Store Re-modelling Ideas Your Shoppers Will Love

Today, shopping is more about the in-store experience. Shoppers want things to be as they like them. However, keeping up with the demands can be a little tricky for store owners. 

Retailers must understand that the route to a shopper’s heart is through their senses, particularly the eyes. They must create a visual experience from the entrance of the store to the display of products and more. 

Here are some commercial renovation ideas that can help you in creating an inspiring and memorable experience for your customers:

1.     Window Displays

The first thing that customers see at any store is the window displays. Therefore, they should be impactful. Use your creativity to make these displays attractive. For instance, showcase different kinds of mannequins or create brightly coloured installations. Focus on creating a visual experience. Remember, if you want to attract customers into your store, you need to elevate the sensory experience. 

2.               Use Your Products as Design Elements

You don’t need to place all the products on a shelf. You can use some as design elements to add life to your store. In certain stores, products add textures to the walls and ceilings. Here, customers can see the products both as a form and a function. Consequently, they can see the different purposes of your product and imagine their use outside the store. 

3.               Make Use of Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is the new strategy for brand engagement. With the help of VR, you can reach a wider target audience and also engage with the tech-savvy Gen Z’s. Think of ways to build an enhanced customer experience by combining and enhancing your store visuals with VR. 

4.               Be a Story Teller

Create a customer journey that shares your brand’s story. A well-defined story throughout your store gives the customer the experience of an adventure. Add multimedia visual elements to keep different senses of the customer engaged. Establish a journey for the shopper by placing the most expensive product at the front. Most customers unconsciously turn towards the right, so create your power wall here. 

5 Signs That It’s Time To Update Your Commercial Property

 

The exteriors of a commercial building are more likely to degrade and lose their pristine finish as opposed to residential buildings. The common causes for this dirty and worn appearance are location, exposure to city pollution, natural elements like weather, and graffiti. 

A commercial renovation to update your property is advisable when you notice bubbling or flaking around the edges. Additionally, the growth of mildew on the exteriors indicates the need for repainting as a preventive measure. Here are some of the signs signifying that your building is ready for a facelift.

1.     Visible mildew and mould

Pro-longed exposure begins to degrade the paint of your buildings. One of the most prominent signs of this is mildew and mould that begins to grow and spread as an outcome of excess moisture. 

2.               Fading paint

Another sign that indicates the need for a re-paint is fading. If you have used poor techniques or low-quality paint, fading occurs much faster. The cause of fading is UV rays that break down the chemical bonds. Therefore, it is suggested that you choose a paint with added protection for external walls. You can take the assistance of professional painters to select the right paint that provides longer-lasting colour and protection, making your building appear brand new. 

3.               Pressure washing damage

Many commercial buildings undergo pressure washing for maintenance. It is an inexpensive and quick way to keep your walls welcoming and clean. However, in the long run, there’s a downside to pressure washing. 

Water can reach under the walls damaging the plaster, wiring, and insulation. It cannot be removed and will eventually damage the paint and surface. 

4.               Blistering or bubbling paint

When the paint’s adhesion loses from the underlying surface, it leads to blistering or bubbling of the exterior paint. A commercial painter can help you remedy this bubbly texture. 

5.               Rebranding the commercial property

Apart from the other signifiers, you may feel the need to revamp the branding of your premises. Repainting your building helps to attract more walk-ins and better highlight your business and its brand. 

 

6 Creative Ways to Renovate & Maximize Your Office Space

 

Real estate prices are rapidly rising, forcing employers to find ways to maximize the space they have. A creatively-executed office renovation is a perfect opportunity to make what may seem like a smaller office into a more functional and spacious one.

Here are 6 creative yet inexpensive ways in which you can complete your commercial renovation project and achieve more space in your office:

1.     Declutter and Define

Most offices have accumulated a lot of clutter that is consuming vital space. Some basic renovation efforts and storage alterations can transform a cramped office into an organized one. Moreover, renovating your offices helps to open up cluttered spaces, making them look more workable and have a larger feel. 

2.               Benefit from Unused Spaces

Almost every office has areas that are not used most productively. For instance, you could have a storeroom that you use to keep old furniture, files, or computer systems. With the help of a commercial contractor, you can transform this into a conference room or meeting room. 

3.               Focus on Flexibility

Every area in your office should be able to fulfill various purposes. Get rid of the heavy furniture to make more room on the floor and use this extra space for essentials. Add movable or collapsible desks, tables, and chairs. 

