Dress Code 101

[XOFMOT]

Ok everyone, asking for your help again this evening. I'm a rookie so be gentle. What kind of clothing are you all wearing? Does a large % of everyone have "UNIFORMS" (pants, shirts, hats...) or are you just wearing blue jeans and t-shirts? Is there really a differance? Does anyone notice? Or is it just a FEEL GOOD thing for the business owners (you and me)? What are you wearing when you go to meet a prospective customer for the first time?

please let me know before I take the plunge.Thanks


Tom

FOX Property Services Unlimited, LLC:dizzy:

[jjfehr]

the easiest way to answer this question is to put your self in the customers shoes! If you decide that you want a lawn service and you had two companies to choose from, which would you choose? company a) or campany b). Company A) wears a nice looking t-shirt with company logo and a pair of nice shorts or pants, and company B) wears ripped up jeans and a brown and yellow tank top that is supposed to be white that you once caught "peeing in the bushes"(sorry I had to add that)! What would you wear for the first meeting between you and a potential client? Again, put yourself in the clients shoes, who would you choose the brown and yellow tank top, or my choice, a suit and tie? I feel that a suit presents yourself as a business man, rather than just the "lawn boy"!

[1MajorTom]

Our first year, we bought white polo shirts with our name embroidered on them, and we wore them to all our estimates. But for us, polos are just too hot to work in.

My husband wears pants. Tan dickies and t-shirts that we ordered with our name on them. He wears pants all season long, and he has found that the dickies are the coolest to work in. Jeans are just so hot.

Since I don't do the trimming, I wear tan shorts along with a company t-shirt. We try to look as professional as we can while still staying cool.

As for estimates. Don't sweat the small stuff. There will be times when you just won't be able to get to your estimate being all fresh and clean. Sometimes you just might have to drive up to a prospective customer after a long hard day of work. Speak professionally, show that you are interested in what they want done, and they will definitely understand that you worked all day and still showed up for the estimate.
Believe it or not, showing up for an estimate is the most important part. Because a lot of LCO's don't even bother showing when they say they will.

[CLARKE]

tennis shoes shorts and shirts with CO logo,thats it.
No body gets on or off the mowers with the blades on so
thats why i say yes to tennis shoes.

[cos]

I saw a dude wearing sweat pants and sneakers and thought man, I sure wouldn't hire him to do any work around my house. He looked so unprofessional and had ciggarette hanging out of his mouth and the helper had a goatee about 6 inches long with tatoos all over his neck and arms.

I know I wouldn't project that type of image. I wear t- shirts and jeans with boots.

[awm]

button up an jeans ,to new accts . during heat ive had to go to muscle shirts as i got older. anything to get as much air circulation as possible.

[guntruck]

We have really nice t-shirts with company name and logo on them. As for pants we wear the same as jodi's hubby, tan dickies very tuff and about the coolest we have found. I think image is VERY important and we get complimented all the time about how professinal and nice we look. I see too many LCO's out there with old dirty ripped up attire on and thats if your lucky, half of the hillbillies around here go out there to tan the michelin around there waist, yep no shirts!!! To me thats just sad but to each his own.

[kris]

company t's , hat's , sweatshirts, jackets...yes I think it makes a differance. I also agree with Jodi...I have had to go to many appointments after already physically working and not looking so fresh. I feel people understand, that in this business we sometimes get rather dirty .... Where a suit? My opinion on that is ( and you know what they say about opinion's )...Not a chance...I don't think that is appropriate for this line of work.

[Mid Rivers]

Red collared shirt (to match the exmark's) and off White dickies or Carharts.

[southside]

Grey T shirt and King Gee long work pants. I wear a uniform style boot. Presentation isn't so important with me as I am fortunate enough not to have to deal with the public. :)

:blob2:

[CSRA Landscaping]

I wear polos with the co. name embroidered on them, blue jeans, and work boots, all of which START the day clean, no holes, etc. Good luck.

