Dress for Success with Ask the Paul

[Silvertree]

Here's a little fashion help for you professionals.
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[ChrWright]

I like the new logo. :2thumbsup:

[Eieio]

Is that a Prada or Calvin Klein Suit? :rolleyes3:

[WarriorWithWood]

Still waiting for "The Paul" to slick his hair straight back. My main focus is that freakin part! :laugh4:

[Blue]

He cleans up good for an old hippie. :grin:

[KitchenSync]

That's excellent advice! First impressions happen long before you open your mouth.

[nEighter]

listen to the lady

[shanekw1]

Personally, I'd hire the first guy.

[Silvertree]

Personally, I'd hire the first guy.

I change clothes in their home until I get the downpayment:grin:

[nEighter]

DANNg.. I have NUMEROUS times gone to bid out some work coming to or from a job. What does that really say if you show up in a tie? I brought this up on PT and was told I would be thought of as a shady sales guy...

[Blue]

DANNg.. I have NUMEROUS times gone to bid out some work coming to or from a job. What does that really say if you show up in a tie? I brought this up on PT and was told I would be thought of as a shady sales guy...

Overdress is worse I think, definately don't drive your H2 there either.

Uniform is the best, then logo shirt second. I would classify suit coat as a very dangerous decision, at least here in the heartland anyway.

[naptownCr]

Jacket and tie REEKS of salesman
Corporate shirt oxford button down with logo :2thumbsup:

[nEighter]

yeah that was what I was told. I guess there is no #1 way to do anything.. ANYTHING.. but if I were Paul or Rory or Chris selling $100,000.00 jobs I would dress up a bit for the occasion.

[Blue]

yeah that was what I was told. I guess there is no #1 way to do anything.. ANYTHING.. but if I were Paul or Rory or Chris selling $100,000.00 jobs I would dress up a bit for the occasion.

That's a small job to Bodger. he wears a toupee and shoulder harness to bid.

[nEighter]

as long as he drinks his "menergy" drink on the way.. he has a 110% closing rate..

[Silvertree]

I have Silvertree dress shirts, cotton, button down collar with Silvertree logo in silver threads.
I never wear a tie, I do wear a sports coat in cool weather.

I also wear scarves a lot in cool weather, silk, :mad:

Good clean slip on shoes and clean jeans or casual dress pants.

[Leo G]

If I was a salesman, and that is all I did, then a nice suit and tie should work fine. But I am not a salesman. I am a woodworker/businessman. I show up looking like one. One with a clean uniform and a shirt with my name and company on it. I think the most important thing is to make them feel comfortable with you, get them to laugh. One you have them at ease it is time to start the business of business.

You do clean up well Paul.

[Eieio]

yeah that was what I was told. I guess there is no #1 way to do anything.. ANYTHING.. but if I were Paul or Rory or Chris selling $100,000.00 jobs I would dress up a bit for the occasion.

I have a sport coat like Paul that I wear to nice jobs.. I make sure the truck or van is clean and put on my thousand watt smile..

You got to look good to get some one to hand over a 50K check to ya.

[Allrounder]

My selling "uniform" depends on the client and how they respond to a few questions on the phone.

I had one guy tell me that he was looking for a small company where the owner wasn't afraid to get down and dirty, so I showed up after digging in the dirt all day, wearing my filthy clothes. And I got the job.

I had another tell me that they want a professional company that will clean up each day and treat their home with respect, so I'll show up with a company polo and clean pants. And I got that job too.

When in doubt, I go with cleaned up, company shirt, clean clothes.

[kornerking]

Paul, keep the glasses, get rid of the tie. Coat or sweater that's optional.

[shanekw1]

I change clothes in their home until I get the downpayment:grin:

If that's all it takes, I'd get the check as soon as my pants were off.

[shanekw1]

Seriously tho, I wear good jeans, company logo'd golf shirt and nice shoes when I'm going to look at someone's house.

[fez-head]

That's excellent advice! First impressions happen long before you open your mouth.

