Research has been done on how consumers feel about dirty, unsanitary stores.

Here are ten top statistics for shopping consumers in retail locations:

•  9 in 10 customers agree that they’re more likely to have an overall negative opinion of a business if the public spaces (lounges, restrooms, and lobbies, for example) are not clean.

• 94% of people would avoid a business in the future if they encountered dirty restrooms.

• 80% of customers reported in a poll that they’d be willing to try a new space if the exterior was clean and inviting.

• According to Retail News Insider, 93% of customers who switched to a competitor due to unmet cleanliness expectations, would give a retailer a second chance if they made store cleanliness a priority.

• A survey revealed that customers view cleanliness as the most influential element of the shopping environment. In fact, customers rated it the most important among 13 aspects of store atmosphere.

• 99% of US adults reported that poor cleanliness would negatively impact their perception of a business.

• 95% of shoppers reported in a survey unclean restrooms and unpleasant odors would influence shopping decisions, along with dirty floors, spills or stains, dirty shopping carts and other factors.

• 95% of shoppers say that exterior appearance influences where they decide to shop.

• 52% of consumers have avoided businesses purely because the store front was dirty.

When deciding whether or not to become a repeat customer, it’s how clean and fresh the business is that matters most to 92% of customers.

Then in a March 2020 survey done by NACS about convenience stores this was some of their findings:

Cash sales are down. The percentage of customers paying for gas by cash dropped from 21% to 14%, which may be the lowest it could go given how many consumers are shying away from handling cash in the current climate.

Hand sanitizer access is the top priority for consumers. Consumers rated access to hand sanitizer in-store and at the fuel pump as the top two choices when asked which enhanced safety procedures they thought were appropriate to implement at convenience stores:

• 68%: Provide free hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes at all entrances

• 67%: Provide free hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes at all gas pumps

• 65%: Require all employees to wear masks

• 65%: Require all stores to do enhanced cleaning and disinfecting multiple times per day

• 60% Require all customers to stay six feet apart when in the store

• 57%: Limit the number of customers allowed in the store at one time

• 57%: Install screens or Plexiglas sneeze guards

• 55%: Require all customers to wear masks

• 51%: Temperature check all employees daily

• 48%: Require all employees to wear gloves

• 27%: Temperature check all customers before entering

Bathrooms and other customers are top safety concerns. Consumers said that bathrooms were the biggest concern for exposure to COVID-19, followed by other customers. When asked what they are greatly concerned about, consumer cited:

• 54%: Bathrooms

• 47%: Other customers

• 44%: Doors and surfaces

• 43%: Self-serve food stations (like roller grill)     

• 42%: Self-serve coffee and fountain drink stations 

• 40% Gas pumps 

• 39%: Overall cleanliness of the store 

• 37%: Cleanliness of employees   

• 35%: Prepared food     

• 34%: Handling payment/debit card keypads   

                                                                                              

• 34%: Refrigerator/cooler doors

Enviro USA can work with your company to create a comprehensive janitorial and porter service to keep your stores looking great inside and out!!!

Call 866-564-1414 or visit our website at www.envirousa.com to set up a meeting to speak with one of our team today.

“Building Care Made Easy”

References: https://www.convenience.org/Media/Daily/2020/Jun/15/2-Consumers-Seek-Out-Clean-Stores_Research