Keep on Strummin’: The Four Leaf Strummers Banjo Band
Posted by: Kate on: January 5, 2009
One of our Customer Service Reps, Jenn M. (there are many Jennifers), emailed me a few weeks ago about our customer Carl, of the Four Leaf Strummers, an 11 piece banjo band. She thought he had an interesting story- right up my alley! I contacted him for his story, and he proved to be just the character this blogger is always looking for!
Kate: How long have you been playing?
Carl: I have been playing (if you can call it that) for about 15 yrs. I took a few group lessons 15 yrs ago, but I am basically self-taught.
Kate: What genre of music does your band play?
Carl: What the heck is a “genre?” Anyway, we play just about everything: bluegrass, gospel, and lots of oldies (“5ft 2”, “Ain’t She Sweet”, “Good Nite Irene”, “Wabash Cannonball”, “Dark Town Strutters Ball”). You name it; we play it. Just last week we put on a Christmas performance featuring ALL of the old carols. Can you imagine “Silent Night” on a banjo?
Kate: How many musicians make up your band?
Carl: About half. Ha ha! Actually, we have 10 banjos and a bass. Most of us, including me, can’t read a note of music. We play just about anywhere they will have us. We usually get a small donation when we play, except for Veterans who always get a free ride.
Kate: How do you spend your donations?
Carl: None of us ever take any money. We use what we get for new sound equipment, stage banners and Queensboro pullovers. [Aside from Kate: I did not pay him to say that!]
Kate: What advice do you have for banjo playing newbies?
Carl: My advice to newbies is to “GET A LIFE!” Take up fishing, golf or better yet, get a girlfriend. Speaking of girls, we have 5 female players. And all of us are on Social Security.
Kate: How did you find Queensboro?
Carl: We found Queensboro while Googling for jackets.
Kate: What is the significance of your band’s name?
Carl: We call ourselves the “Four Leaf Strummers”, because our theme song and opening number is always “I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover.” Good golly we are so clever!!!
Carl promises to send us a picture of the Four Leaf Strummers in their new Queensboro pullovers. In the meantime, he promises that they will keep on strummin’. If you find yourself in Punta Gorda, Florida, be sure to check your local listings so you can catch a show.
Turning over a new Leaf
Posted by: Kate on: January 2, 2009
January 2, 2009. It is a new year with limitless possibilities ahead of me. Endless blogs to write, shirts to try on, plants to plant, news to read, places to go, miles to walk. I love the beginning of a new year. It is a chance to start over, resume or carry on that which was successful last year. Here is my number one New Year’s resolution for 2009: “I will stop wasting so much time on the internet.” Oh, wait, that is my JOB, to waste time on the internet, because it is not wasting time if I find a nugget of usefulness to share with you! Ok, let’s try again. “In 2009, I resolve to stop buying so many things from Queensboro.” Well, that will never work. I am Queensboro’s best employee customer! This New Year’s resolution writing is not going so well. I might need some help! Luckily, while wasting time on the internet, I found a bunch of websites that offer help with New Year’s resolutions.
A Helping Hand from the U.S. Government
Washington is so good at getting things that matter done (please detect sarcasm in my voice). That is why they have built the nifty web page “Popular New Year’s Resolutions” to help people help themselves. For the strict purpose of learning from the U.S. Government’s infinite wisdom about how to save money, I clicked on the “Save Money” link. Predictably, I had to click through about six links in order to find some advice. The most stellar advice about saving money on gasoline was: “You can save hundreds of dollars a year by comparing prices at different stations, pumping gas yourself, and using the lowest-octane called for in your owner’s manual.” I already do that, now what?
Ehow.com Advice
Ehow.com is a funny little site. I have, from time to time, learned some insights about how to do something simple like time an egg or make an origami snowflake. They are getting in on the web-traffic love bandwagon with their “How to Make a New Year’s Resolution” post.
Entrepreneur.com’s Business Resolutions
Entrepreneur magazine is one of my favorites for sound advice, case studies and general wisdom about operating a small business. Their website is equally helpful. If one of your resolutions is to be a more well-rounded, diverse and helpful employee at your company, check out their New Year’s Resolution post. It is advice just about anyone can use!
