- March 18, 2022
- Posted by: Blue Cow Digital
- Category: Trolley Shelters
A trolley shelter can be a really useful addition for many supermarket and retail businesses, but if you haven’t yet got one, how do you know if you need one? Here are some telltale signs that suggest a trolley shelter could be just what you require.
Trolleys need frequently replacing
Do you find that your trolleys need frequently replacing, perhaps much sooner than you might have anticipated? If so, then a trolley shelter could be just what you need.
There are a number of factors that could contribute to trolleys needing replacing, such as them getting damaged or stolen. However, one of the biggest reasons why you might need to get new trolleys is if they have suffered wear and tear from exposure to the outside elements. If trolleys are left outside uncovered for long periods of time, they will eventually degrade, resulting in rusty or worn parts. This may make them difficult to push or turn, and no longer fit for purpose.
Importantly, if you’re a supermarket or other retailer that wants to make a good impression on your customers, having battered old trolleys that are weather beaten and worn won’t do your reputation any favours.
No business wants to spend money replacing equipment sooner than they’d expected, especially if the reasons for needing new trolleys could’ve been prevented in the first place. Since trolleys are expensive, it makes sense to ensure that they are protected as much as possible from the weather. This is where having a supermarket trolley shelter can really help.
Plus, because high-quality trolley shelters are made from strong and sturdy materials, not only will your trolleys last a long time with covered protection, but the shelters themselves will be able to withstand the elements and be a part of your outside space for a long time to come. Many shelters also come with sturdy polycarbonate glazing so you don’t need to worry about the shelter getting smashed or damaged.
Many shelters are also fitted with bump rails inside, which means that the trolleys are protected from damage on impact when placed in the shelter. This further helps to look after your trolleys, preventing unnecessary wear and tear.
Theft
Have some of your trolleys mysteriously disappeared from your premises? If you’ve been experiencing trolley theft, getting an enclosed trolley shelter could put an end to this.
Without a shelter, trolleys will be left lying around your outside premises. This increases the risk of them getting taken off your property or suffering from criminal damage. However, trolleys kept in a designated shelter are less likely to be stolen, or tampered with out of hours. You can even increase security by choosing a trolley shelter that can be closed off when the shop is shut, such as with a shutter, so that nobody can gain access to the trolleys. Some trolley bays may also come with lighting or CCTV, for added security and peace of mind.
Safety concerns
Without a trolley shelter, you run the risk of trolleys just being dumped all over your car park or outside space. After all, if people don’t have a shelter to return them to, or they don’t want to walk a long way to a store entrance to return a trolley, they might be tempted to leave them anywhere they can.
Not only does this make the trolleys vulnerable to being stolen, but this also poses a safety concern. Trolleys left lying around could get in the way of moving or stationary traffic, potentially causing accidents or damage to vehicles. Shoppers may also become frustrated if they find a parking space but can’t actually park in it because a trolley is obstructing their path. If this happens frequently, customers might even consider using other retailers in future who don’t have this problem.
Installing a trolley shelter, however, will encourage shoppers to return their trolleys to the nearest bay, ensuring the trolleys are kept safe and secure in one place, without becoming a hazard to other users. If you also install signs to direct shoppers to the nearest trolley bay, then this will make locating one even easier.
Crucially, a supermarket trolley shelter will keep your outside area tidy and organised, which is good news for your image and reputation.
Certainly, if you struggle to keep your shopping trolleys in one place, a trolley shelter may be just what you need. You are likely to benefit from having more than one shelter if you have a large car park, such as having a shelter placed close to the entrance as well as others dotted around, for customer convenience.
Time wasting
A large retail space will probably have at least one trolley attendant, but if you find that you need to allocate more resources to managing the trolleys on your park, a trolley shelter might help to save the day. Customers are more likely to return their trolleys to a designated bay if there is one nearby, saving a trolley attendant having to go around the park collecting trolleys that have been left abandoned in random places. This means that a worker’s time can be put to better use on other activities.
Improve your marketing
A customer makes an impression of your brand the moment they step onto your premises, so a trolley shelter could be an important asset to help market your business, since it will be visited by many people on the way into your store.
If you’re looking to up your game with your marketing strategies, or you’d like to promote specific offers or provide relevant information to customers, this is where your trolley shelter has more than just practical benefits.
For instance, you could consider choosing a shelter in a colour that matches your company logo or image, to reinforce your brand identity. Shelters are also available that enable you to include information strips or boards into the side panelling, which could be used for marketing purposes.
If you’re now convinced that your business could do with a trolley shelter, speak to the experts at Ace Shelters to discuss the different options available to suit your unique requirements https://www.aceshelters.co.uk.