There is nothing less attractive to potential customers than a run-down or neglected storefront. After all, if you neglect your business premises, customers will question whether you have neglected the stock you have or the customers you serve.
First impressions are important for any business, as is the walk-up business generated by people passing your store and deciding to go in to browse. The first impression many will form is subconscious while looking at the presentation of your premises and any window displays.
To impress these customers, you need to ensure that your business premises are engaging to others and catch their eye as they pass. If your business is on the roadside, this can be even more important as you will have more people passing who could be tempted to stop and see what you have to offer to new customers.
With all of this information to consider, it can be difficult to know where to begin with brightening up your storefront. We have some ideas below for ways you can make your business shine and attract more customers.
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Clean The Exterior
The first and perhaps easiest step is to clean the exterior of your premises. If the paintwork or windows have become dirty or tired-looking, then simple cleaning can make a significant difference. Cleaning the exterior of your building does not have to take too much time to make a much better impression.
Cleaning windows will enable more customers to see what is available inside your premises and will help to make the space inside brighter and more welcoming. Cleaning the exterior brick or paintwork will make the business look better cared for, which will give a better first impression to your customers.
You may think that cleaning the exterior of a building will be time-consuming or expensive. However, if you choose to use a power washing company or power washer yourself, this can be a quick job.
Power washing services are popular and easy to find. By searching for power washing services in Nashville, TN, or whichever city you live in, you will find a list of companies that can help. If you have a power washer or want to invest in one, you can also search for companies to purchase one from.
In addition to cleaning the paint, bricks, and windows, it is important to ensure that the guttering is kept clean. If you lease your business premises, you may find that some of the cleaning is included in the price you pay, so always check this first.
If guttering is not kept clean, this can lead to damage to the building, including leaks, which can ruin your inventory. Keeping your business premises clean is not only beneficial to attracting new customers but can also keep the building from needing repairs.
Freshen The Paint
If the exterior of your building is painted, freshening the paint with a new coat is an easy way to brighten up your business. However, freshening the paint will be required more often in some areas than others due to the weather and how this affects the paintwork.
Again, repainting your building does not need to be costly or time-consuming. If you would prefer, you can do it yourself. If you have the materials needed or will be regularly repainting the building, it may be more cost-effective to purchase what you need rather than hire a company.
However, if you would prefer to hire a company, you can search for exterior painters in your local area and save yourself the time and cost of equipment if you do not already have what you need. Hiring a company will cost more if you need to do this regularly; however, for infrequent painting, this can be the easiest option.
Refresh Your Window Display
If you have stock showing in the window display of your business, it is important to make changes to this to keep the display fresh and attractive to customers. You can interpret this in any way that suits your business. Something new that draws a customer’s eye to your business may also draw them into using your goods or services.
You could choose to theme your displays around seasonal events, holidays, or themes relating to your business. You should ensure that the items you want to display are prominent and that other background decoration does not detract from your products.
Color themes are also very useful, especially if you are trying to catch the attention of people who pass your business regularly without opening your door.
Window displays do not need to be complicated, but they do need to be relevant to your business to attract customers who will spend money with you. Creating a pretty but irrelevant window display is unlikely to convert into a sale for that customer.
Add Signs To Direct Customers
Whether your business is a little out of the way, down a side street, or above another store, you can use signs to direct customers to your door. Interesting signs will do the same as an eye-catching window display and will intrigue customers into finding out more about what your business has to offer.
If you are using signs to direct others to your business, you need to look at the location of the signs in addition to the design. If you add a sign to an area that has a significant number of signs already displayed, it is unlikely to be noticed.
However, a brightly designed poster, flag, or sign that points out your business in an area that has nothing else displayed is likely to generate more business.
Signs do not need to be professionally designed or expensive to be effective. There are numerous online software programs that will enable you to design your own signs, and companies will print and ship them to you at a significantly lower cost than traditional sign makers.
There are numerous online tools you can use to encourage more business. However, the physical appearance and ability to locate your premises should remain the most important.