Muraspec - It’s official, first impressions really do count for businesses - if you’re not up to scratch expect to lower your prices!

Although we are continually being told that first impressions count, a new survey out today by Muraspec, leading manufacturer of wall coverings, shows that they not only count, but they can affect the bottom line of UK businesses!
Hitting hard, this survey was carried out with over 100 decision makers in small to medium sized UK companies across a variety of business sectors.
It’s official, bad first impressions will cost your business money. When asked if the state of someone’s offices would affect their overall purchasing decision, almost two thirds (62%) of respondents said that it would be harder for the supplier to secure their business! In addition, when questioned about the affect first impressions have on them when walking into their suppliers offices, over a third of respondents said that shabby offices would make them expect a price reduction when negotiating business! However, for under £2,000, a UK small business can strengthen their position with suppliers and customers, simply by refurbishing their reception area.
Not only is it money that is at stake, a company’s reputation and it’s ability to retain and recruit new staff can all be affected if the physical premises aren’t up to scratch. Just as a limp handshake won’t get you a job, a ‘limp’ reception area, will be an equally great turn off. No matter how much money is spent on advertising and PR, if you have visitors to the office, the physical state of the building is still important. Asked whether the condition of a company’s office reflected what their overall brand stood for, 88% of respondents said it did and over half (55%) said that they would trust a company less if their offices were shabby and scruffy.
It needn’t cost millions to revamp. For under £2000, a reception can be given a clean and modern look using the latest in wallcoverings to create a positive impact on staff, customers and suppliers. When asked what first impacted them on entering a potential supplier’s building, over two thirds (68%) of respondents said that they noticed the cleanliness and décor of the reception area. However, whatever is done to improve the overall first impression given to visitors, it will be money well spent, as over two thirds (68%) of respondents said that they expected an improved environment to alter the perception visitors had to the company.
Richard Wallington, Muraspec’s head of marketing, comments: “We commissioned this survey as we wanted to see if first impressions really did still matter or not in this world of virtual electronic relationships. It seems that from a customers point of view, if they are called upon to visit their supplier, or potential supplier at all, then first impressions do still count – a lot. In fact, we were shocked at the number of respondents who actually said that they would expect a reduced price if the premises didn’t give off the correct image! Having only recently refurbished our own reception area, I must admit the results have come as a pleasant re-enforcement of the money we have invested!”

Email: dcharcharos@publicasity.co.uk