Parking lot security plays a crucial role in shaping customer satisfaction and retention, especially for women who often feel unsafe in poorly lit or unmonitored lots. Businesses can enhance safety and boost customer confidence by investing in lighting, surveillance cameras, and mobile security units like those offered by LVT.
Summary:
Picture this: It’s late at night. It’s dark. You’re tired. You still need to run to the store for some errands or your day tomorrow will be much harder. But the brightly lit interior of the store isn’t the only part of the experience; you also have to navigate the spacious parking lot—the one that looks and feels so much different once the sun goes down.
Do you park near a cart return or near the store entrance? Is it even possible to find a spot that does both?
That group of teenagers in dark clothing who are laughing too loudly might be some sort of gang. That one guy by himself looks suspicious.
What was that trick? Hold your keys between your knuckles and then it will give your punch more impact? Or did someone debunk that and say it would just break your hand?
Check behind you. What if someone’s there? Check inside your car. What if someone is hiding in the back seat? Unload your purchase quickly, but make sure you stay aware of the people around you.
Does any of this sound familiar? Because it isn’t made up. It’s more or less the thoughts that run through my head every time I go shopping at night.
You’re either nodding your head in agreement right now or you think I sound ridiculous. Either way, I’m not the only one who experiences paranoid parking lot thoughts. And the numbers prove it: Nearly one-third of women avoid shopping in person because they don’t feel safe in the parking lot. Even with my hyperawareness and unreasonable suspicions, I don’t fall into that category since I still go shop when I need to… most of the time.
My 6’4” husband doesn’t have this paranoia. According to him, he doesn’t pay much attention to the people in the parking lot unless he’s in a particularly sketchy situation. His experience also lines up with the numbers: Across the board, more women are more likely to care about parking lot security than men.
Since 78% of women in the United States identify as the primary household shopper, this means that parking lots and their security—or lack thereof—can significantly impact your bottom line.
No matter what your business is, if you have a physical location with a parking lot, that parking lot is the first impression your customer will have of your business. While it’s unlikely that people will come to your business specifically to judge your parking facilities, they’ll automatically notice certain aspects of the parking experience—particularly any negatives.
Customers will notice:
For better or for worse, the impression people have of your parking lot will set the tone for their experience with your business that day, and it will influence their perception of their overall experience as they leave. Perhaps most importantly, the parking lot experience will help to form the subconscious association between your business and convenience and safety or between your business and frustration and anxiety.
While businesses can’t control every frustration that is likely to occur in a parking lot (such as minor car accidents), proper layout, timely maintenance, and proactive security can all positively influence the customer experience.
The idea behind parking lot safety and the overall experience impacts every kind of business:
People need to feel valued and wanted. They are more likely to spend their time and money at places that meet these needs. Prioritizing safety and security in commercial parking lots sends a clear message to visitors: This business cares about its customers.
While the open nature of parking lots makes them difficult to completely secure, there are several steps that can make a big difference in customer safety and—just as importantly—customer perceptions of safety.
In a recent survey, a whopping 69% of women and 56% of men identified poor lighting as their top parking lot safety concern. Addressing this one straightforward concern makes a significant security difference to the majority of your customers and potential customers.
A brightly lit parking lot makes it easier to see other people and cars. The increased visibility makes it easier to avoid trouble (not to mention makes it less tempting to cause trouble).
Surveillance cameras are one of the most efficient ways to provide security in parking lots, and two-thirds of people say they feel safer because of security camera use. Unlike in-person security guards, these cameras can see everywhere at once and never get bored on the job.
Thanks to today’s technological advancements, surveillance cameras can be equipped with capabilities that improve response times and deter wrongdoers.
Look for these intelligent features in parking lot security cameras for enhanced safety:
Since half of a security camera’s job is deterrence and since the increased feelings of safety only come with knowing those cameras are there, it’s important to make sure it’s obvious the cameras are in place. This can be done with posted signage or even with making sure the security cameras themselves are very visible. Mobile security units excel in this area as there is nothing subtle about towering camera mounts and flashing lights.
Mobile security units offer an easy-to-implement solution for parking lots and building perimeters. The mobile security units offered by LiveView Technologies® are large (though easily fit within a parking space) and very visible, helping to deter criminals and encourage everyday shoppers. In a recent study, people reported increased feelings of safety and security with the presence of an LVT® Unit in the parking lot.
Fully equipped with their own power source and remote monitoring capabilities, LVT’s mobile security units offer flexibility and efficiency. These units can even be equipped with lights and loudspeakers for an immediate response to suspicious activities.
Interested in protecting your parking lot and promoting feelings of security for your customers and employees? Contact LVT for more information today.
