I've heard it time and time again. It typically starts out with "Business is slow..." and is usually followed up with, "It must be the economy." or "People just don't get it." (refering to the service they are selling). Now, I can't speak for other industries, but I'll share my experience of what I do know, what we all have been hearing and why it seems that I have been hearing it more and more.

Without showing my age (too much), long before I entered into Home Staging and Interior Design I worked for MANY years as a Human Resource Manager, Recruiter and Trainer for an Interntionally known "jeans & t-shirt" retailer (as well as many more before THAT) and I can't tell you how many times I wanted to slap the head of a teenager who would come to our "jeans & t-shirt establishment" for a JOB INTERVIEW in a tank top and flip flops and think that it was "ok".
That being said; why then do some "Professionals" feel it is acceptable to do the same when they are grown adults? If you cannot get to a meeting in decent attire then what is that saying about YOU and more importantly, YOUR COMPANY? Especially in a profession such as Home Staging where we often toute, "Your home gets one chance to make a great 1st impression." And this little rant of advice goes beyond mere image.
However, I have been told by two recent clients that the reason Platinum Home Staging, Inc. was awarded the job was because of how we came to the first meeting, or interview, with the Home Owners. Yes, we dress up just as if we were going to a job interview - because we ARE. One Seller even commented, and I quote: "The 'other' stager looked like she was in her pajamas and I didn't think we'd be able to get the home staged at the level we would like it be because of the way she presented herself." YOU only get one chance to make that great 1st impression, not only for YOU, but for your COMPANY!
If you didn't get the chance to read the comment left by Erik Hitzelberger in this blog post please do so. He says that 5 of 7 Home Stagers NEVER EVEN RETURNED HIS CALLS?!?!?! Maybe they are already out of business, and if they are not then they soon will be. Unfortunately I personally have heard this from a Realtor who's Sellers were willing to pay a premium price for our services to Stage a home since we had to travel outside of our normal service area. Why? Because THEY had called several Stagers, and THEY never got a return call either. Unfortunately, when I did try to refer them to Stagers in their area, 2 of the 3 were companies they themselves had already attempted to contact. What's the point of having a business if you can't ever answer your phone or check your voice mail? If you're too busy, at least call the client and let them know. If you are no longer in business, disconnect the number and stop advertising. If you are going out of town, update your voice mail to say so and when you will be returning.

Time is Money we all know it, we live by it, most industries charge by it. So why then would you show up to a meeting late? I try to make a point of always being early to appointments and nobody KNOWS traffic, like us in Los Angeles KNOW traffic - but you know what I'll admit it, I LOST a bid recently because I was late. And you know what, I deserved to lose that bid. That poor Realtor took time out of his busy day to meet ME and I was late - serves me right! On the other hand, I learned my lesson and on another recent bid I was 10 minutes early. The Seller specifically said that I was awarded the job, "Because in the land of late, you were early."
OK, lastly I have to mention websites. I do NOT have the most professional, glitzy nor glamorous website on the web. What I DO have a pretty darn good SEO and Google juice (might I add I designed and maintain my website MYSELF from scratch) and I am updating it constantly. As Stagers we are constantly mentioning how Buyers shop the internet for homes first, well you know what? They shop the Internet for Home Stagers first to! One local Home Stager website has a picture of the Owner in a strappy tank top, floppy sun hat with dark sunglasses and shorts. Now I'm just saying, but I felt like hanging a sign around her neck that reads, "Would you hire me?". You also need to make sure that YOUR website photos are of your best Staging work and that they are updated frequently WITH YOUR OWN WORK. Don't just throw up some pictures and think that you're "done" - your website is your virtual business card.
This blog is NOT a rant. I am just trying to put it out there that YOUR BUSINESS and success of it is completely in YOUR CONTROL! If you can't respect your own business, then why should your clients? Just my $.02 spend it how you wish.
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Platinum Home Staging, Inc. Home Staging Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Hollywood, Hancock Park, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Canoga Park, Van Nuys, West Hills, Northridge, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Wood Ranch, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Oak Park, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Malibu
Connie, you make a lot of great, common sense offering in this post. It's always proper to dress in appropriate business attire when doing any job. We are what we project!