4.               Remove the Cubicles

When you have cubicles, employee interaction is restricted. Recent renovation ideas focus on ditching the cubicles and developing a collaborative environment. You can also replace individual desks with large tables and benches for employees to sit together and work. 

5.               Create Separate Zones

Employees usually don’t get privacy in an office with limited amounts of space. Consider creating separate areas for group work and individual work. 

6.               Use Vertical Spaces

If your office size is small, chances that you have a lot of space to spare are low. An interesting way to make more storage space is by installing custom-made wall desks with shelves. Since these are installed on the wall, they don’t occupy floor space and also give you more storage space for better organization of essentials.

 

Redesign, Renovate, Or Reconfigure: What's Right for Your Office in 2021?

 

Your office space must be safe and clean to support employee productivity. If your business premises currently doesn’t meet  the present safety guidelines, it is time for you to make your office space adhere to the requirements for 2021. 

Like many office owners, you may also be confused between reconfiguration, renovation, and redesigning. While a lot of people use these terms interchangeably, they serve different purposes. And it is vital to know the differences between them to make the right decision. 

1.     Office Reconfiguration

If you need to only upgrade your existing space with furniture and flooring or repurposing the current furniture, office reconfiguration is a good idea. As you reconfigure your office, you can make it more spacious and improve productivity. Office reconfiguration requires minimal disruption and can be completed at a far lesser price than commercial renovation. However, this approach only allows you to make limited changes as compared to a full-blown renovation.

2.               Office Redesign

Office redesigning is a suitable choice for those who want to give their office space an uplift in terms of aesthetics. You can install new lighting schemes, add new furnishings, invest in stand-up desks, and repaint the walls. An appealing workspace tends to keep employees happy, thereby encouraging them to work harder. Moreover, you put forth a modern and professional image in front of your clients.

3.               Office Renovation

In the case of the above two options, the building structure remains the same. However, when you renovate the office, you make structural changes. You completely transform the interiors while the exteriors remain intact. Renovation is suggested when you want to transform your space as per your specifications.

Store renovation is a time-consuming construction project. Depending on the degree to which you want to make changes, you may have to shift or cease business operations until the project is complete. A Commercial Contractor can help you plan an efficient and cost-effective renovation, making it pay off in the long run. 

Why should you hire a general contractor instead of trying to do it yourself?

 

The number of tasks you need to supervise and complete during a construction project is manifold. There are many decisions to take, and one must know that the knowledge and experience of a professional general contractor is valuable. 

So, if you’re planning a commercial renovation, you should always look at hiring an expert general contractor for the many benefits they have to offer. 

1.     Professional Designers

As you start renovating, you have a plethora of ideas. You know how you want the renovated area to look, but you don’t know what you have to do to achieve the same. Reputed contracting companies offer professional interior design services. They help you re-work layouts and select fixtures and features that suit your requirements. These designers create a plan considering your ideas and also suggest how you can make the space more productive for your employees. 

2.               Knowledge and Experience

Cornerstone is an experienced commercial contractor. The expertise and knowledge it brings is not something you can acquire by watching DIY videos on YouTube. Professional contractors know how to remodel an office space and the sequence of construction tasks that are necessary to complete your renovation efficiently. They ensure that your work does not suffer, and employees are not disturbed during the renovation project. 

3.               Project Manager Efficiency

A general contractor serves as a project manager throughout the renovation process. They have a network of sub-contractors and qualified sub-trades, using which they ensure the efficiency of the entire job. Apart from hiring these subcontractors, they schedule their services at the right time of the project. Besides, they supervise tasks and ensure that the work the subcontractors perform is high-quality. 

If you try to renovate a commercial property on your own, the chances of making expensive mistakes are high, as you won’t really understand all the details and intricacies. As a result, you’ll waste time, effort, and money. Hiring a general contractor right from the beginning ensures that you don’t make any such errors and have your renovation jobs completed at the right time and at the right cost.

 

6 Tips For Estimating And Controlling Commercial Renovation Costs

Every store or property undergoes renovation at some point in time. Whether you do it to upgrade systems or update fixtures, the most difficult part is planning the store renovation cost. There is no simple formula and you need to look at several factors before you can arrive at an estimate. 

A commercial contractor spends time understanding various elements to determine the cost. These include location, building use, building codes, historic district compliance, number of disciplines required, as well as current market factors. 

