Business Image
One of the most important things in a business is a clean image. I started a small business when I was twelve years old and built it up in a very large small business and then franchised the business. I retired at age 40 after setting up franchises in 23 states and four countries. It is an automotive and cleaning franchise. We always believed in image and cleanliness. How can you sell cleaning services when your equipment is ratty looking, it shows a complete disrespect for the customer.
Image and cleanliness were issues brought forth by some of the leaders of Franchising, such as Ray Kroc of McDonalds and Tom Monhan of Dominos Pizza. That tradition in franchising helps build brand loyalty and shows respect and pride in your work. When Fred Smith started Federal Express, now simply Fed Ex, re-named by the customers, he showed respect by insisting that all delivery vans be pressure washed nightly. If you look at the manual for a Starbucks, 1/2 of it is not how to make coffee, it is about customer service, cleanliness and image. Why? Respect for the customers, employees and Brand Name. Obviously many in business do not believe in image and few in Brand Name. You should in your business. So many of our competitors over the years did not, beating them in the market place was easy. Many times the independent mobile detailing outfits or mobile truck washing companies we competed against did not have a name on the vehicle or trailer the used in the business. Many had not even painted their rigs? Any color really. Heck, they could just paint it white with a blue stripe and put Plain Wrap-Pressure Washing. Anything is better than nothing, but image is important to your business too, any business really. Not only does it degrade the entire industry full of reputable practitioners but also it is degrading to the individual business and their customers when a practitioner fails to maintain a proper image.
I was always and still am today obsessed with image and this obsession in business has served me well, you need to think about this and constantly audit your image from the customer's perspective, look around stand out side your store and just stare, what do you see? Do the same for the competition, what are they lacking? Are you lacking the same, can you improve your image? Here is the first page of the first chapter of my company's Confidential Operations Manual. The entire set of manuals at my Company is over 1000 pages, I know because I was so concerned that it be right, I wrote the damn thing myself. It all starts with image:
IMAGE
The single easiest way to increase sales is to look professional. People believe what they see. If you look the part, you get the part. We at franchise headquarters have gone overboard with every detail. If you haven't noticed, everything is a bright shiny yellow. The trucks, flyers, shirts, hoses, vacuum - YELLOW!! The rest is either blue or silver. We are committed to keeping a positive image in the mind of every customer.
As you are probably aware, Wash Guys has never sacrificed its high public image for money. What you may not realize is that a high public image may not cost as much as you are led to believe.
In the service business, image is fifty percent (50%) of your business. The impact you have on your customers, whether it be your appearance, cleanliness of your equipment or style of your classy color brochure, is forever being re-audited. Even if your first impression is great, you can lose it just as fast if you fail to handle simple details.
Here are a few areas that are the cornerstone of your "new image".
·The clothes you wear
·The way you carry yourself
·The equipment you use
·The people you hire
·The advertising you choose
·Phone conversations
·Your work quality
·Cleanliness of your truck
·Your general appearance
·Literature and business cards
Image in Business are so important, especially in the service business or franchise, so when we see competitors in any market who disregard image and still are able to get business, we realize that our company in such a market is an absolute no-brainer. There are many problems in the Mobile Washing Business with the competition and we are cleaning it up, city by city, state by state; both figuratively and literally. Now ask yourself what is you image like? Can you blowout your competition thru superior image? Have you even thought about this recently? Just like Sam Walton, Ray Kroc, Tom Monhan, Michael Dell, Fred Smith and countless others have in their industries. You can seize the lions share of your market if your will continually focus on your company's image. It worked for us as we seized opportunity to bring quality, image, cleanliness and service back the customer who has clearly been forgotten in so many markets in the United States. It is not everyday that a business walks the talk. Are you giving lip service to the image of your business or do you take it seriously, either way and what ever you do; It shows. Think about it.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs
 Google News Updated : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:51:44 GMT Billionaires Back Antismoking Effort - New York Times
New York Times - Bill Gates and New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced their antismoking initiative on Wednesday in New York. By DONALD G. MCNEIL JR Bill Gates and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced on Wednesday that they would spend $500 million to stop ... Video: Gates, Bloomberg Pool Riches to Fight Smoking The $500 million war on smoking Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:23:48 GMT Discovery may boost statin safety - BBC News
BBC News - Scientists have pinpointed a gene mutation as a major cause of a rare side effect of the cholesterol-lowering drugs statins. They hope the discovery could lead to a simple test to identify patients at increased risk of myopathy - severe muscle pain and ... Gene May Predict Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Risk, Study Says Genetic Cause of Statin-Related Muscle Pain Found Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:14:24 GMT Favre's heir? With backing from mates, Rodgers waits patiently - USA Today
USA Today - By Matt Ludtke, AP By Larry Weisman, USA TODAY He no longer sounds like a retired player after seemingly passing on the opportunity to lead a talent-laden Packers squad. Video: The Rift Between Favre and the Packers Finding new home for Brett Favre won't be easy Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:06:18 GMT Karadzic lived the good life with wine, song - Reuters
