Surface & Panel - Q2 2019

Q2 • 2019

& U N I T I N G M AT E R I A L S , T E C H N O L O GY A N D D E S I G N

ULTRAMATTE AND LUXURY SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS AT ALLBIRDS HIGH-END CANNABIS SHOPS FAMOUS FOR FRANCHISE FIXTURES TRAVEL RETAILERS GOING THE EXTRA MILE

No matter how you look at it, has you covered.

Customers, designers, manufacturers and management finally agree on something:

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Many people are involved in the development of decorative panels and surfaces. Designers must appeal to customers and meet their performance demands. Manufacturers are concerned with production efficiency and productivity. Of course, management has a laser focus on the bottom line.

CUSTOMERS

DESIGNERS

MANUFACTURERS

MANAGEMENT

Regardless of which perspective is yours, Premeer OPP decorative overlay by Interprint offers you exciting new advantages!

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P U B L I S H E R

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PRESIDENT, BEDFORD FALLS COMMUNICATIONS JOHN@BEDFORDFALLSMEDIA.COM 920-206-1766

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T H E

JOHN AUFDERHAAR

You never know what’s going to happen next in America’s trade dispute with China. It’s like a game of chicken. Who knows which country will be first to blink? Nobody likes to see so much disruption and uncertainty, but one thing is true: All of us are affected.

Regardless of your political views, Donald Trump has confronted unfair trading practices like no other American president before

F R O M

Fortune Is Ally to the Brave

“Who has the courage to invest in new state-of-the-art production facilities?

Someone is going to have to fill the void.

I predict that those who do will be handsomely rewarded.”

him. It’s about time someone had the temerity to stand up for American workers. Before you disagree with this point, go talk to the 300,000-plus workers who lost their jobs in the furniture industry

becomes increasingly important. Most countries with cheap labor

in the last decade.

have insufficient infrastructure to accommodate modern facilities.

The apple cart is upset. The horse is out of the barn. The game is on. Who knows if we will have a trade agreement that satisfies

And, of course, automation of repetitive processes is the ultimate field leveler.

anybody? But I can say this: It will not be business as usual. When

Suppliers of composite panel products and TFL are doing

this is over, there will be a level playing field. And what more can you

their part to prepare for a manufacturing renaissance in America.

ask for?

Arauco’s massive Grayling, Michigan, facility; Egger’s Lexington,

We have a fighting chance to produce more furniture, cabinets

North Carolina, plant; and Kronospan’s investments in the last

and fixtures in the United States and, for the first time in a long time,

few years in Oxford, Mississippi, are all gearing up for production

compete on that level field. We have access to sophisticated manu-

increases in furniture, cabinet and fixture manufacturing in the US.

facturing technology, amazing design and production software, an

The table has been set. But who is going to sit down and enjoy

abundance of resources, low utility costs and efficient supply chains.

the feast? If the enormous investments made on the supply side

Oh, and did I mention we are the largest economy in the world?

mentioned above are any indication, new investments are going to

All of the ingredients are here. Billions of dollars of capital can’t

be FDI. FDI? What’s that? It’s government lingo for “foreign direct

find enough homes, so financing is not an excuse. There is a wild

investment.” In other words, not home grown American. It’s Hyundai

card—it takes courage. And I’m not sure how many new secondary

building in Alabama, IKEA in Virginia, Foxconn in Wisconsin. Where

panel processing facilities will emerge from the ground up in the

is that American ingenuity? Does anyone have the courage to build

years ahead. Who has the courage to invest in new state-of-the-art

something from scratch, something truly American? We’ll see.

production facilities? Someone is going to have to fill the void. I pre-

Zeus said: “Perseus has won. My son has triumphed!”

dict that those who do will be handsomely rewarded.

To which Hera responded, “He is a fortunate young man.”

Reshoring is one of the top trends in 2019. There are several

“Fortune is ally to the brave,” Zeus proclaimed.

reasons beyond trade disputes driving this trend. An increased standard of living and higher wages in “off-shoring” producers are contributing to a level playing field here and driving production home. As production becomes more sophisticated, infrastructure

SURFACE & PANEL • Q2 2019

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PUBLISHER John Aufderhaar President | Bedford Falls Communications 302 N. 3rd Street, Watertown, WI 53094 PH: 920-206-1766 john@bedfordfallsmedia.com CONTENT Scott W. Angus Editorial Director | Bedford Falls Communications 302 N. 3rd Street, Watertown, WI 53094 PH: 920-261-1947 scottangus47@gmail.com A DV E R T I S I N G Ryan Wagner VP Sales & Marketing | Bedford Falls Communications 302 N. 3rd Street, Watertown, WI 53094 PH: 920-261-1945 rwagner@bedfordfallsmedia.com Daniel Davidson Sales & Marketing Specialist PH: 920-261-1947 dan@bedfordfallsmedia.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Karen Leno Senior Graphic Designer | KML Design, Inc. kmldesigninc@gmail.com Mitch Tanis Graphic Designer/Photographer Bedford Falls Communications mitch@bedfordfallsmedia.com C I R C U L AT I O N / S U B S C R I P T I O N S 440 Quadrangle Dr, Suite E, Bolingbrook, IL 60440 subscriptions@cds1976.com PH: 630-739-0900, option 1 NEWS news@bedfordfallsmedia.com C O M P O S I T E PA N E L A S S O C I AT I O N MAIN OFFICE 19465 Deerfield Avenue, Suite 306 Leesburg, VA 20176 PH: 703-724-1128 FAX: 703-724-1588 Toll Free 1-866-4COMPOSITES www.CompositePanel.org CANADIAN OFFICE Post Office Box 747, Station B Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1P 5P8 PH: 613-232-6782 FAX: 703-724-1588 I N T E R N AT I O N A L T E S T I N G A N D C E R T I F I C AT I O N C E N T E R 73 Lawson Road, Leesburg, VA 20175 PH: 703-724-1128 FAX: 703-724-1588 www.itcclab.org

V O L U M E

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N U M B E R

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Q 2

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3 From the Publisher 8 Olon’s Vision With a mindset focused on quality, new products and operational excellence, new CEO sees bright future.

16

Customer Experience Collaborative effort yields materials, showroom that give customers permission to say yes to luxury appliances.

24

Sustainable Success Allbirds takes simple yet innovative approach to shoes, retail.

3 2

High End Laminates are among materials that set elegant San Francisco cannabis shops apart.

40 Famous for Franchise Fixtures F.C. Dadson has firmly established itself as go-to source for helping fledgling franchises craft retail space identities.

48 Retail Evolving Changing world mandates changes in strategies, environments, experiences.

56 Travel Retailers Still Go the Extra Mile While much of today’s retail world scrambles to attract walk-in customers in the face of online competition, stores based in airports and other travel hubs have a built-in advantage.

64 From the Editor 6 6

Ad Index

O N T H E C OV E R : The design firm, Urban Chalet, helped create three beautifully appointed and welcoming cannabis shops in San Francisco, where laminates play critical roles because of their durability, ease of maintenance and attractiveness.

October 28–29 • Grand Rapids, Michigan

OCTOBER 6 • DENVER, COLORADO mtdsymposium.com

Surface & Panel is published quarterly by Bedford Falls Communications, Inc., 302 N. 3rd Street, Watertown, WI 53094, telephone 920-206-1766.

John Aufderhaar, President, Christine Aufderhaar, CFO. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical without written permission from the publisher. Subscription policy: Individual subscriptions are available, without charge, to manufacturers who engage in panel processing, qualified service providers and suppliers. Publisher reserves the right to reject non-qualified subscribers. One year subscription to non-qualified individuals: U.S. $50, Canada/Mexico $75, all other countries $100, payable in U.S. funds. Single issues are $15, and must be prepaid. Bedford Falls Communications, Inc., does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in the material contained herein, regardless of whether such errors result from negligence, accident, or any other cause whatsoever. Printed in the U.S.A. Postmaster: Send address changes to Surface & Panel, 440 QUADRANGLE DR, STE E, BOLINGBROOK, IL 60440-3455. Please direct all subscription questions to: Surface & Panel, 440 QUADRANGLE DR, STE E, BOLINGBROOK, IL 60440-3455; or call: 630-739-0900 option 1; or e-mail: subscriptions@cds1976.com

New Five-Day Lead Time All Materials. All Colors.

Every Panel. Every Door.

All standard panel and door orders are down to a 5-business day lead time.

That’s on over 50 stocked color options including our in-house product lines — Reflekt, UltraMatte, Ion, Roücke HD — and everything from panels to doors to miter folds. Contact us at sales@premiereurocase.com or order samples online at premiereurocase.com.

Cabinets in Reflekt Pure White.

Some exclusions apply on specialty and large volume orders.

Photography provided by EuroCraft Cabinets.

High-Gloss Acrylic

Textured Melamine

Pure White - 11046

White - 1982

Soft White - 1994

Cream - 7496

Pebble - 85468

Aspen

Basalt

Black

Cortez

Designer White

Beige - 7498

Grey - 85384

Stone - 85383

Dark Grey - 85382

Black - 8421

Durango

Silverton

Slate

Summit

Vail

Pearl White* - 11035

Metallic Beige* - 7499

Metallic Silver* - 85385

Metallic Grey* - 85387

Metallic Black* - 8427

Aloe

Cottage Oak

Lodge Oak

Weathered Oak

Rustic Oak

Matte Acrylic Red - 3362

Corsa Red - 3399

Orange - 9133

Fly Yellow - 2283

Sage - 5357

White - 1982

Pure White - 11082

Cream - 7496

Pebble - 85468

Beige - 7498

Stone - 85383

Black - 8421

Metallic Beige* - 7499

Metallic Silver* - 85385

Metallic Grey* - 85387

Starlight* - 85658

Sage - 5357

Blue - 4644

Blue - 4644

Decorative High-Gloss Film

Ion-Silver

Ion-Bronze

premiereurocase.com

Ion-Blue

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Ion-Red

Ion-Black

sales@premiereurocase.com

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*Denotes metallic design

12000 East 56th Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80239

Aiming High in THE MILE HIGH CITY OF DENVER DENVER, where urban sophistication meets outdoor adventure, is the perfect spot for the 2019 Material, Technology & Design Symposium, presented by Surface & Panel and the Composite Panel Association.

A hub of style, creativity and frontier spirit, Denver boasts 300 days of sunshine, a thriving cultural scene, diverse neighborhoods and natural beauty, all of which make it one of the world’s most spectacular playgrounds.

Those elements also make it a prime location for the decorative surface industry’s premier annual gathering.

The Material, Technology & Design Symposium is a high-powered, must-attend event that unites panel producers, surface material manufacturers, specifiers and endusers to learn about cutting-edge

trends. Among many other things, it exposes the world’s finest interior décor materials to the specification and design professionals who will ultimately select and apply them in residential, professional and commercial environments.

The symposium features notable speakers, dynamic education sessions, broad networking opportunities and an exhibit hall displaying the latest in the panel processing industry.

The symposium hotel, the Hyatt Regency Denver, is in the heart of downtown, offering easy access to a wide selection of arts, entertainment and other prime attractions, including the 16th Street Mall.

Mark your calendars and visit mtdsymposium.com for more information and updates.

W H E N : Oct. 6-8, 2019 W H E R E : Hyatt Regency Denver W H O : Designers, fabricators, suppliers, distributors

Eco-Certified Composites are Among the Greenest on Earth.

Certified. Sustainable.

T R U S T E D . A U D I T E D . I N T E R N A T I O N A L LY R E C O G N I Z E D .

SUSTAINABLE TO THE CORE! Look for the Eco-Certified™ Composites (ECC) seal for assurance that composite panels, specifically particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF), hardboard and engineered wood siding and trim have earned the strict ECC Sustainability Standard and Certification.

Composite panels that carry the ECC seal are manufactured in facilities that are certified to meet rigorous environmental requirements utilizing objective-based criteria and annual on-site audits. The standard specifies that three or more of the following requirements are verified:

The Composite Panel Association is committed to advancing and certifying the sustainability of industry products for residential, commercial and industrial uses. www.ECCproduct.org

n

Carbon Sink / Net Carbon Storage

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Locally-Sourced Wood Fiber

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Recycled / Recovered Wood Fiber

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Over 97% of Wood Raw Material Utilized

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Valid Wood Sourcing Certification

100% EPA & CARB COMPLIANT – 100% OF THE TIME! An ECC-certified facility must ensure that 100% of its production meets the EPA TSCA Title VI and California Air Resources Board (CARB) formaldehyde emissions requirements for 100% of its panels 100% of the time. ECC-certified mills are not permitted to sell products that exceed EPA and CARB emission requirements in any market, even if panels are sold in countries where these regulations do not apply.

TRUSTED STANDARD ECC is a voluntary industry standard developed by the Composite Panel Association (CPA) in 2011. With over 40 mills earning certification, auditors conduct on-site assessments to ensure facilities meet the standard’s strict criteria and verify compliance. CPA administers ECC as a third-party certification body accredited to ISO/IEC 17065 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

LEED CREDITS Panels from ECC mills may help achieve LEED credits in eight material and resources (MR) categories and one environmental quality (EQ) category.

Olon’s Vision With a mindset focused on quality, new products and operational excellence, new CEO sees bright future Olon Industries, based in Georgetown, Ontario, is a leading single-source manufacturer of furniture and cabinet components and custom solutions. Earlier this year, Olon appointed Gregory J. Stoner as president and CEO. Stoner previously worked as president and CEO of Metrie, a manufacturer and distributor of moulding and millwork products across the U.S. and Canada. Before that, Stoner served as president of MasterBrand Cabinets, as well as in positions at General Electric and Newell-Rubbermaid.

GREGORY J. STONER

Surface & Panel posed a series of questions to Stoner about what he brings to Olon and his thoughts about the state of the company and what lies ahead.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 ›

VELOURTOUCH IS AN EXCLUSIVE OLON COLLECTION OF ULTRA-MATTE SOLID COLORS THAT CAPTURES TODAY'S TRENDS OF EXTREME MATTE FINISHES AND PAINTED CABINET LOOKS. QUALITY, BEAUTIFUL, WORRY-FREE AND AFFORDABLE MATERIALS ARE MANUFACTURED BY OLON FOR YOUR BUILDING NEEDS. AVAILABLE IN EIGHT CONTEMPORARY NEUTRAL COLORS, THE VELOURTOUCH SURFACE IS SILKY TO THE TOUCH, ANTI-FINGERPRINT AND SCRATCH RESISTANT.

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SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

Our resins make beautiful laminates

© 2018 Hexion Inc. All rights reserved.

When it comes to advanced resins and additives for laminates, Hexion is the global leader.

Our products’ processing and performance benefits, global reliability and customized technical service are second to none. Hexion can help you deliver the beautiful, functional and sustainable materials today’s designers, architects, builders and regulators insist on.

For extraordinary rooms, start with exceptional resins and additives.

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“It is important that our customers view us as a vital extension of their business versus a transactional vendor.”

GREGORY J. STONER, CEO OF OLON INDUSTRIES

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

The PAUL M34 series is an extremely versatile panel ripsaw.

The machines can be utilized for any combination of ripping and grooving of panel material.

Q. Tell me about who you are, your

experience and your background in the building products industry?

A. I am the president and CEO of Olon Industries. I also have operating responsibility for OL Frontal Solutions, our recently formed joint venture with Licar, a division of the ILCAM Group based in Italy.

I have had the privilege of being in the building products industry for the last 19 years of my career. This includes ventilated wire shelving, storage and organization products, kitchen and bath cabinetry and moulding and millwork products. I have dealt with the independent dealers, national home center retailers, pro dealers/ wholesalers and national home builders over that span. During that time, I worked for some outstanding companies like NewellRubbermaid and Fortune Brands Home and Security. I will bring this experience to Olon, a much smaller company, to lead us down a path of customer centricity and operational excellence. Executing these two disciplines will enhance our customer’s interaction with us, at every level, something I am completely committed to.

Q. Why did you decide to return from retirement to join the Olon Team?

A. I decided to “un-retire” when I was approached to join Olon by its new owners, White Owl. I knew and respected who Olon was from my days in the cabinetry business, and more importantly I was impressed with the vision and support of the new owners of what we could become. The vision they have for where we can go is exciting. The family feel of private owners was just as important.

They value people and want us to grow the business the right way. Private ownership provides for a longer term view of the world and executing strategy versus the shortterm outlook of many public and private equity-owned companies.

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SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

OLON INDUSTRIES MANUFACTURES PROFILE-WRAPPED DOOR MOULDINGS FOR FABRICATORS OF FIVE-PIECE DOORS FOR THE KITCHEN AND BATH, OFFICE FURNITURE, HOSPITALITY, HEALTHCARE AND OTHER COMMERCIAL FURNITURE MARKETS. LEFT: OLON’S DOVETAIL DRAWER PROGRAM CONSISTS OF CUSTOM COMPONENTS, ASSEMBLED DRAWERS AND QUICK SHIP PROGRAMS FOCUSING ON THE BEST STANDARD HEIGHTS AND ASSEMBLED DRAWER BOXES WITH DOVETAIL JOINERY.

OPPOSITE PAGE:

Q. Tell me a little about Olon and what

distinguishes you in your marketplace.

A. Olon is one of North America’s leading single source manufacturers of quality component and custom solutions serving the furniture and cabinet industry for over 35 years. The entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering commitment to our customers that was the cornerstone of our business in 1981 remains the foundation of everything we do today.

Olon’s residential and commercial product offering is second to none, including: extensive profile wrapping capabilities; customizable postformable laminates; the VelourTouch Ultra-matte Collection panel and moulding program; a full range of Signature NEXGEN® TFL & HPL matching components; and a vast selection of solid wood, plywood and vinyl miterfold drawer components.

The newly added state-of-the-art door assembly and panel lamination capabilities of OL Frontal Solutions joint venture continue to set Olon apart. Nowhere else in North America can companies find from one source the technical expertise, scope of materials, components and custom products for the integrated solutions they require.

Q. What is your vision for Olon in

the short term and growth strategy for the coming years?

• 3X Faster Than Any Pin Meter • Independently Confirmed Accuracy • 7-Year Warranty • Non-Damaging Pinless Meter • Dual Depth Measurement

A. In the short term, we are going to focus on driving a mindset of quality and continuous operational improvement across the company. With this capability at our core, we will be in position to better serve our customers, earning their business every day. Longer term, we will invest in capacity and capability to bring new products to our partners that are on trend and excite both influencers and

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SURFACE & PANEL • Q2 2019

11

“The entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering commitment to our customers that was the cornerstone of our business in 1981 remains the foundation of everything we do today.”

GREGORY J. STONER, CEO OF OLON INDUSTRIES

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

consumers. Over time, this will become the engine that drives Olon’s vitality. It is important that our customers view us as a vital extension of their business versus a transactional vendor.

Q. How does the OL Frontal Solutions

joint venture affect Olon’s identity and perception in the marketplace?

OLON’S VINYL AND POLYPROPYLENE WRAPPED MITERFOLD DRAWER SYSTEMS ARE PRODUCED TO PRECISE TOLERANCES ON TECHNICALLY ADVANCED, SPECIALIZED MACHINERY. THIS PRODUCT ENHANCES PRODUCTION EFFICIENCIES IN ALL FIELDS OF THE CABINET AND FURNITURE INDUSTRY. SHOWN HERE WITH OPTIONAL INTEGRATED PVC OR ABS FILE RAILS.

A. This only enhances our identity. This joint venture brings the capability of Licar, the leader in cabinet doors and other frontal solutions in Europe, and Olon, a leader in wrapped frontal components, together as one. We will be in position to leverage trends and styles that traditionally have been created in Europe and adopted later in North America, giving us a first-mover advantage. This joint venture provides a platform to increase our relevancy to our strategic partners, a critical component of our overall growth strategy.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 ›

CUSTOM CUSTOMER? WE’LL BUILD THE TOOL YOU NEED Have a special cutting application? Turn to Vortex Tool for custom-designed router, insert and boring tools that will perform to your exact specifications — and provide long life. Tools are available in various grades of carbide, stellite and polycrystalline diamond.