Turning over a New Leaf
A common New Year’s resolution that many are making, and that I plan to adopt is to be “greener.” I have been reading about “green fatigue” in places like Outside magazine and The New York Times. It can be a little bit difficult to determine which environmental solution is the best and will add up to make a difference in the long run. One thing that Outside mentions is that nobody can afford $182 organic cotton jeans. Luckily for you and me, if you want to “go green” with your daily wear, Queensboro offers several organic options, including hats, tees and polos, for less than the cost of most conventionally produced items. You can be green and save green. I am going to have to pop back on from time to time to let you know how my new plan is working.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year from Queensboro!
Posted by: Kate on: December 30, 2008
It’s time to kiss 2008 goodbye! On the eve of the new year, it is customary to look back over the previous year and offer some thoughts for the coming months. At Queensboro, we have a lot to be thankful for and much to look forward to in the coming year. So that you’re not hearing from just me, the Queensboro blogger, I walked around the warehouse and asked the Queensboro staff for New Year’s felicitations and best wishes for you, our customers. Here are their wishes for you, in this brand new year.
Kagney, in Customer Service
“To Our Queensboro Customers: Without you there would be no Queensboro! Thank You for making 2008 a great year, and we look forward to an even better 2009!!”
Heather, in Marketing
Work, love and play are the great balance wheels of man’s being
Orison Swett Marden
“Orison Swett Marden was an American inspirational writer who believed that all of our successes are a direct result of our thoughts, and that will-power, positive thinking and balance were keys to a life of financial and personal prosperity. I wish you all this and more as 2008 turns to 2009.”
Susan, in Sales
“2008 has been a tumultuous year, but has allowed me to appreciate what I have, and achieve a kind of inner peace. This will hopefully help me model a spirit of contentedness and calm toward my family, my co-workers and my customers.”
BJ, in Production
“My New Year’s resolution is to move more and get fit.”
(I believe that BJ speaks for most of the entire staff with her resolution.)
Jennifer G., in Customer Service
“I’m getting ready for life with a one year old. I think that speaks for itself.”
Brittany and Ashlee, in Customer Service
“Our goal is to save money in the New Year. Luckily, when you shop at Queensboro, you can save money, too!”
Heather, the Training Manager
“I would like to remind everyone to go to the dentist more.” (She was reminded of this when she had to go to the dentist a few weeks ago.)
Kate, the Blogger
“I would like to wish all of our Queensboro customers and “Behind the Seams: the Queensboro Blog” readers a happy, healthy, safe, productive and fun New Year! I have had a great time getting to know all of you—learning about your businesses and stories. Kagney is right, without you, there would be no Queensboro!”
Happy New Year!
New Year’s Resolutions: Small Business Marketing
Posted by: Kate on: December 29, 2008
“After all, Tomorrow is another Day.” So says Scarlett O’Hara, at the end of “Act One” of Gone With the Wind. To make sure I had it right, I asked Billy, our new production manager, and one of the few true southerners working at Queensboro. (Welcome to the Queensboro Blog, Billy!)
Well, two days after tomorrow is a New Year, so there’s no time like the present to get moving on your New Year’s resolutions for your business. Many people I have talked to recently are more than happy to see the end of 2008, so let’s go ahead and move on without waiting for the ball to drop in Times Square. If you’re like a lot of small businesses around the United States, you have had to cut your budget across the board. Do not fear. You can still market your business without tons of money, it will just take a little bit of elbow grease and some innovation. Here are some ideas to elevate your business image and presence in 2009 and beyond.
- Invest in some fresh logo apparel. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I fully support this method of brand marketing. I would be remiss in not mentioning Queensboro’s small business service of custom logo shirts and bags with only a four piece minimum order, which makes us perfect for small businesses! Fresh, new shirts to make you and your staff look professional and crisp should definitely be part of your marketing strategy. I have experienced this, myself, for my own freelance business, and blog about it frequently. (Shameless sales plug aside, moving along.)
