When trying to build a strong brand, many businesses don’t consider how the physical appearance of their office impacts their brand. I was reminded of this important point when visiting some offices of a firm (who shall remain nameless) in Sydney recently.
When stepping out of the elevator I found a poorly lit reception area with grey walls, old furniture and more wood paneling than the Brady Bunch house. What was my immediate impression? It was of a stale, old-fashioned organisation that’s stuck in its ways. This may not be true, but it was my first impression of them and their brand. And importantly, this first impression has stuck with me since.
I do have a few simple suggestions and recommendations on how you can create a great first impression without it blowing the budget.
1. Make sure the area is brightly lit. This is just the cost of a few light globes. Make sure they are all working and replaced if they are not.
2. Paint your walls to display your corporate colour palette. This will take just a bit of elbow grease and a few hours. You can even take your business card to the paint store so they can match the paint exactly.
3. Add some simple branding with wall vinyl – either wall lettering, a design or your business name at the entrance. This isn’t expensive and I’m not talking about commissioning a hand painted mural of your logo. Just use some elements of your brand identity creatively in some printed wall stickers or canvasses. A business based in Sydney that does a great job with this is Cool Art Design . Check out their website for examples of what they can do.
The key message here is that first impressions count with brands. By creating an office environment that is consistent with your brand identity, you will be well on your way to creating a strong brand.
For marketing advice contact Chris at cdale@marketinghq.com.au
