With the Olympics being held in London this year, the shops around the Capital are bound to be packed before, during and after the event; by Londoners, visitors to the capital from around the UK and foreign tourists. With so much revenue to be made from the expected increased trade, London retail outlets will be keen to ensure that a comfortable temperature is maintained at their premises throughout. Hiring air conditioning units can help them to do this by boosting current capacity when needed and to save the day in the event of a fixed air conditioning system breakdown.
It is all about providing an enjoyable 'shopping experience'
A pleasant, comfortable temperature encourages summer shoppers to browse, buy, recommend and return to retail outlets. Many retailers will turn to air conditioning hire specialists to help them provide a pleasant shopping environment, with some store managers already in the process of formulating plans with air conditioning rental experts.
It is critical that all retailers develop an accurate understanding of the impact the Games could have on their businesses. They need to start thinking about transport, staff availability, supply chain, resources, and giving shoppers an enjoyable 'retail experience', with the shop floor temperature being an important factor in customer satisfaction.
London this year - the world will be watching
2012 is a busy year for London: with the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations and a whole host of other summer events taking place. The eyes of the world will be on the UK's capital and there is certain to be an influx of visitors from overseas; all expecting a high standard of service during their visit.
Most London shops and shopping centres have fixed air conditioning systems, designed to provide adequate cool air as and when needed. Regardless of how expensive and high specification a system is, it can still develop a temporary fault or completely breakdown at any time. The good news for retailers is that some air conditioning rental companies offer a 24/7, year-round emergency response service and can therefore come to the rescue should the unthinkable happen.
When supplying temporary air conditioning units, air handlers, chillers and related equipment to shops and shopping centres, the two main challenges a hire specialist will face are:
- Assessing the client's exact requirements
- Getting into the site quickly (careful planning between the client, the specialist's transport department and service engineers is crucial in ensuring the delivery goes as planned)
These challenges can be easily overcome by the air conditioning hire specialist performing a survey at the site well before the Games commence. It will be a great help to them if the client has key details at hand on the day (e.g. required temperatures for the different site areas) to make the survey/assessment as site-specific as possible.
It is not only about the well-being of shoppers
Finally, it is important to stress that shops and shopping centres are only as good as their staff. Managers, sales assistants on the shop floor, window dressers, and also backroom personnel cannot be expected to work well in an uncomfortable temperature. Hiring portable air conditioning units is therefore not a luxury option for retailers looking to get their share of the projected Olympic sales bonanza this year, but an essential one, particularly in larger shopping centres where there may be less natural ventilation.
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