Shopping centers that look good outside make more money inside.
We’ve all heard it before — you never get a second chance to make a first impression. In the competitive world of retail, this is especially true. Prospective customers (and their money) are likely to go elsewhere if the exterior of your shopping center is lackluster, run-down or damaged. Here we explain why curb appeal is so important and how Maly & Associates can help make your property inviting without breaking the bank.
Get Ahead of the Curb
Researchers have found that people base their purchase and patronage decisions on cues about a retailer. One of these cues is the curb appeal of a retail store or shopping center. A Portland State University study found that curb appeal positively affects sales prices overall (shoppers are willing to pay about 10-percent more at retail establishments set amid quality landscaping), and according to an Illinois study, 70-percent of first-time sales were based on curb appeal.
Shopping centers that are surrounded by a stark, vacant lot without any landscaping or adornment can be off-putting. Adding some flowers, bushes, potted plants, or other decorative elements gives a friendlier impression. Plants and foliage may also be used to create paths to building entrances.
Another study, this one conducted by the University of Washington’s College of the Environment, backs up the importance of an attractive exterior. It found that consumers respond three to four times more positively to landscaped shopping centers than to “naked” shopping centers.
Greenery and flowers are not your only options, however. Many Tucson businesses install rock gardens with succulents. Not only are rock gardens modern and eye-catching, this type of xeriscaping (landscaping that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation) is extremely low-maintenance and budget-friendly.
Whether trees and shrubs or rocks and cacti, thoughtful landscaping conveys cleanliness, more amenities, and a more positive experience both for residents and shoppers from further away. Indeed, the Washington study also found that shoppers were willing to travel to shopping centers with the most attractive landscaping.
At Maly & Associates, we offer appropriately priced maintenance geared toward curb appeal. Some of our services include:
- Sweeping parking lots
- Day portering parking lots
- Power Washing Buildings and Sidewalks
- Landscaping and landscape design
- Seasonal/holiday planting and decoration
- Fertilizing
- Repair sidewalks and stairs
- Repair damaged concrete
- Painting
- Graffiti removal
- Cleaning and litter removal
Don’t Curb Your Customers’ Enthusiasm — Call Maly & Associates!
At Maly & Associates, our goal is to make Tucson a beautiful place to live and work. If your shopping center is lacking in curb appeal, give us a call. We’ll work with your location, aesthetic and budget to create an attractive result that entices people stop and shop.