Seven Steps to Make Your Store Shine This Summer

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CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

While last winter may seem like a distant memory, evidence of the record snowfalls and arctic temperatures can still be seen throughout retail operations across the country. As retailers prepare for summer traffic and warm temperatures, Cintas Corporation CTAS today identified seven items every retailer should complete to remove the final remnants of winter grime and dirt.

"After an extended period of time, the buildup of snow, ice and salt can negatively impact a property," said David Mesko, Senior Director of Marketing, Cintas Corporation. "A little spring cleaning goes a long way to extending the life of various surfaces and materials in a retail environment, and also reduces downtime from unexpected emergencies later in the year."

To help you restore your store, Cintas identified the following seven items for retail spring cleaning:

  1. Carefully examine exterior doors. A building's exterior bears the brunt of winter weather, which includes the glass and hardware on doors. Starting at the top, carefully inspect all parts of your exterior-facing doors, including the door handle, locks and silicon wipers at the bottom. Tighten any loose screws and replace worn or damaged parts to ensure your entryways remain secure.
  2. Deep clean floors. Whether you have hard floors or carpet, every retailer should deep clean floors once the weather begins to warm. Studies have shown that deep cleaning, when combined with an ongoing maintenance program, can actually double the life of floors.1 Deep cleaning can also make your floors look better, which has a direct impact on your bottom line.2
  3. Clean glass and awnings. The windows into your store are one of the first things that a customer sees before entering your business, so don't wait for a spring shower to wipe them clean. Start at the top and wipe down awnings to prevent dirt from building up on the surface. If windows have any dings or cracks, address the issue immediately. Inside your store, make sure merchandise display cases are cleaned inside and out to project a positive image of your products.
  4. Declutter cleaning closets and storage areas. Cleaning closets can quickly become the catch-all for unused products and equipment, so add this area to your checklist. Remove all old or expired products, including cleaning chemicals, dirty mop heads and other equipment that is no longer in use. Consider using chemical dispensing systems with a weekly top-off service to help keep these areas clean in the future.
  5. Replace floor mats. Many businesses use a combination of scraper, entryway and walk-off matting to protect floors during the winter, so spring offers a great opportunity to check their condition. Partner with a matting provider who can manage your matting program, laundering your mats on a regular basis and making sure they protect the floors in your building.
  6. Perform general handyman work. From retouching painted walls to replacing damaged ceiling tiles, look around your business to identify other areas of your facility that could use extra attention. While these issues might not impact your day-to-day operations, they can affect how your customers perceive your business.
  7. Clean up your emergency contact list. In many parts of the country, spring and summer will bring bad storms with heavy wind, rain and lightning. Review your emergency contact list to make sure all vendors are still in business and that all employees know what to do in an emergency situation.

With just a single point of contact, Cintas Managed Solutions helps businesses reduce the downtime associated with an emergency. For more information on Cintas' solutions for retail facilities, please visit www.cintas.com/managedsolutions.

About Cintas Corporation:

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types primarily throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, first aid, safety and fire protection products and services. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.

1 http://www.ifmacfc.org/facility%20summer%202014%20carpet%20cost%20saving%20strategies.html

2 http://www.cintas.com/company/news_media/press_releases/Study-Finds-a-Dirty-Store-Sends-Shoppers-out-the-Front-Door.aspx

Mulberry Marketing Communications
Jennifer Petersen, (312) 664-1532
jpetersen@mulberrymc.com

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Posted In: Press Releases
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