“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” This popular aphorism warns against making snap decisions based on external appearances. However, as authors like Malcolm Gladwell have shown, a large portion of human thinking is made up of such snap, subconscious decisions. Customers and clients are not exceptions to this rule; they are likely to decide whether to do business with a certain organization based on exterior cues. As much as customers might hope to avoid making-purchasing decisions based on external appearances, they just can’t help it.
If your business is being unfairly judged according to its shabby exterior, commercial pressure washing services offer a wonderful solution. Homeowners have long cherished pressure washing services as a quick way to beautify any property. Likewise, real estate agents recommend pressure washing services for homes that lack curb appeal. Along the same vein, pressure washing for commercial buildings can make your business more attractive to customers and clients. Below is a look at the many benefits of commercial pressure washing.
Attract More Customers
Modern marketing professionals carefully review atmospherics when predicting a certain store’s success. According to Contemporary Marketing 2011, the term “atmospherics” refers to “physical characteristics and amenities that attract customers and satisfy their shopping needs.” A store’s exterior is an important aspect of atmospherics. Those who design retail outlets recognize that customers are attracted to clean, contemporary buildings. A dingy, old-looking property will fail to draw in customers. Retailers aren’t the only ones who are affected by architectural characteristics; across industries, clients are influenced by an exterior atmospherics.
Unfortunately, not every business can afford a building face-lift. Storefront development can be so expensive that some cities (including Portland) fund storefront revitalization with public funds. Fortunately, pressure washing for commercial buildings is an affordable method of rejuvenating any location. Pressure washing services can change your store’s exterior from “blah” to “wow!” in only a couple of hours. If you do choose to partner with a commercial pressure washing company, make sure they use earth-friendly cleaning solutions and green techniques to capture waste runoff. These are the methods green pressure washing services use to protect the planet.
Earn Higher Profits
In the United States, 70 percent of purchase decisions are made after a customer enters the store. In other words, once you have customers in the door, there’s a good chance that they will be open to buying one of your products or services.
Engage Employees
More and more businesses are focused on boosting profits by improving employee engagement. Research has shown that engaged employees transfer their positive attitudes to customers, who are more likely to make purchases if they experience a positive emotional connection to a certain brand. Overall, engaged employees sell more and satisfy both internal and external customers more often.
Work setting is a major driver of employee engagement. As Simon L. Albrecht writes in the Handbook of Employee Engagement, “The work environment shapes the experience employees have of their work, and can drive the employee towards becoming engaged, or it can push the employee toward disengagement. The work environment is therefore expected to play a critical role in determining employees’ state of engagement.”
Employees are less likely to be enthusiastic about working in a run-down, dirty office. Fortunately, there’s a quick, inexpensive way to boost employee pride and engagement: commercial pressure washing. You may not be able to rent that new, more expensive set of office suites, but you can make sure your building’s exterior is sparkling clean.
Liability Protection
Depending on what kind of business you run, your building’s exterior could contain hazards for customers and employees. For instance, an automobile repair shop might have a slippery pool of engine fluids where customers could easily fall and hurt themselves. Even if you’re not the owner of a mechanical company, most businesses have a greasy, slippery dumpster zone. Failing to clean up this kind of area is like asking for a lawsuit. It’s only a matter of time before an employee or customer slips and calls for a lawyer. Pressure washing for commercial buildings can remove these dangerous areas by washing away any slippery substances. Protect yourself from lawsuits by regularly contracting with pressure washing services to keep your building’s exterior in tip-top shape.
[ photo by: Cia Gould, on Flickr, via CC License ]
