Keep Your High Traffic Store Spotless with a Grocery Store Cleaning Company

After price and selection, your customers' number one concern when judging your grocery store is cleanliness.

Between brick and mortar and online competition, you can't afford to turn off your customers with a facility that doesn't match their expectations as regards cleanliness. What do customers expect? Well, according to a survey conducted by the retail experience marketing firm Interactions, customers listed five indicators of cleanliness:

• The store smells clean
• The store has good lighting
• The store's checkout area is clean
• The store's product displays are neat and orderly
• The store's restrooms are well-maintained, clean, and fully stocked

In the same survey, shoppers indicated they would take their business to a competitor rather than shop at a store they felt was unclean. However, 93 percent of them said they would return if the store improved its cleanliness standards.

Why do Shoppers Prefer a Clean Grocery Store?

In a survey conducted by Entrepreneur, shoppers indicated a variety of reasons they prefer to take their business to retail outlets that they feel are clean. It may surprise you that hygiene does not top the list. Instead, customers said they felt safer in a clean store. In addition, they felt there was less likelihood that theft occurred in a clean facility.

Shoppers also felt a deeper level of confidence in both the store and its staff, and that they felt that the brand cared about them and their business. Overall, they rated the shopping experience at a clean store as more pleasant, stating that the business was more likely to retain their business as a result.

Benefits of Outsourcing Cleaning Duties

Hiring a third party, such as a commercial cleaning company, to maintain the facility is an increasingly popular option for many retailers. Businesses appreciate the convenience and cost-effectiveness of outsourcing.

Using an in-house cleaning staff comes with a variety of costs beyond paying the workers' salaries, including purchasing and maintaining cleaning equipment, providing cleaning supplies, providing workers' compensation, and any other benefits the retailer offers its employees. You also don't need to worry about sick or vacation time for a commercial cleaning crew. When you hire an outside vendor to manage cleaning, these costs belong to the vendor, not you.

You must also gauge the effectiveness of an in-house cleaning staff versus an outsourced team. Commercial cleaning companies professionally train their employees, as well as supplying them with professional-grade equipment and supplies.

In addition, contracting your cleaning services allows a degree of flexibility you may not have with an in-house staff. If your store is open 24/7, you can schedule cleaning to occur during low traffic periods. In addition, contractors typically respond quickly to emergency requests.

Finally, hiring a commercial cleaning company frees up your staff to attend to the business of actually running the store.

Average Costs to Hire Commercial Cleaners

The cost of a commercial cleaner varies greatly, depending on your particular needs, the size of your facility, and your location.

Some cleaning firms charge by the hour, while others charge by the square foot. You may even find a service that charges a flat monthly rate, but this is usually based on the size of your facility.

Hourly rates typically range between $20 and $50 per hour, but may go higher if your store is very large and therefore requires a larger crew.

If the contractor charges by the square foot, this ranges between $0.05 and $0.20 per square foot. For a 10,000 square foot store, expect to pay between $0.10 and $0.15 per square foot. A larger store, such as 50,000 square feet, typically pays between $0.05 and $0.10 per square foot.

Deep cleaning tasks often cost extra, with cleaners typically charging between $0.10 and $0.30 per square foot for deep cleaning projects. This may include tasks like floor waxing, window cleaning, and exterior power washing.

Expect the cleaning company to ask you to sign a contract, typically between one and three years of service. Before signing, make sure the contract includes a clause allowing you to cancel if you are unsatisfied with their service.

Finding a Commercial Cleaner

Compare the cost of in-house cleaning – salary, benefits, supplies, and equipment – with the cost to hire a commercial cleaning service. In addition, compare the quality of a commercial cleaning service with quality of your in-house staff. Many businesses discover that the cost and quality of outsourcing their cleaning needs make it the logical choice.

If you're interested in learning more about a commercial cleaner, get a free quote today.

Last Updated: July 17th, 2023

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