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INSERTS 12

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

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CUSTOM TOOLING

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ACCESSORIES

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SHARPENING

Introducing the Millennial Collection – a collaboration of 6 new designs created for today’s market needs. An exciting collection of designs colorized for your product applications.

Launched for your convenience, the complete package offers matching HPL, 3D films and edgebanding.

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

Q. What challenges do you see facing Olon and the building products industry today?

A. Broadly speaking, we are faced with many of the same challenges all of the building products participants encounter.

Most notable at the moment is our ability to find and retain skilled associates. Finding competent associates is impacting our ability to grow and putting upward pressure on wages.

With unemployment at historically low levels, it has been very challenging to find qualified associates. Add to that our increasing use of highly technical equipment, in many of our locations, and it just compounds the issue. To combat this, we are putting a lot of effort into “marketing” ourselves to potential new hires. We are also looking at creative ways for Olon to retain existing associates. Turnover in any business has a negative impact, and we are trying to minimize that.

As the economy improves, this challenge will not go away. s&p

ABOVE: TWO OF 15 STOCKED ACCESSORY MOULDING PROFILES ARE PICTURED.

VIRTUALLY ANY MOULDING TYPE MAY BE PRODUCED, WITH OVER 600 CUSTOM PROFILE HEADS ON HAND. NUMEROUS WRAPPING LINES ENABLE OLON TO PRODUCE SMALL TO LARGE VOLUME ORDERS. LAMINATES INCLUDE VINYL FILMS, WOOD VENEER, FOILS, DÈCOR PAPERS AND POLYESTER TO MATCH MAJOR MANUFACTURER’S HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE LAMINATES. LEFT: OLON’S LINK25 FORMABLE LAMINATE IS POSTFORMABLE FOR EDGES, TOPS OR CORNERS. AVAILABLE IN PERFECT COLOR MATCHES TO TFL AND HPL, IT IS IDEAL FOR REFACING OR NEW INSTALLATIONS AND IS RECOMMENDED FOR VERTICAL OR LIGHT DUTY HORIZONTAL SURFACES.

WATERBORNE EXTERIOR IMPREGNATORS SPECIFIC FOR DECKING AND FURNITURE Excellent foot traffic resistance.

Outstanding protection against weather conditions, mold, bacteria and UV rays.

Ideal for softwood, exotic wood and thermotreated wood.

Compliant to EN71-3 regulation on toys safety, they are as well recommended for children playground equipment.

Application by brush, manual roller, automatic impregnation machinery.

Surfaces coated with these impregnators can be renovated using the same products, without sanding.

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Available as Transparent base XWC5AA1 and in twelve pre-defined colors: XWT5102 XWT5110 XWT5112 XWT5116

Maple Larch Cherry Fair walnut

XWT5103 XWT5107 XWT5108 XWT5117

Burgundy Mahogany meranti Dark walnut Antique walnut

XWT5118 XWT5119 XWT5104 XWT5114

Iroko Rosewood Ebony Forest green

For more details on this and other solutions, visit www.milesi.com: you can contact us directly or receive assistance to find authorized Milesi Distributor nearest to you.

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ADHESIVE IS APPLIED: directly to the foil which gives a smooth surface finish HIGH PROFITABILITY: allows precise adhesive application minimizing cost GREAT AESTHETIC RESULTS: mirror-finish IDEAL APPLICATION PRECISION: for High Gloss foils HIGH QUALITY: avoids contamination since the glue is not in contact with the air

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INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY: easy and fast cleaning that guarantees reduced maintenance time SLOT NOZZLE APPLICATION: allows post-forming

A LARGE SCULPTURAL INSTALLATION OF SUSPENDED FINS RUNS THROUGH THE SPACE TO THE SECOND FLOOR. CURATED COLLECTIONS OF APPLIANCES CLAD IN PREMIER EUROCASE’S ULTRAMATTE WHITE PRESENT THE DIFFERENT APPLIANCE OPTIONS AGAINST AN UNCOMPLICATED LUXURY BACKGROUND.

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE Collaborative effort yields materials, showroom that give customers permission to say yes to luxury appliances

I

BY SUZANNE VANGILDER LARSEN

n modern commerce, the most important factor driving buying decisions is not price. It’s customer experience (CX). This general trend shapes retail design and provides opportunities all along the value chain.

Roth Living’s latest showroom in Denver exemplifies optimized customer experience in theory and execution. The distributor of luxury kitchen appliance brands Sub Zero, Wolf and Cove collaborated with Denver and Boulder-based architecture firm Arch11, headed by key designer Claire Jordan, to assemble a team of like-minded specialists for the project. “’Customer experience’ is easy to say and challenging to live by because you have to take something that is complex and make it really simple,” said Denise Knoblich, vice president of marketing for Roth Living. “I can tell when we meet with potential showroom collaborators if it is going to be a fit or not. They have to understand the end game. If they don’t, it just doesn’t work.”

The fabricators and suppliers chosen for the project also operate on customer experience models, adding value with expertise and technology. “We unburden the designer,” said Jordan Vaughn, owner of Vonmod, the custom cabinetry and millwork company that engineered, fabricated and installed the

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SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

DENISE KNOBLICH

casework, millwork and sculptural components for the showroom.

Vaughn is also a licensed architect. “We are sort of a unique outfit because we are a design-centered manufacturer and our target client type is architects, designers, developers and contractors,” Vaughn said. “We prefer being a part of a collaborative process where we take an already amazing design and improve it by integrating what we know as far as use of materials and specifics of how things actually get manufactured.”

Each entity involved in the Roth Living Denver showroom project operates around the same user-centric principles: • Concept-based design process, rather than a parts-based process.

• Simplification through curation.

• Integration of modern technology.

The approach enables a higher level of individual autonomy and mastery. It is well-suited for serving high-end clientele—where the value of the experience and built-in efficiencies trump the initial bottom line.

ROTH LIVING’S NEW GENERATION USER-CENTRIC SHOWROOMS “It used to be when customers came to our showrooms, everything we told them was an education. It’s not like that anymore. Our consumers are so savvy, they spend a great deal of time researching,” Knoblich said. “We spent time studying our consumers, and we realized we have to help them navigate with minimal distraction and graduate to a decision. Many of our customers are left-brained; they’re analytical and methodical. They don’t just want to buy luxury because it is luxury. Clients want to purchase luxury with substance and to be part of the process.”

Roth Living’s 9000-square-foot Denver showroom occupies a three-story building with large, enticing street-facing windows. Visitors are greeted with kitchen vignettes appointed with cabinetry from highend European design houses—each one carefully chosen to exemplify a different aspect of personal style. In between, curated collections of appliances clad in Premier EuroCase’s UltraMatte white present the different options against an uncomplicated luxury background.

JORDAN VAUGHN

WITHIN THE CORPORATE KITCHEN, LOWER CABINETS ARE BUILT FROM PREMIER EUROCASE’S ULTRAMATTE ACRYLIC IN BLACK.

“Premier EuroCase’s UltraMatte panels are perfect for the space because the surface is fingerprint and chemical resistant,” Knoblich said. “People lean in and interact with the appliances throughout the process. We needed something that wears well and is easy to clean.”

The layout forms a decision tree, with each area predicating the next, ultimately culminating in a 6-by-9-foot digital wall. “People go through the process of choosing a suite of appliances, but it can be difficult to envision how everything will fit,” Knoblich said. “We use digital rendering to show them a contextual view of all their appliances together. They can make adjustments and fine tune. Putting consumers in the driver’s seat takes a lot of emotion out of the process and helps them be brave about their decisions.”

A large sculptural installation of suspended fins, inspired by a small exhibit at EuroCucina in Milan, runs through the space to the second floor. Vignettes lead to a demonstration kitchen and Roth’s corporate areas. Throughout, carefully selected finishes create an experience of simple elegance. Within the corporate kitchen, lower cabinets are built from Premier EuroCase’s UltraMatte acrylic in black.

The casework in the corporate pantry, storage and breakroom is finished with StevensWood’s textured TFL in pearl white with Rain finish.

“Appliances are definitely the focus of the space, but we appoint the showrooms well, using up-and-coming materials and working with people who push the envelope as far as what can be done with products,” Knoblich said. “We want like-minded people who are heroes in their trade, who are not average at anything they do.

When we met Jordan Vaughn at Vonmod, we had somebody special.

We gave him some scope and knew his team could execute. It is all about collaboration.”

NEW GENERATION USER-CENTRIC PROCESSES Before designing, Knoblich and team spent significant time on the concept—identifying what the space should look like and what roles each area should play in the customer experience.

“What often happens is people go in and immediately start designing the space. We operate differently. Roth Living worked with Arch11 to bring the space and brand identity to life. Claire Jordan and her CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 ›

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HIGH TECH TWO WAYS

R

oth Living’s Denver showroom was designed to enhance customer experience (CX), a factor that is more important to modern commerce than price. Integration of modern technology plays an important role in improving customer experience. Roth partnered with like-minded fabricators and suppliers to achieve the best possible outcome.

Here are how two entities involved in the Roth Living Denver showroom are integrating technology to enhance customer experience.

VONMOD: FABRICATOR TECHNOLOGY Jordan Vaughn, architect and owner of Vonmod, designed and built the company’s facility, which now includes roughly 10,000 square feet of office, warehouse and workshop space.

Despite its relatively small size, Vonmod is able to engineer, produce and install projects for prestigious customers with a high degree of autonomy. The lean manufacturing is set up so a single skilled individual could move through the processes efficiently.

Vonmod’s shop operates around three primary pieces of equipment.

All cutting is done with an SCM Pratix CNC router with automatic material onloading and offloading features. Vonmod practices 100 percent nested-based manufacturing, utilizing the router’s two-sided machining capabilities.

A custom-built SCM Omal dowel insertion machine accommodates Vonmod’s preferred Lockdowel channel lock connector system.

The router is equipped with a specialized floating head utilizing a keyhole bit, and the two machines communicate via a proprietary software link. Scanning a barcode on the Omal sends a specific file with instructions for drilling and insertion of four different fittings.