:2thumbsup:

How your employees look on the project is every bit as important.

A professional uniform makes a huge difference in how your company is perceived and the respect your company is given. Not just "on the job" but in the general public as well.

The public has been conditioned to trust people in uniforms. We don't even realize it but sub consciously a uniform tells us that they are skilled, trustworthy professionals.

Your employees define who you are and what your company stands for. Uniforms branded with your logo promote your identity everywhere your employees go telling everyone you're not just another company.

The only reason I say this is because it works. I was the guy on the job in the cut off shorts, filthy tennis shoes and sleeveless Coors Light t-shirt and so where my 1099 "subs". Hell everyone I knew dressed the same way.... we where construction workers and thought that it didn't matter.

Guess what we where treated a lot different then than we are now.

I blamed the customers for being cheap bastards when really it was all me. They where only going to pay what they "perceived" I was worth and the way I looked was a huge part of that perception.

OK I'll get off my soap-box now. :smash:

[tomstruble]

i was thinking Paul with a mug like that you would make a great mortician:2thumbsup:

[LivinTheDream]

Even if you've been working all day, you can and should take the time to freshen up before you meet a client, especially a new one. Clean hands and face are essential, and taking the time to comb your hair and brush your teeth will make a big difference. And don't forget to change into clean shoes if you might track in any junk. Five minutes of preparation shows that you are respectful and willl move you up a notch or two in your client's estimation!

[Eieio]

Two of the biggest jobs I ever had, the clients invited me to their house for lunch to discuss the project and scope of work..

The china and silverware on the table probably cost more than my New truck

If and when you move up to customers with "real" money sometimes the t-shirt and jeans don't cut it..

Both meetings were probably 3-4 hours long discussing everything under the sun until the last 1 or so..

[Dusty]

:2thumbsup:

How your employees look on the project is every bit as important.

A professional uniform makes a huge difference in how your company is perceived and the respect your company is given. Not just "on the job" but in the general public as well.

The public has been conditioned to trust people in uniforms. We don't even realize it but sub consciously a uniform tells us that they are skilled, trustworthy professionals.

Your employees define who you are and what your company stands for. Uniforms branded with your logo promote your identity everywhere your employees go telling everyone you're not just another company.

The only reason I say this is because it works. I was the guy on the job in the cut off shorts, filthy tennis shoes and sleeveless Coors Light t-shirt and so where my 1099 "subs". Hell everyone I knew dressed the same way.... we where construction workers and thought that it didn't matter.

Guess what we where treated a lot different then than we are now.

I blamed the customers for being cheap bastards when really it was all me. They where only going to pay what they "perceived" I was worth and the way I looked was a huge part of that perception.

OK I'll get off my soap-box now. :smash:

Well said. But Rory also has a great point. Dress for your market. I am going to hire the guy in a uniform shirt and jeans. the lady in the million dollar home may be more apt to hire the salesmen in a sport coat.

[Century Man]

i was thinking Paul with a mug like that you would make a great mortician:2thumbsup:

I was thinking he looked more like Morticia and the bonus is he speaks French.

[fez-head]

I was thinking he looked more like Morticia and the bonus is he speaks French.

The Paul The Cross Dresser? :laugh3:

[Silvertree]

Wouldn't swing to wearing women's clothing, but I did dress as a priest for Halloween and my wife dressed as a nun.:mad2:

Today I'm putting brakes and rotors on her Honda CRV, she got her moneys worth out of those pads:rolleyes3:

[Eieio]

Wouldn't swing to wearing women's clothing, but I did dress as a priest for Halloween and my wife dressed as a nun.:mad2:

Today I'm putting brakes and rotors on her Honda CRV, she got her moneys worth out of those pads:rolleyes3:

Don't you love that.. Amazing how they don't hear the metal on metal grinding. :rolleyes3:

[Bender]

Did that man say 'fo shizzle':confused:

[Silvertree]

I will post photos of those pads later, deserves its own thread:rolleyes3:

[Greg24k]

Stick to the first look :2thumbsup: