First impressions are always important, especially when you’re a business trying to attract customers and clients. If you have a physical office, it’s important to maintain a welcoming lobby as that’s the first thing a potential customer or client will see when visiting your office. Regardless of the size or type of your business, you can utilize these tips to create a welcoming, appealing space.
Step in Your Customers’ Shoes
Since you enter through your lobby every day, you’re likely used to how it looks and probably don’t really notice what’s around you anymore. Before you can start your lobby refresh, you need to take a few minutes and see what your customers are seeing.
Grab your phone, and walk through your front doors into the lobby. Instead of rushing through, look around carefully with a critical eye. Use your phone to snap photos of the lobby from every angle. These pictures will help you determine what’s working and what needs improvement. You might even reach out to others in order to gain a fresh perspective with new sets of eyes. Ask for open and honest feedback on the state of your lobby, as varied opinions can give you an idea of what potentially needs to change.
Cleanliness Is Key
There is nothing more important to your lobby than cleanliness, especially in this pandemic era. If customers do not feel safe in your lobby, they will not proceed into your business.
Of course, you know not to have trash on the floor or dust on the counters, but surface cleaning is no longer sufficient. Give your employees and customers a sparkling clean environment to enter into each day by utilizing a professional cleaning company like Jan Pro Hampton Roads for regular after-hours cleaning.
Add Some Extras
Your lobby contains a reception desk, seating, and other basics, but you can really create a welcoming environment by adding some extras. When you’re trying to decide what to add, consider the unique needs of your clientele. If young children often accompany their guardians to your office, a few small, quiet toys will be appreciated. It’s also important to consider the accessibility needs of your customers to ensure that all are welcomed.
Everyone appreciates refreshment, and a pitcher of fruit-infused water or individually packaged snacks can help set your business apart from the competition. These small touches tell all who enter that they are welcomed and their business is valued.
If you’re on a tight budget, you don’t have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to make your lobby more welcoming. Instead, focus on small touches and comfort items that make a big difference.
