DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Record attendance and a positive business atmosphere at PRSM2013 National Conference indicate the retail facilities maintenance industry is laying the groundwork for a period of renovating, retooling and expansion, according to the Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association, (PRSM), the authority on retail, multi-site facilities management.
“Economists seeking leading indicators of the health of the retail industry need to look no further than the record-setting PRSM2013 National Conference, which exceeded attendance and participation levels over recent years. Retail and vendor attendees at the event were upbeat and enthusiastic about their opportunities through 2014,” said Tim Backstrom, President, PRSM Association 2013-14 Board of Directors and Director, Facilities Management, Staples, Inc.
Of the 1,950 professionals engaged at the event, approximately 25 percent were from retail companies, representing a larger whole number and percentage of total attendance in National Conference history. Elevated levels of participation produced a robust experience with participants giving high evaluation scores to the educational program, which included blended time in the exhibition hall.
Heavily attended education sessions focused on Sourcing in Facilities; Scorecards and Key Performance Indicators; the RFP Process and Management in Tomorrow’s Retail Environment reflecting heightened interest in the strategic aspect of the business. Facilities 101 education sessions were also well attended, along with topics on HVAC, cleaning and janitorial, sustainability and lighting.
Facility management leaders from Coppell-based, The Container Store, attended PRSM2013 and share in the positive business climate and growth opportunities within the industry.
“The numbers are impressive,” says Bryan Walker, Store Facilities Manager at The Container Store, and PRSM Association Board of Directors. “Our retail market has been incredibly resilient and shows every indication of expanding. Just take a look at the new construction in play — we’re broadening our footprint, and many others are doing the same locally. From a facilities management standpoint, The Container Store’s main challenges revolve around operating our existing fleet of stores to the greatest efficiency possible and helping to design and construct the store of the future - outfitted with the latest sustainability guidelines and energy management technologies. These technologies are increasingly important to our entire corporate outlook and business model.”
“The health and viability of retail facilities management generally trends up and down with retail sales, but at this juncture, even though we are not seeing dramatic spikes in sales, we are seeing an uptick in investment at the store level. Retailers in some cases are playing catch-up on delayed projects, but otherwise are executing on long-term strategies, which in some cases require smaller stores or simply new stores in new locations where populations are shifting,” said Patricia Dameron, Executive Director, PRSM Association.
For more post-event information visit www.prsmnational.com. Visit www.prsm.com for information on PRSM Mid-Year Conference, October 8-10, Hartford, Ct., and the Canadian Conference, Oct. 24, Mississauga, On.
About the Professional Retail Store Maintenance® Association (PRSM)
PRSM Association, the authority on Retail and Multi-site Facilities Management, is the leading membership organization for retail facilities and vendor professionals. PRSM empowers the Retail Industry facilities management with best practices, benchmarking, education, discussion forums and trusted partnerships. Chartered in 1995, and with more than 850 member companies, the PRSM community values are founded on a spirit of innovation, resourcefulness, the quest for knowledge and ethical business relationships. Members depend on PRSM to help them achieve greater success and a competitive advantage through quality programs and resources.
