Repair Your "Broken Windows" and Make a Favorable Impression
April 2005

What does your work area say about you? Staying organized can give the impression that you and your company are competent, skilled and focused.

Can one broken window - or cluttered desk - discourage customers and prospects from doing business with your company? According to the "Broken Window" theory developed by sociologists in the late 1960s, a single sign of neglect, such as one broken window on one building, can reduce the perception of the entire neighborhood.

If we take a closer look at our businesses, we'd likely see many broken windows - figuratively, of course. The theory is a reminder that small details do make a big difference when it comes to making a good impression. In our industry, customers and prospects visit our facilities on a daily basis. It's important to instill confidence in visitors that their projects will be handled carefully and competently. Here are a few quick tips to help eliminate your "broken windows":

Keep desks and work areas clean - To customers, a cluttered desk or office looks like a forgotten detail - or project - waiting to happen. Take a few minutes each day to make sure that office areas are organized and clutter-free. Encourage your staff to purchase and use whatever organization tools they need, within reason.

Fresh paint works wonders - If your carpeting, office furniture and customer lounge are holdovers from the Nixon era, an update is long overdue. However, finding room in the budget and time on the schedule for an overhaul isn't easy. A fresh coat of paint is a worthwhile compromise. The time and cost is manageable, the difference is noticeable to both employees and customers, and the update will buy you some time to replace the rest.

Add unique touches - Even brand-new, hyper-organized offices can use some help in creating a good impression. One profitable Midwestern printer with which we're familiar ensures that fresh flowers are placed on desks and in customer waiting areas on a near-daily basis. The little touch even had a hidden benefit: an independent study showed production rose dramatically once the bouquets were placed.

What Grow Sales, Inc. Can Do For You
Since 1996, Grow Sales, Inc. has been helping graphic arts companies like improve internally and externally through our advisory and outbound marketing services. Contact us anytime to discuss ways we can repair your "broken windows".

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