Challenge
The water restrictions in California impose unique challenges to retailers in their objectives to maintain desired exterior store front cleanliness, sanitation, and appearance levels. One retailer in particular needed an assessment performed to better understand how to balance water restriction compliance and necessary store cleanliness objectives. The scope of that analysis follows:
- Analyze operational impact to implementation of statewide water usage restrictions in California.
- Analyze impact and balance between compliance and sanitation levels affecting public safety.
- Determine locations representing the greatest risk based on soil load volumes, traffic conditions and store location.
- Evaluate alternate exterior storefront – sidewalk or patio – cleaning methods to replace pressure washing.
- Determine alternate scope and method that best balances performance and budget allocation.
- Assess cost and impact of retraining store employees and reallocation of payroll hours to supplement new low moisture method and frequency reduction.
- Develop the alternate method implementation plan.
Best Practice Implemented
After store and program assessment was completed, a process was created to implement new cleaning methods to comply with water restriction policies.
Step 1: Develop a list of store locations most impacted.
Step 2: Develop new written scope of work for the low moisture cleaning method.
Step 3: Communication to retail store operations management team detailing the need for the alternate program and the new role that store operations will play in supplementing alternate cleaning program.
Step 4: Align new process with service provider teams. Allow up to 30 days for service provider to provide new method training to all crews.
Step 5: Perform new low moisture method at existing service cadences for high priority locations. The remaining locations to be serviced on an as need or demand basis.
Step 6: Retailer and service provider partner to assess ongoing conditions of store front sidewalk/patio conditions.
Step 7: Retailer and service provider need to communicate any potential citations or warnings from state monitoring surveys. Any necessary corrective plans needs to be implemented within 48 hours.
Results of the Best Practice
Retailers maintained the necessary sanitation and cleanliness levels of their locations, were in full compliance with water restriction requirements, all with minimal impact to store operations, customer satisfaction and budgetary spend.
Verification of Efficiency and/or Savings Captured
Low moisture cleaning method to replace pressure washing represented a budget neutral solution for those locations that remained on current recurring service frequencies. Savings achieved were through cost avoidance in fines for non-compliance to water restriction requirements. In addition to cost avoidance, brand image remained at a high level due to overall commitment to effective water usage and its impact to our environment.
Author: Deborah Kleopfer, SVP Branding and Education
