Please feel free to reach out to any of our associates or Glen Cacioppo, EVP of Sales and Marketing (gcacioppo@premierfixtures.com, 847.715.9570) to discuss your custom store fixture needs…we’re here for you!

Phone:  631.236.4100
info@premierfixtures.com
www.premierfixtures.com

“EcoTop is created from naturally-occuring inorganic materials,” explains Glen Cacioppo, Premier Store Fixtures’ EVP of Sales and Marketing. “These are mixed with brine, reinforced with fiberglass for remarkable strength, then processed and cold-pressed on glass sheets in a machine to create the panels. The entire process is performed at room temperature using very little energy. And since its material is completely inert, and can be ground down for re-use or disposed of without any ecological impact, EcoTop ends up being a very environmentally-friendly product.”

The appeal of EcoTop is vast, with a host of attributes that make it as economical as it is attractive. It offers several highly-textured ‘real-feel’ surfaces to accommodate virtually any design scheme, each one possessing a high density of approximately 1100 kg/m3 to deliver exceptional thermal and acoustic properties. For example, the appealing possibilities for wall panels and highly-textured tabletops include:

•    Wood Grain Effect
•    Stone/Brick Effect
•    Legend-Marble Effect in a range of standard marble finishes
•    Metal Tiled that’s laminated with thin metal tiles yet still lightweight
•    Concrete Effect
•    Natural Fabric/Composite
•    Natural Cork Composite

Beneath the surface, it’s easy to see EcoTop’s beauty is far more than ‘skin’ deep. Whichever style or pattern one prefers, it comes with a long list of product benefits, among them:

•    Environmentally Safe, as it’s free of formaldehyde, asbestos, benzene, and other harmful substances.
•    Fire Resistant, having been rigorously tested and certified as a Euro Class A-1 non-combustible materials capable of tolerating temperatures over 1300°C.
•    Completely Waterproof, EcoTop can be totally immersed in water and will not disintegrate, deform, rot, decay, or be affected in any way.
•    Biologically And Chemically Protected, so it’s resistant to mold growth and most chemicals, as well as to attack by rodents and insects.
•    Lightweight, possessing just a fraction of what real stone and wood weighs.
•    Remarkably Easy To Use, which allows EcoTop to be cut, drilled, screwed, or nailed without the need for special tools; and the cutting process produces no harmful dust or other particles.

“It’s easy to see why all of us at Premier Store Fixtures are excited about the opportunities EcoTop offers our clients,” adds Cacioppo. “It delivers a wide range of beautiful styles and finishes that are lightweight and simple to install, plus a lot more affordable than their ‘real-material’ counterparts. Best of all, customers will love how it looks in their favorite stores, and will never know the difference. I predict that in a relatively short time, the question most asked among retail managers and employees will be ‘is it real or is it EcoTop’?”

Please visit us at Global Shop booth #4822 to learn more about EcoTop and Premier Store Fixtures.

Products of exceptional quality? Of course. Talent and creativity? Definitely. Seamless, highly-responsive client service? Without it, the first two may never realize their true potential. Which is why Premier Store Fixtures places such importance — and so many resources — into maintaining Support and Logistics capabilities that are unsurpassed in the industry.

After all, the finest collection of ballplayers may never win a championship without proper guidance and direction. The true power of some of the world’s greatest plays might never be felt if little details are overlooked, like the theatre lights not working. With Premier as your fixtures partner, you’re guaranteed of more than innovative designs and impeccable craftsmanship: you always know what you need will be where you want when it’s promised, and will meet or even exceed your boldest expectations.

The Support for your project is in place and ready to go even before any work is started,and doesn’t let up until the last detail is completed. To ensure this, every aspect of your project is meticulously planned prior to implementation, and an experienced project manager is assigned to serve as your exclusive point person. At every phase of your project, he or she is focused on satisfying all your objectives, and maintains optimal communication between you and your dedicated Premier project team. Regular progress reports throughout the process enable you to remain informed and connected without interrupting your ability to effectively attend to your company’s day-to-day operations.

The result? No 11^th-hour surprises…no compromises or excuses after the fact. Partnering with Premier Store Fixtures for your next retail fixture project will assure you’ll enjoy flawless professional service without disappointment. And that includes absolute satisfaction when it’s all done.

