Stores serve many different types of customers, from travelers to locals. But one thing that nearly all customers have in common is that they prefer a clean store over a dirty one.

Consumers enter stores because they want to shop.

Retailers should prioritize facilitating a clean browsing experience for consumers, allowing them to explore products effortlessly and make purchases with ease. Ensuring a pleasant shopping environment and easy item discovery should take precedence. Relying on attractions like food, entertainment, or “cool” experiences is putting the cart before the horse.

Customers prefer to buy food from clean stores

Customers not only tend to spend more time browsing a clean store, but they’re also more likely to make food purchases in a location they’re comfortable visiting. On the other hand, a dirty store discourages customers from spending any more time in the area than what’s absolutely necessary. Adherence to strict sanitation schedules can increase convenience store profits quite effectively.

Nice stores leads to a nicer bottom line.

• 86% of respondents tend to spend more time in nice stores.
• Consumers are 2x more likely to make big purchases ($101-$250) in stores vs. online.
• Consumers are 3x more likely to make an impulse purchase in-store vs. online.
• Serendipity - unplanned purchases are a huge opportunity.
• Nearly 1 out of 5 of all purchases are unplanned, meaning potentially more than $558 billion up for grabs.
• 3 out of 5 consumers said their primary location for making impulse buys was “in person in a store”.
• 4 out of 5 impulse purchases are made in a brick-and-mortar store.
• 40% of in-store shopping trips result in 3 items being purchased on impulse.

Neat & simple layouts make finding products simple.

A clean store with neat, organized shelves and a simple layout makes it easy for customers to find what they’re looking for. Customers have more positive experiences in stores when products are arranged in ways that make sense and encourage more browsing.

Owners and managers can almost effortlessly increase customer retention and sales by emphasizing custodial practices among convenience store staff. Promotions, loyalty programs, and excellent customer service are beneficial, but few of these steps will be effective if customers are driven away from poorly-cleaned stores.

Consumers care greatly about consistency

Get it wrong and it will affect your brand. One bad experience can really hurt your bottom line. After one bad experience:

• 40% of shoppers spend less money in a store.
• 52% of shoppers will leave without making a purchase.
• 69% of shoppers are less likely to return.

The higher the income, the higher the expectations.

• Consumers making more than $100k (USD) have higher expectations and the strongest reactions to poor in-store experiences.
• 80% of high-income shoppers like stores less after they have a bad experience (average: 71%).
• 79% of high-income shoppers spend less time in a store if they have a negative experience (average: 76%).
• 71% of high-income shoppers have walked out of a store because of physical appearance(average 64%).

Increasingly, if a consumer has a bad experience, you can count on bad word-of-mouth:

• Half of those 55 and older say they would tell a salesperson or call customer service if they had a bad experience in a store, but only 31% of those 18-24 would.
• Nearly half of respondents (49%) said they would tell a friend if they had a negative experience at a store (Source: The Brick and Mortar Retail Report | Service Channel)

Cleanliness can extend the life of your business assets.

Over time, normal wear-and-tear can break down these surfaces through the buildup of dirt, debris and other grime, resulting in excessive scuffs, scratches and shabbiness that will require items to be replaced more frequently.

Regular retail cleaning can extend the life of your valuable assets. By removing small contaminants on a consistent basis, particles don’t have a chance to accumulate to the same levels. Not only will your retail space look and smell fresher, it will also save you money by extending the amount of time between replacements for expensive purchases like new furniture or carpeting.

Retail stores present their own set of challenges when it comes to ensuring the best environment for guests. With so many frequently used areas, there are several key hotspots that need to be properly cleaned on a regular basis for health, safety and aesthetic reasons.

Everyday general cleaning should include dusting, disinfecting, wiping, vacuuming and mopping to ensure day-to-day cleanliness of frequently used areas. However, retailers should also include occasional deep cleaning and preventative maintenance tasks as part of their cleaning schedule.

It's good for business, it's good for employees, it's good for customers and great for the neighborhood.