For many in the micro market channel, 2019 has been a year of vendor collaboration. No better example than the recent joint effort by 365 Retail Markets, Fixturelite and Translucent, resulting in a perfect unattended retail solution for the U.S. Coast Guard in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
365 Markets gets the call
365 Markets has extensive experience working with military bases, so when they were approached by the Coast Guard to provide a micro market for 500 servicemen and women, plus civilians, they knew that they would need some help on the project.
Strategic partners were selected
“We provided the technology, we called Fixturelite for the design and fixtures, then brought in Translucent to install the market,” said Jon Floyd, Sr. Executive Account Manager for 365 Markets. Floyd was thrilled to report that the market’s grand opening was a huge success. “All of the top brass was there, and they were thrilled. It could not have gone any smoother,” he added.
According to Steve Closser of Translucent, the industry’s leading micro market consultant, that successful grand opening followed months of meetings and planning. Closser said the project began with a design from Fixturelite that was so accurate, you would think that it was measured by hand.
Fixturelite’s spot-on design
“Once we had the dimensions, we used the Fixturelite Design Tool to create a retail market environment that truly turned out to be exceptional,” said Steve Orlando, an experienced operator of ten years who co-founded Fixturelite, the leading supplier of micro market retail displays, seating and design features.
Translucent installed the market, featuring over a dozen Fixturelite design elements and the 365 Markets technology. “A total turn-key solution for the Coast Guard that is more like a c-store than a micro market,” said Closser, pointing to the 381 products that are being sold. Closser added that the market has a very clean look, featuring a driftwood theme.
Floyd praised Fixturelite for their spot on, perfectly flowing design, plus attractive coolers and fixtures. He added that Translucent has so much installation experience – they have seen just about anything and everything that can come up as a challenge and how to find a remedy. “I was very comfortable working with these partners,” said Floyd.
365 Markets + Fixturelite + Translucent = Success
For Closser, this project was particularly satisfying, calling it an outstanding collaboration of three partners, bringing together some extremely creative thinking from 365 Markets, Fixturelite and Translucent.
“The Coast Guard now has the best technology, the best fixtures and best design on the market. We were thrilled to put the whole thing together. The result was great, and it means that we can serve these folks in the military the way they serve us, which is pretty special,” said Closser.