A SCM Olympic k560 edgebander with boomerang return completes the shop floor.

“We are experiencing a Golden Age of panel processing in this era of digital fabrication,” Vaughn said. “Our investments make it easier and more cost-effective to provide our customers with a great experience from design through installation.”

PREMIER EUROCASE: SUPPLIER TECHNOLOGY Premiere EuroCase, maker of the UltraMatte acrylic panels used in the Roth Living Denver showroom, stays in a continuous state of innovation to continually improve customer experience. The company’s latest efforts reduced their standard lead time on custom orders by 50 percent—from 10 business days to five.

“Our investments in automated technology are paying off for our customers as we cut lead times without sacrificing quality,” said Andy Wilzoch, president of Premier EuroCase.

“We’re leveraging our lean manufacturing innovations to benefit current customers and attract new ones based on the things that matter to them most—speed, quality and price.”

By the end of 2019, Premier EuroCase will be the first company in the U.S. to have a completely automated inventory retrieval system, automated HPS robotic saws and an automated laser edgebander all integrated into a single, autonomous system. n

“While one of our specialties is manufacturing casegoods, we essentially create amazing spaces and experiences that have high function for clients.”

JORDAN VAUGHN, ARCHITECT AND OWNER OF VONMOD

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

team are specialists and the perfect partners to assist with building a vision,” Knoblich said.

“By the time we get to building, we have spent enough time with Arch 11 on concepting so that the design process itself is quite short.”

To date, Arch 11 has been the architect of record for Roth Living’s Kansas City, St Louis, Salt Lake City and Denver showrooms.

Roth’s process aligns well with Vonmod’s customer-experience approach. As an architect-turned-panel-processor, Vaughn was able to sit at the table with the teams from Roth and Arch11 and retain autonomy over his part of the project.

“With Roth, I had a unique opportunity to be involved early on and to operate outside of the scope of the general contractors,” Vaughn said. “I love designing for owners and architects who value design. When they let us do our part, we’re able to optimize our processes and expertise. It empowers us to create higherquality end products more efficiently. Those are the best partnerships.”

A user-centric approach enables Vonmod to maintain independence while better serving its target customers.

“While one of our specialties is manufacturing casegoods, we essentially create amazing spaces and experiences that have high function for clients,” Vaughn said. “They trust us, from engineering and production through install and warranty. We make their jobs easier.”

Vonmod operates on a concept-driven model, both in design and production. (Read more about Vonmod’s production facility in the sidebar on the left). Rather than the transactional production of already-specified parts, Vaughn’s partnership with clients begins with a general idea and commitment to the project from both sides.

Before any component is designed, Vaughn meets with stakeholders to fully understand the concept of the space. He visits the site CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 ›

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and takes comprehensive digital measurements accounting for its entirety, not just the casework dimensions. “We ultimately save a lot of time and money by proactively addressing any special considerations of the environment,” Vaughn said.

Vonmod also works from a curated palette of materials. “The team from Arch11 is really knowledgeable and made great specifications for Roth Living. But generally, part of our process is material education for the client. It saves all kinds of challenges,” Vaughn said.

“We know what we specify is not going to delaminate; we trust our suppliers, and we know how to fabricate quality with their materials.

“Here in Denver, we have local access to amazing materials,” Vaughn continued. “We know Premier EuroCase’s UltraMatte and high-gloss Reflekt product lines are quality. It’s another layer of providing a customer-centric experience. The acrylic material from Senosplast has a UV-lacquered hard-coat, so it is extraordinarily durable and won’t yellow. It’s ideal for a touch-point application. The panels reliably arrive in perfect condition, machine as expected and look like new in the application day in and day out. Ultimately, our name is on the installation, and we want our customers to appreciate the value of our work, so we work with products we know will perform.

Their Roücke HD-textured TFL products are excellent. (Read more about Premier EuroCase’s recent investments to reduce lead times from 10 days to five days on page 18.)

“We also like working with StevenWood, and Uniboard has an impressive embossed-in-register TFL. If clients request veneer, we use Shinnoki. And if a customer doesn’t want to work within our

THE CASEWORK IN THE CORPORATE PANTRY, STORAGE AND BREAKROOM IS FINISHED WITH STEVENSWOOD’S TEXTURED TFL IN PEARL WHITE WITH RAIN FINISH.

specifications, or wants something other than flat-panel European modern style, then we aren’t the company for them. No apologies.”

Vonmod’s approach allows it to make investments in innovation that bely its size. The team is seven individuals. Vaughn designs projects with CabinetVision software and, as a modern manufacturer, works with an engineer to develop code to maximize the robust program.

“I really like how dynamic CabinetVision is. It’s a highly powerful platform that is not only for cabinets. There’s opportunity there if you want to leverage it,” Vaughn said.

The team recently worked together to integrate a newly acquired SCM Omal 1300 CNC inserter to take advantage of Lockdowel’s channel lock hardware systems. The technology is expanding Vonmod’s design capabilities and simplifying assembly and installation, ultimately improving product quality while reducing budgets.

“I love to push the limits,” Vaughn said. “For example, the suspended sculpture in Roth Living. They gave us the design and said, ‘What’s the best way to build this?’ Five-foot-by-8-foot MDF panels would be ungodly heavy. We were able to reduce the weight by 75 percent by using a progression of Kerfkore products. With specialized software files, we milled the parts to accept Lockdowel, which greatly simplified the installation. For us, that is ‘bridging the gap’ between architecture and fabrication.”

NEW GENERATION USER-CENTRIC PROJECTS Roth Living’s Denver showroom’s customer-centric retail experience gives customers permission to say yes to luxury. The project’s success is due to both the careful concepting of Roth Living and Arch11 and the careful team building of like-minded specialists to execute the build.

“What we set out to accomplish was to make a space for people to enjoy the process of creating their custom appliance suite,” Knoblich said. “Vonmod and our other team members were able to go beyond what is typically asked, to achieve things that haven’t been done before.” s&p

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Sustainable Success ALLBIRDS TAKES SIMPLE YET INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO SHOES, RETAIL

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THE WALLS ARE TILED IN DIFFERENT FINISHES, WITH CONCRETE-FINISHED TILES IN SHADES OF GRAY ON ONE SIDE AND FIR VENEER TILES IN A RANDOMLY ORGANIZED MIX OF HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL GRAIN ON THE OTHER. THE USE OF MDF FOR THE TILES REINFORCES ALLBIRDS' BRANDING WITH NODS TO NATURAL MATERIALS THEY HOLD IMPORTANT AND SUSTAINABLE MAN-MADE MATERIALS SEEN IN THEIR PRODUCTS.

F

BY SCOTT W. ANGUS

rom the beginning, Allbirds aspired to innovate while keeping things simple and sustainable. The strategy worked, so it’s not surprising that the 4-year-old shoe company took the same approach to its retail stores.

Kevin Boo, an account executive with Fleetwood Fixtures, which manufactures custom store interiors, explained Allbirds’ retail approach this way: “Allbirds focuses on the customer experience in the store, so presenting their products in the best way and telling the background of their mission to provide sustainable shoes and examples of the material in the shoes is all part of the story and experience for the customer.”

Fleetwood, working with Allbirds’ in-house team and the company’s marketing firm, created three of Allbirds’ five stores, with the latest being a Chicago location that opened in March. Among the stores’ key features are moveable wall tiles made of medium density fiberboard with fir veneer and concrete decorative finishes. Some of the tiles are perforated to accept replaceable fixtures to hold shoes for display.

“We strove to make an adaptable, flexible store that can be reworked to show the newest products and seasonal offerings in the best configurations and groupings to keep the store fresh and simply show the shoes to best advantage and also be able to be inspected by the customers up close and in their hands,” Boo said.

The retail stores are part of Allbirds’ direct-to-consumer

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SURFACE & PANEL • Q2 2019

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AMONG THE STORES’ KEY FEATURES ARE MOVEABLE WALL TILES MADE OF MEDIUM DENSITY FIBERBOARD WITH FIR VENEER AND CONCRETE DECORATIVE FINISHES. THE THREE FLEETWOOD-CREATED STORES SHARE A DESIGN SCHEME BUT REFERENCE BACK TO THEIR LOCATIONS IN SPECIFIC AREAS.

business model, through which brands control their own manufacturing and distribution and sell directly to consumers online, in brick-and-mortar shops, or both.

Allbirds was founded in San Francisco in 2015 by a former soccer player from New Zealand, Tim Brown, who saw a need for a new kind of shoe. Allbirds are known for being soft, comfortable and sustainable. The company takes a minimalistic approach to its shoes and sales, offering only about a half-dozen varieties mostly in solid, understated colors. Nearly all of the shoes sell for $95.

“I had a very, very simple insight that shoes were over-logoed, over-colored and changed all the time for no reason,” Brown told CNBC Make It for a December 2018 story. “It was very, very difficult to find ‘simple.’ And I set out to solve that.”

Allbirds’ original shoe is made of super-fine wool from the South Island of New Zealand that is the same quality found in luxury men’s suits. Allbirds are made in Italy with proprietary technology and have soles made from a combination of rubber and foam that is both lightweight and resilient enough for running. In 2018, the company introduced its first line of non-wool shoes called Tree, made with fiber derived from eucalyptus trees.

Keeping with the sustainability theme, the shoes’ laces are made from post-consumer recycled polyester—“one old plastic bottle becomes one pair of durable, sleek shoelaces.”

The shoes, which are designed for sockless wear, fit into the “athleisure” category, meaning they are good for lighter workouts CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 ›

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IN THE CHICAGO LOCATION, THE SERVICE DESK HAS TOUCHES THAT EVOKE THE FAMED IVY-COVERED BRICK WALLS AT WRIGLEY FIELD, HOME OF THE CUBS. THE DESK IS RED BRICK AND HAS A SECTION OF IVY COVERING THE VERTICAL FACE.

but also can be worn for casual and even more dressed-up occasions. Allbirds are cool in the heat and warm in the cold, the company’s website says, and they can be machine-washed.