- Get involved in the social media. Don’t know what social media is? Here are a few websites to give you a leg up. Remember—it is not just participating in social media marketing that will help your business—it is how you participate that will make the difference. Chris Brogan: http://www.chrisbrogan.com and Seth Godin: http://sethgodin.typepad.com are two of my marketing heroes.
- Volunteer for community events and projects with your staff (this is also a good place to wear your company polo shirts! HINT. Oh, wait, I promised no more shameless plugging). This is essentially free marketing, because you will be listed as a “sponsor” in the event materials. Also, community members will get to know you and your staff, see how friendly and knowledgeable you are and will undoubtedly remember your business and call upon you when they are in need of your services.
- Contribute products or services to radio and TV station giveaways. Lots of stations do trivia contests. Some will charge you to participate in the giveaways, but others will not. Free PR!
- Try email marketing. If you aren’t into the world of email marketing yet, it can be a very low-cost way to market your business. Queensboro uses email marketing to communicate with our existing and new customers. It has become part of our brand.
Best wishes to all of you in the New Year! Give some of these marketing tips a try for low-cost marketing in 2009!
Sale Shopping and Other Holiday Rituals
Posted by: Kate on: December 26, 2008
Today is the day for everyone to go and exchange the holiday presents they don’t like and overspend their gift card allotments on fabulous sales. There are likely going to be unbelievable bargains today for those who are brave enough to venture out into the fray. If you would like to take advantage of a good deal, but would rather not have to go anywhere, enjoy this blog post, in a leisurely fashion, and then head on over to the Queensboro website, where we have one of the best sales of the year happening right now. If you’ve been meaning to buy some corporate logo polos for your staff, but keep putting it off—today is a good day to get the job done. But, before you do that, read on, for some of the most interesting, bizarre or downright scary holiday traditions that take place at this time of year.
“Don’t Touch the Thermostat!”
Has anyone out there NOT had the fun of a family thermostat battle? The New York Times online had a charming article about one family’s varying chill that ensues at their parents’ home when family members and spouses visit for the holidays. Subsequently, a mad scramble for blankets often takes place, as well as the donning of extra clothes they have left there over the years for such a purpose (stylish or not). It is not unusual, says that author, to sleep with the bedroom doors open at night in order to circulate what (little) heat they have.
I, personally, experience the opposite problem when visiting my family. My Mom desperately wants grandchildren, and that must be her motivation for cranking up the heat to completely unbearable temperatures (more heat, less clothing?). We don’t have to sleep with our door open to the hallway. We sleep with the door to the upstairs, outdoor porch open—to let in the cold! Like the family in the article, my parents’ house has a digital thermostat that I couldn’t figure out if I wanted to. Every night, without fail, though, my Mom pads out to the downstairs hallway in her night-shoes, clutching her flashlight, and inspects the thermostat to make sure that none of us have managed to crack the code.
“A Christmas Story” Marathon
See my previous post on this odd, and, quite frankly, disturbing, ritual.
Sauerkraut
I will be doing some pretty extended mall walking to prepare my gut for the annual New Years Day meal at my house. In my family, you have to eat sauerkraut, black eyed peas, pork sausage, and mashed potatoes in order to be visited by good luck throughout the year. Cabbage is supposedly a symbol of money, and the pork another symbol of money. Hmm. Maybe I will try to actually carry through with this tradition this year.
Psychology Today’s Take on Ritual
But really, let’s leave it to the experts to determine whether our holiday rituals are all in good fun, or are actually harming our future happiness by persisting outside of any reason. (Until I looked up the symbolic meaning of our New Year’s meal, my view of it fell into the latter description. I might need to change my tune.) In their article about holiday traditions and rituals, PT offers this advice to identify whether your rituals are good for you or ridiculous and need to be retired:
“Your holiday routine should never feel like a walk through a minefield. In fact, if family tradition brings havoc, or if its preparation zaps joy, perhaps your ritual has officially gone stiff. If rituals get too rigid, there’s typically a cost: They bring a sense of burden and personal distress rather than comfort and refuge. It’s no longer a ritual; it’s a routine without meaning.”
