This is a debate that we've taken to heart rather recently.
We ordered hoodies for staff as the company winter-wear.
Hoodies are nothing more than a jumper with a hood on it.
It's the criminals who've given them a bad name, not us folk.
I think for interviews and executive meetings a suit is essential.
But for everyday duties in the cold winter a suit is impractical. 😎
This is the 21st century and although some people still hold onto the past we move into the future. What you wear doesn't change who you are as a person. All this rubbish about appearances is trash. Once you get talking to a customer, make them laugh, answer their questions and provide an informal demonstration of the service they're about to buy, you soon realise just how pointless suits are. If anything, walking into a person's home wearing a suit is off-putting as it makes them feel uncomfortable. They think you're "above" them, they think you're a professional who doesn't take nonsense and who wants to get straight to the point...money. They think you're trying to sell them something! Our approach is different. We aren't trying to sell anyone anything! We go in wearing smart, but casual clothes. We smile and look friendly, we sit down and have a chat, even a laugh! We show them what we can do for them and listen to what they want and then we leave with a handshake and leave it up to them if they want to purchase our services. It works! I can imagine many professionals reading this and saying "Shame on you!" but my response would simply be, "No sir! Shame on you! You're in it for the money, not the relationship building with people who are not like you! Everyday informal people." Obviously, for an interview or an executive/business meeting we'd dress appropriately and I'd personally expect my staff to do the same. But when it comes to approaching business from a family perspective there's nothing more off-putting than looking substantially "more expensive" than the people you are talking with on "equal terms".
I suppose it all boils down to the question, "should you do business in a hoodie?". No, you should never do business in a hoodie! Business is money. Money and hoodies don't work! But working with customers, offering friendly advice and support in their own homes, and being part of the family is not business! That's service. Service is not about money, it's about being happy, being comfortable, and being appreciated for the values you provide. How many people in the street do you see wearing suits unless they're businessmen? Personally, I think the frenzy about hoodies is immature. Hoodies are given a bad name because of the criminals who wear them. How many criminals wear smart suits...far more! Take bankers and politicians as a fine example! 😉 We are happy to be who we are...different!
Rat Hosting Winter Wear (yes, it's a nice warm hoodie! 🙂 )
We ordered hoodies for staff as the company winter-wear.
Hoodies are nothing more than a jumper with a hood on it.
It's the criminals who've given them a bad name, not us folk.
I think for interviews and executive meetings a suit is essential.
But for everyday duties in the cold winter a suit is impractical. 😎
This is the 21st century and although some people still hold onto the past we move into the future. What you wear doesn't change who you are as a person. All this rubbish about appearances is trash. Once you get talking to a customer, make them laugh, answer their questions and provide an informal demonstration of the service they're about to buy, you soon realise just how pointless suits are. If anything, walking into a person's home wearing a suit is off-putting as it makes them feel uncomfortable. They think you're "above" them, they think you're a professional who doesn't take nonsense and who wants to get straight to the point...money. They think you're trying to sell them something! Our approach is different. We aren't trying to sell anyone anything! We go in wearing smart, but casual clothes. We smile and look friendly, we sit down and have a chat, even a laugh! We show them what we can do for them and listen to what they want and then we leave with a handshake and leave it up to them if they want to purchase our services. It works! I can imagine many professionals reading this and saying "Shame on you!" but my response would simply be, "No sir! Shame on you! You're in it for the money, not the relationship building with people who are not like you! Everyday informal people." Obviously, for an interview or an executive/business meeting we'd dress appropriately and I'd personally expect my staff to do the same. But when it comes to approaching business from a family perspective there's nothing more off-putting than looking substantially "more expensive" than the people you are talking with on "equal terms".
I suppose it all boils down to the question, "should you do business in a hoodie?". No, you should never do business in a hoodie! Business is money. Money and hoodies don't work! But working with customers, offering friendly advice and support in their own homes, and being part of the family is not business! That's service. Service is not about money, it's about being happy, being comfortable, and being appreciated for the values you provide. How many people in the street do you see wearing suits unless they're businessmen? Personally, I think the frenzy about hoodies is immature. Hoodies are given a bad name because of the criminals who wear them. How many criminals wear smart suits...far more! Take bankers and politicians as a fine example! 😉 We are happy to be who we are...different!
Rat Hosting Winter Wear (yes, it's a nice warm hoodie! 🙂 )