The company initially made its shoes available on its website March 1, 2016. It relied heavily on social media and word of mouth for sales, and the shoes caught on with the nearby Silicon Valley tech community and trend-setting celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Matthew McConaughey and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Allbirds tested its direct-to-consumer retail prospects in popup stores, including one in New York City, and saw success, said Fleetwood’s Boo. “So the customers drove the decision to go to brick and mortar stores through great traffic in the pop-ups.”

Fleetwood, which is based in Leesport, Pennsylvania, and its companion firm, High Country Millwork, based in Longmont, Colorado, design retail space for large companies and others just emerging in the retail market. Besides the recently opened Chicago location, Fleetwood built Allbirds stores in New York City and San Francisco. Allbirds has plans for eight more stores in the U.S., and Fleetwood hopes to be involved, Boo said.

The three Fleetwood-created stores share a design scheme but reference back to their locations in specific areas. In Chicago, the service desk has touches that evoke the famed ivy-covered brick walls at Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs. The desk is red brick and has a section of ivy covering the vertical face. Metal CONTINUED ON PAGE 30 ›

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display fixtures in each store are painted in signature colors based on location.

Chicago’s shoe display armatures in the front window, for example, are finished in a light blue taken from the city’s flag.

Allbirds’ lighthearted approach is reflected in signature cartoon shapes that begin at the entrance with footshaped door handles created by Fleetwood for the stores. It continues with graphic cartoon mirrors that set the scene and let shoppers see how the shoes look on their feet. “You literally see how the shoe appears by looking in a cloud-shaped floor mirror,” Boo said.

The stores’ perimeter walls are made up of the moveable wall tiles with solid and perforated designs. The perforated tiles can accept display fixtures that hold the shoes on customer wooden forms or rods. The display fixtures mount into faceted metal magnetic grommets that hold them in position but are removable to relocate, replace with a different style or rearrange, Boo said.

The walls are tiled in different finishes, with concrete-finished tiles in many colors of gray on one side and fir veneer tiles in a randomly organized mix of horizontal and vertical grain on the other.

“Together, they form an interesting, ever-changing patchwork of tiles,” Boo said.

MDF is the perfect substrate for both sets of tiles, he added. “The use of MDF for the wall tiles reinforces the Allbirds branding with a nod to the natural materials they hold important and sustainable man-made materials as you see in their products.” s&p

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High End Laminates are among materials that set elegant San Francisco cannabis shops apart

BY SCOTT W. ANGUS

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I

n many ways, cannabis dispensaries are like other retail stores.

They are designed to make customers feel welcome and allow them to explore the shops intuitively, experience the brands and have positive experiences overall.

Without question, though, a stigma remains about marijuana, so the firm that designed three The Apothecarium cannabis shops in San Francisco and the people who run them have taken extra steps to make visitors comfortable.

The design firm, Urban Chalet, helped create three beautifully appointed and welcoming cannabis shops in San Francisco. One of them, the flagship store in the Castro District, was tabbed “the #1 best-designed dispensary” in America by Architectural Digest.

Beyond the designs, The Apothecarium shops go above and beyond to satisfy their customers, said Rachel Chichester, senior designer at Urban Chalet.

“The Apothecarium’s dispensaries cater more to individual needs than a typical retail store, or a typical dispensary for that matter,” Chichester said. “At each visit, a customer meets with an associate

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TYLER W CHARTIER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOE BUDD

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TYLER W CHARTIER

individually to ensure that any questions they have are addressed and that they’re receiving products that will suit their needs.

“This individualized experience inspired us to focus on features that really emphasized the difference from other retailers.”

The Apothecarium wanted to create spaces that are approachable for a variety of clientele—from seniors to patients with serious medical conditions to first-time dispensary visitors, explained Karina Sainez, Urban Chalet’s design director.

“Throughout our design process, we spent time understanding the dispensary experience through different perspectives. Aesthetically, we wanted to create an upscale, modern, yet comfortable experience,” Sainez said.

“We did so by keeping most of the millwork and architectural finishes very clean and utilized high contrast to define areas. We brought warmth and familiarity by incorporating some traditional details throughout and by utilizing a mixture of lush and patterned textiles. To keep the space from feeling too traditional, these elements were used in unexpected ways. The strong modern artwork

was used to also create a balance.”

Urban Chalet was founded in 2010 and has grown from singlefamily residential remodels to large-scale commercial roll-outs. The firm’s team of eight works on projects of all sizes and has been involved in more than 100 retail health and wellness spaces nationwide. Services include interior design, brand integration and growth strategy. The Apothecarium is its only cannabis client with locations in operation.

Urban Chalet first began working with The Apothecarium when the project’s architect, Vincent Gonzaga, brought them together to collaborate on the Castro location. At the time, The Apothecarium was operating a medical dispensary out of a significantly smaller space just a block away. For background, voters in California approved the sale of medical marijuana in 1996, and the state legalized recreational use effective Jan. 1, 2018.

“The client’s vision and goals were clear: They wanted a larger space to service more patients, and they wanted that space to feel welcoming and accessible to patients of all types, while maintaining CONTINUED ON PAGE 34 ›

SURFACE & PANEL • Q2 2019

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOE BUDD

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design features that have become part of their signature aesthetic,” Chichester said.

The design intent for the Castro store was to make it a “destination boutique health and wellness space” that felt upscale, approachable and local, said Michelle Granelli, a principal at Urban Chalet.

“The size of the space allowed us to expand their program to include multiple seating areas, retail displays, large scale art installations, a classroom and gallery space for local art exhibitions. We did not use other dispensaries as precedent or case studies. We approached this space as its own, throwing out any preconceived notions to develop the aesthetic,” she said.

After being greeted at a check-in counter, customers receive personalized help from a consultant at the dispensary counter. The dispensary counter—with its painted trim details, quartz counters, warm walnut backdrop created of laminate, angled coffered ceiling above and carpeted floors—feels welcoming and comfortable and allows for a personalized retail experience, Granelli said.

The boutique area near the front is another successful feature, offering a variety of curated cannabis-related retail products displayed on custom millwork, she said.

For the second San Francisco location on Lombard Street, Urban Chalet used elements developed for the first store and modified the overall design slightly to engage the clientele of the Marina neighborhood.

“At only a third of the size of the Castro location, we specified appropriately scaled furnishings that allowed us to create distinct seating areas within the smaller space. We also took advantage of existing building conditions to create unique features, like a built-in bench to maximize the available seating that also is used for inventory storage,” Chichester said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 36 ›

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOE BUDD

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At the third and most recent location in San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood, the firm implemented key aesthetic elements developed at the previous two locations. The shop is located in a historical building, so Urban Chalet chose to incorporate traditional paneling, which it painted in a modern deep blue to go with richer fabrics and metallic details.

As with any effective retail space, the materials used for the fixtures and other elements played a key role in The Apothecarium shops’ feel and success.

The main feature for each location is the dispensary counter, and it needed to make a design statement while being durable and functional, Sainez said.

“The materials included a quartz composite countertop, as quartz is beautiful while requiring an extremely low level of maintenance.

We’ve also used white handmade tile from a local company with a strong graphic pattern and contrasting black grout at each location’s dispensary backsplash, varying the pattern to fit with each space,” she said.

“Over the dispensary counter, we incorporated a dropped ceiling section with decorative acoustical tile to help create and maintain a sense of privacy for each customer,” Sainez said, adding that the ceiling tile is Armstrong Metaphors made of gypsum.

At all locations, laminates—specifically high pressure laminate— were specified extensively for their aesthetic and durability. The three primary brands are Wilsonart NeoWalnut, Wilsonart Black and InteriorArts Pure Oak Natural.

“Where and how much of the laminate we used was determined by the design elements in each space,” Granelli said. “For instance, in the smaller Marina location, where we kept the material palette

lighter, we utilized more of the InteriorArts Pure Oak Natural.”

For all countertops, including the check-in area and dispensary counter, and on all custom millwork, the designers specified quartz from both Caesarstone and Cambria. For the custom millwork, they chose powder-coated steel in combination with one of the three laminates for the shelving and cabinet components.

“We wanted to keep the look very clean and authentic, and we wanted the client to have minimal maintenance and ensure longevity for the space,” Chichester said.

Chase Chambers, director of operations for The Apothecarium, said the laminates in the shops play critical roles because of their durability, ease of maintenance and attractiveness.

“Since we see hundreds of customers a day at each of our locations, operating morning to night almost every day of the year, ease of maintenance and durability is essential. Use of laminates in the sales areas allows for us to use the buildout as it was designed and intended, without losing the warmth and connection to nature or being too one dimensional,” he said.

“Faux wood laminates are easy to care for and offer a more dynamic texture while adding to the atmosphere and blending in seamlessly with the other fine furnishings.”

Overall, Chambers especially likes that the shops feel welcoming to the wide variety of customers who shop at The Apothecarium.

“Whether it is a specific pattern of fabric in the custom furniture or the sleekness of the clean white countertops, the diversity of textures

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TYLER W CHARTIER

CONTINUED ON PAGE 38 ›

SURFACE & PANEL • Q2 2019

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“We wanted to keep the look very clean and authentic, and we wanted the client to have minimal maintenance and ensure longevity for the space.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOE BUDD

RACHEL CHICHESTER, SENIOR DESIGNER AT URBAN CHALET

and materials match the diversity of our customers. That, in turn, creates a welcoming environment for all, which is a physical manifestation of one of our most important core values of diversity and individuality,” Chambers said.

“Creating a safe and beautiful space is important for us a dispensary because it helps break down the stigma around cannabis use and allows customers to feel comfortable to learn and create meaningful connections with our team.”

Clearly, the design approach has been impressive and effective. Beyond the kudos from Architectural Digest, the shops have been widely lauded by other publications.

“The elegantly appointed Apothecarium is the opposite of the image so often associated with such places,” The Bay Area Reporter wrote. “Spotlessly clean and with a friendly security team at the front door, the club’s interior features artwork and crystal chandeliers. A knowledgeable staff works behind the counter to answer clients’ questions.”

Fast Company, a leader in business media focused on innovation, said: “… Your grandmother would probably feel at home at Apothecarium—especially if she’s a design freak.”

