So you have a business and it's surviving the times. Your office is office-like, your waiting room is...well, Ok- it's waiting for a change. The truth is, you spent the minimum, opened your business and it's been doing well, so you have reason to be happy! But, now that you are taking a look around, you realize that some updates can be done- AND THEY SHOULD. Nothing says thriving business like the persona that you are a WELL THRIVING BUSINESS. Business is all about establishing trust. A customer has to trust you in order to give you their money, and in this slowly upward- bound economy, trusting that you will be there in 6 months from now, is a major part of that. A well-done interior shows a potential customer that, not only are you here, but you are present in the moment with your updated space, you have invested in your company and they will want to invest in you as well!
FIRST IMPRESSIONS- The most important, AND I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH- the most important (had to say it again, lol) space in your company, whether it be a salon, a restaurant, a night club, a medical center, an office- is the space right behind that front door. It's the first thing they see when they enter your company for the first time. This is the room that says "I care about my customers" by making this space appealing to look at. Your wall color should be attractive and welcoming. It should also help to establish your BRAND, and this is one of the most important things that I do for a company when working with their design. Your company's interior should either directly reflect your branding (i.e. color, fonts, logos) or indirectly (through mood or theme of the the product or service you offer). Furnishings in the waiting room should be fresh and current! If you still have that puffy leather couch in your front entry- that says I've been around since the nineties and haven't changed a bit- that's not a good thing, when there have been such innovations since two decades ago! Even more than that, customers nowadays expect more from the companies they patron, they want creativity. Don't just think outside the box, but outside the hemisphere. That's where a good interior designer (like me) comes in with exciting, UNIQUE details that make your company stand out from the average. Companies need to be noticed to be successful. And don't just think that painting your entryway and waiting room a nice tan and adding neutral accents will get the job done. Nothing says snooze-fest more than neutral. Even neutral needs a punch of bonafide, kick-butt color!
INVEST LARGELY IN ONE MAJOR DETAIL- The obvious granite countertop at the reception desk is...well, obvious and not all that creative. There are SO many products out here for wall treatments, appliques, veneers, furnishings. A grand entrance, whether a contemporary space or a Tuscan villa feel, needs texture and drama and the newest products out there offer that for you, if you take advantage of them. I can't count how many new, super-hot, unique products I have that have been gathering dust because of a lack of a good place to put them or a good client to use them on. Take this waiting room wall, for instance. Yes, it's a typical 4" x 4" honed and tumbled travertine tile, but we used in a more modern way- with a butt-joint (no grout and laid together with no spaces) configuration. Then I took a fresh new serpentine glass tile in complimentary colors, that lifts off the wall in a waving pattern, to give the wall 3-D interest. The result was amazing and didn't cost my client an arm and a leg. By taking an expensive product- the glass tile, and using it intermittently throughout, the overall result was not expensive and gave the client a unique atmosphere and conversation piece while customer's await their service.
CREATIVE ORGANIZATION- This is where custom pieces usually come into play, especially in very small or massively large spaces. They both need to hide the excess or storage or even just paperwork. Sure metal file cabinets are suitable in a back room, but if your file cabinets are in areas where clients can see them, the old standby simply doesn't do your company justice. Neither does mismatch office furniture. Nothing says pieced together more than three different tones of wood laminate desk sets. Putting enough effort into coordinating your office furnishings, even in an eclectic, but professional manner, will go a long way with the perception of your customers. And in the end, isn't it ALL about perception? If customers perceive your business to be successful, you will be.
Customers drive our success or failure by making the decision to use our product or services. Make it an easy choice by putting your best foot forward for them. Get your business interior fresh for 2011 and upgrade your customer's perception of your company. Even if you just change to a vibrant new color scheme, it can go a long way to impress those who hold your bottom line in their hands!
