By the time the holiday rush is over, your retail store fixtures may be looking as bedraggled as you feel. In fact, your entire store is no doubt ready for a makeover. While you might think of post-holiday rehab as an early form of intense “spring cleaning,” keeping each retail store fixture in appealing condition is part of a broader, ongoing store recovery process. Make maintaining order and cleanliness a daily ritual.  

These tips will help you get the New Year off to a fresh – and fresh-looking – start, and they’ll make it easier to maintain your store all year long. 

1. Clean those shelves.

It’s hard to imagine a retail store that doesn’t have shelving. Horizontal surfaces such as tables and counters, gondola and display case shelves can seem like magnets for dust that quickly accumulates. Deep-clean all your shelves now, then keep them wiped-down regularly for easy ongoing maintenance.

Using a half-and-half mixture of white vinegar and water is easy, inexpensive and highly effective. You can use it on any type of retail store fixture material. Simply apply the mixture with a spray bottle, then wipe clean with paper towels. (You can save even more money and do your part for the environment by using a bucket and reusable cloth instead of paper towels.) 

Wipe down all other surfaces, too, to clear away fingerprints and scuffs. Scrub underneath each retail store fixture. Vacuum and/or mop floors.

2. Check for damaged or out-of-date goods.

Since you have to clear shelves in order to clean, it’s the perfect time to double-check and sort merchandise. Look for damaged or expired goods and missing labels or price tags. Check associated signage to see if it needs cleaning or replacing.

This is also a good time to repair, repaint or replace any retail store fixture that needs upgrading.

3. Zoom in on your non-sales areas.

It’s easy to turn your stock room into a dumping ground, especially during ultra-busy sales periods like the holidays. But a messy work area makes your employees’ job harder and less appealing. Clean up and reorganize. The same goes for bathrooms, dressing rooms, and the break room.

4. Windows that sparkle beckon shoppers.

Your display window is your most prominent retail store fixture, so clean it, at least every other week.

5. Replace lightbulbs.

Burned-out lights are bad enough, leaving gaps in your intended visual ambiance. But did you know bulbs change color as well as intensity over time? Especially now during the winter, fresh bright light is crucial to create a warm, welcoming environment.

Dirty bathrooms, messy fitting rooms, stained ceiling tiles or floors, burned-out lighting, offensive odors, and disorganized checkout counters are among the top reasons customers flee to shop elsewhere. Cleaning isn’t fun, but your store’s image and reputation are at stake here. Customer experience is everything these days.

So aim for absolute cleanliness, then try to appeal to all five senses, not just the visuals created by each retail store fixture. That will help you delight both “finders” and “browsers” who visit your store.

Palmer Retail Solutions strives to offer our clients the absolute best combination of innovation, quality, service, and value for our diversified custom store fixtures and merchandising displays. For more information about our designs, retail fixtures, cash wraps, kiosks, or point of purchase displays, visit our website at: http://www.palmerretailsolutions.com.