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Issue link: https://ccr-mag.epubxp.com/i/190248
It's a FamIly aFFaIr "This year, we are focusing on trying to leverage our costs, drive returns and shorten the construction time frames." – Brad Rogers What are some of the lessons you've learned from the economic times? Brad: It's about focusing on the basics and not getting too far ahead of yourself. It's about being closer to the customer and bringing our stores – all of them – up to the right standards. What trends do you see evolving in the retail construction arena? Brian: We have seen an uptick in construction costs. It is important for us to stay diligent with our suppliers. When you build and renovate a lot of stores, your suppliers are happy you are coming to them. That helps us leverage our costs and get the best price for the materials we need. Another trend is the big push for LEDs. We have a test store in Charlotte (N.C.) where we've installed LEDs in the sales area. We are monitoring energy costs and looking for customer feedback. We are also going to test LEDs in our building and road signs. We are looking for the sustainability and cost benefts over time. Brad: To provide value, you have to keep your costs down. And that can be an art form because it can go one way or another. What does sustainability mean to Family Dollar on the construction side? Brian: We use environmentally friendly goods at every opportunity. We also look for ways to save on the energy usage side. As we said, we are evaluating LEDs and plan to move forward in that regard if test results are favorable. We also have a store in South Carolina that is Gold LEED certified, which we are very proud of. We have a store in 30 CommerCial ConstruCtion & renovation — September : OctOber 2013