Getting your store ready for winter weather

Store winter preparation means getting your entrance, heating, plumbing, supplies, and staff ready before the first cold snap or storm. It's easier to do in October than in the middle of a snowstorm with a line at the register. A short checklist covers most of it: salt and mats, a heating check, pipe protection, stocked supplies, and a plan for bad-weather days.

Anyone who's run a store through a few winters knows the first storm always finds the thing you forgot.

How do you prepare the entrance?

The front door is where winter hits first.

Stock ice melt or salt before the first freeze. It's often scarce once a storm is forecast.

Keep a shovel and a broom by the door.

Put down absorbent entrance mats inside the door. They catch water and slush before it spreads across the floor.

Have a second set of mats to swap when the first set is soaked.

Keep a "wet floor" sign handy.

Check that the door closes fully. A door that sticks open lets heat out and cold in.

Slips at the entrance are a real hazard for customers and staff. OSHA's small business resources cover workplace safety topics, including walking surfaces.

What should you check on heating and equipment?

Have your heating system checked before it's needed. A service call in the fall is easier to schedule than one during a cold snap.

Check that thermostats work and are set sensibly. Keep the back room warm enough for staff and any products that can freeze.

Check weather stripping on doors and windows.

Look at your coolers and freezers too. Cold weather can change how they run, especially units near the door.

The ENERGY STAR program has general guidance on heating efficiency and equipment that can help you keep costs reasonable.

How do you protect pipes and plumbing?

Frozen pipes are one of the most expensive winter problems.

Know where your main water shutoff is. Label it.

Insulate pipes in cold areas, like exterior walls, back rooms, and basements.

Keep the heat on overnight, even when the store is closed.

If you have an outdoor faucet, shut it off and drain it.

If a pipe does freeze, call a plumber. Don't use an open flame to thaw it.

What supplies should you stock?

Think about what customers need in winter and what the store needs to keep running.

Store supplies: ice melt, extra mats, paper towels, mop heads, and trash bags. For store supplies, browse the store supplies category on NRS Marketplace.

Receipt paper: keep a good buffer in case deliveries are delayed by weather. Store it away from heaters, since thermal paper reacts to heat. The paper rolls category lists the roll types available.

Customer items: many stores stock gloves, hats, hand warmers, and similar items for cold weather. Check what sells in your area.

For gas station stores, winter car care items like washer fluid and scrapers often sell well. The petro category is a good place to look for petro supplies.

What's your plan for bad-weather days?

Decide ahead of time.

Who opens if the roads are bad? Who can get there safely?

What are your storm hours? Post them on the door and tell regulars.

How will staff get home safely after a late shift in snow?

What happens if the power goes out? Know where flashlights are and how your register and card reader behave without power.

Staff safety comes first. No sale is worth someone driving on dangerous roads.

Write your winter plan on one page and post it in the back room so every shift can follow it.