First Impressions Count, From Branding To Reception Furniture

By Author: Georgina Rahman
Total Articles: 7
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In an increasingly connected world, people can come into contact with your company in a number of ways. Customers may have seen your marketing materials, heard about you from a friend, visited the website or taken a stroll into reception. First impressions count, but companies now have more areas to consider. From reception furniture to branding, it is important to get it right.

Branding
Customers may come across your brand before they even walk through the door. Opinions can be formed based on your marketing materials, image and word of mouth. You want people to remember your company and see that it is professional, with high quality printed materials and friendly, efficient staff. Customer service counts, not just because it gives customers a good experience at the time, but because they talk. Poor service can lose you customers you never knew existed. Your brand is not just your logo or your name – it is your reputation.

Reception furniture
In a more physical sense, a customer’s first impression of the company comes from its reception area. The style and atmosphere should reflect the business ...
... as a whole; if reception seems inefficient, is poorly designed and has rude members of staff, people may walk straight out the door. Everything, from the receptionist’s friendly smile, to the seating, must be perfect.

The reception area needs to be the cleanest and tidiest part of the building. There is no room for clutter, so the front desk needs to be large enough to accommodate computers, phones and visitor’s books with ease. It’s always worth getting the furniture from a specialist supplier as their reception desks will make a clear visual statement, and may feature clever cable management systems and built-in storage. They can even design the layout to make it flow logically and maximise space.

The seating and other furniture are important, too. People in reception often arrive early and end up waiting, so comfortable chairs are a must. The seating is also a great opportunity to inject some colour into the space. Bright, bold upholstery can create a modern feel, while leather can be useful in creating an atmosphere of refinement and success.

Don’t forget to include coffee tables, especially if you offer water, coffee or magazines to waiting customers. Glass, wood or metal can all be used, although glass is perhaps the most practical if there are beverages around.

Website
Undeniably, more and more people first come across a company online nowadays. In a world of battles over Google rankings, helping people find it can be a challenge in itself, but the most important thing is that the site creates a good impression of the company. In cyberspace, your competitors are only a couple of clicks away.

A good website should represent the company, just like good reception furniture does. It should have a style that matches the brand, whether you want a traditional, professional feel for a law firm or something edgy and colourful for a design agency. It should be easy to navigate, with clearly laid out menus and a sensible structure.

While it may seem like companies today have more chances to make a good impression, it could also be argued that there are more opportunities to put people off. The most successful businesses will invest in their website, furniture and branding to hook their customers from the start.

Perfect Synergi are a specialist office furniture supplier, with years of experience finding the best pieces for their customers. They have a wide range of reception tables, desks and chairs, and deliver and install the furniture themselves. They even offer design services so you get the perfect layout.
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