"You never get a second chance to make a first impression." That's one of many famous sayings that emphasize the importance of a first impression. Let's talk about your entrance and how to make a lasting impression.
Here's a fact about first impressions that should open the eyes of many business owners: People formulate their impressions of you within the first seven seconds.
First impressions don't just happen between people. They occur between people and things with which they interact. People formulate first impressions of homes when they pull up to them. They formulate first impressions of storefronts before they even enter.
These first impressions embed in our minds a notion of whether we're going to like something or not. In the case of a business, it could be the difference between whether we view the products for sale inside attractive or not.
Business owners need to take heed of this fact and pay special attention to the first impression they're making. Here are five ways you can refresh your business entrance to make that great first impression.
Exterior signage is an essential visual element for any business. It clearly states the business' name, which clarifies what customers are about to find inside. Signs serve as a great marketing tool, as they are often lit and visible even when the business is closed.
Signage is the most visible communication form for a business. Signage should be big and bright without being overpowering. It should be on-brand in terms of colors and logos. And signage should appear on both the building and the business entrance door.
Glass storefront doors allow consumers to get a preview of what's inside the store before they enter. There are two ways these doors improve your first impression.
One, they allow light to shine into and out of your store. Light makes your store seem more inviting to people who are driving by, walking by or approaching.
Two, glass storefront doors engender a sense of trust through literal and figurative transparency. When people can see beautiful things through the entrance door of a business, they are more likely to enter and they don't feel like you're hiding anything.
This brings us to our next point …
Take every opportunity to highlight the best products in your store. The most effective way to do this is to put your most eye-catching products in the front of your store, in direct sightlines to the outside.
You can use these eye-catching items to entice people to come inside the store to browse all of your products. Make sure to design any storefront window boxes around a specific theme. It’s important to pay attention to the visible sightlines in your store from your glass business entrance door.
It’s also a good idea to redesign the front of your store around holidays, seasons and special sales.
One of the quickest ways you can scare people away from your store, is by not keeping it clean. If there is dust, dirt and debris in your entrance, it will send a negative message to customers.
Maybe they'll think that your products aren't clean or sanitary. Perhaps they'll be turned off from even entering your store in the first place.
Keep in mind that cleanliness doesn't just apply to your entrance, either. Pay attention to the appearance of the area outside your storefront, as well as your front windows and doors.
People put so much attention into what they see and what they hear. But smells can help your business make a good (or bad) first impression.
There has been a lot of scientific research into the effect of smells. Without going into too much detail, pleasant smells can make a business feel "homey." Certain scents can invigorate the senses and infuse people with energy. Other odors can make people want to buy a particular product or eat a certain food.
Suffice it to say, smell is also important. So, when you're refreshing your entrance, pay attention to what people smell when they first walk in. You can improve the scent with fresh flowers or mild air fresheners that aren't overpowering.
Glass security doors provide a great combination of form and function for businesses. They help a company make a great first impression while also serving as a security measure for the building.
If you need a refresh to your building's entrance, contact the professionals at CDF Distributors. We can help you design a beautiful glass storefront door to help attract customers into your store.