Emotionally and figuratively spring is the season for new beginnings, open windows, clean air, fresh scents of emerging plants and grasslands. However, before you can capture the freshness that springtime symbolizes, there’s a lot of dirty work to be done. And practically speaking, retail consultant Bob Phibbs, known for 30 years as the Retail Doctor, offers some insight on the subject of cleaning and maintaining the appearance of your retail operation. “It doesn’t matter if you are a hair salon, a hardware store, an apparel store or a jewelry store, you must take a look at the cleanliness of your business and do an overall cleaning,” mentions Phibbs. If your store is messy and unkempt, shoppers notice and think less of you, he says.

Put A Shine on First Impressions
A spring “cleaning” task that might be skipped over when you’re thinking about refreshing your store for the upcoming new seasons, should be taking an inventory count. In addition to annual inventory counts, retail experts and accountants recommend performing cycle counts on a quarterly basis. Quarterly counts can be helpful in spotting inventory discrepancies and accounting for shrinkage, but also can identify best-selling products and slower moving products. When you have a comprehensive view from inventory counts, you can illuminate trends in sales you might have previously missed. This can help with planning for upcoming store deals and promotions as well as in-store merchandising around those specific products that are identified. Your store’s merchandising is something every independent farm and pet store retailer should put focus on. Despite the prevalence and ever-growing demand of online retail shopping, market research consistently shows that human element of shopping in-store is still essential. And Pet Food Expert, Abby Gunderson, addresses the importance noting that, “creating a memorable in-store experience is one of the biggest ways independent pet [and farm store] retailers can compete with big-box stores and boost their sales.” Taking a strategic approach to merchandising your store will not only improve the customer journey but ultimately boost your bottom line, she says. Interacting face-to-face with customers also enables your employees to develop relationships with them – making it easier to find solutions for problems they will have.

Here are a few tips for your physical space he suggests for a realistic approach to spring cleaning:

• Clean and organize the stockroom - defective inventory needs to be tagged or thrown out.
• Use Lysol tangerine-mango cleaner diluted in a spray bottle. The citrus scent energizes and inspires customers to purchase.
• Buff and re-polish the floors.
• Clean out the air vents in the ceiling.
• Dust and clean windows and the area in your window displays - “dead flies do not sell merchandise.”
• Touch up any chipped or missing paint.
• Clean and organize counter drawers.
• Clean or replace any mats or rugs as necessary.

Clearing Your Digital Clutter
There is even more to spring cleaning for small businesses than a bottle of bleach with a mop and resetting your store. As digital technology advances and expands, especially in the retail sector, it is imperative that dealers and farm store retailers maintain the integrity of their digital platforms. The Better Business Bureau and the National Cyber Security Alliance is reminding small businesses that “there’s a bunch of data clutter that lives on electronic devices.” That clutter not only can bog down the effectiveness of your technology, but it can be a breeding ground for cybercrimes. The BBB reported a recent study from Accenture, that “43% of cyber attacks are targeted at small business, with only 14% being able to defend themselves against attacks.” “Taking simple, proactive steps will go a long way in safeguarding against any number of potentially disruptive issues – like identity theft, loss of funds or credit card fraud – that can cause mayhem by compromising your data,” says Serenity Gibbons, a former editor at the Wall Street Journal. Take the time to put into practice a few precautionary measures and you will have greater peace of mind – not only this spring, but all year round.

As part of your digital spring cleaning efforts and staying in step with advancing digital technology, ProfitBuilder recommends these few guidelines from the BBB:

• Renew login credentials and enable 2-factor authentication on all accounts
• Update your operating systems and software
• Backup your personal and workplace data
• Permanently delete old files in trash and recycle bins