Well, if eating sauerkraut means that I will have a financially flush new year, I guess I’ll keep eating it.
Peace
Posted by: Kate on: December 24, 2008
It is Christmas Eve, which I know not everybody celebrates. I, myself, tend to celebrate in a more secular fashion. As I wrote about in an earlier post “November 19th Day: One Family’s Festivus,” in my family, the holidays are when we can all be together. Unfortunately, rarely is there peace! We are a high-strung bunch. I usually need a vacation from my vacation with them. This year, I will have a peaceful holiday (I hope), spending some time with fellow Queensboro co-workers (not at work– they do give us a couple of days off!), and welcoming my husband’s sister and parents down to Wilmington this coming weekend. This will, of course, include a tour of the Queensboro warehouse– no trip to Wilmington is complete without it!
How to Say Happy Holidays
Writing a corporate blog, read by customers across the globe with many different spiritual persuasions presents a particular challenge at this time of year. At Queensboro, we help businesses create and use their ultimate symbols to represent their companies—their logos, so I enjoy learning the history behind popular and frequently used symbols. I decided that, while I want to wish everyone happy holidays, more than anything, I want to wish you peace. I started researching the origin of different peace symbols- the dove, the olive branch, the peace sign and more, and what I found is that, all over the world, every culture has a sign of peace, and everyone has a different concept of “Peace.” Some actively pursue world peace or peace between nations. Others pursue peace from within, hoping that their inner peace will radiate outward. Some think of peace as a slowing down of the pace, while others think of peace as productivity that lifts people up.
Whatever peace is for you, during the dark, mid-December days, while we wait for daylight to return, I hope you can find your peace this winter.
Happy Holidays from Queensboro
Our embroidery machines sit idle today and tomorrow, the warehouse is quiet as a mouse. While we gather with our families this week, the Queensboro staff wishes everyone Happy Holidays, and peace.
Sit Happens: Queensboro November Logo Contest Winner
Posted by: Kate on: December 22, 2008
At Queensboro, we love puns, play on words, and logos that tickle our funny bones. Naturally, when it came time to vote* for our favorite logo of November 2008, “Sit Happens: Behavior by Design” won by a landslide. As always, I like to get the “Behind the Seams” scoop behind the logo. Heather, the business owner, was kind enough to share with me how, exactly, “Sit Happens.”
First, we had to talk about the name and the logo design. The best company logos fully represent the business and the business name, providing an instant recognition and understanding of the business brand. Heather named her company and designed her own logo to play on the idea of “designing” the perfect dog. So many times people want to plan everything out beforehand, and you can’t really do that with dogs. The dog featured in the logo is her Siberian Huski, Loki, whom Heather says taught her a lot about canine behavioral issues and gave her a chance to try out various training techniques on a regular basis. She combined the oft-used (in the dog training world) term “Sit Happens” with the measurement graphic. Her entire printed logo incorporates a blueprint paper background (a bit difficult to translate in embroidery). You can see her embroidery logo, above right, and her website, with her entire logo at http://behaviorbydesign.net.
Behavior by Design
Heather started Behavior by Design in 2007, with the help of her dog-training mentors with whom she has worked for the past seven years. They provide in-home private training for families and their dogs to learn basic manners and obedience. Heather also works with people who want to participate in dog performance events such as competition obedience, agility, and rally. She also trains dogs (and their owners) that have behavior problems such as resource guarding, separation anxiety, chewing, stealing, house training issues, and more. Behavior by Design also offers group classes which focus on basic manners and obedience. This classroom setting is a great opportunity for dog (and human) socialization, and provides a chance to teach dogs to focus and concentrate in distracting situations.
A Dog Funny
I imagined that if you work with dogs all day, you probably have some pretty funny stories to share. This is a little funny from Heather and one of her puppies. She says
“We’ve all see male dogs hike their legs to go to the bathroom. Well, one of the puppies I work with recently turned a year old and is just starting to hike his leg. I guess his balance isn’t so great because I was watching him when I took him out one day, and he carefully leaned against a nearby fence to balance himself while he did his business. I thought that was quite clever of him to figure out!”
