Dressing Well Gets Customer Service

Are you ready to buy a car, get a loan, buy a house, or something else important to you?  If you want better customer service, dress well. It’s a simple thing to do. A couple of years ago, I took a group of international students on a field trip to different Vancouver neighbourhoods, including Yaletown.  A few wandered into the Mini showroom. All were dressed in t-shirts and jeans except one fellow, who had an interview earlier that day and was still wearing his suit. The guys dressed casually were all but ignored, while the fellow in a suit had salespeople regularly checking with him to see if he needed help or information. Even he was shocked at the impact he had made.

Think about it. If you were the salesperson, who would you seek to help first? It’s a natural human impulse to go towards the person who looks the part. Dressing for what you want communicates that you’re serious.

If you have a few minutes, here’s a humourous and melodramatic look at the impact of dressing well and being confident (notice, in both scenes, there is an ample credit card waiting to be used – the big difference is the wardrobe, attitude, and approach).  From “Pretty Woman” Shopping Scene I and  Shopping Scene II.

Confidence goes a long way in any situation. There are many ways to arrive at confidence, however the way you dress and present yourself is one of the biggest influencers on the way people see you. And it’s ok!  Now, go and experiment…