For the past several weeks now, whenever a visitor stops by our new office, they are greeted with this message from our unique doormat: “Wow! Nice Underwear.”

Needless to say, it has garnered quite a few chuckles.

They say that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. (I wonder if it’s possible to get a second chance to make a second impression?) In many businesses, the doormat is one of the first things a customer sees when they visit for the first time. Of course, it’s usually a boring gray color and naturally goes unnoticed.

What a waste.

Wouldn’t you rather have a customer enter your place of business with a smile on their face? I can already hear the big shot lawyers out there who have a reputation to uphold and could never entertain the idea of classing down the joint with a doormat that says, “Our dog is not a biter. He’s a humper.”

They may have a point.

But I would hasten to bet that more businesses than not could benefit from adding a little humor to their first impressions. Don’t tell me that the local cable company couldn’t benefit from customers having their frowns turned upside down upon reading, “Hi. I’m Mat.” or “Well butter my butt & call me a biscuit - look who’s here!” when they walk in to dispute last month’s bill. Who would you rather deal with: an angry customer or a formerly angry customer whose guard is down because they were caught off guard by a little humor?

Is it a little thing? Sure it is. You still have to back it up with great service. But in this highly competitive marketplace, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference.

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