Unhygienic and poorly maintained washrooms have been found to negatively affect judgement, reduce evaluations, purchase likelihood and the willingness to pay for products.
66% of shoppers would reduce their shopping time to avoid unacceptable hygiene.
In the retail industry where achieving return business is key to profitability, the potential impact of poor hygiene could be damaging to your business and could:
· Drive traffic online or to your competitors
· Reduce the length of stay and consequently overall spend
· At busy periods, drive people away as facilities cannot cope
· Alienate some visitors by not providing the right facilities, resulting in customers not returning due to their bad experience
The entrance to any retail store, regardless of location, is the customer's first glimpse into your business. Make it a warm welcome into an environment which reflects well on your brand.
Contaminated hands can transfer germs to seven separate surfaces, and germs can live on a surface for up to 48 hours.
Ensure high-traffic areas such entrances and high-touch surfaces such as counters, till points and hand-rails are free of dirt, sticky handprints and streaks.
Washrooms are integral to a pleasant shopping experience and have a huge impact on shopper dwell time and spend.
An average 75% of people surveyed say the washroom facilities in retail environments are extremely/very important.
Effective cleaning programs should not simply focus on removing visible soils, but attention should be paid to risk areas such as feminine hygiene facilities, handles and areas around the sink.
Studies have found bacteria levels 1,000 times the acceptable standard in some food courts.
Open kitchens in food courts are highly visible to your visitors and reflect how much your management team cares about your customers. Food hygiene and safety are critical to complement the overall shopping experience.
Studies have found that some baby changing rooms have bacteria levels of 165 times the safe limit.
Babies and young children are the most vulnerable to infectious diseases in the retail environment. Young children in particular, due to their immature immune systems, are at risk of contracting and transmitting infections through close contact with other children and via exposure to shared facilities.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 80% of all infections are transmitted by hands.
Hands are a natural breeding ground for germs. Little hands are always touching objects such as toys and toilet seats, which means they can easily pick up and spread germs. Parents will be more confident when visiting shopping centres and stores with hygienic play areas for children.
At Initial, we understand the importance of protecting your people from the risks of poor hygiene in difficult times. Our award-winning integrated solutions will help to take care of your people and safeguard your business, so, if you’re looking to re-open, why not get in touch with our team today?
Initial’s holistic approach to hygiene solutions ensures businesses are covered in all key risk areas.