While outside factors help you determine the cost of renovation, there are ways by which owners can better manage the budgets. Here are 6 tips to help you control commercial renovation costs:

1.     Plan Ahead

Many owners plan renovations when the space develops critical needs. This is not a good idea. Waiting instead of advance planning can lead to the difference between just a re-paint job or replacing walls completely.  Planning ahead can make a big difference.

2.      Avoid Surprises

No building owner enjoys an unpleasant surprise after the renovation has begun. While there are some unavoidable surprises, most can be prevented with proper planning and due diligence. If you carefully assess the property’s condition, you can avoid overshooting the budget.

3.      Obtain Accurate Requirements

It is important to establish project needs in detail right from the beginning. Knowing how the special layout is going to change and keeping in mind its current and potential uses will lead to an accurate cost estimate. 

4.       Choose the Right Materials

Renovation expenses are just a part of the entire project. Sometimes, the right materials cost a lot more but result in long-term savings depending on use. Conversely, sometimes you can easily avoid the use of expensive material.

5.         Consider the Life Cycle of Building Systems

Electrical, plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning systems have a natural life cycle. Take into account the Expected Useful Life of these devices to determine the replacements you need to include in your renovation project. 

6.           Partner with the Right Renovation Expert

A good renovation partner is critical. Cornerstone has deep expertise in renovation and can offer an accurate estimate for renovation costs. 

5 Things A Start-Up Must Have

Creating your own start-up is a great idea. In order to succeed, your start-up needs a strong foundation. We broke down the top 5 things you should consider and prepare before you jump into launching your start-up.

Customers

This should be the priority for every business. Struggling to find customers is an experience most entrepreneurs can relate to. And creating a system that consistently drives new sales is essential if you want your business to succeed.It’s hard to attract potential customers when no one knows you exist. You have to find a way to get in front of people who will actually care about your product.

 Sense of Timing

You should know what is the right time to launch your business. In the initial years, the idea of starting a business will demand a lot of preparation. You should be consistent throughout the process.

Product Or An Idea

The product you're creating, needs to directly answer the unmet needs or desires of your customers. It doesn’t have to be a physical product. Even your idea can cater to an untapped audience. For this you need to do a feasibility study or do a market research.

Flexibility

If there’s anything that’s consistently true about launching a start-up, it’s that very little will be consistent. When you put so much time, effort and faith into one business plan, built on one business model, it’s logical that you would have trouble accepting that maybe it needs to be modified, or worse yet, scrapped and rebuilt entirely.So, it is always important to be flexible.

Having An Office Space

This is a topic which is usually pushed back. But it is really important to have your own office space to work peacefully.

You can’t trust just any contractor to give you superior workmanship at the price you want. For customized projects large and small, you need someone you can trust. At Cornerstone, we have a team of professional and reliable commercial contractors who will sit on your side of the table to offer you end to end solutions. Contact us now.

5 Ways To Impress Your Clients

Everyone knows that the customer is King. But good customer service goes beyond that. If you wish to retain your customers and win over new clients here are a few ideas of things you try doing:

Being Responsive

Just like any other relationship, communication is the key in a business-client relationship. It is critical because it will not just impress the clients but it also helps a company to develop new products or modify the current ones, based on the changing needs of customers. Customers leave information and provide feedback all the time by way of product reviews, comments about a company, experiences with a brand, and other such data.

Keeping Your Promise

The biggest mistake that the salespeople or the companies make is giving wrong time lines and commitments to the customer in order to get the sale. If you think you can get something done in one day, tell them it will take one week. If you finish in a day, they will be pleasantly surprised.

Listening

How often do you truly listen to what your clients are saying, beyond the work they are relaying to you? If you listen, you may discover new areas where they could use your talents, or be able to suggest a different and more efficient way to do something.

Going Out Of The Way

Customers are the biggest asset to the business. Never leave your customers dissatisfied as it can cost a lot to the company. Yes, even though you probably have a fairly defined list of deliverables, you can do more by putting in time to ensure quality, testing and re-testing, and essentially creating a final product that is even better than what the client expected.

Your Meeting Space Matters

It can be difficult to communicate clearly with clients in the office when you’re having a particularly rough morning, or if you work in an environment where you don’t feel supported. Building up a cool meeting place will have a positive effect on your mood.

If you're looking for an office renovation contractor, you've found the right company! Call Cornerstonetoday and speak with one of our experts, and learn how we can provide you with the renovation of your dreams.

Tips For Designing A Conference Room That will Wow Clients

Meeting rooms definitely have an impact on the impression you create for potential clients. No company would like to have a noisy or distracting space for their clients to meet in. Having a comfortable yet business like atmosphere for a meeting room is important. Listed below are a few tips for designing a conference room that will wow clients.

