This was brought up in another thread and it is a great subject that I remember being discussed a long time ago and thought I would bring it up again.

How we look when we show up at our customers door.

Now how I look has nothing to do with me getting the job, I sold the job on the phone. How I look has nothing to do with my ability to catch the animal, Mr. Woodchuck could care less if I have dirt on my jeans.

How I look has everything to do with how the customer perceives me when I first climb out of my truck. Sure when I show up and am knowledgable, solve the problem quickly, and am polite and curteous, those dirty jeans go to the back of their mind but they were there.

We can't always help how we look when we show up at a job.

I remember butt sliding all up and down a roof and tore holes in both my back pockets on my jeans and this was at the first job of the day. Way too busy to run back home for a new pair of pants. After all it was just the pockets and my drawers weren't showing. But another time I did get my pant leg hung up on a nail and put a large hole in the pants. In that case I finished the job and headed straight for the house.

I am a huge believer in first impressions and I try to make sure I always leave a favorable one with my customers.

AttA kid

Have to agree Nate.

I agree. I'm not always lookin "fresh" though! Lol

I have been keeping an extra set of clothes in my truck and has helped with the look part of my day. I go from beaver trapping in a swamp to setting a coon trap at customers house. The change of clothes helps.Along with some deodarant.LOL

Do what trapmando does. Ya can't always stay clean/neat, but a change of clothes will overcome a lot of customer's negative perceptions.
You might be THE best WCO on earth, but if the customer doesn't see you as trustworthy/professional, you won't get much work from her.

Likewise, I started keeping a spare set, even though you might have a day booked on a particular exclusion or job, on the way home you get that "new call" and it is nice to show up that way, I have a clean duffel in the van that stays on a shelf for just such an occasion.

Still haven't found the perfect all around clothes for this outfit though, comfort, durability, look, etc... still working on it.....

I have customers that are gay, cross dressers, sex changed, nerds, pimps, hookers, members of the clergy, doctors, lawyers, and Indian chiefs. ( Just to name a few ) You should see the wardrobe that I have along. ( I especially like the high heels and blond wig )

I'm over the moon for Propper tactical pants: lots of pockets (which I love) that are perfectly positioned. Cut is good for real work, too; many "work" pants that I've bought/seen have the crotch at about knee level. I'm not a gangsta rapper and can't work with my pants sagging off me.

Its whatever blows your dress up IMO . but 1st impressions are lasting ones . Its embarrassing when you wear the blond wig and its a volunteer fireman house .

Anyone tried the duluth brand? They have a whole line, including longer shirts on the back side for obvious reasons!

Will check out the tactical pants Dave, have something similar but they don't hold up well and getting tired of them.

Prefer winter season as it is easy enough to throw a jacket on or fleece and look clean even if your shirt is torched from the
day.

Paul, thanks for the mental images! Just finishing my morning pepsi, not sure how I'm gonna deal with those the rest of the day!

Wink, you do seem to know a lot about your customers' personal lives!

I wear the Duluth fire hose pants. Lots of pockets, they are comfortable, water and stain resistant and outlast carrharts or jeans.

I have a few pair of pants but mostly wear shorts down here. Haven't tried proper yet. Ordered some of their shorts over Xmas and they went on back order. I've been wearing 5.11 tactical and Blackhawks tactical ( my favorite ) shorts. I love them. Stain and water resistant. The waistbands are self adjusting and extremely comfortable/lightweight. Shirts are what I haven't found yet. Still trying out several different brands. Hard to find shirts that are tough and arent hot and hold the sweat. I changed my shirt 4 times today. Nobody wants to see me soaked at the door and covered in dirt.

Mechanics look like Mechanics....Plumbers look like Plumbers ...Painters look like Painters ...Clean cloths is clean cloths, why would I go to work looking like a Golfer or look like I'm getting ready to play tennis ? The closest i could come to this would be if i had one of them alligator emblem shirts...but we don't have gators up here, so thats out of the question ...mean to tell me you guy's have pants without some sort of sealant on them.. I have shirts ,jackets with co. name ...my day dosen't allow me to stop and eat lunch never mind looking like i just left the taj mahal. Ah who knows maybe someday I'll by a haircut too...LOL
Don't get me wrong..it's not that I'm against looking professional by any means..but my day dosen't take me there !!!

That is pretty funny Joe.

I bought a few polo shirts with company logo and the only time I ever wore them was when I was playing golf.

Obviously no matter the discussion there will always be different strokes for different folks. There are many facets to looking professional including obviously how you speak to your client from the phone to the home and how you control or fix their damage issue or wildlife problem.

My cousin is a small time real estate mogul where I grew up and came up under some impressive guys who help guide his career and passion for his industry.

I can remember he used a guy for renovation and clean outs that looked like he literally just fell out of a dumpster. However the guy was seriously professional, always go the job done and always within the time needed.

So while I tend to favor the showing up clean as possible look and some type of uniform we all know exceptions to this rule and I'm not talkin about those boys on A&E.

Joe, I probably look like a tactical golfer, but no one doubts I will jump in their crawlspace, or attic or crawl into some hole because I look like I'm part office guy, takes about 5 min. or less for them to have full faith in my ability as a wildlife pro.

Haircut wise, I keep it shaved, not only is it cheap (bought the trimmers 7 years ago $25.00) but easier to find any unwanted microfauna that decide to leave the job site with me!

All in Good fun you guy's ..LMAO...just another day !!

For me, the hottest most miserable ensemble is blue jeans and a T shirt. You can get soaking wet just staring at a hot chick. Give me a nice lightweight, short sleeved coverall any day. Great air circulation and always at least six pockets. Add your company logo and chose a color that isn't a dirt magnet and you're set for the whole day.

If you guessed that I'm the only one in our company that wears coveralls, you are correct. It must be a janitorial thing.