Spring Cleaning Tips

Warm weather is just around the corner, and that means that customers are going to be out and about soon! It also means the time for spring cleaning has arrived--a chance to clean up after a cold winter and make the best customer experience. Did you know that cleaning outside will not only help your customers feel comfortable buying fuel outside your location but make your location more inviting for them to buy food and other items inside?

A good food court starts with a clean forecourt on the outside! We know cleaning can feel like a tough project. Don't know where to start? Don't sweat it. We put together a list of the top 5 areas to focus on:

Focus on customer touchpoints -- Your pump handles are your site's handshake. Are the handles free of grease and grime? Diesel pumps can accumulate thick buildup over the winter. Use a quality degreaser to ensure a clean handshake. Make sure your dispenser nozzles and handles are clean.
How do the restrooms look? -- This part of your store needs attention several times a day. Hopefully, you are regularly evaluating the state of the restroom. Even if you are, grime and dirt can accumulate in some places. Use a disinfectant cleaner to make sure your restrooms are customer-ready.
Customer touchpoint 2.0 -- If your pump handles are your site's handshake, then the squeegee buckets are the high-five. A fuel station without a quality squeegee bucket is like a Twinkie with no cream filling. Make sure that your squeegee handles are clean and in good shape. Do your squeegee buckets stink? Take 15 minutes to empty and clean your squeegee buckets. A little effort here will pay dividends!
It's Spring, go green! -- The majority of your customers prefer that you use environmentally friendly products, according to a recent Harris Interactive survey. Look for products with ingredients that won't harm the environment. Using concentrates will cut back on waste produced, and reduces your environmental footprint.
Assess the state of your building -- Take a walk around your site and try to look through your customers' eyes. Is the paint on your bollards chipped? Do you have graffiti on your building or dispensers? How do the garbage cans look? Check for dead lightbulbs. Fixing the little things can do wonders for the overall appearance and image of your c-store.