The broader business model is working for The Apothecarium, as well. The company just sold for $118 million in cash and stock to TerrAscend, a Toronto-based biopharmaceutical and wellness company that is focused on the cannabis market. s&p

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39

Famous for Franchise Fixtures

F.C. Dadson has firmly established itself as go-to source for helping fledgling franchises craft retail space identities

BY RICH CHRISTIANSON

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G

oogle “franchise retail fixtures,” and the first website listing that displays is for F.C. Dadson.

The Greenville Wis-based company’s top Google ranking is a reflection of the thousands of franchise stores, salons, restaurants and clinics that the fixture manufacturer has helped open during its 44-year history. The company’s diverse customer portfolio includes American Family Care, Seva Beauty, Cousin’s Maine Lobster, Eurowalls, PetSense, Scout and Molly’s, Diesel Barbershop, Code Ninjas and many others.

“We tend to work more with emerging brands, helping them ensure consistent quality as well as a consistent look and feel to their stores,” said Bob Galinsky, marketing strategist.

Fixtures and millwork are F.C. Dadson’s core products, but it’s having a deep understanding of how to serve the franchise industry’s needs that has distinguished the company in the market.

“We do an awful lot of business in the franchise world nationally.

The fixtures are a key component because many times they are the franchise’s brand,” said Gary Keider, vice president. “Without giving away all of our secrets, I think what differentiates us is that we offer a full gamut of services. We can address and fulfill the customer’s

needs in a variety of areas, not just for millwork and fixture packages.

Franchises can truly come to us as their one-stop shop whether they are developing a new concept or doing a refresh.

“We have construction expertise to help them build out a site or we can help them select a general contractor,” Keider continued.

“There are a lot of fixture houses that just do fixtures, and there are a lot of construction houses that just do construction. We kind of blend both of them into one. As a one-stop shop, our goal is to provide our customers everything they need to bring their retail environment to life so that the owner can focus on setting up their business, training staff and getting their register ringing.”

SERVING ‘BOTH SIDES’ Keider said F.C. Dadson serves “both sides of the franchise equation.”

“We help franchisors maintain some control and standardization over their brand as it goes across 10, 15 or 20 different sites. But we also help the franchisees bring that branded look into their space.

Even though many of our products are standard or modularized, they oftentimes have to be stretched and or modified to work in a particular space because no two spaces are identical. We’re not just cookie cutting or stamping out the same boxes and panels time after time.”

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SURFACE & PANEL • Q2 2019

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INTRODUCING MATCHING 3D LAMINATE TO ROSEBURG

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Tailoring products to meet a client’s specific requirements also involves knowing where utilities are located. “We typically get with the plumbers, electricians and others,” said Dan Dorchester, production manager. “We’ll add the wire management and the cutouts in our cabinet boxes for plumbing, lighting and anything else that is necessary to build in because it’s a whole lot easier for us to cut out the holes here with our machines than to have somebody on the jobsite with a hole saw trying to figure out how to get it to work. It speeds up installation.”

Casework is largely assembled using cam locks and other mechanical fasteners. This allows F.C. Dadson to assemble products at its factory to check for fit and finish and then disassemble them to ship and reassemble at the jobsite.

Order to delivery typically falls into a four- to six-week turnaround time, Dorchester said. “It can be shorter if needed, and if we are doing more than one store at a time, we can do it quicker.”

Keider said timing is everything for scheduling production and delivery times. While it’s never good to be late, it’s also not good to ship to the jobsite before the space is built out. “Whether or not we’re helping with construction, we’ll stay in touch with the GC to know when the site is going under construction and what the timelines are so that we’ll understand when they need the fixtures.”

BREAKING INTO FRANCHISE FIXTURES F.C. Dadson was founded in 1976 by Fletcher Gruthoff and is now headed up by his son Collin. The company’s name is a derivative that combines each of their first-name initials with a merged form of their familial relationship.

Dorchester has had a hand in the company’s growth since 1978. He’s seen F.C. Dadson grow from a handful of employees to 80. Five years ago, the company more than doubled its operation when it expanded into its current 100,000-square-foot facility.

According to Dorchester, F.C. Dadson’s big break came in the

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early 1980s when a start-up one-hour optical franchise scrambled to find an alternative manufacturer of store fixtures after its vendor reneged on its contract. “We jumped on in to do their second store and then ended up doing nearly all of their stores for the next year or two,” Dorchester said. “It got us moving in a different direction where we needed to hire people to keep up with our growth.”

TALE OF TWO MARKETS F.C. Dadson handles about 400 individual projects involving fixtures each year. Retail fixtures for in-line stores, plus kiosks and pop-up stores, represent about 80 percent of the company’s business. The rest of the business is tied to commercial projects, including medical facilities, schools and government offices.

Dorchester said the plant is set up to accommodate work for both market sectors. Key panel processing equipment includes a Schelling panel saw, two Busellato CNC nesting routers, a Brandt edgebander and an Omal horizontal drill. Microvellum software takes projects from design to production.

“Projects for both markets require a lot of panels, mostly thermally fused laminate,” Dorchester said. “We prefer to use TFL because the panels have come a long way. They not only hold up really well in retail environments, but there are far more options in terms of colors and woodgrains. You can barely tell the difference between finished solid wood and textured TFL.” The realism of textured TFL dovetails well with F.C. Dadson’s value-engineering program, said Lance Kohl, purchasing manager.

“We rely heavily on our vendors to work with us to come up with cost alternatives. For example, redwood is readily available in California, but not here in the Midwest. Offering a redwood finish in TFL can provide a significant savings across the project. The same goes for switching from granite to a high-grade solid surface for countertops.”

F.C. Dadson tends to use solid color TFL for retail fixtures and textured TFL for commercial projects. Arauco Prism and Panolam are two primary TFL sources, though other brands are used as specified by the customer.

“Normally, the client will already have a look in mind for their fixtures,” said Kayla Woldt, interior designer. “We’ll use laminates for most of their decorative surfaces to help make things more costeffective. There are so many different ways that we can create things with laminates to make a project unique and aesthetically pleasing.”

F.C. Dadson frequently incorporates other materials into its projects, including five-piece cabinet doors from Walzcraft; high pressure laminate; solid surfaces and quartz for countertops; powder-coated CONTINUED ON PAGE 46 ›

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metal components; upholstery; and glass. The majority of non-wood items are sub-contracted through F.C. Dadson’s network of job shops.

Some of the key hardware suppliers F.C. Dadson regularly taps into are Blum for hinges and Grass and Accuride for slides. LED lighting from Hera is being incorporated into an ever-increasing number of projects, Dorchester said.

RETAIL CHANGES 4.0 It’s no secret that retailing is in the throes of a dramatic transition largely due to the Internet.

“Retail space has been changing over the last five years and will continue doing so over the next decade because Amazon and other online sellers have impacted how retail space is utilized,” Keider said. “We’re seeing more businesses selling services that cannot be purchased over the Internet thriving. We’re also seeing retail stores either downsizing or reconfiguring what they are trying in order to facilitate both the bricks and mortar as well as the clicks. Retail is going through a lot of transformation. You’re seeing pop-up stores.

You’re also seeing some of these retail environments becoming more like showrooms versus showing off a lot of inventory.”

Kohl also noted that a key franchising trend is business models based on providing services. “It’s folks who cut hair or offer grooming services for men. It’s computer coding classes for kids, something that’s better taught in person than online, so you need a physical space for that.”

“As the retail world continues to change, we need to make sure that we continue to find unique ways to service our retail customers,” Keider said. “On the commercial side, things are staying relatively the same. We’ve gone through the energy-efficiency and LEED-type certifications. It’s still out there, and we can provide those types of products and materials if they are needed, but I don’t think it’s as prevalent as it was a couple of years ago.” s&p 46

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

©ISTOCK.COM/SNVV

Retail Evolving The following retail forecasts are excerpted from Retail Environments magazine with permission from Shop Environments Association.

Sites

Malls will reposition to boost brick-and-mortar traffic

BY DAVID MARGOLIUS

VP OF RETAIL, SHAWMUT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION As the retail landscape adapts to changing consumer needs, brands are changing their brick-and-mortar strategy to reach a new equilibrium.

The foundation of this process is understanding and accounting for Gen Z shopping habits, a generation that currently comprises 40% of the population and is beginning to have purchasing power. Not only did this demographic grow up with technology and product delivery just a finger tap away, but they also are keenly interested in a brand’s story, appreciate transparency, and conduct thorough research before making purchasing decisions.

Retailers must capture the attention of this next generation of shoppers through emotional and engaging experiences that bolster brand loyalty, create community, and ultimately lead to purchase.

Brands can’t grow without an innovative approach to their brick-andmortar presence. Similarly, shopping center owners can’t increase foot traffic and dwell time at their properties without a strategic approach to tenants and offerings. So mall repositioning will continue at a strong pace. As 43% of malls in the U.S. add non-retail uses to their shopping centers and 20% dedicate space to the community, the mall will once again become an appealing destination to current and upcoming generations of consumers.

From transforming a closed mall to a live-work-play destination,

to revitalizing a failed anchor store by slicing it up or finding a new use, to repositioning a mall’s entire layout to generate and capitalize on foot traffic, the overall trend is about catering to both tenants and shoppers. Tenants are becoming a focus for mall owners as they pivot their strategy, taking a broader approach that meets a wide variety of consumer needs. Owners want to provide a breadth of experiences to make their property a destination, rather than a quick pit stop.

Owners are expanding their property uses from just retail, approaching businesses such as health and medical centers, virtual reality attractions, and even fitness centers to make their shopping centers one-stop lifestyle destinations. One mall that’s doing it right is Westfield Century City in Los Angeles. An extensive renovation revamped its format to offer expansive dining options, fitness and wellness purveyors, and medical services, in addition to a portfolio of exclusive boutique and bespoke retail stores. And projects at the World Trade Center and Hudson Yards in New York, Palisades Village in Los Angeles, Aventura Mall in Miami, and Cambridge Crossing in Greater Boston are bringing to life carefully curated experiences that drive foot traffic while providing unique brand interactions.

