Friday 23 May 2014

The importance of first impressions for businesses

Hello and welcome to another edition of Crystal Prints blog.

As time goes by we are working hard in an attempt to keep up with your printing needs! This is a good thing though - we aren’t complaining!

We know the weekend is going to be a busy one with Leyton Orient playing in the playoff final and the Hoop Beer Festival too. Amidst all the mayhem however, we have found a little bit of time before the weekend starts to give you some business advice, in terms of printing of course.

After all, printing is something we know a great deal about!

So what are we going to talk about today then? I assume most of you have read the title of this blog, which is why you have chosen to read it, so the answer to that question doesn’t really need an answer. But what do we mean by first impressions?

In business day to day life, it can be easy to forget where you are and who you work for, especially in busy environments or outdoors. This is why we feel that having personalised clothing is a key factor in raising brand awareness. you don’t always get the opportunity to speak to someone, and if you do, it might not be about work. Having your company logo on your clothing is something I feel all small businesses should look into. Most larger corporations have already gone down this route, and have got to where they are today - it can’t help to copy the things they do, can it?

There’s 2 ways you can do this, through embroidery and through direct printing. We tend to find that embroidery gives a smarter finish and a more professional look. Especially for those of you who work with clients on a regular basis. Printed workwear tends to be cheaper, but won’t give as much of a crisp finish as embroidery will. We aren’t writing printed workwear off though, in fact we highly recommend it to anyone who works outdoors on a regular basis. Construction workers or self employed tradesmen should always consider printed workwear to get the company name out there. You’d be surprised how many people will remember your company name just from walking past a construction site.

Remember, when you are working you are representing your company, so for all those lone traders or one man bands out there, it’s important to make a good impression, and you can do this through printed workwear or embroidered clothing. In the mind of the customer, it’s easier to make a connection between a person and a company, rather than just having the vision of a person in their head.

Business cards are another great way to make a first impression. In fact, from a strictly business point of view, it’s probably the most renowned way of making a good first impression. That initial meet with a potential client is crucial, and the first impression doesn’t stop until the end of the conversation. It’s not just about the first few seconds. Waiting until the end of the conversation to hand your business card to them has always been a great way to gain business, but you need to make sure your business cards are ready to be passed out.

Something we know we are good at is designing. By working closely with you, we gain a better understanding of who you are targeting as a company and what you hope to achieve. We can design you business cards based on your personality and your companys image. This will give a good first impression and attract new clients.

Well I could go on all day but there’s plenty of work to be doing - Right now  we are working on printed mugs for a local church which should be ready to go this afternoon!

Thanks for reading, and as always, give us a call if you want to ask any questions!

Enjoy your weekend and have a great bank holiday!

Come on Orient!