Reuters - By Ivana Sekularac BELGRADE (Reuters) - Radovan Karadzic lived the good life while hiding from justice for 11 years: he watched his diet, fell in love and hung out in a small bar where hardliners gathered to sing about his wartime exploits. Video: Karadzic's arrest sparks clashes - 23 Jul 08 Karadzic's secret life enthralls his fellow Serbs Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:05:33 GMT Zimbabwe Parties May Sign Unity Deal Soon, Business Day Reports - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Carli Lourens July 24 (Bloomberg) -- Zimbabwe's ruling and opposition parties may sign a power-sharing agreement soon as they have already agreed on a wide range of issues, Business Day reported, citing people it didn't identify. Fearsome Zimbabwe militias are afraid Delayed Zimbabwe Power-Sharing Talks Seen Beginning Thursday Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:23:06 GMT Rapper 50 Cent sues Taco Bell over ad - New York Daily News
New York Daily News - BY THOMAS ZAMBITO The rapper - real name Curtis Jackson - is suing the fast-food chain for using his hip-hop persona to tout its tacos. 50 Cent sues Taco Bell over ad campaign Rapper 50 Cent says Taco Bell stole his endorsement Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:15:09 GMT Christian Bale's lady sidekick: Sibi Bale - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - Like the Dark Knight/Bruce Wayne, Christian Bale is a real-life man of mystery. Averse to personal publicity, he is well-known for not wanting to discuss his private life. Christian Bale, Wife "Solid" at Knight's Spain Premiere Bale's family feud led to scuffle Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:10:31 GMT RSS to Blog |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... A successfully positioned business sometimes doesn't win a new client.... Read More Businesses eager to open often give little thought to their... Read More New designer uniforms could be the gold charm McDonald's needs... Read More Hiring a brand identity company is very important. In every... Read More Your logo is the most important graphic element in which... Read More Starting a business can take a lot of time, money,... Read More Branding is very important to a business, whether it is... Read More The right logo, with the right characteristics, will boost your... Read More If you've been online long, you're sure to have seen... Read More I've been reminded recently, rather forcefully, that not all reality... Read More If you could have the secret recipe and all the... Read More I have never been a fan of Paris Hilton.I see... Read More I was asked today by a group of students; What... Read More You don't think twice about a business card and letterhead... Read More The task of creating an indelible impact on the memory... Read More Many businesses of today are often driven to compete... Read More Pick up almost any book or report on Mailorder Selling... Read More Branding your comapny should be the first thing a company... Read More Ask any marketing executive and they will tell you that... Read More A corporate logo design should be highly instrumental in building... Read More OK, so you took the plunge and purchased your internet... Read More Visual elements are a major part of your business's brand... Read More The elements and functionality of the basic stationery system is... Read More Make A Bold Promise Then Back It Up With An... Read More So you've decided to go for it-you're ready to choose... Read More
Adsense
websites
A Successful Failure
Im Just Starting, Why Do I Need a Logo Design?
New Uniforms Could be the Gold Charm for the Golden Arches
Brand Identity Company ? Brand Identity Guru
Logo Files: Versions Of Your Logo That You Should Own
What Make Us Unique and Different
Importance of Business Branding
9 Keys to an Effective Logo
Shattering the Branding Myths
Intelligent Design comes from Brand & Account Planners
Brand Strategy - Brand Identity Guru
A Lesson in Branding from Paris Hilton
Speech on Branding from a Franchisor Founder
Branding Your Radio or TV Campaign With A Musical Identity (aka Audo Logo, aka Jingle)
Logo-ize For Instant Identification & Increased Awareness
The Positioning of Success
How to Create Your Own Mail Order Products
Branding Your Business To Make More Money
Effective Branding...Whats in a Name!
Corporate Logo Design ? 6 Keys to Success
Living Your Brand on the Web - Part 1
The Role of a Visual Vocabulary in Brand Identity Design
Not So Stationary Stationery
Simple Risk Reversal Formula Will Send Your Sales Into Space (2 of 2)
Picking The Design Company Which Is Right For You
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Importance of Branding - Whats in a Name?
Branding is perhaps the most important facet of any business--beyond... Read More
Three Brand Identity Myths That Will Bring Your Business Down
To begin, let's define "Brand Identity," which is the combination... Read More
Acquire, Then Rebrand
Acquiring another corporation usually means that the acquiring company's name... Read More
Entrepreneur Speaks on Brand Extension in the Franchise Cleaning Business
On question I have been asked over and over again... Read More
Are You Brand Worthy?
Branding is one hot topic, although it is wildly misunderstood.... Read More
Trademark: Do I Need One for My Business Name and Logo?
Wondering if a trademark is important to you as a... Read More
Brand Value - Brand Identity Guru
Successful Guru marketers have a secret weapon that they use... Read More
Brand Equity
Brand equity can be defined in many different ways. I... Read More
How to Create Your Own Mail Order Products
Pick up almost any book or report on Mailorder Selling... Read More
Co-Branding in Automotive Service Businesses
In a world of co-branding, point of destination strategies and... Read More
Blonds Have More Fun!
In the book, The Blond Knight of Germany, American authors... Read More
Build Brand Value BIG Time
Ask your self this question, In which business are we... Read More
Fast Forwarding Your Business
If you think only big corporate names need to think... Read More
Effective Branding...Whats in a Name!
Ask any marketing executive and they will tell you that... Read More
Speech on Branding from a Franchisor Founder
I was asked today by a group of students; What... Read More
Brand Your Name!
Have you ever thought about branding your name? Does the... Read More
When Search Engine Marketing and Trademarks Collide
In the world of marketing, branding issues are always an... Read More
The Secrets of Starting Business Successfully
Starting Business Secrets will help you to start your own... Read More
Branding Your Radio or TV Campaign With A Musical Identity (aka Audo Logo, aka Jingle)
You don't think twice about a business card and letterhead... Read More
Branding: What Not to Do
Here's a little story about what not to do as... Read More
Brand Warfare is More of a War than You Think
We will discuss Brand Marketing for a minute. In this... Read More
Franchisor Policies for Unlicensed or Sold Territories
Franchisors often have issues when they own a brand which... Read More
The Very Basics of Design
Design is a very subjective thing, therefore, if you ask... Read More
Corporate Internet Branding ? Branding Your Business Online
Let me tell you a story about Pete and a... Read More
Brand Equity Building - Measuring Brand Value
Measuring brand equity allows a company to establish a baseline... Read More
Branding |