This post will take a quick look at three points to consider in keeping your store’s countertops as clutter-free as possible.
1. First things first.
Remember the old shampoo commercial that gave birth to the adage: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression?” Believe it or not, your countertops—along with the overall cleanliness of your shop—is one of the first things customers view when they enter your store. If your counters are jammed full of point-of-sale machines, receipts, or whatever other clutter you like to keep close at hand, it looks messy and unprofessional. If you’re selling food or drinks, “messy” might also suggest unsanitary—not good for business. Keeping countertops as clean and clear as possible ensures a great first impression.
2. Go with the flow.
It’s your business, so your store operations should absolutely be able to work the way you want. This includes how your point-of-sale system is set up. Obviously, being customer-friendly is likely your top concern (meaning don’t have lots of wires criss-crossing the space or getting in customers’ way).
But you should also consider how your countertop set-up looks, feels, and functions for your employees. It’s worth noting that clutter constantly signals to our brains that our work is never done. De-cluttering is a state of mind, and one that you should embrace for the good of your customers, employees, and business.
3. Pull double duty.
Think your counters are designed only for customers to put their goods onto while they check out? Then you might be missing out on a hidden opportunity. Your store counter is prime up-sell space. Think about it: your customer is already in the buying state of mind; that’s probably why they’re standing at the counter in the first place. It makes sense to leverage that space to push an offer, offer relevant impulse purchases, or encourage repeat business with a loyalty card.
Now that you’ve pondered these three points, perhaps you’re realizing it’s time to ditch the wires, bulky register, receipt printer, and PIN entry device in favor of something a bit more…flexible. Like the Clover Flex, for example. It’s the full-featured device that meets all your payment and POS needs—and fits even in tight spots. With all the latest technologies embedded in a single portable device, you’ll free your hands, your mind and your countertop for the things that really matter.