You may have the best products, a top-notch sales staff and exemplary service but consumers will never know that if they don’t walk through your front door. A clean, welcoming storefront is one of the most important marketing tools at your disposal. Your storefront is the first point of contact with your customer and that initial impression determines whether they enter the store or just turn and walk away.

A research project conducted by Harris Interactive Research Company reported that more than 85 percent of US consumers rate cleanliness issues as a “major factor” in their shopping decisions. Some of their pet peeves include:

• Smudged glass or windows
• Dusty surfaces
• Stained sidewalks
• Unkempt grass or shrubs
• Litter
• Untended cigarette receptacles
• Offensive odors
• Poor lighting

Well-maintained windows are particularly important because they are the consumer’s first visual link to your products. Grimy windows put your products in a negative light that could turn off potential buyers to the point that they have no desire to enter your store.

Studies conducted by MARC research group concluded that a store’s cleanliness plays a major role in the consumer’s overall retail experience and it all begins at the entrance. As one researcher put it: “A store’s cleanliness should not be taken lightly because it directly affects the bottom line.” Most business owners do not have the time or the expertise to properly maintain their storefronts on a day-to-day basis. That’s why many businesses use commercial cleaning services to make sure their entrances are clean, shiny, uncluttered and welcoming to consumers. The well-trained staff use the best products and techniques to make sure that your store and your products are displayed to their best advantage.

Take a careful look at your storefront from the customer’s point of view. Is the parking area clean of litter and brightly lit? Are the windows sparkling clean? Is the sidewalk pressure-washed and stain-free? Is the shrubbery neatly trimmed? Is the door clean and free of fingerprints? Are your signs and banners clean and in good repair?

Bear in mind that a customer’s shopping experience begins before they enter your store. In fact, their initial perception could affect their decision about whether or not to walk through your front door. Consider hiring commercial cleaning experts and give yourself a competitive edge that could take your business to the next level.