In the thick of winter right now, and as that cold weather really sets in, it’s so essential that you as a business owner will take precautions to protect your business front from winter damage. If you live somewhere with massive snow drifts, you still need your business to be visible, which means you have to put every measure in place possible to continue your business operation even when the temperature really does drop.
If you don’t take the proper measures to prepare your storefront, you could be risking anything from broken windows and damaged exterior walls to wet floors and unhappy customers. From investing in a decent cordless snow shovel, to making sure that you and your team are all on board with health and safety for winter months, you’re going to ensure that your business front is way more welcoming in the winter than others on your street. There is always a slowdown in winter when it comes to profits if your store is damaged. You don’t have to have a damaged store during the winter months, so here are our tips for keeping your storefront looking great and welcoming during the cold winter.
- Don’t slack on snow removal. There are so many amazing power tools out there that you can invest in to help you with snow removal in the winter. One of the most important things that you can do to protect your storefront is to keep up with it. If you leave snow and ice to pile up, then customers can’t get through the front door, which means you’re going to deal with a loss of profit. There are snow removal service providers out there, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait for them to come around. Taking care of the snow removal yourself will make a big difference and can help you to keep your storefront both visible and safe.
- Get your store’s heating system checked. Another factor to protect your store from any winter damage is to ensure that the heating system is working the way that it should. If your building doesn’t have adequate heating, the cold weather can cause havoc. Not only do you want your customers to be able to walk in and feel comfortable with the temperature, you need to make sure that your staff and you are working in good conditions throughout the colder months. Make sure that you have your heating system inspected and take any steps to fix problems. Speak to your utility company to get somebody out to check the boiler for gas issues too.
- Protect your windows. Window film is an essential tool for protecting your windows from winter damage for your store. If you use window film, you can keep the cold weather from causing any damage to the actual glass or the storefront. All it is is thin plastic sheeting that’s installed on the inside of the windows. It keeps the heat inside and insulates the building. Not only is it good for making sure that your storefront looks good, but it also saves you energy. You don’t want your windows to shatter during a hail or a snowstorm, so window film can help. If the window film is on and the window still breaks, the glass will be held together. This prevents it from shattering and causing any damage inside or to any people.
- Think about adding some outside heat. If you have awning outside of your store, putting standing heaters is a great idea. Adding heating elements to the exterior walls can keep the heat inside the building, and standing heaters outside can make sure that customers who are huddled that way while they wait for the store to open are still feeling warm. Make sure you secure them so they can’t get stolen and make sure that if you have outdoor seating – because you own a cafe or another business that serves drinks – that you are keeping your customers who do choose to sit outside comfortable.
- Swap the floor mats for rugs. Floor mats can often become very wet and dirty during the winter and they don’t really absorb any moisture properly. This can lead to a dingy appearance and can run the risk of slipping. You can put some anti-slip mats down, but thick rugs that people can use to dry their feet on the way into the store and this can absorb any dripping water. This helps prevent water from freezing on the floor, reducing the slip risk. You don’t want people who work for you or your customers to slip and fall on ice, and you don’t want to end up the result of a lawsuit. It may sound convoluted to add rugs or carpet to your walkways, but it’s actually going to be a great way to stop people.Falling over and hurting themselves.
- Add some heat lamps. Heat lamps in the store are a great way to ensure that your storefront feels welcome during the winter. You’ll keep your customers and your employees warm and comfortable, And in case the heating does break, you’ve still got lamps that you can plug in to use and keep people warm. There are plenty that you can choose from, from incandescent lamps to halogens. They produce a lot of heat, so if you’re offering customers hot drinks through the winter, this will make them more comfortable too.
- Make it look great for the season. Even if Christmas is finished, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep a wintry theme going for the outside of your store. By decorating for the season, you’ll be able to make people feel welcome and like they want to come inside and explore what you have to offer. You want your storefront looking good, and welcoming people through the door is always easier when they feel attracted by the outside of the store.
Helping your customers to have a positive shopping experience can really make a difference to your business this winter.
Last Updated on by Icy Tales Team