Every year, the fall and Halloween season brings with it a rise in “Haunted House” attractions for the brave at heart. The people who attend these attractions are usually looking for a good scare. Your customers, on the other hand, are not. Your convenience store customers want to feel safe and comfortable; you need your store to be a welcoming environment, not one that’s going to scare customers away.
Avoiding Customer Scares Can Be As Easy as 1, 2, 3…
Running a convenience store includes a lot of moving parts, which could seem overwhelming at first. However, if you break everything down into three specific focus areas you may realize ensuring your store does not scare your customers away is not as difficult as you think.
- Outside Your Store: The customer’s first impression of your store begins in the parking lot – many of your convenience store customers may not ever even walk through your doors. Therefore, you want to make sure the exterior of your store is well taken care of and makes a customer want to return – not slow down then drive past as quickly as possible once they’ve had a good look. Proper exterior care includes making sure the parking lot is clean, the trash cans are being emptied when necessary, and the fuel island is properly cleaned and stocked. Appropriate signage outside may also help draw customers into the building.
- Inside Your Store: Once you’ve gotten customers to come into your store, the next step is to make sure they feel comfortable staying, and don’t run back out the door screaming. Ensure the merchandise displays look neat and tidy, and all shelves and coolers are well-stocked. Keep the restroom clean, as well as all other areas of the store. Keep an eye out for any spills at the beverage area.
- Customer Service: You can have the cleanest, friendliest-looking store in the world, but if your employees aren’t providing customer service to match that appearance, your customers are not going to hang around for long. Train your convenience store employees to treat each customer as a guest in your store. Providing excellent customer service will leave a lasting impression and encourage customers to return.
Well-Trained Employees Won’t Scare Your Convenience Store Customers
It all comes down to how well your staff is trained. The right training prepares your managers and employees for the challenges they face on the job. Our convenience store training programs teach the skills your staff needs to succeed.