Consider The Clients' Needs

It is important to consider the needs and requirements of your clients when designing a meeting room space.  How many people will be attending the meetings regularly? You want them to have enough elbow room, as well as space to get up and walk around. At the same time, you also want the meeting room to be small enough to let people know they're safe in a group and be focused on the meeting. Invest in the right furniture.

Pick The Right Room

Though there is no set rule, it is better to build the conference room near the entrance of the office. It will be easy for the clients to go in and out without disturbing the rest of your office. Ideally, the room should be in a place where distractions are kept to a minimum. For example, a space near the CEO’s office would be great, but not a space near the main lobby or near a lunch room.

Provide Amenities

Place refreshments in the room so clients can get water or even tea or coffee if they need it.  Invest in tables with mini-cabinets, where your guests can stash their belongings while participating in the meeting. Put a bin or two in a corner of the room so guests can dispose of their trash properly. Have charging points conveniently places for charging phones and laptops.

Keep The Design Consistent

Creativity is good, but authenticity is even better. If your office is filled with fun and cheerful designs make it a point to decorate your conference room that way. But if your company is more classic and old school, the meeting room should reflect that too.

Rehearse Before The Meeting

It’s a big task to get ready for the big day. Do a mock meeting with your own colleagues assuming them as clients and give a presentation, make sure all technical things are in good condition. Is the lighting good enough and are there spare notepads and pens? Ask them for their feedback so that you can improvise for the real big day.

At Cornerstone, we sit on your side of the table to offer you end to end solutions. Get in touch with us for all your commercial renovation needs.

8 Ways To Turn Your Business Idea into Reality

Not every entrepreneur starts with an idea in mind. If you have an idea it means you have already taken the first steps. But how do you take it forward? Until you take action, your ideas will remain as ideas. Here are 8 ways to turn your business ideas into reality.

Know The Difference

Standing apart is key! You need to differentiate yourself from your competitors. No matter how small this difference may be, you need to be able to demonstrate how unique your product is. You have to clearly define your USP, positioning, and the market.

Understand Your Business

This may seem like a no brainer, but just because you have an idea it doesn't mean that you understand the business well. You can do SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis for understanding your position. It is not necessary that you should be midway through the process, you can do the analysis even before starting.

Identify Your Customer Base

No matter the kind of business you've been dreaming of setting up, you need to understand that someone out there will require your product or service sooner or later. There is always a market for every product. Know where to focus and understand the demography.

Don't Compromise On The Quality

The worst mistake any entrepreneur can make is to introduce a service; carry out widespread marketing campaigns and ad placements only to deliver a service of depreciated value in the long run. You may fall for the fancy figures but it wouldn't help your business.

Do Your Homework

Are you the first one to think about this idea? Do you have a competitor? Research online and visit conferences in your industry. You don't want to know someone else has got there first after you have invested your valuable time and money.

Build A Prototype

Building a model of your product will be really helpful. If you're creating a service, your prototype can be a process map that details customer contact points and what has to happen internally to meet customer needs.

Determine Your Resource Requirements

What exactly do you need to get started? Think about how you can set up the workspace. You can approach a commercial contractor to construct your dream office.

Get in touch with Cornerstone to manage your office construction project from start to end.

How To Pick The Right Team For Your Office Renovation

There are a lot of commercial contractors in GTA but you need to find one that will finish your project on-time and within budget. We’ve compiled a few tips to help you find the remodeling contractor that you feel comfortable working with.

Get Referrals

Talk to your building owner or management firm for a list of renovation companies that they have worked with on previous projects. Call your local chamber of commerce for a list of companies, then start researching those referrals. Review the companies’ web sites. Look for photos of recently completed projects and read their client reviews. Don’t hesitate to call a few of those clients and ask if you can tour their new offices. See for yourself the quality of the work the renovation company produces.

The One Who Works From Start To End

Many people wait to hire their contractors after developing a renovation plan and budget. But you should bring them on board at the earliest as possible. They will help you in setting realistic goals and planning your budget so that you don't have to redo your plan again and again. So pick a contractor who will take care of the project from the start to end.

