An Introduction To Parking Lot Striping: What You Need To Know.
The many facets of running a business can make your head spin.
Shouldn’t your company’s operations revolve around making a product or developing a service that people will pay for?
For the most part, driving customer transactions is the most crucial component of your company.
All aspects of your business rest on your ability to sell and earn revenues.
It’s the simplicity of the statement that could be misleading.
The processes required to sell something to consumers at a rate that generates profits have endless layers.
Some of those layers involve marketing. Others involve customer service. Cultivating a culture that motivates your team to generate sales and revenues is also necessary.
There are also regulatory components. You need to follow the associated rules and laws, pay fees, and comply with protocols outlined by governing bodies.
Often, these many facets of your business intertwine.
For instance, businesses–by law–must have the following features in their parking lot:
- Well-marked parking lines.
- Clear paint lines.
- Designated fire lane.
Undoubtedly, the topic of parking lot striping is a regulatory issue. However, parking lot striping is also a matter of customer service and branding. Let us explain.
What is Parking Lot Striping?
Parking lot striping involves painting lines on a parking lot to let people know what to do or where to go (or park).
The Multiple Dimensions Of Parking Lot Striping.
Business owners who fail to meet state, federal, and local parking lot regulatory requirements leave themselves vulnerable to punitive actions.
Thus, neglecting parking lots can lead to fines and lawsuits.
Your parking lot doesn’t need to be a source of stress, though. While adverse consequences can occur if your parking lot isn’t up to standards, a well-maintained parking lot is a source of pride and branding success.
Here’s what we mean:
Quality Parking Lot Striping Is Brand Magic.
A chaotic parking experience can scare away customers. Conversely, seamless parking is a feature that enhances the relationship you have with your customers.
Consider these two scenarios:
- After spending ten minutes searching for a parking space, a customer arrives at your store. They feel like they’ve been driving on a highway. They’ve been on high alert in their attempts to avoid fender benders, and their anxiety levels are through the roof. Their mind is stuck on the stressful parking experience as they peruse your aisles.
- A customer arrives at your brick-and-mortar store after a seamless parking experience in a lot with expertly implemented parking lot striping. They’re calm and focused on what they came to do–buy a product from your store.
Who sounds likelier to do business with you?
These might be hypotheticals–but they’re based on reality. We’re willing to bet you’ve experienced both of the above scenarios as a customer.
A customer experience begins and ends with your parking lot striping. So, yes, you comply with laws and regulations when successfully managing this business facet. However, you’re also giving customers more reasons to purchase from you.
Customers Avoid Businesses With Difficult Parking.
Did you know that people spend seventeen hours trying to find a parking space annually? When people drive around, scouring the roads for parking spots, it costs them $345 on average in fuel emissions and wasted time.
On average, around 45% (or $3,000) of most people’s car ownership costs revolve around parking-related expenses.
The long and short of it is this: your customers appreciate a well-designed parking layout. They also revile bad parking experiences.
As such, 40% of US motorists will avoid a shop if the parking might be chaotic.
Your business could be a utopia once inside the building. Yet, few people will find out how great your brick-and-mortar location is if your parking lot isn’t up to standards,
Parking lot striping is a massive factor in ensuring your parking lot is up to standards–we’ll delve into some further insights below:
Parking Lot Striping Is A Boon To Traffic Flow
Factors beyond parking lot striping can impact vehicle traffic flow outside your shop or office. You can’t control some of these elements–like the layout of your property.
However, top-tier parking lot striping can mitigate potential pain points. It provides drivers with crucial instructions and directions that help them navigate your parking lot.
Properly implemented, high-quality parking lot striping will streamline a driver’s path to convenient (and legal) parking spots.
Furthermore, the clearer the stripes, the better the traffic flow in your parking lot. Vehicles will also be placed in a more organized fashion.
When stripes are faded, drivers make the rules. This can put people in danger. Also, it will limit the available space in your parking lot–meaning fewer customers can shop with you. Think of all the cars that will be accidentally double parked because they can’t see faded parking lot striping.
Parking Lot Striping Improves Your Business’s Appearance.
Have you ever heard of the halo effect? It’s also known as the “physical attractiveness bias.” We often think people are more intelligent, funnier, and charming when they’re pretty or handsome.
The same bias applies to businesses.
Customers see a business with faded and chipped parking lot striping and will think it’s old, dated, and unprofessional. Conversely, they’ll see your company with freshly painted parking lot striping and view you as new, modern, and highly professional.
Ensure Pedestrian Safety With Parking Lot Striping.
Your customers quickly go from drivers to pedestrians once they park their cars.
On top of parking lot striping guiding drivers to their ideal spot, it also keeps cars away from the surrounding foot traffic.
Thus, properly implemented and well-maintained parking lot striping decreases the potential for pedestrian-related traffic accidents and injuries.
Pedestrians are frequently injured by vehicles in parking lots. Therefore, clear, high-quality markings like what you’d get with CATI are integral to protecting your customers and your business.
Want to learn more about what goes into high-quality parking lot striping that can help your business thrive? Contact CATI striping today!
