We all know how important first impressions are. When you have a storefront and you’re trying to attract customers, it’s safe to assume that what they see when they walk in the door will be part of their decision-making. Will they spend their money with you or with a competitor?
In this article, we’ll tell you about the advantages of a spotless business. . . From how it can attract shoppers, keep them in your store longer, and eventually lead to more sales, to why it should matter to you beyond the customers (think the health and safety of your employees).
We’ll also offer suggestions on where to focus your efforts to make the biggest impact.
Why Regular Cleaning Matters to Your Customers
A clean store matters. Let’s look at some of the reasons (1).
1. It says something about you.
A spotless store creates a positive first impression. It looks like a well-run business.
When you hire a cleaner company, it shows that you pay attention to detail, are professional, and care about your customers. All these feelings combined help build trust and brand loyalty with customers.
2. Professionally cleaning your store makes products easier to find.
Whenever you can put your customers’ minds at ease, you’re doing something right. Cleaning and organizing services make it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for and can make the shopping experience so much better. It also might help increase sales.
3. Deep cleaning can help reduce the spread of germs.
Germs are resilient. They can hide on doorknobs, shelving fixtures, at the checkout counter, and in and on all sorts of other places just waiting to hitch a ride on a customer or employee. That makes it doubly advantageous to consider hiring a professional deep-cleaning service.
Sanitizing surfaces with disinfectants can help protect your customers from sickness and disease. At the same time, it can keep your employees healthy, potentially cut back on their sick days, and perhaps make them feel more productive and motivated.
The bottom line is a cleaner space can be a healthier place to shop and work.
4. It can prevent customers from running for the exits and telling their friends.
A friend of mine went into a small grocery store a couple of towns over from me to pick up a few dinner items. She said aisle 8 had spills all over the floor, and the “fresh produce” section reeked of something rotten.
As a result, she abandoned her shopping cart, walked out, and told a bunch of her friends.
Word-of-mouth advertising — good or bad — can spread like wildfire. But a spotless store could make all the difference.
5. It could be required by law.
Customers may be the most important judges of store cleanliness. But they’re not the only ones. Food inspectors and landlords can be too. If you run a business in a leased building, check the rules in your store agreement. They may require you to meet certain standards. Food inspectors certainly do!
How a Clean and Healthy Working Environment Can Help You on a Personal Level
Customers aren’t the only ones who benefit from a clean commercial space. You and your employees can too. Here are some examples:
1. Motivation and productivity
Imagine walking into your business every day and it looks like a horrible mess. You have tasks to do, but you have to cut through the clutter first. Certainly not super motivating.
A University of Arizona study (2) found that a clean and organized environment can result in employees who are up to 15% more productive than those who work in a cluttered and dirty environment.
Conversely, if what you see looks neat and tidy, it can inspire you to take charge of your day. You’ll probably feel more motivated — and more productive too.
2. Pride factor
Let’s face it, your business is your baby. You should feel proud about how hard you’ve worked to get it where it is today. Keeping it clean is a good way to add to that feeling of pride and personal satisfaction.
3. Finding your calm
Cleanliness goes beyond physical health. It can affect your mental health as well.
A business that’s clean and organized is one that can decrease your stress and anxiety (3).
Areas to Focus on for Cleaning
Cleanliness matters, but so too does knowing where and what to clean.
1. Shopping carts and baskets
If you run a business that uses shopping carts or reusable baskets, keeping them clean is a good idea, as they’re typically touched by a lot of people.
If they’re run down, you may want to trade them in for new ones. Otherwise, put it on the to-do list for commercial cleaning services.
2. Restrooms and changing rooms
A bright, fresh-smelling restroom that’s fully stocked with toilet paper, soap, and paper towels says a lot about your business, especially if you sell food.
Having your restrooms cleaned daily can go a long way in creating a clean environment for your customers.
3. Air vents
This is an easy one to overlook among your cleaning tasks, but air quality is just as important as a clean surface. Air vents on walls and ceilings need regular cleaning to remove dust and grime.
4. Windows and doors
Squeaky-clean panes of glass and doors that look like they’ve been wiped down regularly are an invitation to come in and shop.
You might want to consider hiring a commercial window-cleaning service for this one. They can get all the windows — even the ones in high places.
5. From siding to sidewalks
How does your storefront look? Are the sidewalks power-washed? Does the signage look good?
If you lease your space, it may not be your responsibility to deep clean the outside. However, it may be worth having that conversation with those who are responsible — like your landlord.
Expectations for cleanliness are a two-way street. You and your landlord have businesses to run and reputations to uphold. It can benefit both of you to make sure things are clean.
Who Needs a Deep-Cleaning Service?
Deep cleaning is the process of cleaning a space beyond the visible dust and dirt (4).
Mold. Grime. Bacteria. They can build up over time. A deep-cleaning service not only can clean them away, they also may use disinfectants to kill germs that are lurking around.
Although a deep cleaning is something you think you’re able to do, there are advantages to leaving it to a commercial cleaning company.
How Often Should I Deep Clean?
The answer to this question typically depends on the type of business you run. However, the general rule of thumb is one deep-cleaning session every four months — or three times a year (5).
Making Business Insurance Part of Your Review
Just like cleanliness reflects positively on your business, so too does having business insurance.
That’s all the more reason to review your coverages to make sure you have exactly what you need. Need help? We may be able to save you time and money. Our online quote tool can help find coverage in just minutes. And since we work with leading insurers, we can often find multiple quotes, so you can compare and save them.
If you have questions or need a bit of guidance, we’ve got friendly and helpful licensed agents available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET). Give us a call at 844-654-7272.
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Be Seen. Keep It Clean.
Keeping things clean is just one aspect of building an image for your business, so we hope this information is helpful. If you’re looking for more free information on how to start and run a business, check out our Resource Center. It’s packed with a wide assortment of guides, tools, and tips. Here are a few:
- How Community Involvement Can Help Your Business Thrive
- Maximizing Your Storefront: How to Increase Foot Traffic in a Retail Store
- How to Boost Your Business with These Customer Service Tips
References:
(1) Learn more at /kohlbm.com/blog/6-important-reasons-to-clean-your-retail-environment/
(2) Learn more at business.com/articles/organize-your-workspace/
(3) Learn more at recovery.org/pro/articles/the-mental-health-benefits-of-cleaning-organizing-decluttering-your-space/
(4) Learn more at jan-pro.com/blogs/what-is-included-in-deep-cleaning-for-businesses/
(5) Learn more at thenightshift.com/2022/05/how-often-should-you-get-your-commercial-space-deep-cleaned