New Poll Finds 79% of Americans Say a Foul Odor at a Restaurant Would Negatively Impact their Perception of the Business

Date: 29 Jan 2020

ATLANTA – January 29, 2020 – New research from Oxy-Gen Powered, a leader in innovative odor eliminating solutions, demonstrates that lapses in odor control can be a detriment to an organization. According to their survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll from January 9-13, 2020 among 2,013 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, a majority of Americans (93%) say a foul odor would negatively impact their perception of an organization. The poll also offers a closer look at the types of businesses most affected by unpleasant smells.

“No building occupant or visitor wants to be greeted with an unpleasant smell in a lobby, restroom or anywhere else in a facility.,” said Andy Piucci, Vice President of Sales – North America, Oxy-Gen Powered. “This research highlights the risk organizations take when they fail to properly eliminate indoor odors caused by urine, feces, kitchens, mold, mildew, pets and more.”

The Harris Poll found that 79% of Americans say a foul odor at a restaurant would negatively impact their perception of that business. Foul odors in a hotel would negatively influence three in four Americans’ (75%) opinions of that business and nearly 2 in 3 (64%) would think adversely about a shopping mall or retail store with foul odor issues. Foul odors would also negatively impact more than half of Americans’ perceptions of entertainment venues (63%), office buildings (57%) and gym/fitness centers (56%).

When people encounter malodors, many change their perceptions of a facility or take steps to avoid it in the future. More than half of Americans say after experiencing a foul odor in an organization’s facility they would assume the facility is not clean (56%) or they would look for an alternative facility (54%). Half (50%) would spend less time in the facility, 46% would tell friends, family or colleagues about the incident and over one in three (34%) would never return to the facility again.

To maintain customer sastisfaction, uphold brand image and support the bottom line, Oxy-Gen Powered offers a range of odor eliminating solutions that eradicate rather than mask odors. These include Oxygen-Pro, a continuous, customizable and sustainable air freshening system that features 100% recyclable, carbon footprint-approved cartridges and audio and visual alerts; Fab 30™, urinal screens that prevent splash back and provide ongoing freshness for 30 days; and TerminOdor™, an air freshening spray that neutralizes air molecules through a proprietary odor eliminator, Neutra-lox.

For more information about odor eliminating solutions, visit www.oxygenpowered.com.  

About Oxy-Gen Powered

Oxy-Gen Powered is an innovator in odor elimination, offering effective and economical air-freshening solutions that deliver Freshness, All the Time!  Patented fuel-cell technology is powered by pure oxygen to deliver consistent and continuous fragrance intensity. Unlike metered aerosols, gel and liquid products and passive systems, Oxy-Gen Powered’s reliable, safe and eco-friendly solutions eliminate malodors, rather than mask them. For more information, visit www.oxygenpowered.com.

Survey Method  

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Oxy-Gen Powered from January 9-13, 2020 among 2,013 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact jmessenger@mulberrymc.com