Keeping your Shopfront Looking its Best

Your shopfront is often your customer’s first interaction with your business.

If ‘first impressions last’, then it should always be a positive experience.

This article provides an easy maintenance checklist to help you keep your shopfront looking fresh.

If you regularly assess the condition of your shopfront, it will be easier to keep it well presented. Keep this list as a helpful reminder for keeping your shopfront looking its best. 

Every few months or years your shopfront may require maintenance that could involve repairs or longer term investment. Once repaired or upgraded your shopfront should last a long time if it is well maintained.

Annual Checklist

1.     Assess the condition of your window signs - especially if they are vinyl decals adhered to the outside of your windows. Replace any that have peeled off or remove altogether. 

2.     Pressure-clean shopfront facade (walls, cladding, render, or brickwork on either side of windows/doors or underneath window ledge). 

3.     Do you own a restaurant or cafe that has outdoor dining? Make sure your outdoor furniture matches the style of your interior dining space. Dress it up with pot plants, blankets for winter and shade for summer. Consider applying your branding on umbrellas, cafe barriers or any street signage that may advertise ‘specials of the day’.

4.     When it comes to signage, remember: ‘less is more’! Try not to cram too much information onto the one lightbox or awning sign. Think about who will be seeing your sign and from where it will be viewed from. For example, your awning sign should just have your business name.

5.     Your lightbox should just have your logo or business name. Further details like your phone number and web contact should be positioned on your shop window or door.

6.     For window displays using merchandise, always try to group items tightly together and create depth in your arrangement. A pyramid formation is the most effective way to display a group of large and small items in a display.

7.     Is your brand and logo up to date or effectively representing your business? Is it time to engage a graphic designer? This change could impact the overall look of your shopfront and signage.

8.     Perform top to bottom assessment of all aspects of the shopfront including condition of all signage, awnings, paintwork, electricals, and doors/windows. Where applicable repair any loose tiles on the exterior or regrout where necessary. 

Monthly 

1.     Clean the inside of the windows, floor and walls of the window display space.

2.     Change the window display (if applicable) with a new theme, season, focus or style. Ideally, change your window display every 4-8 weeks.

3.     Adjust the display lighting in the window space to ensure that displayed stock is effectively lit.

Weekly

1.     Wash exterior of windows - use a squeegee and window cleaner.

2.     If posters are displayed and stuck directly to the windows, remove all posters that are no longer relevant.

3.     Remove stubborn bits of sticky tape or adhesive residue from poster displays by first soaking a cotton ball/pad in eucalyptus oil and rub directly onto residue, then scrape off with window-scraper. Arrange your remaining posters neatly on the window so that they appear balanced.

Daily 

1.     Sweep outside of your shop from the doorway to the curb.

2.     Pick up any litter or mess left outside your shop and shop entrance from overnight activity.

3.     Place your welcome mat, A-frame, outdoor dining furniture or pot plant out.

4.     Check window display and tidy or replace stock as required. 

5.     Dust/vacuum within the window display area. Use wipes to keep the shelves clean and a dustpan and brush to remove any debris such as dead flies.

6.     Turn on lights in your window display and any illuminated signage (if they aren’t already on overnight). Check that all lights are working and replace globes that are not. 

7.     Clean off any graffiti from windows or walls. Paint over the graffiti immediately if it cannot be removed by cleaning. Note: keep a small tin of paint that matches your shopfront colour and a clean brush handy.

8.     To request removal for substantial graffiti visit: melton.vic.gov.au/Online-Forms/Report-graffiti or call 9747 7200 for free graffiti removal kits.

This helpful list was created for Melton City Council by Shopfront and Visual Merchandising specialists, Pop Creative