While there are many different aspects that go to make up a great business, appearance is the one that can sometimes get less attention than it deserves.
Yet it is also one of the most important. It doesn’t matter whether the business is situated in a warehouse or in one of the most modern office blocks in the area, appearances do matter and if you don’t pay enough attention to it your business will suffer as a result.
If you have ever visited the offices, warehouses, studios or shops owned by another company and they have been less than impressive when it comes to appearance, you will know how that makes you feel. The business itself could be one of the nicest and most efficient ones in town but if that doesn’t extend to the tidiness (and worse, the cleanliness) of the premises, then it doesn’t exactly make you feel good about doing business with them.
But it is completely different when you enter a building owned by a company that does all it can to look after its clients and customers. The feeling of cleanliness is evident from the moment you walk through the door and it conveys a feeling of care and attention. Any company which puts this much effort into how it looks is obviously going to be paying attention to every detail of their work too.
In this sense, the way you present your business to your clients is an extension of the way you actually do business with them. If you take care and pride in your appearance then people will naturally assume this extends to everything you do.
And in turn, if you don’t make any effort to keep your buildings looking fresh, clean and tidy, that doesn’t project a very good image to your clients. You’ve probably been into an office which has looked disorganised and untidy and it doesn’t exactly make you feel relaxed and comfortable. What’s more, if your office looks like this it is much harder to clean and more dangerous to work in anyway. Just imagine tripping over that huge stack of paper you keep hidden behind your desk, for example.
But it’s not just the interior of your buildings that needs attention. Don’t forget that people will see the exterior long before they even reach the front door, so it’s just as important to keep that looking just as good. Regular window cleaning, good exterior maintenance and perhaps even planting and greenery if your building has the grounds for it can all help to convey a positive image that draws people in and makes them feel confident that you can do a good job.
It’s unfortunate that some people are so focused on doing their jobs and driving their business forward that they miss the little things that can make all the difference to everyone else. And they will improve your own view of the business you have worked so hard to build as well, which is never a bad thing.