When a retail shopper enters a store and sees sticky floors, dirty surfaces, and dusty corners, it makes them want to turn around and run for the parking lot. Nothing quite turns off customers as much as filth, according to a new study by Consumer Reports. Cleanliness is the common factor among all top-rated U.S. grocery stores, supermarkets, and warehouse clubs. Consumer Reports found that the top 6 overall preferred stores – Central Market, Wegman’s, Heinen’s, Gelson’s Markets, Market Baskets, and Trader Joe’s – were also rated among the cleanest grocery stores in America. Retail Store Cleanliness: More Than the […]

While we all might breathe a collective sigh of relief when flu season is over that does not mean the germs just fade away into the summer sunlight. Unfortunately, germs and illness can still be spread regardless of the season. Here are some of the surprising spots within your office that contain germs. #1 Germiest Place In Your Office: The Breakroom You might be surprised that it’s not the restroom! Nope, the germiest place in your office is likely the last place you imagine it would be, especially since you probably eat, or at least store, your meals there. It’s […]

Excuse me, I’d like to speak to the manger. You become a top manager by making mistakes, and then learning from them. When you think back to your favorite manager, why did they make you feel so good as an employee? Maybe they were always giving praise when deserved, or maybe they exuded the three C’s (calm, cool, collected), and maybe it was simply being around them. You felt confident that any situation could be handled effectively. More importantly, I wonder if it was this- that you, yourself, felt empowered while working under them. “You’ve got this.”   Talent with […]

Ahh, My Leg! If you are like any other building or facility manager, lurking in the back of your brain, and what keeps business owners up at night, is the frightening thought of a costly lawsuit as a result of a job-site accident as a result of cutting corners. The ol’ “slip & fall” accident  is one of most easily avoided if you only follow some tips from those who have risen before you. Have you thought of the floors’ baseline reading vs. it’s “just cleaned” reading? “Looks like that cleaner you used left a slippery film behind…” Smells Like […]

As summer vacation draws to a close across the nation, it’s time for schools to prepare for the inevitable onslaught of germs that arrive as students enter classrooms. How do you prevent the (seemingly inevitable) outbreak of sickness that occurs every year? Target the top germ hotspots in schools. Here are some tips to help determine where to find the germ hotspots as well as some information about preventing the spread of disease across the student body. Sickness Statistics As of fall 2016, an estimated 50.4 million students attended public elementary and secondary schools, and public schools will employee 3.1 […]

Indoor air quality is of paramount importance. The average person spends the vast majority of their time indoors— as much of 90% of every day! Avoiding pollutants and contaminants in your air is key to maintaining a healthy breathing environment. One of the biggest factors that impact air quality is VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. VOCs are gases emitted by certain solids or liquids, and they’re created by a number of very common products, including cleaning supplies. When these products are used indoors, they’re intensely concentrated— as much as ten times higher than outdoor use. Are these frequently used items […]