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While it might still feel like January outside, spring is in full swing and that means it’s time to shed those winter blues. As in most industries, maintaining brand standards in the convenience and retail fuel environment is essential for securing repeat business.
Does Cleanliness Really Matter?
Cleanliness plays a significant role in shaping a brand and the purchasing decisions of their would-be customers’. A Harris Interactive poll of more than 1,000 people found that 94% of those who regularly visit a c-store would avoid a business in the future if they encountered a dirty restroom, with 45% of those same respondents naming gas stations as a specific place they would avoid!
Worse yet, it’s not just word of mouth that store owners must be concerned with these days- social media has upped the stakes as consumers share their experiences, good or bad, without a moment’s hesitation, leaving store owners at the mercy of thousands of negative reviews and topics of uncleanliness that will adversely impact their business.
Every day customers make snap decisions on where to refuel or grab a bite to eat based on brand recognition and customer reviews about restrooms, level of service, and food offerings. A clean forecourt will weigh heavily towards that customer's decision and ultimately the revenue generated within the store. If you are looking to get more customers inside - a clean outside will get you there!
4 Simple Steps for Spring Cleaning
1) Define a Cleaning Standard – What do you want your customers to experience when they visit your store? This standard of cleanliness should encompass the key areas that will have the greatest impact on their buying behavior. For c-stores that offer fresh food and specialty items, special attention should be given to areas such as restrooms, fueling areas, entrance ways, and floors. Additionally, cleanliness can influence employee satisfaction and drastically reduce the costs associated with slip-and-fall accidents.
2) Develop a Cleaning Program – CAF is the industry leader in outdoor cleaning solutions that maximize brand image and efficiency and offer products that provide great results, save you money, reduce the labor hours spent on cleaning, and are specifically designed for the difficult-to-clean areas at your retail locations. To complement its line of innovative cleaning solutions, CAF has an extensive system of support to help you devise and execute a cleaning program that is crucial for long-term success.
3) Implement Training - Training all employees at one time and in one place is not always feasible and turnover can add a further hindrance. Choose a program that offers your employees several options such as online training, digital and collateral instructions, on-site management and team training courses, and video conferencing. CAF's complete training programs ensure your employees have the knowledge, tools, products, and support to be safe and consistent in their cleaning efforts.
4) Monitor Performance – To ensure you are providing the best possible customer experience, solicit feedback from your employees and customers. Are they seeing successes? Are they having issues? Do they have suggestions for improvements? Keep an open mind and make adjustments as necessary. Want to learn more? Click the image below to learn how CAF can help or contact us today for personalized tips on implementing a cleaning program.
