Europe 
When it comes to running or managing a successful convenience store, also known as a c-store, you likely focus on elements that help grow your bottom line. Quality products, customer service, and competitive prices are some of the top priorities for c-stores. But most are overlooking one key element that can make or break success: cleanliness.
On the surface, a clean c-store may not seem like a big deal, but research has proven it can hurt your bottom line. Here’s the proof:
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60% of shoppers say they would buy more a clean store
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Over two-thirds of customers admit they’ve walked out of a store because it was disorganized or wasn’t clean
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94% say they would go out of their way to avoid a business in the future if they experience dirty restrooms
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70% of consumers say they’ve recently had a negative experience with a dirty store
Are you convinced yet? We are, which is why CAF is sharing ways to help your c-store get clean and stay clean.
Make it Routine
To keep your c-store in tip-top shape, make cleaning a part of your hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly routines. By doing a little bit each day and keeping up with routine maintenance, it won’t seem so overwhelming or time-consuming. Create hourly or daily task lists for employees to check the bathrooms, pick up trash, straighten up shelves, and clean up any messes immediately. You can also implement a system in which another employee or manager has to sign off on the tasks to ensure it’s done correctly and is up to standards.
Don’t Forget About the Outside
The outside of your c-store is the first impression you’ll make on customers. That means keeping it clean has to be as much of a priority as the inside. If you have piled up trash, dirty fuel pumps, or uncleaned spills on the concrete, they can set off immediate red flags for consumers. As a result, they’ll choose not to shop at your store. Because if the outside looks bad, it’s very likely the inside will look bad, too, if not worse. Just as you do for the inside, create a cleaning task list and schedule to keep the outside of your c-store clean and impressionable.
Get the Right Products
Cleaning and maintaining your c-store doesn’t have to be difficult if you arm yourself with the right solutions. At CAF, we make products designed specifically for c-store needs, so your business doesn’t just look clean — it actually is clean. If you’re not sure where to start, use our solution finder to help find the best products for your needs. Whether you need solutions for indoors, outdoors, or both, our finder will point you in the right direction.
