At CITY, we believe the way you dress can have a crucial impact on your customers and employees alike.
We have provided uniforms for companies for over 100 years and a key factor of why we recommend having a uniform program is being able to show a team-first and committed environment, representing the values of the company.
Appearances do matter, especially in a professional setting. So when you don’t wear a uniform or a set outfit every day, it becomes even more important to be consistent and committed to a good look
“When you dress a certain way, you look a certain way. When you look a certain way, you feel a certain way,” Des Moines Regional Manager Mark Ballo said. “The way you dress makes you perceive the world differently and that can impact the bottom-line results.”
CITY encourages its sales and office staff to dress to impress. At any point, a position in our company could become customer facing and it’s important to put the best effort forward to appear professional and show you care by putting effort into your outfit.
“A customer is going to think of you differently wearing a nice shirt and a nice pair of shoes than if you walk in, in a pair of jeans,” Chriss Carsello, CITY’s Sales Manager said. “I believe the first look is crucial in showing how professional you are and representing CITY.”
Clothing of course has an effect on both the wearer and the observer. We want our customers to have an all-around great experience. All of our Route Service Representatives wear their uniforms proudly and professionally to be able to provide an experience shaped by professionalism.
“It all comes down to customer service and customer experience,” Mark said. “For the 15 minutes a week that our route service is servicing an account, it’s all about the experience they have.”
Over the past five years, several studies have supported the long-standing claim “Dress for success.” Scientists from Columbia University and Cal State Northridge published a study examining how clothing influences their thoughts. The results found it can lead to more practical and results-driven thinking, especially important in a sales environment.
From promoting attention to detail to boosting self-confidence and ultimately providing a great first impression. Dressing for the win can help you be successful beyond just your day-to-day work. While you may think a pair of nice Khaki pants and branded polo can’t make a difference, on a recent sales call, First Aid and Facility Services Sales Representative Al Voigt says he likes to dress for success to show how CITY can make a difference for the customer.
“What you wear can often be overlooked,” Al said. “In my career, however, I think now more than ever people realize how important it is to appear professional and in sales, I can say from experience that it has a direct impact on your success.”
While appearance certainly isn’t everything, at CITY we want to show our customers we care every step of the way, and paying attention to what we wear is a key component of how we can achieve that.
“When you take the time to dress nice, it gives the message that you are 100 percent committed to success,” Mark said.