Tips for Dog Owners and Potential Dog Owners
I use every interaction with our customers to learn as much as I can from them. I took the opportunity to ask Heather what some of the biggest misconceptions about dog training are, and what every potential dog owner should know before adopting a dog.
Heather’s thoughts on training: “I believe that the biggest misconception that people have right now is that to have a well-behaved dog, you have to ‘dominate them’ using forceful, coercive or punitive methods. To have a well-behaved dog, it is important to provide structure and consistent handling, but this can be done using positive, non-coercive methods. This is the focus of my business - teaching people to develop a strong, healthy and loving relationship based on trust and understanding.”
Heather’s tips for potential new dog owners: “I think that it’s so important to understand why you want to bring a dog into your life, and make sure that the breed/mix you choose fits well with your lifestyle and goals. So often, people decide on the spur of the moment that they want a dog, or choose a breed just because of they way they look, or because of those irresistible puppy-dog eyes. Without doing research, many people end up choosing pets that need more management, guidance, exercise or interaction than they are able or willing to provide. When this happens, you end up with unhappy people and an unhappy dog (often with behavioral problems) who may end up being re-homed (sometimes repeatedly). Doing research and understanding what you want and what will fit well with your lifestyle will help avoid the potential challenges and heartache.”
You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks
Because my dog Lucy only sits when I am holding a T-R-E-A-T or a piece of C-H-E-E-S-E, I said to Heather “I really want to know: Can you teach old dogs new tricks?” My dog Lucy is seven years old. According to the chart in her vet’s office, that is about 50 in dog years. Bless her heart (as we say in the south), Heather gave me some hope. “Absolutely, Kate, we work with dogs of all ages in our classes and they do well! It’s all about finding out what motivates the particular dog, and integrating the motivator into training by using it as a reward for new behaviors well done.” Service dog training programs often work with shelter-rescued dogs that are older, teaching them amazing new behaviors, and finding them new “forever homes.” Dogs (and people) of all ages can learn new behaviors. That’s the power of training!
Behavior by Design only Wears Queensboro
Another dog-trainer friend of Heather’s orders from Queensboro and sent Heather the link to our site. Heather said the person she referred had a great shirt done with an image of her dog, and had nothing but good things to say about Queensboro. Impressed with the work, and the great prices, Heather ordered several shirts for herself and plans to order for her staff, as well.
It was great fun to get to know Heather and her business “Sit Happens: Behavior by Design.” If you have an interesting business and love wearing your Queensboro shirts to work, visit our website and send us an email! We’d love to feature you on the blog!
*Queensboro Customer Service reps and Logo Specialists submit customer logos that have caught their eye throughout the month. Then, we vote for our favorite and the winner is featured on the blog.
What is Twill?
Posted by: Kate on: December 19, 2008
Queensboro frequently offers our twills on sale for a very reasonable price. Have you ever wondered exactly what the word “twill” means? Do you read our product descriptions and think “That sounds like a great shirt, but what does it look like?” Today, we solve the mystery! What is twill?
Right, is a diagram of a typical twill weave.
Twill Terms
To understand twill, you need to get some fabric terminology under your belt.
Even Sided Twill: Both sides of the fabric appear the same. The warp yarns and filling yarns are the same.
Filling Yarn (or Weft Yarn): Yarns running opposite to the warp yarns “filling” in the space between.
Floats: Yarns that lie free on the surface of the fabric, crossing two or more yarns without any cross yarns.
Grain: The grain of the fabric affects the way it hangs or drapes. The grain runs with the warp threads, and in most cases, the fabric should be cut in relation to the warp grain.
Selvedge: This is the edge of the fabric that runs in the same direction as the warp threads.
Technical Face: The side of the twill that has the most pronounced wale. This will be the most durable side of the fabric.
