The Real Reason Menards Has These Turnstiles At Their Entrance

Have you ever wondered why you walk through a turnstile at Menard's stores? I always just assumed that it was to count how many people came in through the store. There's actually a lot more to it.

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Ever since I was a kid growing up in Minnesota, I remember the turnstiles. They've been around forever.

Traffic Flow & Management

The turnstiles help guide people to where they are supposed to enter. It helps traffic flow in an orderly fashion. Think about it the whole entrance was just wide open. Who knows where people would end up?

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Loss Prevention

The turnstiles create a psychological deterrent to shoplifters. When people know they have to pass through controlled entry and exit points it can discourage theft. Have you ever noticed when you exit a Menards, even if you don't find what you're looking for you still need to walk through a cashier lane? That's not by accident.

Controlling Access Points To The Store

Besides shoplifting prevention, the turnstiles help security by funneling people through a controlled point. It's easier to track people and keep the store safe with a controlled entry.

And yes, it's used to count customers.

The turnstiles are also used to track foot traffic. It can tell them the number of customers entering the storm for a set time, which can then be used to analyze busy times of day, or busiest days of the week. This can help the Menard's store staff better.

If you want a quick chuckle, check out this Brit's first visit to a Menards store, where he's excited to save big money. I found it interesting! Welcome to the Midwest!