Attract business with in-store enhancements. In the U.S., in-store retail sales hit $7.07 billion in 2023. By 2026, they’re expected to reach $8.34 trillion. However, they still lag behind e-commerce growth by 75%. To entice customers to come to your retail store, you need to offer something they can’t find online. Discover how natural gas can help you make it worth their while.

Downtime can be costly for brick-and-mortar businesses. That’s especially true in Florida, where “hurricane season” lasts for half the year (June 1 – Nov. 30). Uninterrupted energy is crucial for keeping businesses running all year long. Natural gas powered heat pumps can help to heat and cool your retail store during storms. Since natural gas is delivered through mostly underground pipelines, it’s less vulnerable to storm damage compared to overhead electrical lines. Additionally, backup natural gas generators help keep your systems running, avoiding interruptions before, during or after the storm.

Natural gas amenities can transform your store space into an inviting and upscale environment. A natural gas grill could be used for cooking demonstrations at a grocery store leading up to holidays, such as Father’s Day or July Fourth. Natural gas fire pits and tiki torches add ambiance to resorts, especially in tropical Florida. Meanwhile, natural gas patio heaters outside restaurants extend the usability of your outdoor seating, allowing you to maximize revenue potential all year long. Want to ensure people book your beachfront hotel — even in the winter? Make sure there’s a natural gas heated pool and jacuzzi. It’s a draw for vacationers, even during seasons when the beach is not.

Roughly 5.6 million U.S. businesses choose natural gas, including restaurants, grocery stores, and retail outlets, among others. Why are businesses going this route? Natural gas appliances are efficient, which helps increase business productivity. For example, natural gas water heaters typically have higher heating capacities than electric ones. That’s particularly useful for laundromats, hair salons, gyms, restaurants, grocery stores, and other retail establishments that rely on limitless hot water to serve customers.

Operating expenses, like utility bills, take away from business profitability. Commercial natural gas appliances can help put some of that money back into your pocket. In the past decade, commercial and industrial customers that use natural gas have saved more than $500 billion. As one example, efficiency improvements that cut energy costs by 10% at a major grocery store chain could yield tens of millions of dollars in added profit, according to the ENERGY STAR Building Manual, which is backed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. By reducing utility costs and increasing energy efficiency, you’ll save money that can be reinvested back into your business, in order to help grow it.