Wale: The wale is the raised pattern on the face of the fabric created by the weave. This is diagonal across the fabric on twills. The steeper the angle of the wale, the stronger the fabric.
Warp: Yarns running length-wise in the fabric, creating the fabric grain. The warp yarns are generally stronger than the filling yarns. These are the yarns that attach to the loom.
Description of Twill Weave
Each warp or filling yarn floats across two or more filling or warp yarns with a progression of interlacings by one to the right or left, producing a noticeable diagonal line, or wale.
Types of Twill Fabric Used in Queensboro Products
While scrolling through Queensboro’s online catalog, you will find descriptions for products made from these types of twill. Below, further descriptions of each fabric type are listed to help you understand the characteristics of the products (with thanks to Heather).
Chino: Generally made from heavyweight cotton; a warp-faced, steep angled twill fabric.
Denim: A heavyweight warp-faced, yarn-dyed twill.
Herringbone: A medium-to heavyweight even-sided twill with the twill lines reversed in a regular pattern to produce a design that resembles the backbone of a fish. Herringbones are generally yarn dyed, and can be solid or multicolored.
Houndstooth: An even-sided twill, usually heavyweight, with a pointed check design. This pattern resembles a dog’s canine tooth, thus giving the fabric its name.
Oxford: A medium weight soft and lustrous fabric. Oxford is usually produced in an unbalanced basket, or half basket, but looks balanced because the warp yarns used are finer than the filling yarns. Oxford is prone to slipping at seams because of the soft yarns and loose weave used to produce the fabric.
Holiday Movie Wardrobes: From Queensboro
Posted by: Kate on: December 17, 2008
Over the next couple of weeks, a slew of new movies will hit theaters around
the US. It is the big end-of-year push for Oscar hopefuls, as well as a time to release family-friendly flicks to help parents cope with the midwinter break. Even though Wilmington, NC is home to the largest movie studios on the East Coast, as far as I know, the costume departments for these highly anticipated holiday movies did not come to Queensboro for their wardrobes. However, if they had, we would have been ready! Here’s how Queensboro would clothe the lead roles in some of the hot holiday movies for 2008.
Marley and Me
Jennifer Anniston and Owen Wilson are, I would imagine, pretty easy to dress. They already look great. The challenge, I would say, is making them look “normal.” As in, “relatable,” As in, “Nah, I don’t have a personal trainer or get my meals delivered every day.” To that end, the following ensembles would be great for these two:
Jennifer: (I feel on a first name basis with her because we have so many Jennifers here. She would fit right in). Aniston’s character is not too flashy, but likes to be fashionable at the same time. As the mother of one very rambunctious yellow lab, Marley, and eventually a bunch of kids, she needs stylish shirts that also wear well. I would clothe her in Queensboro’s Young Women’s Polo (style 1860), which is a very feminine, slim cut women’s polo. To keep warm during breezy beach walks, the Women’s Zip Hoody (style 7023) is my pick.
Owen: Wilson’s character seems to have a fondness for buttondown short sleeve shirts and buttondown plaids. He also likes comfy tees while lounging. The family lives near the beach, so I would recommend two of Queensboro’s workhorses. The Bedford Cord Camp Shirt (style 3381) is perfect wear for strolling the beach. Queensboro’s Organic Cotton Tee (style 7073) will wear well, and is the “green” option for this progressive guy.
The Time Traveler’s Wife
“The Time Traveler’s Wife” was originally a novel by Audrey Niffenegger. It is now a movie starring Rachel McAdams as Clare, a paper sculpture artist and Eric Bana as Henry, a time-traveling librarian. They eventually marry and experience an unconventional marriage due to Henry’s time-traveling “disorder.” (And, can I just say, this is one of my favorite books—fun, romantic, sad, interesting—a great escape.)
Rachel McAdams: Clare has red hair, alabaster skin and an artistic bend. For that reason, I think she would be stunning in Queensboro’s Stretch Jersey Long Sleeved Tunic (style 1344) in the color black. She would be comfortable for making her sculptures and fashionable at the same time.