[Toroguy]

I have seen companies with crews around here. The ones I notice with matching shirt tops appear the most professional to me. The others dont have the same appeal. I agree with the above post (mid rivers) that matching a color with a peice of equipment adds a nice touch.

As a solo I need not coordinate with anyone, so a comfortable clean shorts and t-shirt are my garb.

[Got Grass?]

Estimates, or when meeting with a customer I try and dress in a nice short sleve shirt and shorts. Most people care to an extent how you dress but also relize your working outside in the heat getting dirty. If I showed up in a dress shirt & pants thay would think I'm tring to hard to impress them.
Working I'm in a older pair of jean shorts and t-shirt usually white or grey, no logos (beer shirts or or anything along that line).

Anything else is to hot working temps are only 75-90 avg. But the humidity is the killer. Yesterday was 83 & 100% today is a lot nicer at only 83 & 60% humidity. That with the sun and heat index. 3gals of water/tea plus hoses, didnt pee once.

Next Year I may go with the co. logo/name shirts.

[AltaLawnCare]

I wear uniform docker style pants (rented) for my day job, so in the evening I just change shirts and shoes and start mowing.
I use grey short sleeve and sleeve-less shirts which are a cotton blend (very thin and cool). I'm going to put my company name on them if I ever get the chance.
I'm gonna try to make the shirts myself if I can find a program which will do a professional job - the fonts are too small on what I have and it must print inverted.

[XOFMOT]

Thanks to all that have responded! Very Helpful for my quest into the LAWNCARE industry. One more quick question.....IS 100% COTTON the way to go? Is it cooler than the mixed blend of cotton/polyester? Thanks for any help you can be!

[lawnboy82]

actually it is funny that this was brought up. i usually wear shirts that the dealer gives me. or ones from my friends' companies. if i have to go to look at a job that is $$$ like tomorow i go home, shower, shave, and get changed into nice clothes. i feel that it is not how you dress when you work, it is the quality of the work that you do. personally i am more comfortable wearing ripped, dirty jeans, a dirty loose t-shirt and my redwings than i am being all dressed up nice.

now lets say you do have to chose between those two companies. company A is well dressed company shirts / pants. company B wears comfortable clothes, ripped pants, dirty shirt from working hard many days. now A is from a flier or whatever, just starting out. B is from a reference. B does great work, A does good work

point being. doesnt matter what you wear. so long as you are not showing too much, as long as you do good work.

[HOMER]

Image is everything, first impressions are everlasting.

I think it does matter. I wouldn't go as far as wearing a suit to give an estimate and usually I don't stop, go home, do the three s's, put on clean clothes and go back out again. The estimates are normally done in working attire before I get started or after I finish.

[bubble boy]

We dont have uniforms, not even tshirts. Having said that, I do feel having logos on shirts can look more professional. right now It's a money thing. How many shirts would my guys rip in a week? Any would they care about ripping or cleaning them if the shirts were given to them for free?

I don't think a uniform is make or break, but there's always someone out there who may form an opinion based on how you look.(As wrong as that is-don't judge a book by its cover.)

Same goes for trucks. I used to pull up it a beat up 1990 Mazda and people treated me different than they do now (2000 Silverado-like a rock!)

As for jeans, thats nuts-good way to drop a few pounds though. For me, im only a buck forty soaking wet so ill stick to light pants. I encourage my guys to dress comfortably but no rips, stains, etc.

Never felt a customer was turned off by my smells or grass stains while doing an estimate. I'm not selling vacuum cleaners. My prices have turned them off, but thats another story altogether.

