MAKING FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT

The first thing customers see when they visit a business is their reception area. Many businesses take the importance of making the right first impression very seriously - and dealers have an important role to play

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t was the American actor and social commentator Will Rogers who came up with the often quoted (and misquoted) line ‘You never get a second chance to make a good first impression’. While this may have become bit of a cliché over the years it, nevertheless, retains a lot of truth today.

First impressions do count – there have been various studies over the years that confirm this and assert that future interactions are filtered through assumptions generated by that initial impression. This is why it’s important the reception area creates the right impression about the business - and this is where dealers can be vital, not just in providing the right products, but also in advising customers on how they can achieve this.

However, Simon Howorth, marketing and design manager at Dams, believes it isn’t just about impressing potential clients. “The reception area is of critical importance for any business,” he says. “It needs to be a welcoming space for all visitors, from valued customers to prospective new starters arriving for an interview - but the reception area is also where every office day begins for all employees, and it should inspire them to be proud of where they work.”

DESK JOB

Simon asserts that the most important item in a reception area is the reception desk. “The first point of call for any workplace should feature eye-catching furnishings and accessories with a reception desk that will reinvigorate an entrance area and reflect the vision and personality of the business.

“To compliment the reception desk, soft seating or lounge chairs can be added to the area which will not only enhance the overall appearance but also offer comfortable seating for visitors. Investing in soft seating and tables that have an integrated power supply built in can provide a convenient charging station for guests while they wait.”

Simon is convinced that striking the right balance between interior design and furniture solutions can make all the difference in developing new business relationships. “The right reception desk, together with some comfortable soft seating and tables for visitors to rest in comfort, can set the standard for hospitality and

extend outward to the rest of the workplace,” he says. “No matter how great the company is, or how interested customers are, if the front of house looks scruffy and dated, then it is bound to put potential customers off - even if the rest of the office is a proverbial wonderland of design and technology!”

Peter Clayton of Visual Group agrees on the importance of the reception area, including using it as a marketing tool for the business. “Within a few seconds of arriving, your visitor has created their impression of your business,” he says. “As well as the individual sitting in reception - who is the first face of your organisation - the overall appearance of your reception area plays a significant part.”

LOOK FOR THE SIGNS

The overall interior design of the reception area should be considered, alongside furniture, including signage and wallmounted graphics. “Workspaces can be transformed with the addition of some amazing wall graphics,” Peter says. “Bespoke or custom signage can really bring a workplace to life.”

He says that Visual Group, a manufacturer of signage, are seeing an increase in demand for signage in office interior designs as more businesses look to revamp their workplaces postCOVID. “As more companies returned to the workplace following lockdown, many took the opportunity to refurbish their facilities,

making their offices more appealing to work in and improving employee wellbeing,” he says. “Companies that moved to a more of a hybrid approach, or had moved to working from home, had to think about how their offices could work harder for them - and this is where we saw many companies transform their workspaces into working showrooms as well.” Many dealers are working with companies like Visual Group which will help them offer more of consultancy approach to customers looking to enhance and redesign their reception If the front of spaces; creative signage solutions can tie house looks together, and enhance, the overall project. scruffy and dated, then it is bound Dealers should look to work closely with customers to provide the right solution - whether they are thinking about soft to put potential furnishings, dynamic signage or something customers off else entirely. The trend for businesses to revamp their reception areas is set to continue in the next 18 months. As the economy slows, companies in many sectors will face stiffer competition to secure new customers - which means reception areas will increasingly need to be effective showrooms or showcases for products and/or services. Dealers offering furniture as well as signage and interior graphics will be well-placed to capitalise on this trend and make sure that reception area revamps form part of conversations with both regular customers and potential ones alike going forward.