Wai Tie Mai Tie

Selling well means interaction with customers.  And before you can sell your product you need to sell “yourself.”  Sales people who look their best tend to come across as more confident, assertive, professional and most importantly, more productive.

Certainly some industries have a more casual dress code as a whole, but in sales, what you wear is the most visible and obvious credential that you have.  Taking a little more time to dress well will definitely contribute to your success¹. 

I recall when I first started at Sitepro and was trying to determine what my dress style should be.  My boss always dresses impeccably with shirt and tie.   For client meetings he adds a suit or sport coat, so certainly I could mimic the look and be just fine.  But I was given the option to dress as I felt appropriate so I tried a couple of variations; polo shirt and dockers, polo shirt and dress slacks, dress shirt and dress slacks, shirt and tie. How to decide?

The clincher was a stop I made to a doctors appointment at a local hospital on a day I was wearing shirt and tie.  Everyone I met greeted me with “good morning.”  Now I’ve been to the same office wearing a polo shirt and a few people greeted me.  And I’ve been there in blue jeans and no one greeted me at all.  But put on a shirt and tie and everyone thinks you’re a doctor. 

Bingo!  Doctors tend to dress up, why?  Because they come across as more professional, that’s why. Would you feel more comfortable seeing a cardiac specialist wearing a tie, or one wearing ratty blue jeans and a holey shirt?  I’d opt for the tie, even though I would have no other visible sign of their competency or capabilities. 

The same is true in sales.  The only thing your customer has to determine your competency and capabilities is how you present yourself.  You are a direct reflection of your company and your product. Ratty look, ratty product.  Sharp and well-dressed?  Great product from a professional company. 

So bypass the used clothing rack and start dressing for success.  In this age of competitiveness, any edge you can get will help you make the sale.   I can’t pick out your clothes, but I can help your company improve its image with a terrific website.  Contact me for more information at 715-858-7879.

¹Jane Shonfeld, Dress for Sales Success