A successful shopping center incorporates outdoor components, central gathering places, and a diverse variety of tenants such as theaters, gyms, and new, local, or formerly online-only brands to add an exclusive appeal. We are excited by properties adopting these changes to become truly mixed-use destinations that forge synergies between landlord, tenant, and shopper. n CONTINUED ON PAGE 50 ›

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Point-Of-Purchase

4 big trends will influence POP strategies

BY LEON NICHOLAS VP OF RETAIL INSIGHTS AND SOLUTIONS, WESTROCK

• REIMAGINED CENTER STORE: Expect accelerated efforts to reinvent the center store and the selling of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) generally. Despite pressure on commoditized products that are traditionally vulnerable to online shopping, retailers won’t let center aisles languish. They will place more importance on the shopper experience with enhanced fixtures and lighting. Efforts will be made to transition the aisle into a place of engagement as shelves take on a more promotional role. Expect an increase in the comingling of perimeter products with those found in-line as retailers attempt to drive more traffic down center store aisles with cross-box merchandising.

• INCREASED IN-STORE DIGITIZATION: Technology is playing an increasingly important role in the path to purchase, and retailers are leveraging this through enhanced digital customer experiences. Expect growth in the presence of digital-in-place kiosks and screens to help shoppers locate products, educate themselves about products, and even purchase products not carried in store. Technology designed to encourage shopper engagement, such as smart mirrors and facial recognition, will enable personalized messaging and product recommendations.

Mobile interactivity will continue to expand in store as active, shopper-driven scanning and connected packaging engagement begins to align with passive, mobile programs such as personalized in-store messaging and digital coupon redemption.

The capacity to measure the impact of such technology will provide a needed boost to efforts to drive trade promotion ROI. Think of it as a technology-enabled “insights productivity loop.”

• BIGGER ROLE FOR SMALL: Even more than in the past, most brick-and-mortar growth is expected to be in stores with smaller footprints: dollar stores, drugstores, discounters, and specialty stores. Smaller stores require brands and retailers to provide more compelling shopper experiences as the requirements for executional ROI are higher—with less real estate, there is little room for error. Every display will need to work harder to make an impact. Expect increased personalization, customization, and promotional intensity to extend into the aisle as shelves take on the role of displays in a limited display environment.

©ISTOCK.COM/GRAPESTOCK

Point-of-purchase will continue to be impacted by advancements in retail technology, the continued growth of e-commerce, and an increasing demand for experiential and convenient shopping environments. We expect to see progress against a wide array of challenges over the next few years, but four trends stand out as leading retail movements to watch:

• STORE-WITHIN-A-STORE: Shopper demand for more experiential retail environments will increase the presence of store-within-a-store destinations aimed at elevating categories and enabling the discovery of new products. Environments focused on categories such as pet care, coffee, alcoholic beverages, wellness, organics, food services, and beauty will grow more popular as retailers seek ways to distinguish themselves from their competition through personalized services and expanded product assortments.

The store productivity mandate will be at the top of brick-andmortar agenda. The need for efficient and effective in-store promotions is paramount as shoppers demand a more engaging shopping experience that seamlessly fits into their increasingly busy schedules. These and other trends will be the pillars that make stores— and shopper trips—more productive. n

Visual Merchandising 3 technologies will be integrated into displays

BY JON HARARI CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, WINDOWSWEAR The future presents an exciting and dynamic opportunity for visual merchandising. Technology is exponentially increasing the ways retailers and brands can visually merchandise their products. Visual merchandisers will need to combine visual creativity with digital connectivity. The world will be a 24-7 global, technologically driven marketplace where everything can engage with consumers, collect data, and sell products and services. Over the next few years, visual merchandisers can expect to engage with, and create solutions for, augmented reality, virtual reality, and voice technologies.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 52 ›

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Augmented reality will significantly improve the experience of every physical retail environment, as every smartphone will be equipped with the latest AR tools that retailers and brands can use to engage shoppers. It will also enable every previously non-retail environment to be a new potential selling channel. This will provide visual merchandisers with endless creativity for how to merchandise, how to create exciting experiences, and more. It will allow anyone to discover, engage with, and shop for products and services everywhere they are physically present.

Social media companies will integrate AR into their networks, as all are already working on sophisticated AR features. Michael Kors recently launched a feature enabling consumers to purchase sunglasses through Facebook’s facial recognition software. Such technology will continue to improve to cover all types of products and services.

E-commerce will improve for both the retailer and consumers.

Apparel brands can use body recognition software through their e-commerce portals to provide personal renditions of how their products will look. This digital try-on solution will personalize the online shopping experience while helping to reduce returns. Home furnishing brands are using similar technologies to show consumers how products being displayed online will look in their homes.

Virtual reality will not be just limited to gamers, where it is taking off. Anyone who likes to watch sports, concerts, television, movies, CONTINUED ON PAGE 54 ›

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RSR Unveils Role of the Store in the Future

R

etailers see stores in the future serving as one of several ways for consumers to shop their brands. Retail Systems Research (RSR)’s recent benchmark report, The Retail Store 2018: From Apocalypse to Renaissance, notes that 63% of retail “winners”— those with sales growth higher than 4.5%—hold that viewpoint, as do nearly half of all other retailers.

“The retail store is not experiencing an apocalypse. On the contrary, it is on the cusp of a renaissance,” the report concludes.

More than half of retail winners and about a third of other retailers also perceive the future store as their primary face to the customer, according to the report. They believe it will continue to serve the role of primary point of customer order fulfillment. And 41% of winners and 28% of others see the future store as a place for the community to aggregate around a value proposition. Less than 20% of retailers expect stores to be relegated to the role of showroom only.

The report is promising for companies engaged in the design and fitout of stores:

• 46% of winners and 34% of others anticipate major redesigns. of winners and nearly half of others expect • Two-thirds to open more stores in existing markets.

• Anticipating expanding into new markets are 55% of winners and 41% of others. half of winners and nearly a third of others expect to replace • Nearly existing stores with new formats.

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live events, and more will do so in the future with VR. That will all be broadcast through live VR experiences that will be even more engaging and immersive than 2D television screens. Consumers will wear VR headsets that can track what they are watching and show products and services customized to them.

Visual merchandisers of the future will have exciting opportunities to work with VR in creating shoppable moments with everything we enjoy watching and playing with.

Voice technologies are also affecting visual merchandising.

Products like Amazon Alexa and Google Home are being connected in the consumers’ homes. Retailers can use these voice-activated technologies for their physical retail environments and collect voice data to enhance their visual merchandising strategies. These technologies will provide for new and exciting ways for visual merchandisers to engage.

Visual merchandisers will have many exciting digitally connected tools. Every consumer product is becoming more technologically advanced. Apps are being created to enhance the utility of devices. What started with things like our credit cards, our phones, and our watches will be in our home appliances and electronics. Even human beings are already surgically inserting computer chips into their bodies. It will to be up to brands and retailers to create engaging content to connect with consumers with these new technologies. n

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Experience

Lines between hospitality and retail will continue to blur

BY JEFFERY JONES DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, 555 INTERNATIONAL “The retail apocalypse is upon us, run!” The only thing scary about that statement is that people believe it.

Imagine a time when the only way to purchase a shirt is to click on a picture online. Hard to fathom, because online cannot overcome one simple factor—consumers are human. No matter how advanced technology becomes, it is a long way from replacing touch, smell, and feel. As quickly as the phrase “retail apocalypse” paralyzed our industry, in comes the saving philosophy known as the “retail experience.” To acknowledge that there is more value in the experience of retail is one thing, but to know how to execute it is an entirely different feat.

The experience behind the new retail landscape is birthed from the blurred lines of hospitality and retail. From a five-star gourmet establishment to a hole-in-the-wall joint, we all judge places by three categories: food, service, and ambience. Hitting two of three may be enough to persuade most in trying your recommendation. Odd how you don’t simply judge a restaurant solely by its top reason for existence—the food itself. In retail, replace the notion of food with product and hold the space to the same review criteria: product, service, and ambience. Execute successfully on two of three and can you generate more traffic?

The retail environment is changing from the old school “sea of fixtures” loaded with product (“stack ‘em high, let ‘em fly”) to spaces that allow for less product, but more experience-based moments.

Now more than ever, the physical environment can influence consumers’ senses/experience in a unique way. Sure, you may be able to find that shirt for less online, but wasn’t it more fun buying it from a store with a chopped micro VW bus that was the perfect backdrop to the Instagram post of you wearing your new shirt?

People often assume that experience is achieved through implementing tech; in most cases, that will only get you halfway there. “Let’s add a green screen to elevate our experience and boost sales,” they’ll say. Again, understanding and executing are two different worlds. If the budget allows, instead add a green screen inside a modified Chicago CTA train car. Now, having your picture taken is almost as fun as taking a picture of an actual chopped train car sitting right in front of you.

The budget may dictate a more low-tech feature. Experience does not necessarily equate to technology. Giving consumers a moment to appreciate great work that borders art like a ceiling cloud made of various sports equipment painted white can be just as effective.

To be successful in the future, retail must allow the landscape to evolve and assimilate itself like hospitality has done for ages. As important as the product and service are that retail has to offer, we need to emphasize creating a unique client experience through the environment. Retail is not passing, it is evolving. s&p

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Travel Retailers

STILL GO THE EXTRA MILE Compelling, Meaningful Experiences Supported by Right Materials

BY SCOTT W. ANGUS

KEVIN HORN, A VICE PRESIDENT AT CALLISONRTKL

W

hile much of today’s retail world scrambles to attract walk-in customers in the face of online competition, stores based in airports and other travel hubs have a built-in advantage.

“Having a captive audience is unique to travel retail and can be a benefit,” said Kevin Horn, a vice president at CallisonRTKL who specializes in designing retail projects. CallisonRTKL is a global architecture, planning and design firm with 20 offices around the world.

That doesn’t mean, however, that travel retailers can be complacent and expect lingering travelers to automatically flow into their stores and open their purses and wallets. Airports continue to develop better amenities and offerings that compete with shops for travelers’ time and attention, Horn said.

