The top 10 retail facility maintenance tips

If you’re managing a facility in the retail industry, there is no way to hide behind the scenes or wait for downtime to address issues. Unlike other industries where facilities might be tucked away out of sight, your work is on display at all times in front of customers, coworkers, management, and competitors.

As with many things in life, the old saying of prevention is better than cure, is definitely something that should be at the forefront of the mind for all retail store maintenance professionals. Here are the top 10 ideas to consider when maintaining your retail facilities.

Regular Scheduled Maintenance Programs: Prevention is definitely better than cure when it comes to your retail facilities. The last thing you need is your HVAC system to fail at 8am on your busiest shopping day in the summer. Bad experiences tend to remain with consumers, and once lost it may be very difficult to get them back. Quarterly check-ups and minor repairs are much better than the alternative. Click HERE to download our free comprehensive Quarterly HVAC Maintenance Checklist.
Give your store the top to bottom once-over: Are ceiling tiles damaged, light bulbs blown, windows dirty, carpets stained? In the world of retail, it’s easy to get caught up in products and prices, but public perception can be a deciding factor when it comes to traffic and sales. Give yourself a solid foundation to build on, and you should see a significant reduction in your repair costs, as well as a much more aesthetically appealing store. In the increasingly competitive retail world, the in-store experience is often a huge factor when consumers decided where to spend their money. Don't miss out...
Establish regular maintenance schedules: There are certain tasks you should schedule ahead of time. Relamping, painting, window cleaning and carpet cleaning are good candidates to put on the calendar, despite the natural inclination to do things on an “as needed” basis instead. Addressing these items proactively will reduce issues, ensure that things are not missed, and enhance the appearance of your stores.
Use fixtures and finishes strategically: Work with your sales team to assist in merchandising efforts. Extra touches like signage and lighting can go a long way when it comes to promotion, even if it means extra work for you and your team. Bonus tip: Make intelligent decisions when selecting your fixtures and think longer-term. US manufactured fixtures that are uniform across your stores are much easier and inexpensive than custom fixtures from overseas.
Make your store user friendly: Consider the traffic flow of your shoppers; careful planning and layout can transform a confusing space into an enjoyable experience that encourages better shopper return and retention rates. The technology exists today that allows you to track traffic flow and make sure that you are maximizing your opportunities to engage with customers. If you are looking for the very latest technologies consider visiting the NRF Big Show or NFMT National Conference where the latest and greatest gadgets can be test driven.
Remember the restrooms: Many people associate a dirty restroom with poor management. Top complaints like malfunctioning fixtures, messiness and odor can be avoided by adhering to regular maintenance logs. Also, while cutting costs in the restroom may be a common practice, it can backfire—if the more affordable option is ineffective, you not only use more, but you also leave a bad impression.
Consider greener purchasing options: If your company is working to become more sustainable, you can support those efforts by adopting more environmentally conscious practices within your department. The restroom and break-room can be great places to introduce green paper products and cleaning solutions without compromising quality. For more on this subject, see this web exclusive, “Clean Green While Keeping Labor Costs in Check” from FacilityExecutive.com.
Investigate energy savings: Many retail facilities are now incorporating more sustainable lighting practices by switching out old lamps and bulbs. Energy saving LEDs are one option that can help save money and lower the impact of your activities on the environment.
Watch your waste: Along with product purchasing measures, strategic waste management and recycling programs are easy ways to support your company’s environmental policies. It’s also crucial to know any hazardous waste requirements for your business sector and have a documented plan to adhere to these requirements.

The security balancing act: Loss prevention is one of the biggest challenges for retail businesses. Security cameras are now commonplace, but they come with their own issues like customer privacy, staffing, technical limitations and the ongoing cost of constant upgrades. After all, a camera can certainly record a theft, but it can’t prevent one from happening. While there are newer cameras that can help prevent loss by capturing customer behaviors through the use of video analytics, this equipment must be monitored in order for it to work effectively.

What are some other factors that spring into your mind on this topic? Which of these top 11 do you feel are the 3 most important? The biggest piece of advice that we can provide is to make sure that this part of your business is frequently reviewed to take into consideration constant changes in technology, regulations, laws, and the retail industry in general. If you are having challenges within your retail facilities, and would like to get an outsider's perspective, please Schedule a Consultation today.