The American diplomat, Elliott Abrams, said ‘first impressions matter. Experts say we size up new people in somewhere between 30 seconds and two minutes.’ And that summing up doesn’t just apply to people; it applies to business and places too. So when you approach a new mall or drive into your favourite retailer’s parking area, does the business look well-appointed and inviting or does it look neglected and in need of sprucing up?
Retailers and commercial ventures spend a great deal of time, energy and money on marketing their business and attracting as many customers as possible, and that effort should be maintained throughout – from creating brand awareness right through to first point of contact and store visits. Whether we like it or not, first impressions do count, and what the building and surrounding commercial property looks like, will have an impact on your first time customer and what he or she thinks – so you shouldn’t drop the ball and think that the paving and hard landscaping around your store doesn’t count.
By showing you care for your property and presenting it in attractive way, people are more inclined to think you care about other aspects of your business too, like product quality and service levels. Just think about it for a minute, if you were to hire a paving contractor and they arrive looking shabby and disorganised, and their vehicles look like they need maintenance – are you inclined to think they’re good at installing paving? Probably not no, and the same is true for the appearance of your business property. You want customers arriving at your door positively predisposed to your service, and that’s not only true for prospective customers you’ve attracted through your marketing efforts, it’s also true for people passing by – if what they see looks neat, tidy and presentable, then they’re more inclined to find out more about your business.
And the same principle applies to your employees, again if you’ve invested in paving and soft landscaping of some sort, that feeling of care and value is internalised by your staff – creating attractive surroundings goes a long way towards improving morale and encouraging employees to feel pride in their work and company as well.
As you can see, commercial and industrial paving counts for far more than you might initially think, and if you want a paving contractor who not only delivers the best service, but who also understands that all aspects of business presentation are important, then go ahead and call QPave today for the best paving in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.
