Get Your Store Ready for Summer
Just in case you haven’t noticed, it’s spring. That means summer — the busiest time of year for many stores — is just around the corner. This also means that, right now, you may have time to do a lot of things you won’t have time to do later. Here is a short list of things you should think about doing right now, while you still have the time.
Spring Cleaning
No one likes shopping in a dirty store. If this is something you’ve allowed to slip during the winter, now is the time to get busy. Tasks you should consider doing while you have the opportunity:
- Scour Everything: Every store has nooks, crannies, cracks and crevices that are normally “out of sight/out of mind.” Dirt loves to hide: under displays that never move; on top of dividers, shelving units, door and window frames. Eradicate it now while you have the chance.
- Clean it Out: Just what exactly has been piling up in the corners of your repair department, rental room and storage closet? If it is something you will never use, throw it out. Otherwise, make it clean, neat and orderly. Few things are more frustrating than paying to replace an items you were certain “is lying around here someplace” — only to stumble across it later on.
- Don’t Ignore the Carpets: Consider shampooing them yourself or having a professional come in.
Experts recommend re-doing your floor plan and displays on a regular basis. This goes hand-in-hand with a thorough spring cleaning, as it allows you to get the dirt that’s under displays that haven’t moved in ages.
Standing Alone?
Most dive stores are located in strip mall, where exterior maintenance is someone else’s problem. If you are in a stand-alone building, however, it’s your problem. Things to consider:
- A new exterior paint job can do wonders for your store’s image. It helps erase winter’s ravages and helps make your store look brand new.
- Odds are, your exterior windows have not been cleaned all winter. Either do this yourself or contract with a service. Just don’t ignore it.
- Your store’s exterior signage may be something you long ago tuned out. Don’t. It’s a direct reflection on your business. Take a critical look at the condition of your store’s signs. Paint or replace as needed.
- Winter is tough on parking lots. It may be time to repave or resurface.
Old Blowhard
Odds are, your compressor runs more during the summer months than it does any other time of year. What type of compressor maintenance can you do now that you may not have time for later? An oil change? New filters? A complete overhaul? ‘Better do it now.
Promote Pre-Season Service
If your’s is like most stores, your service department gets swamped during late May and early June. You can even out the demands on your service technician by promoting service during April. Extra incentives — or perhaps just the promise of faster turnaround — may be all it takes to get customers to bring in their tanks, regulators and BCs for service now.
Okay, that’s just a handful of ideas (see this issue’s “Display” section for one more). You can probably think of others. Remember, anything you can get done now will save headaches later on down the road.
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