How can Premier make such a promise? A highly-evolved sense of Logistics capable of handling any project requirement. Our Richmond, VA facility features 120,000 square feet of dedicated Logistics space. From its 14 shipping bays, raw materials and finished products are safely and speedily dispatched to wherever they’re needed, in parts thanks to the 40-foot ceiling clearance which accommodates the full spectrum of oversized and oddly-shaped pieces. Through the utilization of narrow-isle racking and wire-guided forklifts, Premier designers and engineers can locate any items they require from more than 14,000 pallet locations quickly and easily. Our advanced real-time inventory system — utilizing cutting-edge bar code scanning technology — guarantees stock levels for all parts are always maintained. Finally, our California warehouse also provides Premier Store Fixtures with the ability to ship from either coast, adding to our freight efficiencies.

Nothing is forcing us to adhere to such exacting standards of client service. We do it because it’s the only way we know to deliver the results you want…and deserve. Because when you come right down to it, we share the same ambition: the consummate success of your retail project.

Hey…that’s what partners do!

Right out of the gate, Vincent demonstrated his tenacity and talents, going to work in 1997 for Plynetics Express as part of a business development team charged with developing innovative solutions to a myriad of client needs. Coordinating all facets of work from start to end, he helped generate two million dollars in annual sales.

“I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of turning problems into new possibilities,” says DiFatta. “That’s one of the best parts of this business. When you work with talented people to find ways to help your clients meet, and exceed, their goals, it makes all the effort worthwhile…not just professionally, but on a personal level, too.”

The beginning of the new millennium saw Vincent join on with Leggett & Platt Store Fixtures, where he served in a number of capacities for over a decade. Vincent served in a variety of roles ranging from design to purchasing to project management. In his last position as Project Director/Business Development, he oversaw all aspects of management including ordering, inventory forecasting, and shipping, in addition to devising new business strategies and money-saving opportunities for RFP’s. He also traveled to China periodically to review new production and quality control.

“We’re always looking for the best and brightest talent to support our clients’ retail goals,” states Glen Cacioppo, Premier Store Fixtures’ EVP of Sales and Marketing.

“With Vincent, we get an experienced professional with the energy and passion for his work of a ‘new recruit’. He knows how to make sure all the operations of a particular project run smoothly, and can satisfy the needs of designers, engineers, and clients with equal efficiency. And that’s not easy to do. Last, but in no way least, his experience dealing with operations in China make him a valuable asset in helping manage our operations there.”

“I’m extremely happy to be part of the Premier Store Fixtures team, and look forward to contributing to their long history of success in every way I can,” says DiFatta. “There are a lot of top-quality people here who share my dedication to precision and product excellence, and I’m looking forward to working with all of them. I have to admit, I wouldn’t mind the chance to go to China again, either.”

So when Dick’s Sporting Goods wanted to create a new Tackle Department that would net  ‘schools’ of customers, Premier Store Fixtures was the natural selection to help lure them in.

“They wanted it to have a dynamic nautical feel that simulated the experience of being on a fishing boat,” says Stephanie Craven, Account Manager at Premier Store Fixtures. “As a result, we utilized white painted fixtures with chrome accents throughout the area. Also, the floor reel display features a gloss-white membrane exterior with a matching press on top.”

While the original design came from DSG, Premier was charged with the engineering responsibilities, working with the client’s visual team on several prototypes. “This is commonplace during the creative and engineering phases,” explains Craven, “as ideas evolve and new possibilities show themselves. At Premier Store Fixtures, we do whatever it takes to satisfy our clients’ demands. For example, our team explored several designs for the fixtures’ reel handles until they were precisely what DSG had in mind. Then there were the engineering alterations to ensure fishing rods aligned properly and were easy to remove and return to the fixtures.”

All the creative energy and hard work came to beautiful fruition in 2012, as Dick’s Sporting Goods introduced new Tackle Departments at all 43 of its newly-opened stores, as well as a number of existing locations in select markets. According to Craven, DSG has received positive feedback regarding Premier’s fixtures in terms of both aesthetic appeal and functionality. “It’s always extremely gratifying to see our work help a client achieve success,” says Glen Cacioppo, Executive Vice President of Premier Store Fixtures. “We’ve worked with Dick’s Sporting Goods on past projects, and our respective professionals function well as a team. We look forward to enjoying a mutually-rewarding relationship with them for many years to come.”

As he predicted, the restoration involved a lot of hard work — “a long year’s worth” — but during the process something interesting happened: Dragos began designing parts for the cycle. “It was at this point I sought out a CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) machine shop for help machining my parts. I found all the tools and computerized equipment fascinating, and was ‘hooked’.”

