If your business regularly hosts clients and customers at your offices, its lobby will serve as the ultimate first impression of your company. In the corporate world, these introductions are extremely important, that’s why it’s essential that you dedicate manpower, time and resources towards making sure your office lobby shines. Here’s how to make sure that you’re checking all the right boxes.
Essential Elements of the Perfect Office Lobby
Design
When designing your office lobby, try to consider the message that it will send to customers when they enter. For instance, an unkempt lobby with cheap furniture and little creativity will seem cut-rate and dingy. More often than not, this will turn visitors off and you might end up losing business.
On the other hand, a grandiose, lavishly-designed lobby won’t necessarily make matters any better. Opulence and extravagance might make you seem out-of-touch and expensive, which can both be deal breakers for potential customers.
It won’t be easy, but you need to find the ideal middle ground. Start by trying to figure out exactly how you want your lobby to make your customers feel. Put yourself in their shoes and attempt to determine which elements they would appreciate.
Cleanliness
The overall level of cleanliness in your company’s lobby can also greatly impact the way that clients feel about your business. Just think about it, who wants to do business with a company that has a dirty, gross workplace? Not many do.
If you are neglecting the tidiness and cleanliness of your office, clients may come to think that you will start to neglect them and their business at some point, as well. Because really, if you can’t care about your own business, how are you going to care about your customers’ businesses?
If you’re serious about making the right first impression, it’s time to get rid of those stain-ridden carpets and decaying furniture. Invest in a cleaning service. Just think, the money you’re spending will help prevent losing clients due to a bad impression in the long run.
Keeping them Busy
It’s no secret that, when hosting customers and taking meetings in your office, sometimes clients will have to wait for a few minutes, usually in the lobby. That’s why it’s sometimes a good idea to equip your lobby with features to keep them busy.
Being able to interest and delight clients can go a long way towards making a good first impression. Your idea can be as big as a full-scale coffee bar to as simple as magazines or a television. The idea is to just provide them with some outlet to unwind while they wait.
When you’re able to enthrall clients and customers with the ideal office lobby, you will strengthen and sustain your business relationship, paving the way for deals and partnerships to come.
