The Great Outdoors (in front of your workspace)
Recently while strolling down a local street here in L.A., a shopkeeper was sweeping the sidewalk in front of his store. My internal risk manager was overjoyed. Most businesses are not usually responsible for the upkeep on a public sidewalk or the street itself. Therefore, the thought to care for this communal space is an afterthought. Whether the space in front of your office/store/home office is cluttered or pristine it can still have an impact on your business.
Two ways it can impact your operations for the good or not so good, is worthy of recognition. These considerations may seem insignificant yet may save you a lot of angst. Aesthetics is important to a potential customer. How often do we walk down the street, see an interesting display in a shop window, stop and take it in, or occasionally inspire us to go inside? We may not have an intention to purchase anything, yet their display changed your mind. We as humans like things that are visually interesting, whether strange, different or beautiful. We are attracted to interesting visuals. The same holds true for online businesses. A striking landing page goes a long way to connect with a potential buyer into exploring our website. Inversely, a cluttered web page with a lot of text and seemingly random chopped up sections has a counter-effect. The product or service might be the best in town however, unless your business is a monster referral machine, odds are the appearance of a disheveled store front window or landing page can drive people away without consideration for what you offer.
The outdoor space is equally important. If you own a restaurant with a patio or just have a bench in front of your store, keeping it clean and in good shape is important. We wouldn’t want a shaky bench even if it is spotless. Last thing you need is someone to crash through the seat. A sensible way to determine if the outdoor space is appealing is — ask. Talk with your customers, they will typically be honest about their impressions (no one is asking how you look in that dress). If you are a master of style, then trust your instinct. Would you sit on that patio, or linger in front of that store window? One might say, “but that’s the city’s responsibility. It may be true however; the city doesn’t care if you suffer from a cluttered space. Yes, they might run streetsweepers or a landscaper may be part of your lease, either way, they aren’t there anytime you want them.
Being considerate of your outdoor space can go a long way to the success of your business. Maybe I’m hyper-sensitive (I blame my risk manager self) for assessing the outdoor space. I’m likely not the only one who does. Just because no one says something about litter on the sidewalk doesn’t mean it isn’t noticed.
The second way outdoor space may have an impact on your business, is safety. If there is seating outside and the chairs are haphazardly arranged, it may be a tripping hazard. Yes, we all are responsible for looking where we are going. It is the age of the smart phone. How often to do you or you see others affixed to the cell phone screen. Best intentions do not solve the issue. Even if a customer jams their foot into a chair it’s still a potential date in court. Unless the person is acting like a wild terror and hurts themselves the laws are on their side. One may ask, alright what does any of this have to do with an office environment? You are a tenant on the 25th floor, what difference does the outdoor space make? It likely isn’t as meaningful. So, for those in an office, it may be a topic to share with friends who do operate a storefront.
