does anyone dress up for their customers? does it matter? i think it would for a wealthy client, but say you are working in the shop, you can't wear nice clothes and expect not to ruin them. am i'm talking work clothes as tshirt pants/shorts. i do have paint and apoxie stains on my work clothes, but nothing terrible. what do you guys/girls wear?
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...customers or clients. It would also depend on what the customer is expecting from you. For the most part, a professional appearance is the real bread winner. Needless to say, quality work, a tidy display and shop should do the rest.
LOL: For male shop owners: If a beautiful woman shows up, always have flowers and quality wine available. Of course if your married, too bad. But if your not, well, you just never know do you?
When the guy pumping out your septic shows up in the company truck, what's he wearing? Your garbage man? How about your proctologist?
Only taxidermists excuse sloveness. Sandy Garland did a seminar on this years ago after researching it. She reported that when people hear the word "taxidermist", they envision an fat old guy needing a shave, wearing a soiled shirt and blue jeans with a cowboy buckle belt and cowboy boots on. They are often chewing tobacco, dipping snuff or have a cigarette in their mouths. Isn't that one helluva visual.
And just how do you KNOW when a customer is going to show up?
In the summer, if you've seen me at the NTA, that's my uniform. I wear cargo shorts (usually khaki) with a polo shirt or a CLEAN white t-shirt with my shop logo emblazoned on it. I wear tennis socks and a pair of white Reeboks. In the winter, I wear CLEAN jeans, usually with a heavier polo imprinted shirt and leather oxford type deck shoes. Most of all, however, I wear an apron. I've made Goretex aprons for years for myself (I tried selling them at a recent convention but most people would rather wear their work it would seem)and I put it on when I go through the shop door. When a customer arrives, either announced or unannounced, he'll likely find me removing my apron and my rubber gloves to greet him.
But then again, I never leave my shop with a bloody work table or the shop in a mess. I'm told I'm in a minority there too.
I always wear my best wife beater, a nice lightly faded pair of cut off jean shorts, and some nice plastic high tops with red shoe laces.
If a REAL important customer is coming over, I might even gel up my mullet a little to give it that cool yet sleek look.
...unannounced because everything is by appointment only. I usually have a fair warning when folks do call. And I take a little time to "purdy-up" if need be. Clean shaven and presentable casual clothers are all that's necessary. I usally wear khaki-type shorts nearly year round. A nicer colored t-shirt or comfy polo. Nothing fancy. Most offices have gone to more of a casual dress through the last decade anyway. I don't feel comfortable wearing fancy clothes. I don't think it's necessary. But a clean look is a necessity...
when a really hot chick comes into my shop and I got blood up to my elbows and my shop smells like a coyotes ass. Now don't take me wrong I'm a happily married man for over twenty years but I am still not comfortable with actually turning a woman off. Call me silly, but I don't want to ruin it for the next guy.
I usually at least put pants on!
I always put my cigarette out when a customer comes in, but I don't stop painting my fish. Then if they stand there and stare at me for over a minute, I feel obligated to put a shirt on and hide muh beer. Then I go and lock the front door and give them a hug and ask them what I can do for them. If they are still there, then I will offer them a shot of whiskey. Man business has been slow though.
Wear my birthday suit, OK Mike ?
what you look like, its your work that matters. unless you really stink and look terrible.
I was laughing my ass off reading your post!
Had a husband and wife stop by today they had already been to 4 other shops yes 4 in the area i wont disclose the reasons for haveing me do the bears and not any of the others .I had the usual logo tee shirt and jeans on my shop was some what of a mess but my work quality and sales pitch was what made up there minds .that's exactly what they said I told them i encourage people to shop around visit other shops. With a taxidermist behind every tree, it seams you have to.any ways I'd say sales pitch is the most important.
The first time I went over to my now in-law's house to meet my then girlfriend's parents I had just gotten off of work (I was a painter at the time.) I had on an old pair of jeans and an old tee shirt, both of which were covered in layers of different colored paints from jobs gone by. From where I worked she lived far in one direction and I lived far in the other so going home to clean up wasnt an option. After meeting her Mom and Dad, my girlfriend and I talked about her parents impressions. Her Father's impression was "seems like a good man, hard worker". Her Mother? She said "I dont like him, he has no respect coming here filthy as he was". That's the way I think the cookie crumbles with poeple coming in the shop. If Im working and they show up, I cant do a quick change of clothes, meet and greet then go back to my dirty clothes. I expect that my customers should understand the line of work Im in and know that when they come to see me where I work, they SHOULD understand. For those that dont, I cant do anything about that. Sorry.
BEAUTY
I think looking "presentable" is a good thing. And having a fairly tidy looking display room (or whatever area you let your customer's into is VERY important. You don't want to look disorganized and give them ANY ideas on the possibility that you might lose their mount. After all, their fish was BIGGER remember!) But the quality of your work and your ability to sell yourself is the most important. Put all these together with the emphasis on quality and you'll have a high percentage of "wins". I've yet to have a customer NOT leave his or her fish once they've stopped out since I've been in business. But, I'm a good B.S.'er - lol! (Well, you all KNEW THAT!)
in the door, I get their business 99% of the time. If for some reason I am sloppily dressed when someone shows up I apologize. I also am by appointment only so it does help.
I totally agree that quality of work and being able to BS (the good sales pitch?) will get you the business but I think it goes beyond that.
I also agree wholeheartedly with George and what he posted. I think to often that does still remain the stereotype of many uninformed individuals as to what a taxidermist looks like and I think in today's world that it's a stereotype in need of puncturing. I understand fully that we work at something that gets us messy. I think anyone you could ask would say we have a dirty, messy job. But I also hear on here so often about being paid or treated like professionals. If we really do want for that to happen I think we need to look the part when talking to clients or the public and present a professional image- no matter how messy we might get during actual work or how good our final product actually is.
Just my 2 cents worth. :-)
You all might be surprise that SHop appearance is what people go by.
If your shop is a mess ,people think your a mess.
Women's underwear in public. mostly because i can't see what I'm doing or where I am walking.