There are many factors that affect the success or failure of an ongoing business. These factors are incredibly important to understand if you own or manage an enterprise because they can dictate the continuity of your operations.
If you are in the retail business, and have a brick and mortar store somewhere, its maintenance is one of the most important factors for success. Having a pleasant store invites repeat customs in more ways than one.
In fact, according to Retail Customer Experience, an overwhelming 95 percent of shoppers say the appearance of a store affects their purchasing decision.
Here are a few notes on the subject.
Reflection
A clean and orderly environment isn’t just a more comfortable setting for people to spend their hard-earned money in, it also says a lot about the business, its products, its brand, its management, its employees, and everything.
The store is a reflection of all the things that make your business. Having a spotless retail store will subconsciously tell your customers that you run a tight ship and that you pay attention to detail. They will likely think that these qualities extend to your products and customer service.
Experience
Dust is not a good look whether they are on the products themselves or on the shelves. They may even cause harm to your customers. On the other hand, clean products, shelves, and stores enhance the customer experience. It makes it easier and even more pleasant to shop in a spotless place.
This should also be applied to other features of your store. The air-conditioning or heating system, for example, should always be working in optimal condition. Even if your store is clean, if the temperature is uncomfortable, people wouldn’t spend more time there and it will even reduce your chances of them coming back.
Likewise, if the air vent system is releasing unpleasant smells, customers are going to leave and remember not to come back.
Liability
Everything that needs to be fixed should be fixed immediately. Don’t wait for suggestions or complaints to flood in, especially with big ticket items like structural fixtures that may affect the safety of shoppers.
If your roof is showing signs of deterioration, for example, just because it’s summer and there are no signs of rain doesn’t mean you should leave it unattended for the time being. Call professional commercial roof installers to have them repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
If a disaster strikes, and your broken-down roof causes harm to your patrons, you may end up facing a personal injury lawsuit because of your negligence.
Similarly, employees that are injured on the job may seek reparations as well.
Costs
If you think about it, investing in store maintenance is just a fraction of the expense of losing recurring and recommending customs if you don’t. The ratio even skews further once you factor in the possibility of liability without proper store maintenance. It’s a straightforward math equation with a simple answer.
Maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of your store shouldn’t just be an afterthought. It should be part of your and your team’s operations. It’s a crucial step that brings in big benefits and costs so much more if left undone.
