Dressing for an appt.

13 years ago

If its not a major corp, I would go for "bonding". Even in major corps a silk suit is still "bonding". Dress nice in some slacks and a business casual shirt. Thats my two cents. "Business casual".

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sodomojo 13 years ago

I dress in whatever. Sometimes flip flips and shorts other times pants and a zip up jacket. Clients largely don't care what you wear, they just want results.
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- Claude Whitacre 13 years ago
  
  Clean shirt, slacks. Nobody cares. Just don't dress stupid. Pierced nose, mohawk, cigarettes, chewing gum, finishing off an ice cream cone as you walk in....are all no nos.
  
  If you dress like your picture, you're fine. Just never dress with clothes that are in need of repair.
  
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CudaFish

13 years ago

I agree with John. Match them if you can. But personally, at least just in my opinion and experience, I prefer to match them as low as slacks and a nice shirt. I won't dress more casual then that. Gives me approachability, but shows I have class.

businessmen should have class.

- Mark Cuda

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John Durham

13 years ago

Lol! Yeah I wouldnt try to match the plumber for sure.

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SashaLee

13 years ago

Hi there,

I disagree. If you try to dress better than your prospect it exudes an aura of success.

The whole point is to try to impress your prospect, not show them up. Your personality should overcome that. What you want them saying in the back of their minds is "Paul in the sticks sure was a nice fellow. Very professional too, did you see how he was dressed?"

The plumber might just be a millionaire behind it all. You never know. We've dealt with farmers who were sitting on literally millions in cash and you would never know by looking at them. If you dressed like they did, they are going to assume you haven't made it.

Barbara Corcoran has a great saying - if you've got it, flaunt it. You want to show your prospect you are more successful than they are.

All the best,

Sasha

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CudaFish

13 years ago

Originally Posted by SashaLee

Hi there,

I disagree. If you try to dress better than your prospect it exudes an aura of success.

The whole point is to try to impress your prospect, not show them up. Your personality should overcome that. What you want them saying in the back of their minds is "Paul in the sticks sure was a nice fellow. Very professional too, did you see how he was dressed?"

The plumber might just be a millionaire behind it all. You never know. We've dealt with farmers who were sitting on literally millions in cash and you would never know by looking at them. If you dressed like they did, they are going to assume you haven't made it.

Barbara Corcoran has a great saying - if you've got it, flaunt it. You want to show your prospect you are more successful than they are.

All the best,

Sasha

While I understand the point you make, and it's definitely valid, here's why I disagree somewhat. I don't think you should ever dress unprofessionally to an appointment. Ever.

However, I do know from experience and the psychological studying I've done on sales (I'm no Walter Bishop

) I know that mirroring and matching people's dress, emotion, tonality, even demeanor, when done properly, skyrockets your credibility. At the end of the day, people want to so business with other people LIKE THEM.

If your client wears shorts and a tee every time you see him, and you always wear a suit with cuff links and slick back hair, he's going to start to resent you as you don't remind him of himself. People buy on emotion coupled with logic. So if he's emotionally unattached, he'll shy away sooner or later. And a mismatch in dress and grooming does just that.

The most casual I dress to appointment with prospects is nice khakis with a nice dress shirt no tie few buttons open. If he is an office guy, I'll add a tie. If he's an executive, I'll throw on a suit jacket.

For client meetings, same, or I'll dress a little bit more causal. I never go over the top. You want to make people feel comfortable. Comfortable people give you their money. Uncomfortable people keep the checkbook locked in a suitcase under their desk. And it stays there.

Again, you have some good insights, just thought I'd share my 2c on the subject!

- Mark Cuda

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RRG

13 years ago

If you're comfortable with yourself, others will be comfortable with you.

I used to work at Xerox in a small, casual-dressing market. I wore $1300 suits and a dress shirt (no tie). I was assured by almost everyone it was a mistake.

But it wasn't. I always made a great first impression. And I was the top sales rep in the company.

I do not agree with this idea that you should show up for a face-to-face appointment dressed down, or business casual. Bring people UP to your level; do not stoop to their level.

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misterme

13 years ago

Originally Posted by RRG

Bring people UP to your level; do not stoop to their level.

+1000.

Dress like you're worth the money.

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sodomojo

13 years ago

Originally Posted by misterme

+1000.

Dress like you're worth the money.

Tell that to Mark Cuban who never wears ties and regularly wears T Shirts.

For the VAST majority of appointments with small business owners, your clothing won't matter squat if you can convince them of the benefit you can provide to them.

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misterme

13 years ago

Originally Posted by sodomojo

Tell that to Mark Cuban who never wears ties and regularly wears T Shirts.

It's absurd to point out the exception. Especially when it's a celeb billionaire for whom now it doesn't matter exactly how he dresses. Although I do see him on Shark Tank dressed nicely.

