Brutal warnings: No credit cards taken, Cancellations without 24 hours notice will be charged, No cell phones in lobby, No tips on the credit card, are a few common examples.
The signs are typically born out of necessity from client behaviors that are deemed unacceptable. These sneaky handmade signs creep into your business slowly over time. After a few years in business, it is typical to have three to five of these small threats posted in obvious places around your space. You and your staff stop seeing them. They are only noticed when someone breaks one of your posted rules or asks directly about it.
These insidious handmade signs create a terrible first impression. They are beacons warning the potential new customer to BEWARE!
Handmade signs in restaurants often become soiled because of the environment. Like a dirty bathroom, they create a large amount of doubt in the cleanliness of the kitchen and the care of which the food is prepared and handled.
If unfriendly and unforgiving are messages you don’t want to send, you might want to look at your place of work with “new eyes.” Walk into and really look and notice what someone coming in for the first time sees. You might be shocked.
Can the messages on the insidious handmade signs be soften?
Don’t slam the door could be “Please close the door gently.”
No credit cards taken could be “Cash only, please. ATM on site.”
Are the messages necessary and relevant?
Once it is up, it is always up unless someone takes it down. Recently I was at a doctor’s office and they had an insidious handmade sign that said excuse the flood mess our offices are being remodeled. I immediately looked for signs of flooding, which I did not find, then I looked for signs of remodeling, which I did not find. Which left me, and no doubt others, puzzled.
The same office had signs up not to use cell phone which seemed really outdated as people carrying on conversations in public has almost vanished. I did check my email on my phone, but felt like I was breaking the rules by doing so.
Can you fix the problem that the sign is addressing?
If you have a door that slams, can you put a slow closing mechanism on it that prevents that? If you don’t take tips on credit cards, how could you start taking tips on credit cards? Or could you install an ATM onsite?
If you find certain message are needed, then take a few moments to consider how they can be worded to sound friendlier. Don’t forget the magic words of please and thank you. Take the time to type them out on your computer, format them nicely and print them out. To make a professional presentation spend a few dollars and get an acrylic stand or display for them. A wide variety of holders are available at large office supply stores.
What are your thoughts on the insidious handmade sign? Have they crept into your workplace?
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