Day three underway at SPECS 2010

Orlando, Fla. The third day of Chain Store Age’s 46th annual SPECS (store planning, equipment, construction services) conference kicked off in Orlando, Fla., on Tuesday with a high-energy, entertaining keynote address from economist Mark Zinder, who discussed the economic climate and how to adjust to the “new normal.”

Attendees then hit the morning sessions to learn more about 3-D scanning (the future of accurate building surveys); parking lots (successful life-cycle management); foodservice financing; and how retailers can go green.

A store planning and design panel also met to discuss creative planning trends and how to reduce capital, operating expense and shrink by optimizing square footage and the use of existing assets. Panelists included Tom Hilton, VP store design for Luxottica Retail; Karen Schottelkotte, senior VP store planning and design for Macy’s; Juan Romero, president and CEO of api(+); and moderator Scott Smith, senior VP of Interbrand Design Forum.

Retailers and retail suppliers then made their way to the conference’s Solution Center, where attendees networked among the array of exhibit booths.

To keep up with us at the show, follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/specsshow or Twitter.com/ChainStoreAge.