Dirty Stores - How Badly Managed Shops Suffer from Reduced Sales |
Posted: September 24, 2019 |
Do you run a retail store? Is it suffering from reduced sales? There are several reasons why your sales volume might not be to par. However, the problem ailing your store could be simple and most often overlooked - dirty, cluttered environment. Unfortunately, this is a problem that affects several stores, which choose to focus on other tasks while overlooking cleaning services. And what they don’t realise is that such an approach has far-reaching consequences. Below are some wise words uncovered during discussions with our cleaning contractor Master Cleaners. Providing us a better understanding of how dirty and badly managed stores can influence customer behaviour:
The first impression a prospective customer has a huge influence on their purchasing decision. If the image is positive, they are likely to make a purchase. However, if it is negative, chances are they will not make a purchase, and you will never see them again. When it comes to the stores, the physical appearance is usually what customers notice first. This includes the store’s exterior (walls, windows, signage) as well as the interiors (entrance, reception/front counter, floors, display shelves, toilets, etc.). When these spaces are dirty, the customers get a very negative first impression, which portrays an unprofessional image. And since no one wants to associate with an unprofessional brand, most of them end up walking out without making a purchase, never to see them again. Some even never make it in to the store after noticing the poor state of the exterior spaces.
Customers will not only avoid dirty stores; they will also be repelled by retail spaces where there is a risk of injury. Therefore, when customers notice various safety hazards, they will tend to shy away from your store. For example, things such as cracks in the wall, loose banners and advertising signs, spills, and unstable display shelves are likely to deter customers from your store. But workplace safety hazards will not just lead to loss of customers; they will affect your employees too. Due to an increase in injuries, employee's morale and performance will be very low, further leading to loss of revenue.
A dirty store does not only leave an impression on the customers; it also affects the employees' view of a business. And when the employees have a negative impression of a brand, they tend to slack off in performing their duties. As a result, customers who brace themselves and end up inside the store end up receiving very poor customer service. For example, slow checkout lines, inadequate information about merchandise, poorly arranged display shelves, poor feedback, and assistance, etc. The poor service, combined with the dirty store spaces, leads to a very poor shopping experience for the customer. As a result, even when they make a purchase – which will not usually happen – the chances of coming back are slim. On top of that, they are likely to leave reviews and spread the word about the experience, further damaging the store's reputation. As a result, not only does the store lose a would-be loyal customer, they also miss out on several other prospects.
Unhygienic store spaces are another reason why customers might be avoiding your store. Most consumers are health conscious, and thus will turn away from a store that has increased health risks. For example, a customer who notices leaking sewer water on your store’s exterior is not even likely to make it inside. Likewise, customers will cut their shopping trip short to avoid unhygienic environments such as those caused by dirty washrooms. The lost customers will mean loss of revenue for your, and most likely, loss of customers and potential prospects to your competitors. On top of that, the increased health risk posed can lead to your employees getting sick, further affecting your business’ operations. In extreme cases, your store can even be closed down by the authorities for health code violations. This can have detrimental consequences on the reputation of your business, leading to massive revenue loss.
In a retail store, the displayed merchandise is supposed to be the centre of attention. However, this is not usually the case with dirty and badly managed shops. To start with, dirty windows will hide the displayed merchandise. And even on the off-chance that a customer sees the displays, they are not likely to enter the store due to the unprofessional image. Likewise, inside the store, dirty shelves will take the attention away from the merchandise. Instead of seeing the displayed goods, the customers will see the dirty and messy shelves.
The amount of money spent by customers is usually dependent on the shopping atmosphere. If it is warm and welcoming, they will spend more time in the store, which consequently leads to spending more money. If the atmosphere is unwelcoming, they will cut short their trip, sometimes without even making a purchase. A dirty and badly managed store creates a negative and unwelcoming atmosphere that turns away customers. The dirty spaces will make them feel uncomfortable, and thus less likely to spend more time at the store. Safety hazards and unhygienic spaces, on the other hand, will make them feel unsafe. And last but not lease, clutter will be emotionally draining, causing them to want out of the store for a fresh breath of air. Retain customers with professional shop cleaners From the above, it is quite clear how your business can easily lose customers and subsequently, suffer from reduced sales and revenue due to uncleanliness. And unfortunately for some stores, there is also the added stained reputation and loss of consumer trust, which can be hard to recover from. However, it is possible to regain your customers and ensure that they keep coming back again with professional shop cleaning services - like those provided by master cleaners and other popular providers. The cleaners can be able to offer you extremely clean store spaces, which will improve the image of your business significantly. They will also guarantee high standards of hygiene, which will make your store more welcoming to the customers. With their services, you will also enjoy increased visibility, which will ensure that you attract more prospects.
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