How Inviting Is Your Business?
Whether your business model is business to business or consumer to business – or both – how inviting is it to your customers?
We know that people can make a decision within seconds as to how they feel about a person or an organization. This is why it is so important to present your business as friendly and personable as possible. If the first point of contact is positive, there are fewer negative psychological barriers for the buyer.
The last time I had such an experience was was on Bowen Island on the west coast of B.C. I had made an error on the ferry departure times and ended up needing to kill some time once it started to get dark and cold. Since many of the businesses were closed, I had very few options.
There was one retail store open; the Union Steamship Marina Office, which is primarily a gift shop catering to tourists. It the closest retail store located near the ferry. The owner understands the power of being inviting to passersby. Outside their storefront, in a covered area, is a food station where an attractive display of free goodies is available to anyone who walks by. During the evening I was waiting for my ferry, the free items included hot coffee and cups, candy canes, mandarin oranges and baked goods. Needless to say, this gave me a hugely positive impression of the business.
If you were to make your business more inviting to prospective customers, what would you do?