If you own a store, restaurant or other physical location, the way your location is designed and laid out is a huge part of your customer service. Did you ever stop to think that your space might be turning off a huge portion of your potential customer base?
An Architecture Source piece about the rapid growth of the over-55 population and how forward-thinking architects are designing housing and public spaces for that age group got me thinking about how customer service can be enhanced—or hurt—by the design of your retail, restaurant or office space. Consider:
- Is your space well lit for aging eyes, or do shoppers have to worry that they’re going to trip down a poorly-marked set of stairs?
- Is your space loud and echoey so customers can’t hold a conversation? Is the music amplified to the point of driving them away?
- If there’s seating (as in a waiting room or restaurant), is it comfortable but easy to get out of?
You might not think about these issues if you’re under 55, but if you fail to, you could be turning off a huge source of income—Baby Boomers with disposable income to spend.
[Architecture Source]
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