That competition includes better lounges, upscale food and beverage offerings, health and wellness options and even cultural exhibits and galleries.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 58 ›

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TOP: CALLISONRTKL'S DUTY ZERO PROJECT AT THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FEATURES FIXTURES IN HPL. ALSO PICTURED ON PREVIOUS PAGE. ABOVE: SHOPPERS CAN TRY OUT MAKEUP AT THE DUTY-FREE COSMETICS COUNTERS AT SOUTH KOREA’S INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

“Retail stores will have to find even more compelling and meaningful ways to stay competitive,” said Horn, who leads the retail interiors sector of his firm’s Los Angeles environments studio.

As they always have, the right materials play a key role in making airport shops attractive, alluring and functional, and durable decorative surfaces such as high pressure laminate often fit the bill, Horn noted.

On average, travelers today have more time to spend in airports than in the past, Horn said.

Retailers that offer shoppers innovative ways to engage with their merchandise mix will be more successful, as will stores with unique amenities associated with their goods.

“Consider liquor shops with interactive digital kiosks where shoppers spend their time learning about different types if whiskey before their flight.

Or perfume bars where customers can try on different scents and create their own custom fragrance,” Horn said. “Or beauty stores with lounges where customers can get a facial during layover.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 60 ›

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“Those are all examples of offerings that engage shoppers at a more meaningful level.”

The number of travelers and miles traveled continue to grow around the globe, and the emergence of millennials as a primary subset of travelers is a big reason. Millennials are looking for and place value in authentic and unique cultural experiences, Horn said, and they travel to find them.

“Travel retailers are responding with merchandise that is locally specific, locally made and reflects a unique sense of place. They are giving millennials the opportunity to purchase something that has both personal meaning and would be difficult to find elsewhere in the world.”

Among the tools that retailers use to expose travelers to their brands are pop-up stores, which typically are short-term locations that often feature opportunities for shoppers to interact with products and create Instagrammable moments.

“Pop-up merchandising is a good way for brands to introduce new products to a large volume of shoppers,” Horn said.

“Travel retailers also use these opportunities to showcase merchandise that is only available for a limited time, which creates a sense of exclusivity.”

Immersive experiences and social media, such as Instagram, are key elements of cutting-edge retail today, and travel retail is no exception.

“Travel retailers are continually looking for ways to create a more immersive and engaging customer experience,” he said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 62 ›

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“As they always have, the right materials play a key role in making airport shops attractive, alluring and functional, and durable decorative surfaces such as high pressure laminate often fit the bill.”

KEVIN HORN, CALLISONRTKL

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 60

SKYE

ALNO

For example, at the Duty Zero shop in the Hong Kong International Airport, which CallisonRTKL designed, digital tables allow shoppers to explore different vintages of wines and learn about the regions and vineyards where they are produced. Also, mixologists are on hand to show shoppers how to mix cocktails and experiment with spirits.

In addition to trying out makeup at the duty-free cosmetics counters at South Korea’s Incheon International Airport, shoppers at the CallisonRTKL-designed Beauty Bar can use a

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virtual digital mirror to “try on” a range of lipsticks, eyeliners and foundations.

“These types of experiences fit well with an audience looking to fill their time after they’ve cleared security but are waiting to board a flight,” Horn said.

When it comes to materials, travel store designers have much to think about, but among the primary considerations are durability, cost, short lead times and restrictive fire codes, Horn explained.

Wood is problematic because of fire codes, and stone can be difficult because of long lead times or weight issues, he said.

“High pressure laminate or similar products that simulate these materials provide an effective alternative,” Horn said. “Airport environments are filled with people pulling bags in confined spaces.

Materials need to be durable and easy to maintain.

HPL meets all of these criteria.”

At the Duty Zero shop in Hong Kong, for example, CallisonRTKl specified HPL from Lab Designs, based in North Carolina, for wall panels behind a vertical wine display and for display cases and a cash wrap. HPL and Veneer Art from Laminart, a Wilsonart company, also were used for wall panels and display and storage cases. s&p

�TIM FRANCO PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CALLISONRTKL

R

• EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, BEDFORD FALLS COMMUNICATIONS SCOTTANGUS47@GMAIL.COM • 920-261-1947

F

SCOTT W. ANGUS

O M T H I T O R

mortar stores still play a valuable role in helping consumers see,

D

Yes, we all know that retail isn’t what it used to be, but brick-and-

E

GROWING CANNABIS INDUSTRY AMONG BUSINESSES THAT BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO RETAIL, LAMINATE USE

E

More than Just Smoke

The old stereotype of a smoky head shop with Bob Marley posters on the walls is a thing of the past, he noted.

touch and try on products before they make purchasing decisions.

“Today’s cannabis retailers are often sophisticated, well-lit, mod-

This issue of Surface & Panel features prime examples of retailers

ern stores that use technology and smart marketing techniques to

and physical stores that continue to succeed by attracting shoppers.

attract ‘soccer moms’ and well-heeled shoppers from the suburbs.

As they always have, these stores need fixtures to display their

Some of the more sophisticated and popular locations are generat-

goods, and the vast majority of those fixtures include composite

ing revenues well in excess of $1 million per month,” James said.

panels, decorative surfaces and other materials supplied by the

One prime example is The Apothecarium shops in San Francisco,

industries that we serve. Sure, some big names may have closed

which are profiled in a story that begins on page 32. These high-end

up shop, but plenty more are growing and continually building out

stores are welcoming and attractive—even elegant. And all three of

their new stores or remodeling their existing ones.

the shops feature high pressure laminate in their custom millwork,

Amid that reality involving traditional companies, new and inno-

cabinets and shelving.

vative businesses are popping up in big numbers, selling emerg-

“Faux wood laminates are easy to care for and offer a more

ing products in ways that we likely wouldn’t have imagined just a

dynamic texture while adding to the atmosphere and blending in

decade or two ago.

seamlessly with the other fine furnishings,” said Chase Chambers,

Take the cannabis industry. Greg James, publisher of Marijuana

director of operations.

Venture, laid out the current and future growth in stores selling mar-

In researching retail innovations for possible stories in this issue,

ijuana-related products in a column for Retail Environments maga-

I was also struck by the proliferation of multi-purpose cafés and

zine earlier this year.

shops designed around their primary purpose of selling cellphones.

“With Michigan recently added to the list of U.S. states with legal

Twenty years ago, who would have imagined how our culture would

adult-use marijuana, the growth of cannabis retail stores is likely to

revolve around phones and how many immersive retail outlets would

accelerate yet again,” James said. “Currently, Washington, Oregon,

pop up to sell them. Undoubtedly, laminates are key materials in

Arkansas, California, Colorado and Nevada have approximately

many of these shops, and they will be increasingly specified as more

2,000 retail locations up and running, with another 5,000 projected

of them are built.

to open in California in 2019 and 2020.”

In other words, all is far from doom and gloom when it comes to retail prospects and how they might affect the composite panel and decorative surfaces industries. Besides the historically steady customers, cannabis and cellphones are but two examples of business categories that grew from literally nothing just a few years

CLASSIFIED

or decades ago and established significant retail footings. Surely, more are already emerging, and many more will grow before our

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A D V E R T I S E R S 66

PAGE

PAGE

45

Arclin 877.689.9145 www.arclinTFL.com

59

Omnova Solutions 866.332.5226 www.omnova.com

46

Bainbridge Manufacturing 509.745.9555 www.bainbridgemfg.com

38

Panel Processing 800.433.7142 www.panel.com

51

Black Brothers 800.252.2568 www.blackbros.com

35

Panolam 203.925.1556 www.panolam.com

43

Blum 704.827.1345 www.blum.com

10

Paul Saws 678.444.5000 www.paulsaws.com

13

BMK Group 336.731.1425 www.melamine-papers.com

5

Premier Eurocase 303.373.9718 www.premiereurocase.com

47

Canon 800.842.4534 www.csa.canon.com

63

R&B Tool Supply 877.247.7320 www.rbtoolsupply.com

60

Collins 800.329.1219 www.collinsco.com

61

Rehau 800.247.9445 www.rehau.com/us-en

39

Columbia Forest Products 800.637.1609 www.cfpwood.com

27

Renolit +1.973.706.6912 www.renolit.com

7

Composite Panel Association 866.4Composites www.ECCproduct.org

55

Richelieu 800.619.5446 www.richelieu.com

65

Daubert Chemical Company, Inc. 866.368.3983 www.daubertchemical.com

42

Riken 248.513.3511 www.riken-usa.com

34

DVUV 216.741.5511 www.dvuv.com

57

Roseburg 800.245.1115 www.roseburg.com

36

Evergreen Engineering 888.484.4771 www.evergreenengineering.com

67

28

Genesis Products 877.266.8292 www.genesisproductsinc.com

Salice 800.222.9652 www.saliceamerica.com

30

31

Grass 336.996.4041 www.grassusa.com

Smartech 704.362.1922 www.smartechonline.com

44

9

Hexion 888.443.9466 www.hexion.com

Stiles Machinery, Inc. 616.698.7500 www.stilesmachinery.com

62

Synergy Thermal Foils 954.420.9553 www.synergythermofoils.com

2

Interprint, Inc. 413.443.4733 www.interprint.com

37

Tafisa Canada 877.882.3472 www.tafisa.ca

52

King Plastic 800.780.5502 www.kingplastic.com

29

Uniboard 800.263.5240 www.uniboard.com

21

Kings Mountain International 704.739.4227 www.kmiinc.net

26

Union Tool Corporation 574.267.3211 www.uniontoolcorp.com

25

Komo 800.255.5670 www.komo.com

12

Vortex 800.355.7708 www.vortextool.com

6

Materials, Technology, Design Symposium 920.261.1945 www.sandpsymposium.com

11

Wagner Meters 888.266.8073 www.wagnermeters.com

22â&#x20AC;&#x201C;23

mDesign Live phone? www.mDesignLive.com

20

Walzcraft 800.237.1326 www.walzcraft.com

14

Milesi +39 0384 2544.1 www.milesi.com

68

Wilsonart 800.433.3222 www.wilsonart.com/discover

53

Northern Contours 866.344.8132 www.northerncontours.com

19

Woodgrain 888.264.7372 www.woodgrain.com

49

Olon 800.387.2319 www.olon.com

15

WPR/TAKA +1.923.6503232 www.wpr.it

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