Things moved quickly after that, as Dragos entered ITT Technical School the very same year, and earned his Associate’s (AA) degree in Computer Drafting and Design in 1999. While attending ITT Tech, he took on his first position as Design Engineer with Pinnacle Exhibits, where he discovered another area of interest: the exciting world of trade shows. Continuing his education, Dragos found the time to receive a Bachelors of Science degree in Industrial Design from the Art Center College of Design by the summer of 2001.

Soon after graduating, he started Republica 503, a company specializing in custom parts for the motorcycle and hot-rod aftermarket industries. Never one to limit himself to a single project, or even two, Dragos continued working for the trade show firm, as well as designing water sports equipment for Slingshot Sports. For the next five or six years, these endeavors kept him at, to say the least, an active pace. Then, in 2007, his professional career took yet another turn.

“I was approached by TwentyFour7, a Portland, OR-based design firm,” recounts Dragos. “They were looking for design and engineering help with point-of-purchase displays and retail store environments. I quickly found I enjoyed it a lot, and since then have served as a freelance designer/design engineer for many leading companies, including Nike, Adidas, Taylor-Made Golf, and Michael Kors.”

Three years later, Dragos joined BlackBox Production’s Environments Department as Design Engineer. working on a diverse range of projects big and small. From retail designs for SISU watches, NorthFace, Vans, and others to the complete remodeling of Taylor-Made Golf’s U.S. and U.K. headquarters, as well as their Fitting Centers throughout the continental United States, his creativity and the results it delivered, earned him a reputation for performance excellence industry-wide.

“We were looking for someone of Dragos’ abilities to fill the position of Design Engineer,” notes Glen Cacioppo, Premier Store Fixtures’ EVP of Sales and Marketing, “and were very happy he was available. Dragos brings a wealth of experience, plus a unique talent and passion to everything he does, which makes him a great fit with our Design and Engineering teams.”

For Dragos, it’s another advancement in a young-yet-already-rich career, and the chance to take on exciting new challenges. “I’m really excited to be working with some of the top people in our business, and at one of our industry’s leading companies,” says Dragos. “Premier is known for its impeccable standards of quality and precision, and I look forward to furthering that reputation.”

As a resident of America’s beautiful Pacific Northwest, and an avid outdoorsman who’s active in hiking, mountain climbing, and kite-boarding, Dragos is unabashed in his appreciation of the natural world, and humble when reflecting on his own design capabilities. “Well, “I certainly know I can’t improve on nature’s perfection,” he freely admits, “so instead I try to make indoor retail environments as naturally pleasing for the customer — and productive for clients — as possible. ”

Clearly, Dragos Zamfirescu is a man who’s found the way to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Being Director of Design at Premier Store Fixtures allows Mr. Comiskey to work with some of the finest professionals in retail store design and production, on projects for a diverse range of regional and national clients like Nike, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Finish Line, and Canon, to name just a few. He visualizes the ideal retail environment to boost sales and consumer satisfaction, then sees it become a reality. But ensuring a project’s successful outcome requires respect for the process. No short cuts. No unimportant details.

According to Comiskey, “Two of the most important parts of this process are teamwork and what those at Premier call “manufacturability”. Simply put, it means keeping manufacturing top-of-mind during the design phase to ensure what is conceived can actually be produced, as cost-efficiently as possible, while still meeting Premier Store Fixtures’ strict quality standards.” Specific elements are periodically reviewed by the design team to confirm what is planned is within Premier’s fabrication abilities. Throughout any project, Mr. Comiskey works hand-in-hand with several other departments, ensuring at every step that the core of the design intent is followed. “With full graphic development and printing capabilities, the Premier design department can produce virtually anything from high-end, four-color silk screening to large format digitally produced graphics utilizing cutting-edge Adobe Creative Suite CS6 software,” Comiskey explains.

Now, before so much as a restaurant napkin is sketched upon, any new job requiring design input begins by sitting down with the client — in person or via conference call — and carefully reviewing all the details of the project, from budgets and logistical requirements to their ultimate expectations. Comiskey says, “Next comes the best part: the designing of a customized solution that reflects and supports what the customer desires. This involves producing renderings to illustrate our concepts.” When the final design is approved, it’s time to move into Prototyping. At this point, Premier’s Engineering department is given the design details, and initiates developing engineer drawings. Actually, they’re part of the process prior to this.

Even before they “formally” get involved, the Engineering department — under the brilliant leadership of Director Paul Saudino — is working with Mr. Comiskey’s team, reviewing every detail of the project design. Together, they analyze the plan, identify any design problems, then devise functional, cost-effective solutions, all the while never “losing sight of the goal”…in this case, the “goal” being the “manufacturability” of Premier’s design concepts.