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Anthem40 13 years ago

I notice a lot of projections and assumptions here. I prefer to dress at least one 'step' up from potential clients, and NEVER below what they are wearing.

As long as you can at least match what they are wearing, you should dress how you are most comfortable.

What you believe a client to be thinking about you because you are in a suit is a worthless, impossible pursuit.

Dress 1 step up and convince them you are their best option for overachieving on their objective.
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- AndyBrough 13 years ago
  
  There are a number of factors here:
  
  1. Dress in what gives you confidence. If you are uncomfortable in a full suit then this will come across to the client.
  
  2. Generally I recommend dressing in trousers and a shirt. It looks professional and conveys that you have value (which can be reflected in your price). It is also a middle ground between serious suits and the casual of jeans.
  
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sodomojo

13 years ago

Originally Posted by misterme

It's absurd to point out the exception. Especially when it's a celeb billionaire for whom now it doesn't matter exactly how he dresses. Although I do see him on Shark Tank dressed nicely.

You missed the point. If you dress respectable and can show the value you bring to the table, it won't matter if you are in a suit or TV for probably most small-medium businesses.

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PaulintheSticks

13 years ago

Originally Posted by sodomojo

You missed the point. If you dress respectable and can show the value you bring to the table, it won't matter if you are in a suit or TV for probably most small-medium businesses.

I wonder if you're missing an important point. And that is that tons of research proves that your appearance (including attire obviously) significantly affects the way others perceive you. And the truth is that perception is reality.

Personally, I'm interested in taking every possible opportunity to increase my chances for success.

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misterme

13 years ago

Originally Posted by sodomojo

You missed the point. If you dress respectable and can show the value you bring to the table, it won't matter if you are in a suit or TV for probably most small-medium businesses.

I didn't miss any point. I specifically addressed your comment about Mark Cuban. Now you say you were really talking about small medium businesses. Yeah I get the point.

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RRG

13 years ago

Originally Posted by sodomojo

Tell that to Mark Cuban who never wears ties and regularly wears T Shirts.

For the VAST majority of appointments with small business owners, your clothing won't matter squat if you can convince them of the benefit you can provide to them.

Mark Cuban is a celebrity billionaire. Not really germane here.

And, no one would claim that attire alone will make the sale. It's part of how you present yourself. I never lost a sale because I wore a suit. It can only help; it rarely if ever hurts your case.

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RRG 13 years ago

One other thing: the reason to "dress up" is not really to impress your prospect; it's the feeling it instills in you that matters.
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- XponentSYS 13 years ago
  
  Could t agree more. Goes hand and hand with what I said.
  
  Originally Posted by RRG
  
  One other thing: the reason to "dress up" is not really to impress your prospect; it's the feeling it instills in you that matters.
  
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HarveyH

13 years ago

I think if you are trying to secure a sale then dressing smart is a must, you must come across as clean/professional... first impressions are everything.

Although a friend of mine(investor) who makes 6 figures dresses extremely casual when meeting people but I suppose he can dress how he wants as he has the money and turns up in a Ferrari.

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Rbtmarshall

13 years ago

Business casual usually fits most occasions.

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Robert Domino

13 years ago

Let's not forget that you have to feel confident in whatever you're wearing.

A suit is great but you have to get used to it. The first several times I've worn one I felt silly but over time it becomes natural.

If you feel very confident dressing as business casual (ie a nice shirt but no jacket) then go for that. The point is to build rapport, not seem fake.

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bizgrower

13 years ago

I think business casual for the two meetings you mentioned.
Overall, I agree with RRG and misterme.
While overdresssing might turn some people off, it opens more doors
and gives you more credibility overall and might allow you to charge more.

A past client of mine runs a lingerie/clothing shop and while she dresses
business casual, she really judges marketers based upon their whole
presentation. In reference to a female marketer we both knew and she
would never hire, she said: "How are you going to present my business if
you can't even present yours?"

Dan

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celente

13 years ago

well you can go see my post about how I just got a 15k a month deal.

I was worried what I should wear into this meeting before the guy signed up.

I wanted to come across professional, but yet not a schmuck in a two peicer that was about to take his money.

I wore a nice collar polo shirt, and slacks and my italian business shoes.

I would have said I looked, neat to business / casual,!

I can tell you you do not need to go all business suit on them, because the guy who signed up to this deal I could see was constantly saying to himself, what is in it for me. SO That was more important to me, is telling him why he should sign up to my offer, and what I could do for him and what is in it for him. That is the important part here i think.