[jjfehr]

<b>BUBBLE BOY WROTE:
Never felt a customer was turned off by my smells or grass stains while doing an estimate. I'm not selling vacuum cleaners. My prices have turned them off, but thats another story altogether.</b>

The reason for the suit is to present yourself as a business man and not just a "lawn boy". Lets say you are reading the paper one day and the city is accepting bids for what you would bid at roughly $100,000, being conservative because you would really like to have the account! Now assume that they call you in to give a presentation of the service that you offer, basically to sell your company, what would you wear to this meeting? I'm going to guess the nicest thing that you own! Why would you treat Mrs. x at 111 main st. an differant, you are right, you are not selling vaccuum cleaners, however you are selling your lawn service! As far as your price scaring them off; perhaps they only thought of you as a lawn boy, and not a real business man, therefore how can you command such a high price? If you were in a suit, perhaps they would realize that you ran a "REAL" business and had "REAL" expenses? Just my thoughts on the subject!

[XOFMOT]

Very interesting responses on this thread....:dizzy:

I now feel that CLEAN, NEAT, BEING WELL GROOMED, and DRESSED FOR SUCCESS would be the proper way to go. The only thing that does not seem "PROPER" for giving an ESTIMATE to a RESIDENTIAL ACCOUNT is the "SUIT ISSUE". I know If I called a lawncare company for a estimate for my property, I would feel more comfy with the business owner that shows up in CLEAN ATTIRE, LOGO'd POLO SHIRT, "WORK" PANTS, and a clean looking vehicle. If Mr. 3 piece suit business owner shows up in his new BMW (nothing against BMW owners) I would instantly be thinking to myself "forget this guy, he going to charge a fortune". Even if this 3 piece suit business owner charges LESS than Mr. POLO shirt buisness owner, I feel I would have to go with Mr. POLO shirt.....Just an internal gut feeling I guess. But then again, If I was presenting a bid for a large condo complex, when I would go to meet with the association, I would then become Mr. 3 piece suit. Why? A residential estimate is more of a one on one event (my feelings), I feel you have to come down to that home owners level and not scare him away by being Mr. Fancy Pants. But on a second feeling, Putting a bid into a town, condo assoc., commercial property...Dress like Mr. 3 piece suit..You need to look like an ultra professional business person, you are dealing with business people. Thats my thoughts so far...OK...let me have it!:rolleyes:

[shorelinelawn]

I agree that you should at least have a polo, or a T shirt with the Co. logo on it. Also a hat , if you want, or need ( like me -most of my hair in the sink ! ). The first impression has got to be your best. SO looking your best definetly helps. I just took delivery of my first set of "uniforms" . Hats with the logo on it, and polo's with the logo on it. Usually, when it gets above 70 degrees or so, I wear jean shorts ( yeah I know, long pants protect better, but I need to keep cool ) , and hiking shoes. Boots are too uncomfortable to be in all day, and I've found a good pair of hiking shoes works well for me. They are waterproof, fit well, and have an extremely agressive tread pattern for excellant traction, even when in wet grass !. I have gear drive mowers, so I don't have the hydro luxury of easy reverse ( maybe someday...........) so when you go to pull back on those bars, good footing is a big plus !! I have worn tennis shoes b-4, and have almost slipped a foot under the deck ( scares the $#^$#$# out of you REAL quickly !)
I odered my hats & unforms from www.nebs.com. quick easy, larhge choices of hats, shirts, sweatshirts & coats. Give them a look, then compare to your local t shirt guy at the mall.

[gogetter]

Sorry to say man, but professionalism is one thing, cheesy is another. I personally don't think I would hire a lawn maintenance/landscape company if the guy showed up in a suit. Not for this line of work.
This is hard, dirty work. I want a guy that looks like he gets his hands dirty and can handle the hard work. Just my opinion.

[Mike (MLC)]

I wear 100% cotton Hanes heavy duty shirts with my company logo on them and jeans. I don't like wearing any other kind of pants and I still look more professional than most of the cheesy lawnboys around here. I do wear a hat, but at this time I don't have any with my business logo on them. I plan on getting some in the future. Make yourself look presentable and not trashy.