Design and engineering collaboration continues into the Prototyping phase, allowing Premier to rectify any lingering or newly-arising issues. Mr. Saudino’s talented team then commences the engineering work, performing and documenting their efforts utilizing the very latest 3-D design and development software, including SolidWorks, Strata CX, and AutoCad. Once the first prototype is completed and approved — okay, sometimes it’s after a few prototypes are developed — it’s moved into our Production area. Of course, the second great thrill of Mr. Comiskey’s work is the moment he gets to see the beautiful “living, breathing” completion of all Premier’s design and engineering efforts.

While Comiskey and Saudino often are called in for consultations with the Production department, and work with Purchasing and Manufacturing to get the order processed and constructed, the production phase is when both can take a well-deserved breather. Thanks to Premier Store Fixtures’ reputation for excellence, that breather can last a whole five minutes. Then they start the process again for another customer.

Who wouldn’t enjoy this job?

Please contact your specific Premier Account Management team should you have any questions about your programs. You will also be able to find the latest updates on the status of negotiations at the USMX’s homepage (www.usmxlaborupdates.com).

Since the below article was written, the following update was released:

ILA-USMX discussions are into their second day with little or no progress on any of the items on the table. We just received word however that both sides have agreed to a 90 day contract extension commencing October 1, 2012. USMX and ILA will continue to negotiate with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) present during this 90 day period. The next meeting will be October 7 in either Florida or Washington DC.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Port prepares for longshoremen strike
By Michael Welles Shapiro, mwshapiro@dailypress.com | 757-247-4744
September 1, 2012

Local port officials are readying for what would be the first East Coast longshoremen’s strike in 35 years, even as they hope it can be averted ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline.

“We’re making preparations to move as much cargo as possible between now and Oct. 1,” said Joe Harris, a spokesman for the Virginia Port Authority.

Officials with the port authority and Virginia International Terminals, which runs the ports and has a contract with the longshoremen’s union locals in Hampton Roads, have started mapping out their contingency plans, Harris said.

If a strike does occur, he said, no cargo would move by rail or truck. The VPA would be at full staff, while VIT would maintain a skeleton staff.

The National Retail Federation has urged negotiators for the International Longshoremen’s Association and port and shipping executives to re-start negotiations, saying a strike would have dire consequences for merchants because it will disrupt preparations for the holiday shopping season.

“We know several retailers that even before negotiations broke down had already put contingency plans in place just to be on the safe side, so they either rerouted some cargo to the West Coast or brought it in earlier,” said Jonathan Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy for the federation.

“With talks breaking down (other retailers) have less than a week to put contingency plans in place if they don’t want to get caught up in a strike on Oct. 1,” Gold said in a phone interview.

In addition to shipping early or re-routing through a West Coast port, some stores will consider importing goods by air, he said, an option that is usually avoided since it is eight to 10 times as expensive.

“Nothing’s going to come cheap right now as far as your options,” Gold said.

VIT president and CEO Joe Dorto on Friday predicted 10 percent to 15 percent of “our customerers will immediately make plans to shift a portion of their cargo to West Coast ports.”

He said there will be a lag effect in terms of the local impact of any such shift, “as cargo on the water today will still move to Virginia.”

VPA and VIT officials have had multiple conversations with cargo owners to plan for squeezing more cargo into the port in advance of a potential strike, according to a VPA news release issued Friday.

Next week, the release says, VPA and VIT will meet with port businesses, longshoremen and security officials to discuss what would happen on the piers in the event of a work stoppage.

Until then, Harris said, “We believe we’ll be handling cargo up until the last minute,” with the possibility of a record number of containers moving through the port during the lead-up to Oct. 1.

“We may see a lot of volume over this next five weeks, but we’re hoping this thing sorts itself.”

Talks that had started in March broke off between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Association on Aug 22. That came after some progress on issues and tentative agreements on several issues including job security even as ports become more automated.

The association reportedly insisted that terminal efficiency measures be put on the table, prompting the union to cut off negotiations.

“There was a dual goal here to make shopping as easy for consumers as possible while also creating a fun, exciting retail environment,” explains Miguel Bonilla, Senior Account Executive overseeing the project for Premier. “Through a combination of high-tech interactive equipment, stylish new design, and all-new state-of-the-art fixtures, V-6 gives Finish Line a bold new look that offers customers a fresh, more satisfying shopping experience.”