Eric Bana: Henry is a librarian, and very solid, personality-wise. His buddy Gomez is a little more off-the-wall, but Henry is straight as an arrow. I would dress him in Queensboro’s 100% Cotton Twill (Style 3400) and the San Francisco Microfiber Jacket (style 6219).
Yes Man
There may be other characters in the movie “Yes Man,” but you can almost bet that they will take a back seat to Jim Carey’s antics as Carl Allen, a man who challenges himself to say “Yes” to everything for an entire year. He does things like bungee jump off a bridge, become a team mascot, learn foreign languages, and more.
Jim Carey: Because his newfound interest in saying “Yes” to everything will require flexibility and time, I am recommending for him, Queensboro’s Long Sleeve Luxury Twill (style 3086), which is a performance twill of a substantial weight. It will stay wrinkle-free and will repel stains as he undertakes his “Yes” plan.
I’ve no doubt that each of these movies will be excellent! I can’t help but think, however, that if the characters had been wearing some Queensboro shirts, they would have turned out even better. (I’m probably just biased, though. . .)
Company Logo Apparel for the New Year
Posted by: Kate on: December 15, 2008
Style 1430- Two-Ply Pima Jersey Classic Polo
Is it already time for New Year’s Resolutions? Yes! If one of your resolutions is to polish your image, and put your best business foot forward, now is the time for action. Great year end deals at Queensboro will allow you to pick up image-enhancing logo apparel for you and your employees at a great price. Your new items will arrive just after we ring in 2009, allowing you and your staff to hit the ground running with a fresh new look.
93% of Communication is Non-Verbal
If you’re looking to grow your business, close new sales or expand into different markets, you need to look the part. Research shows that only 7% of our communication is verbal—i.e. what we say or write. The other 93% is non-verbal, including body language, eye contact and apparel. How you dress does send a message about your seriousness and commitment to the situation at hand. Inspire confidence in your customers by showing up for a service call in a logo polo shirt or with a logo attaché to hold your estimate paperwork, business cards and legal pad for notes. You will make a better first impression. Certainly, your service will be the ultimate representation of your company brand, however, as you are leaving the sales call, service call or ushering your new customer out the door after a successful meeting, your departing image of a neat, clean, professionally attired business-person will make a difference.
Dress for the Job You Want, Not the Job You Have
I’m sure you’ve heard that before. As much as we like to believe our “inner beauty” counts most when friends, family and, yes, co-workers, interact with us, external appearances do matter, especially in the business sense. This is not a blog about talking your twelve year old out of wearing a midriff-bearing tank-top to school, it is about you putting your best business foot forward. If you run a mom and pop shop but dream of landing larger corporate clients, or growing to the point of licensing franchises, conduct your entire business that way.
Do You Need a Logo Even if You Are a Lawyer?
My Dad is an attorney, so, yes, I can go there. Obviously, there are some businesses that lend themselves to logo attire better than others. An estate planning attorney going to meet with a client about a $100 million trust will inspire more confidence if he or she shows up for the meeting in a well-tailored suit, polished shoes and tasteful accessories. You have to know your industry. I’ll go out on a limb here, though, and say that if your industry standard leans more toward ripped jeans and a stained t-shirt, you have some room for improving your image. There are certain “norms” that, regardless of how “normal” they are, do not inspire consumer confidence. In that case, invest in some logo polos.
Are You Reading This Thinking, “I Need HELP!”
If so, luckily, you are in the right place! Queensboro is a perfect place for small and medium-sized businesses to stock up on logo apparel. Our minimum purchase requires just four pieces, and that could be any four apparel pieces or four hats. If your business consists of only you, think about a nice performance twill, a polo shirt, a jacket and an attaché. If you would like to try outfitting your six person staff, consider some logo twills or polo shirts. Have a business but no logo? We can help with that, too! Our logo specialist team will help you create a logo suitable for
embroidery or digital printing for a small fee (about $30) that will create a better first impression than a clip-art logo.
Now is the time to start thinking about where you want to be, business-wise, this time next year. Make company logo apparel part of the plan, and you will get further, faster.
