Most business owners spend a lot of time working on the interior of their stores. They make sure that displays are set up properly, the floors are clean and the space is easy to navigate. Yet, curb appeal has a serious impact on whether or not customers decide to come into the store. Here are four ways that curb appeal draws in customers.
Signs
A good sign can be worth its weight in gold to a business. After all, how many stores throw up a sign that gives customers no information? The high mobility of the people in contemporary society means that your customer base is in constant flux. Even if your business is a local institution, there’s no way for new residents to know your business is the go-to place for your products or services. A good sign lets customers know the store name and the nature of the business. Also, signage announcing sales and events – banners, for instance – help to create interest in your store.
Parking
Customers will frequently bypass a store if they don’t know where they can or should park. If you’ve got a parking lot, let customers know by throwing up a sign. A battered parking lot can drive customers away. If your parking lot has massive potholes or the paint for parking spaces is faded out, customers may worry about vehicle damage from parking in your lot. Upkeep on the lot can translate to a more welcoming impression and draw in more customers.
Cleanliness
The exterior of your store, even city-owned and maintained sidewalks, functions as a cue for customers. If the sidewalk and parking lot are littered with cigarette butts or trash, it communicates indifference on your part to any potential customers. If the lot or windows look like that, so the thinking goes, how bad will the store be on the inside? Dust-caked windows not only act as a sign of neglect, but also make it more difficult for those passing by to see window displays and products on the shelf.
Displays
Window displays and exterior displays – weather and local regulations permitting – create visual interest in your business. A display with bright colors and motion are ideal, as they draw the eye toward your storefront. An outdoor display that gives would-be customers a chance to interact with a product can sell the product by itself, but even a simple, static display can entice the passerby to stop and take a look.
Curb appeal isn’t just a gimmick used by real estate agents. It is a tool that you can use to help draw in customers. By taking advantage of curb appeal, you communicate your commitment to your store, but the features that go into curb appeal — displays, signage and cleanliness — also drive sales.
