Whether you’re a manager for a large retailer or a small shop owner, it’s important to always be looking for new ways to boost business. By following a consistent and thorough cleaning process, your retail store can make a great impression on new customers, provide a memorable experience for returning customers, positively affect buyer behavior and more. Here are a few reasons why having a clean retail store is good for your business.
1. A CLEAN RETAIL STORE AFFECTS BUYER BEHAVIOR
Many shoppers are frustrated with their in-store shopping experience. A large part of this has to do with the fact that approximately one in five shoppers have encountered a messy store environment over the last six months. Worse still, 64% of shoppers report having walked out of a store because of its appearance.
What does this mean for your retail store? It means that a dirty store will cost you money. Cleanliness goes beyond product shelves, displays and floors. Areas like restrooms, fitting rooms, mannequins, display cases and light fixtures can all negatively affect your business if they aren’t properly cleaned. For this reason, retail cleaning services can help you increase sales and improve your bottom line.
2. A CLEAN STORE ELEVATES THE GUEST EXPERIENCE
What do shoppers want from a brick-and-mortar retail store? A premium shopping experience. The majority of consumers still prefer to shop in-store, but to keep them coming back, a store needs to look clean, smell fresh, be well-lit and have well-maintained restrooms. By making cleanliness a priority, especially in these areas, you have the opportunity to connect with consumers to keep them coming back.
Professional retail cleaning services make this process more efficient. Store employees may not have enough time to clean properly in addition to the rest of their tasks. Additionally, they may not have been properly trained on correct cleaning techniques. When professional commercial cleaners are hired to handle store cleanliness, employees are freed up to focus on improving the guest experience by focusing on smaller, detail-oriented tasks like straightening items, facing shelves and interacting with customers directly.
3. RETAIL STORE CLEANING CREATES A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT
COVID-19 reshaped the way consumers thought about public spaces. Some shoppers have even altered behavior to avoid shared spaces like public restrooms when possible. In many minds, a dirty store is no longer just an inconvenience—it’s a potential health risk.
Properly cleaning a retail store can put your customers at ease during their visit. While many stores may make an effort to address health concerns at the surface level, proper cleaning procedures like the Coverall® Core 4® Cleaning Process built on AORN and CDC guidelines are more thorough to ensure bacteria, viruses and other germs are eliminated from the retail space with much more efficiency.
4. RETAIL CLEANING SERVICES CAN EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR BUSINESS ASSETS
A large amount of foot traffic is great for sales and revenue but not so great for heavily-trafficked surfaces like carpets, hard floors and upholstered furniture. Over time, normal wear-and-tear can break down these surfaces through the buildup of dirt, debris and other grime. The result? Excessive scuffs, scratches and shabbiness that will require items to be replaced more frequently.
Regular retail cleaning can extend the life of your valuable assets. By removing small contaminants on a consistent basis, particles don’t have a chance to accumulate to the same levels. Not only will your retail space look and smell fresher, it will also save you money by extending the amount of time between replacements for expensive purchases like new furniture or carpeting.
5. RETAIL STORE STAFF AND EMPLOYEES ARE HAPPIER
Would you want to return to a workplace that is consistently messy and dirty? If you want your employees to be happy and energized when they come to work, their physical workspace should be clean and inviting. Over 90% of workers admitted that their productivity and mental well-being suffers when their physical workspace is lacking. Get rid of clutter, keep break rooms and offices free of dirt and grime, provide plenty of comfortable seating, and add a few plants to brighten the space. Employees that enter a fresh and inviting space every day can focus on providing a top-notch experience for customers.
HOW TO CLEAN A RETAIL STORE
Retail stores present their own set of challenges when it comes to ensuring the best environment for guests. With so many frequently used areas, there are several key hotspots that need to be properly cleaned on a regular basis for health, safety and aesthetic reasons.
Everyday general cleaning should include dusting, disinfecting, wiping, vacuuming and mopping to ensure day-to-day cleanliness of frequently used areas. However, retailers should also include occasional deep cleaning and preventative maintenance tasks as part of their cleaning schedule.
A good retail cleaning checklist for areas to address includes:
- Floor cleaning. Whether customers number in the tens or hundreds, each one tracks in dirt and debris from the outside.
- Window cleaning. Clean windows let in more natural light and reduce reliance on harsh artificial light, resulting in a better shopping experience.
- Disinfection. Regularly eliminating germs, bacteria and viruses can keep guests from spreading illnesses and may even reduce employee absences.
WORK WITH A TRUSTED RETAIL CLEANING COMPANY
To help you create a positive customer experience that boosts your brand, Coverall® Franchise Business Owners use the latest cleaning tools and techniques to combat dust, reduce germs and create a fresh-smelling shopping experience. If you’re looking for a superior retail cleaning service with history and expertise behind its national brand, contact us today.