A multi-faceted project, V-6 involved Premier in every aspect, starting with providing Finish Line with dozens of wood and metal finish samples. Once choices were made, the client’s architect began developing a series of designs, then collaborated with Premier’s architectural team to generate the finalized plans, which included the use of wood, metal, and acrylic fixtures, as well as numerous LED panels. From there, Premier provided the complete range of manufacturing services, as well as support and logistics.

According to Bonilla, several unique concepts and finishes went into the new store design, among them high-tech kiosks. “One of the most exciting are the Point-Of-Sale (POS) systems that allow shoppers to make purchases without taking a trip to the cash register,” he says. “They bring a whole new dimension in ‘shopping ease’ to the consumer, and cut down on long check-out lines, as well. Premier was responsible for designing and manufacturing the fixtures that house the POS systems.”

Further innovations include ‘Wall-Tech” kiosks which make it possible for shoppers to view the full inventory of Finish Line products, at all stores. These also allow Finish Line to gather valuable customer data for advertising and promotional campaigns. The actual tablets within the kiosks were supplied by Finish Line.

While similar to the Wall Tech kiosks, interactive “Surface Tables” are more technologically advanced, with a greater number of features for customers to enjoy. One example of this is built-in speakers that play music, which helps attract people to come inside and check things out. At present, these Tables are only in the Castleton Square Mall location, but will be part of every store redesign.

“We’ve gotten very positive feedback so far from Castleton customers, as well as our partners at Finish Line,” states Bonilla. “The plan is to have this concept ready to roll in several other locations by August, to capitalize on the back-to-school sales period, and continue the concept in Finish Line’s other stores throughout the country during 2013. It’s always a pleasure to work with a client like Finish Line and help transform their exciting retail concepts into reality.”

“All of us at Premier Store Fixtures have been proud to provide distinctive, high-quality fixtures to Finish Line for the better part of a decade,” adds Glen Cacioppo, Premier’s EVP of Sales and Marketing. “It’s been a fantastic relationship throughout, and we were thrilled to have been entrusted with this important new project. I think it’s safe to say our entire team was really ‘revved-up’ to make the V-6 concept a big winner for Finish Line from coast-to-coast. And it shows in the final results.”

A major factor that’s often overlooked on such projects is the role store fixtures can play in the process. Maybe they consider them too small to have an impact, or it simply never occurs to them that fixtures can be “green”. The truth is, the store fixtures one chooses can make a significant difference in the quality of the finished environment, and bottom line profitability, too. So it’s important that a retailer address this issue with their chosen design/manufacturing partner during the early planning phase to obtain the maximum desired results. Trying to incorporate them later can be far more expensive, even prohibitively so.

With years of experience in the design and manufacture of premium-quality “green” fixtures, Premier Store Fixtures is uniquely qualified to provide the knowledge and expertise to create eye-catching, high-function components that meet — or even exceed — their project requirements. By focusing on the use of “green” store fixtures from the beginning, Premier ensures they help “make the store” as well as “make the sale”.

From a health standpoint, Premier Store Fixtures uses only formaldehyde-free medium-density fiberboard (MDF) domestically to prevent any environmental impact on customers. Whenever possible, we manufacture store fixtures from natural wood, not only for its beauty and durability, but because it has no chemicals that can leech into the air, ground, and water supply. Equally important, Premier only uses materials and adhesives with VOC levels at or below established LEED guidelines. And there are several other ways Premier can help its clients not only achieve LEED certification, but maximize its benefits, as well.

Premier Store Fixtures’ products are manufactured from high-quality recycled materials whenever possible to reduce costs and environmental impact. Our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities are often less than 500 miles from where our products will be utilized, which can also help in the certification process. Many companies find out after the fact that the permanent fixtures and millwork that goes into their project can play a significant role in garnering a variety of LEED credits.

“We’ve realized for a long time now that our company’s, and planet’s, future depends on Green,” states Glen Cacioppo, Executive Vice President of Premier Store Fixtures. “And our commitment to this philosophy extends from design and manufacturing to the recycling and proper disposal of all materials we utilize. We follow “green” practices every day in every one of our facilities, and provide our clients with solutions that allow them to do the same in their retail establishments.

“After all,” he continues, “the whole point behind creating ‘green’ retail environments is to improve the air quality and overall healthy well-being of its customers and employees. Since the store fixtures are definitely part of this process, they need to be part of the plan from its inception. Otherwise, you’re just not as ‘green’ as you think.”