Do not dress like a ho-bo, I think business / casual will do the trick. :-)

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SeoDudePhx

13 years ago

my question is do clients really care what you "dress" in... i mean if i show up to a meeting in a t-shirt, flip flops, pair of jeans and a watch on does it matter?

lets say the flip flops are a pair of $210 Lv's and the jeans are a pair of try religions that cost $187... add a armani shirt that is $110 and a cartier calibre watch at $6k but the main question is even though your t-shirt and jeans wardrobe is over $507 + watch will the client even notice? or if you goto kohls and buy a $200 suite off the rack or a $20 pair of slacks and a $10 dress shirt from jc penny's...

point being is why care so much about your clothes as long as you dont look like a slob and let your skills do all of your talking for you... most people can tell if you are fake and full of shit pretty quickly and even if they dont right off the bat within a few months they will for sure when progress is stale.

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SeanComm

13 years ago

One thing I haven't seen anybody mention yet is the subject of regional differences. I live in AZ and what people do biz in here is vastly different from what works in the northeast, for example. Unless they have court that day, lawyers barely ever wear a tie around here. Other professionals show up for work or meetings in T-shirts and/or shorts on a regular basis.

I wear polo shirts and khakis or jeans all the time but had to make a conscious decision to do that as an oxford and pressed trousers were what I was used to in the real estate biz in Ca. But in the northeast, I would probably wear a sport coat or blazer a lot of the time--even to a blue-collar type business. In my experience occupational uniforms are taken much more seriously in a place like New York or D.C. than they are out here in the west.

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Sys4

13 years ago

To add to your point, there are so many variables that COULD go into answering this question... that there are many correct answers.

I just read a brilliant post from John Durham in another thread. He was answering a question about a telephone script. Part of the answer he gave there would fit here too.

"This pitch will work on a percentage of people, just like most pitches, they appeal to a percentage, and that percentage is what you are looking for , and you dont care about all the others who dont respond to this approach... " - John Durham

Applying that to this thread... if they way you're dressing for you appointments is working for you, don't worry about the others that don't respond to your approach.

You can read John's post here:

http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...ggestions.html

It's Post#6.

He follows that post up with Post#8, that does a great job of answering the question, "But shouldn't I worry about every potential sale?"

The answer being, not if you're going to starve while staring at a feast.

If you haven't seen the posts I referenced, they're worth more than the time they'll take you to click over.

Originally Posted by SeanComm

One thing I haven't seen anybody mention yet is the subject of regional differences. I live in AZ and what people do biz in here is vastly different from what works in the northeast, for example. Unless they have court that day, lawyers barely ever wear a tie around here. Other professionals show up for work or meetings in T-shirts and/or shorts on a regular basis.

I wear polo shirts and khakis or jeans all the time but had to make a conscious decision to do that as an oxford and pressed trousers were what I was used to in the real estate biz in Ca. But in the northeast, I would probably wear a sport coat or blazer a lot of the time--even to a blue-collar type business. In my experience occupational uniforms are taken much more seriously in a place like New York or D.C. than they are out here in the west.

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kellyyarnsbro

13 years ago

Either of the two would work. What they would surely look into is as to how you have presented to them and not how presentable that counts most.

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Emkayu

13 years ago

What ever you wear make sure it is fitting (as in it sits on your body well)! Fit is more important than anything.

How To Ensure A Proper Fit - AskMen

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ambrking

13 years ago

Dress casual and not too formal. By dressing casually you would feel more comfortable and can discuss better if you ask me.

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Eddie Spangler

13 years ago

I usually wear a tuxedo to really let them know I mean business.

Gets their attention with shock and awe.
Plus they are expecting me to quote a much higher price and
are relieved when I tell them how much.

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SashaLee

13 years ago

@MarkCuda

Hi there,

Ok - point taken. Each case stands purely on its own. You can't mind-read your prospects when you first meet them, but you only get one chance to make a good first impression.

If you want to build rapport with (say) a mechanic, you show up in a suit. After you shake the guy's or gal's hand you say, " You know, I love these kinds of appointments, I can take my tie off!" You can take the level down a notch if you feel the prospect is a little uncomfortable.

Again, it all depends on the situation. I agree with misterme in that you shoot as high as you can and adjust from there.

All the best,

Sasha.

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XponentSYS

13 years ago

Dress like who you want to be. This is a lesson I learned long ago. It doesn't matter who you're meeting. Just dress like the person you want to be. If you want to be the hi tech marketing guru that brings RESULTS... And is CONFIDENT, dress the part. (Hint, clean shaven and clean clothes - usually khakis, a polo and nice shoes. Bottom line, look like you COMAND success.

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AndrewCavanagh

13 years ago

My basic guideline is dress like your client would be but a little
smarter (that's how they THINK they're dressed).

Generally speaking if you're in doubt dressing up won't get you
into too much trouble but if you go to a meeting looking like
you got dragged there from the pub behind a car then you're
seriously reducing your chances of getting hired.

Kindest regards,
Andrew Cavanagh