[GreenQuest Lawn]

I wear grey shirts with the logo (also have tanks, long sleeve,& sweat shirts). For pants its either black jeans(when its cold) or tan shorts in the summer.

I try to scedual appts. for the start of the day. If not then I go as is.

[Toroguy]

Bubble Boy,
How many employees do you have?, And how many have their shirts have ripped on a regular basis? I tend to "rip" shirts daily. Is the margin you try for $1.50 Hanes shirts?

Are you a neighbor of Casey? or Jones?

Monikers or aliases have a meaning, please let us know what "bubbleboy" means.

[jjfehr]

I guess that it really depends on where you live, and more importantly, who you target for residential accounts. With residential accounts, I target 30-40 somethings with dual income, and over six figures. When I show up at 8:00 pm to discuss the service and price, they most often have either just got home from work or will be 10 - 20 minutes late because they were tied up at work! I want to be treated and respected as a peer, and not treated like the "lawn boy" My feeling is if they have to be in a suit, then I should also be in a suit! I think that my clients respect me for that! If I went over after working all day, and stunk, and looked like crap, that would set the tone for our business relationship! If your can't manage the time to take a shower, or are just to lazy, what about that week when you are behind, are you going to be to lazy to trim?(not saying that this scenario fits anyone here, but I feel that is the peoples attitude in the area I service)

[Stormchaser]

Hey Tom, didn't see that anyone exactly answered your question about the cotton so I'll take a swing at it. Don't know too much about lawncare (YET!) but my other job is permanent part timer at UPS (love those benefits!) and part of their training is teaching us how to stay cool in their hot buildings, though it never seems to work when it is 90 out, lol. Anyway, 100% cotton is better than the mixed blends according to the UPS God - breathes better.

~~Stormchaser

[dmk395]

Alot of the guys I notice all dressed up in fancy shirts with company embroidery are the same ones with the fancy trucks without scratches, who routinely drive around without a job, and at tax time claim a net loss. Customers care mostly about quality and price, not about what one wears on the job.

[sheppard]

Dear XO, noticed you are in CT. In Florida dress codes are a bit relaxed- it's hot 10 months out of the year. Most crews/businesses wear t-**** with pants or shorts. Don't see many hats on large businesses. I wear a large brim straw hat- my crew wears shorts/slacks and t-shirts w/ logo. However, go with what the city expects.

[Ssouth]

Here is a sample of company uniforms. I have one full timer and three part timers. Hearing and eye protection are both part of the uniform while using any power equipment. Also kakhi shorts or pants and work boots are required. I have done estimates in nice pants and company button up shirts but they are mostly done after hours in ol' dirty work clothes.

[bubble boy]

Toroguy-i have a business partner (50-50)and 3 guys. I try to work them like four but hot weeks like this are killer. don't know exactly how bad the shirt problem is-i mainly see them in the morning when they are rip free. for all i know they may be topless by noon, to tell you the truth. I hope not -that is one scary thought.

don't know either casey or jones but have a feeling jones and me may overlap areas as he knows a dealer on the edge of my customer zone.

bubbleboy is the guy george plays trivial pursuit(or some game) on seinfeld. They get in a fight and george breaks his bubble sheild and sends him to the hospital . Im really more neurotic like george should have called myself costanza instead.

[Toroguy]

Bubbleboy,
That is what I thought. From Seinfeld, any other explanation would have been weird:)

[MATTHEW]

I get T-shirts with my logo on it for $6.00 each.
Hats are $5.00. Truck magnets $50.00/set. You do
need to come across as a professional if you want
to prosper.I wear the t's (which are gray w/green
logo) and Khaki shorts. People are strange. It's
not so much that they care what you are wearing &
what kind of truck you have- it's what they think
the neighbors are thinking. They do not want the
other folks on the block to think they are cheap
by hiring the co. with the '75 pickup and dude
with no shirt and tattoos. They want the other
people to think they are more well-to-do than they
really are.:confused: