You’ve heard it said that you never get a second chance at making a first impression. Did you know that recent research suggests that looking at a person can provide such a powerful first impression that, even when provided with facts about that person, the first impression persists?
You’re Dating Your Customers
Well, you aren’t literally dating your customers, unless you happen to have particularly attractive ones or you’re running a matchmaking service. However, the analogy of dating works well. For your first date with somebody, you shower and groom yourself impeccably. You check yourself in the mirror ten times before leaving to meet them, making sure that you’ve picked just the right colours and your tie or earrings aren’t askew. You might practice opening lines as you travel to your date location, knowing that the first 30 seconds might make or break the entire date. When a customer walks into your business for the first time, you have one chance to really make an impression. You’ve probably put a lot of work into customer service: making sure your employees are friendly, tidy, polite, and helpful. But have you thought about whether your physical environment reflects the same attention to detail?
The Importance of Being Earnest…ly Clean
A recent study found that, after being exposed to images of messy, dirty, untidy, and otherwise disgusting scenes, people felt fewer qualms about unethical behaviour like lying and cheating. Another study found that clean smells (in this case, citrus-scented Windex that had been recently sprayed in the store) made people unconsciously fairer and more generous. Not only does having a clean store attract customers and increase browsing time, it could actually reduce your loss percentages. Could the solution to high loss be as simple as a little Windex?
What Needs to be Kept Clean?
Front Door: here is your true first impression. If your front door is dirty or smudged, customers may walk into your store already put off.
Shoulders to Knees: While it’s important to keep everything clean, merchandising between shoulder and knee height is the most important, as this is where customers notice things the most. Prioritize cleanliness in this area!
Off the Main Floor: Fitting rooms and bathrooms might not be in full view all the time, but they are absolutely crucial to converting sales. Clean bathrooms say you care about customers and employees; clean fitting rooms help customers to feel good about your store in the location that they make 80% of their buying decision.
Smell: A clean smell can be the finishing touch that makes all the difference.
There’s a lot of surfaces to keep dusted, washed, polished, and sparkling…why not give the job to the experts? If you’re looking for an experienced janitorial team, call Regency Cleaning today at 403-520-7788 to request a quote.
