unparalleled in our focus on taking care of our customers, giving them the confidence to rely on us every time.”

TrueSource relies on trusted partnerships with its nationwide affiliates who are carefully selected based on performance, skill level and customer relationships. Customer experiences begin with the service expert answering the phone and understanding the customer’s needs, to the technician traveling with the tools needed to fix critical facility equipment on the first trip. Through this superior level of customer service, TrueSource has maintained long-standing partnerships with a majority of the Top 50 Retailers and hundreds of other customers in various industries in the US and Canada, continually helping them to meet their performance goals.

About OnPoint Group

OnPoint Group is the leading North American provider of management and maintenance services for doors, docks, material handling and warehouse accessories through its industry-leading divisions: TFS, Miner, TrueSource, and Concentric. Based in Perrysburg, OH, OnPoint Group has more than 600 technicians in over 80 locations to consistently deliver efficiency, safety and productivity to customers responsible for maintaining multifacility operations. Through an ongoing commitment to technological innovation, OnPoint Group continues to revolutionize the way facility managers optimize the total cost of ownership of mission-critical material handling and facilities equipment. For more information, visit www.onpointgroup.com.

Funding for Technical School Student to Help Bridge the Workforce Gap

Orange, CA. (May 17^th, 2019) – In celebration of World FM Week, Branded Group, Inc has announced an annual scholarship commitment of $2,500 to a student at Brownson Technical School, an HVAC Excellence accredited school; one of just five in Calif. Brownson’s program is designed to train and certify HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration) technicians in just ten months.

“As a facility maintenance company, we recognize the need for skilled talent in the facility maintenance trades, such as HVAC,” Michael Kurland, Branded Group CEO said. “It is our intention, with this scholarship, to support a Brownson student who is seeking to further their HVAC career. Brownson is an impressive technical school where 89% of graduates find work in the field of HVAC within one year of graduating.”

Brownson is the only school that offers Direct Digital Controls, which are computerized controls for industrial, commercial, and home installations. They offer building performance training and boast a 12,000 square foot HVAC lab, one of the largest in Southern California.

According to the International Facility Management Association, World FM Day is about recognition for the facility management profession. It’s a time to bring the behind-the-scenes heroes of the facilities environment into the limelight and share well-deserved thanks for keeping our facilities healthy, safe and productive.

Although World FM Day is May 15th, IFMA encourages celebrations throughout the month, especially during the week of May 13-17.