Retractable Awnings for Your Business
Depending on where you live, your concept of retractable awnings in relation to commercial buildings will vary considerably. In an artsy, Bohemian district, you might get the impression that awnings appear on local establishments primarily to add earthy color. In a more polished downtown entertainment area, where young professionals hang out, the awnings would probably be more chic and functional, if you noticed them at all. The fact is, you could miss the main commercial benefits of awnings entirely—unless you knew what you were looking for. Here are some of the advantages.
Your business might benefit from retractable awnings if…
1. Your establishment could use extended operating space. This is especially true in the restaurant and bar industries, where outdoor settings are desirable, and increased seating capacity leads directly to more patrons and thus more cash flow. But as a general rule of thumb, it’s true for any business that could utilize additional room in an outdoor setting—maybe as a break or meeting area.
This is because awnings essentially create an outdoor room. Awnings are a real architectural element in this sense, but they don’t require the services of a general contractor or architect, and won’t need to be brought “up to code.” They are also much less expensive than any type of “brick and mortar” construction, so installation is almost painless. Awnings allow your business to use outdoor space during any time of the day or night, taking advantage of any weather conditions (short of gale-force winds and hurricane-type rain). Scorching day? Forecast calls for precipitation? No problem.
2. Your commercial property needs to save on energy bills. The size and operating hours of business properties can cause air conditioning costs to skyrocket. Awnings can help bring them back down. Does your building have areas that are frequently overheated by direct sunlight? Are there walls, floors, or furniture that are being bleached out by outside light? Do you sometimes feel compelled to pull the blinds in order to bring the temperatures down (not the most hospitable look for a bar or office). By adding awnings above your windows, you’ll filter the sunlight, cut 94 percent of the glare and UV rays, lower room temperatures by up to 15 degrees, and save substantially on energy bills—anywhere from 25 to 34 percent.
3. Your existing outdoor area isn’t cutting it. If baking heat or inconvenient rainfall is keeping your business premises from being used in the way you visualized, adding awnings may redeem that investment. Do you have great outside space that should be getting a lot more use? Awnings that retract are efficient, easily installed and professional-looking, and you can lower or store them with the push of a button. In addition, awnings can add the visual flair that makes a hum-drum storefront stand out.
If you think your business might benefit from retractable awnings, feel free to educate yourself further by reading How to Grow Your Business with Retractable Awnings. You might be surprised to learn how some major companies are using awnings to leverage their brands.
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Tagged With Business Awnings, energy efficiency, Retractable Awnings, utility savings
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