Vehicle signs can be harmful to your business since they connect the actions of your employees directly to your business. So far this week:
- Home builder’s SUV was parked in a handicapped spot at the post office;
- Insurance sales person’s car took up two spaces at my lunch spot;
- Furniture store delivery truck sped past me at 80+ mph (remarkable given the truck’s age);
- Dump truck raced through a school zone at double the limit; and
- Electrician’s van driver tossed a sandwich wrapper from his window.
The owners of these businesses spent money placing good-looking signs on their vehicles to help build awareness for their companies.
- They were successful: I remember their company names.
- Unfortunately, I also have a poor impression of the quality of people they hire and already have decided that I don’t want to do business with them.
You can substitute “Logo Clothing” for “Vehicle Signs” and all I need to do is provide different examples, including a restaurant server littering in front of a nearby store this afternoon.
So what should an owner do?
- Teach your employees:
- How they’re expected to represent your company; and
- They can be fired for what they do when representing your company.
- Put your phone number on each vehicle. (While you’ll get very few calls, this may communicate to your employees that their actions are important.)
- Have a few trusted people be on the lookout for your equipment and employees and report back to you the good and the ugly about what they see.
- Be sure to give positive reinforcement to those who have performed properly.