After more than a year of shopping from the couch, many consumers are choosing to visit brick-and-mortar shopping spaces, even if it’s just to leave the house. However, with new COVID variants causing infection rates to spike in many areas, even the most eager consumers are still concerned about their safety.
For national retailers and local shop owners who want to welcome their customers back, instilling consumer confidence should be a top priority. Read on to learn how to establish customer trust and what steps you can take to help keep your clientele safe and healthy.

Establishing Rules

Consumers want to shop at businesses that demonstrate an effort to comply with reasonable health and safety measures. One of the easiest ways you can communicate that to your customers is by having clear protocols in place. Examples of this effort may include adding signs throughout the store, politely enforcing rules, and having staff members lead by example. 

Keeping your distance

Social distancing has been a core principle in helping to curb the spread of COVID. Even as mask requirements are lifted, store owners can still take precautions that will help minimize the lingering health risk. Consider limiting the number of people allowed in your store at any given time so that they have ample space to browse without bumping into other shoppers. Streamline your floor displays. A busy floor display invites customers to touch more products than necessary. A more minimalist display also opens more room for people to move through the store without getting too close to each other. Finally, adding directional markings on the floor and designated waiting spaces at the checkout line can help prevent unnecessary crowding.

Spot Clean High Touch Points Throughout the Day

COVID-19 has made us all aware of just how often we touch things — and how that touching can lead to the spread of all kinds of viruses. From trying on clothes and opening doors to exchanging money and swiping credit card machines, many people simply don’t want to touch anything that was previously handled by a stranger. To boost consumer confidence in these unavoidable parts of shopping, employees can spot clean these high-touch points throughout the day.
Monitor fitting room and give handles, hooks, and stools a wipe down with a disinfectant between uses. Keypads and shopping carts should be given the same treatment. Keep plenty of pens on hand and make sure to wipe them down along with payment terminals between customers. Offer hand sanitizer upon entry and near high touchpoint areas, such as doors, elevator buttons, and cash registers. These small gestures can go a long way toward building customer trust. However, they are no substitute for a regular commercial cleaning provider that  will help keep patrons safe and healthy.

Commercial Cleaning for Retail Safety

One of the best ways to show your customers and employees that you’re serious about retail store safety is through regular professional commercial cleaning services. Professional cleaners help keep your customers healthy and safe by properly cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, targeting high touch points most likely to harbor germs and bacteria, and ensuring a clean environment.  

The importance of daily commercial cleaning today cannot be overstated. However, it’s just as important that you choose a commercial cleaning service provider who can meet the challenges that retail stores present. If you want to work with an industry leader who sets the gold standard in commercial cleaning, then turn to the experts at Coverall®.

Only Coverall can boast its proprietary Core 4® Process, a method we built on the CDC and AORN standards for cleaning and disinfecting. All Coverall Franchise Business Owners receive extensive Core 4® Process training and our signature Health-Based Cleaning System® protocols. They come equipped with the tools necessary to avoid cross-contamination, including hospital-grade disinfectants, color-coded microfiber cloths, no-dip flat mops, and HEPA backpack vacuums.  

In addition to customized general cleaning, Coverall Franchise Owners offer On-Demand Cleaning Services to address specific, immediate needs such as a Contamination Clean that can remove most known pathogens after exposure to COVID-19, blood, or another biohazard. Additional On-Demand Services include Deep Cleaning, Disinfecting Electrostatic Sprayer, and Day Porters ready to provide assistance beyond the scope of your usual schedule. Preventative Maintenance Services are also excellent for extending the life and look of your assets and your brand. Coverall Franchise Owners offer tailored services such as hard floor care, tile and grout scrubbing, upholstery and fabric cleaning, and washing of interior and exterior ground floor windows. Retail store owners across the country trust in our over 36 years of industry experience and expertise, and so can you. Contact your local Coverall Support Center to find a Franchise Business Owner in your area. Together, we will customize a cleaning solution that meets the needs of your retail store and helps puts you and your customers at ease.