Communication Is Everything

Regular site visits and getting project reports from your contractor will help you in more ways than you have imagined. It will help improve transparency. From start to finish, good communication between you and your contractor is what keeps your project moving smoothly. Your contractor should be willing to update you on progress frequently, and he should also notify you promptly of any problems that may arise. On your end, make sure to speak with your contractor immediately at any time there is a change of plans. Do you want different light fixtures, or have you decided to use a different type of flooring? If so, try to notify your contractor before he places an order for materials, or at the very least, before he starts installing them. So choose a contractor who will be transparent.

If you have a new plan for your office, need to improve your space management, or don't like the present look anymore, trust Cornerstone to handle the changes professionally. Get in touch with our renovation contractor in GTA now.

Plan Ahead for A Successful Office Renovation

The process of an office renovation can be hectic and time-consuming. But planning it well in advance will reduce a lot of stress. Listed below are 5 steps to plan a successful office renovation. 

Identify Goals

The first and foremost step in any office renovation project, is identifying goals. Asking questions like, ‘What factors are driving the renovation? What issues will affect the schedule of the project? Can the budget realistically support these expectations?’ Answers to these questions will help you in identifying the goals.

Plan Ahead For Staff Re-deployments

Your staff may end up working remotely for a few days during the renovation process. It will be wise to plan and to ensure that they have somewhere to go like a temporary office space or home. Planning the office renovation off their peak work hours will reduce your burden to some extent.

Create Contingency Plans & Budgets

Apart from planning the actual budget, it is also important to plan the contingency budget. This money is set aside to cover unexpected costs during the construction process. This money is on reserve and not allocated to one area of the work. Solid contingency plans and a contingency budget will ensure that these do not derail your project.

Create A Communication Plan

The communication plan should involve the employees, customers, and suppliers. If you own a store your employees should know the timeline and it should be informed to them well ahead. Many businesses also choose to involve employees in their overall office renovation project, such as having polls and surveys to choose things like colours, materials, office furniture items, and so on.

Partner With Proven Commercial Contractors

Last but certainly not least: the smartest and safest way you can plan for a successful office renovation is by partnering with a proven commercial contractor. Construction partnering is a commitment between a project's owner and the office renovator. You will get the end-to-end expert support that you want, need and deserve from Cornerstone's commercial contractor in Vaughan. Our project managers will provide regular sight reviews and actively participate in the process from turn over to the opening.

If you are planning for an office or store renovations in Vaughan, commercial contractors at Cornerstone will help you with budgeting, design, scheduling, and securing building permits. The proposals are prepared based on your requirements and design drawings. Our professionals will help you with the project execution from start to end. We collaborate with all project partners to ensure all elements comply with the project budget and schedule. Get in touch with us to manage your project from inception through closeout.

5 Reasons Why Commercial Building Design Matters

Why does commercial building design matter? Your office design and work environment will affect your employees' productivity and the first impression potential customers form of your business. Altering and renovating your office has a positive effect when done properly. An effective remodel which keeps up with emerging trends can increase productivity, available space, efficiency, curb-appeal and even sales. You can design your workspace to represent your work culture.  All said your employees will also love to work in a well-designed workspace. Below are reasons why commercial building design matters.

An Underused Branding Opportunity

A lot of thought and brainstorming goes into effectively designing a commercial space. Branding is all about having a brand identity, positioning your company to reflect that identity, and illustrating personality. It is not just branding for your customers but your employees will also feel honored to work in such an environment. Plan the right design with your commercial office renovator to build your brand.

Lighting and ventilation

A recent study shows that in buildings with good daylight conditions workers are 18% more productive, students achieve 5-14% higher test scores, and retail spaces achieve 15-40% higher sales. At the same time, better ventilation was shown to improve workplace productivity by 11%. So, it is very natural that the office owners and builders are keeping these design needs in mind. Keep your employees healthy and alert to keep them productive.

Department specific goals

Each department is important and every department will have specific goals. Designing all the departments in the same way is not ideal. For example, a design team may enjoy a colourful, creative, free-flowing space whereas the accounts team may want things very standardized and organized. Understand your team’s needs to design the perfect space for them.

Dynamic spaces

Many new offices use working space dynamically. You can discuss this with your commercial contractor to make optimum use of the space. Unused spaces can be used for everything from physical fitness to gamming to nap time. Removing partitions between offices may elevate employee interaction and innovation. This will also make the office space look larger. Plan to incorporate multi-purpose open spaces in your new office.

Plants and foliage

Going green is a major interior design trend. It improves air quality and these plants have the power to reduce stress, anxiety, and fatigue.

Contact Cornerstone @ https://trustcornerstone.ca/ or call @ Call: 905-364-5588 to build a productive office space.