Good and Bad Store Images

This is in response to Jenna Hobert’s post:

What stores can you think of that have a good/bad store image? Have you ever not shopped at store because of what it looked like?

I work at L.A. Burdick Chocolate in Walpole, NH and the owner always tells us to make sure we check outside on the sidewalk for any trash or things on the tables. He believes that if it looks messy outdoors then they may not want to come inside because they may think that there is a similar atmosphere when walking through the doors. He also wants us to follow the same steps inside as well because the customers want to feel welcomed and comfortable during their experience there. So Burdick Chocolate is one store/restaurant that has a good image.

I have definitely been in some stores with bad images and I usually walk in then walk right out because it doesn’t appeal to me. For example, a few months ago I went into F.Y.E, the music store in Keene right beside Applebees. I saw that the store was closing so I went over there and it was a horrible experience. When I walked inside it was unorganized, smelled like cigarettes, and had unfriendly employees. I know that the store was closing and I kind of thought well no wonder it’s closing because of the atmosphere. You can’t always judge a book by its cover, but if you want to attract customers you need to have a good location and it needs to be presentable on the outside.

Would you shop in a store that was trashed on the outside of the building?