Those profits would be even healthier if staff at the homeware chain hadbeen able to close the doors on the freezing weather that recentlygripped the country.
However, like many businesses, The White Company is content to pourmoney away on energy - via so-called 'open door' policies, where heat isblasted out on to the street to entice customers.
A Cambridge University study, finds they are not only hugely wasteful ofenergy, as well as a contributing more carbon dioxide emissions, butthey have no discernible impact upon footfall.
Two Cambridge stores took part in the Cambridge University glass andfacade technology unit study: the independent Cambridge Toy Shop and abranch of the national stationery chain, Ryman.
In the 'open door' tests, the fan heaters above the doors (aka 'aircurtains') remained turned on the whole day. In the 'closed door' test,the fan heaters stayed off. This methodology mirrored the way themajority of stores/restaurants operate: blowing hot air downwards overan open doorway.
You would expect energy and carbon savings to be made. However, theresults must have taken even the university by surprise. In the case ofthe toyshop, the savings were 30%. With Ryman, they were even moredramatic: 54%, prompting it to implement a closed-door policy.
Energy is expensive and, like your employees, a precious asset. It isnot to be left to the engineers and property management team. And it isan HR question, because it affects the comfort of employees. Tackling itis easy: closing doors, adjusting the thermostat, turning off lights orswitching off heaters. Get staff to identify hot spots, then monitor andmanage them.
During the December 2010 cold snap, Tesco launched one of the bestexamples of staff tackling energy use. Via touchscreen 'energy boards',staff can get involved in cutting energy consumption.
Energy boards are placed in staff areas and display which sections, suchas bakery, petrol station, lighting or heating, consume most energy.Staff monitor the problem and can get tips on how to reduce it.
Tesco is the first UK chain to use touchscreens in this way. Its pilotwon a reduction in consumption of 2%-3% - a huge margin for one piece ofkit. And with touchscreens at 500 branches, Tesco will save 23,000tonnes of CO2. Result.
