Doesnt Anybody Work Here? Nametags Impact Employee Communication

Walmart was the first business to require all its employees to wear nametags. (There's a surprise!) Sam Walton created this initiative because he wanted his customers to "get to know the people they bought from."

But the value of employee nametags spans far beyond getting to know people, it's all about being approachable. So whether you work in retail, hospitality, food service or sales, to wear a nametag is to be on stage. To be on stage is to be ready to serve your customers. And to be ready to serve your customers is to do your job effectively.

Here are several ways nametags will help your employees maintain an accessible, comfortable business environment.

Accessibility
I have a bad habit of putting too much hot sauce on, well...everything. Recently, after I wolfed down a Tobasco covered bite of my cheeseburger, I realized that I desperately needed a refill of ice water to regain feeling in my lips. My server walked right by, but unfortunately I failed to get his attention because I didn't know his name. Why? You guessed it: he wasn't wearing a nametag! No water for me! Fortunately I chugged down my date's ice tea.

Tip # 1: A nametag makes it easier for customers to gain the attention of an employee from whom they need service. Without it, the customers will either find someone else to help them, or won't get what they need.

Comfort
Imagine you walk into a store. You browse the aisles for a few minutes and decide that you'd like to speak with a sales associate. You look around, see a few people, but nobody appears to be an employee. After wrongfully asking and embarrassing a few strangers who don't actually work there, you get frustrated and leave the store. As you walk out the door, you complain, "Darn it! Doesn't anybody work here?!¨

Tip # 2: The most important rule in retail is to "make a friend in thirty seconds." The quickest and surest way to do this is to inform and remind customers of your employees' names. This promotes self-disclosure and creates comfort in the conversation. And when you put your customers at ease, the sales process will be more personable.

Synergy
Have you ever started a new job and didn't know everyone's name until the third month? Or what about the organization for whom you've contributed ten years and still don't know the name of that curly haired girl from the second floor? Let's face it: people are terrible with names. It's the single context of human memory most apt to be forgotten.

Tip # 3: Especially for organizations with hundreds of employees, nametags for your teammates will only ease their pain and contribute to a synergized workplace.

Ambassadors
Another invaluable benefit of nametags is that they will transform your employees into ambassadors. It will make them walk their talk. Ask people who work in real estate, they wear nametags every day! Some agents even wear two nametags: one on their shirt and another magnetized to the side of their car! Now, silly as that looks, remember this: everyone will know that Shirley is a representative for Gundaker.

Tip #4: A nametag immediately identifies an employee as an ambassador of the company. As such, it keeps her accountable for her behavior while she wears it and promotes good word of mouth for the business.

Branding
Your nametag is just like your company's billboard. Except it's free and people will actually look at it for more than four seconds. So, when customers or clients work with your employees, they will be exposed to your logo, colors and brand identity. As a result your nametag turns into an effective medium for free advertising.

Tip #5: A well designed nametag will constantly keep your company's brand, logo and corporate culture in the minds of your customers and prospects. Because it's not who you know, it's who knows you.

Fun
Nametags are fun. Kids like them. Adults like them. They promote friendliness in the workplace and foster a sense of community. And people want to spend their money in places, on items and with people that are welcoming and approachable. Next time you walk into Borders, take a closer look at one of the employees' nametags. Often times their lanyards will have stickers or pictures of their favorite books on them.

Tip #6: Employees who wear fun, memorable nametags will also show the customers that their business is fun and memorable.

Tag, you're it!

  • Do you want to maximize the approachability of your employees?
  • Do you want your customers to feel comfortable?
  • Does your business value synergy among its employees?
  • Will free promotion, both personal and graphical help promote your business?

    In The News:

    • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    At the Carwash; The Customer really is always Right

    You have no doubt heard the saying that the customer... Read More

    Marketing as a Spiritual Practice

    "Marketing as a spiritual practice." It sounds contradictory ? how... Read More

    Businesses Need to Rehumanise

    Big companies and corporations have lost the human touch. The... Read More

    The Added Value - Is YOU!

    If there was a restaurant in your town that was... Read More

    How to Provide Instant Customer Service

    Customer service is an essential component of any business. Clearly,... Read More

    Making The Most Of Newsletters

    Newsletters can be wonderful tools for communicating with your customers... Read More

    The death of customer servie

    The other day a reporter call to interview me on... Read More

    Is Your CRM (Customer Relationship Management) System Doomed To Fail?

    "Right, People. Let's blast out that mail campaign we've been... Read More

    If Everyone Thinks They Give Good Service, Why Do We As Customers Think Its Poor!

    First of all let's look at what customer service is... Read More

    Dont Forget your Existing Clients

    Quest for new clients shouldn't ignore those who pay the... Read More

    Complaints Are Actually A Good Thing!

    Nobody likes to get complaints. They make you question your... Read More

    Over Deliver - The Key to Customer Satisfaction

    Client satisfaction starts with meeting or beating the contractual obligations... Read More

    We Got It Wrong: Never Under Promise & Over Deliver

    You know how it is, you believe something for so... Read More

    Is Your Food Establishment Clean?

    Is your restaurant, bar or hotel clean? I mean really... Read More

    E-Business?s Best Friend: eCRM

    From Ebay to the smallest home-operated start-up, e-businesses of all... Read More

    Service Equals Performance Equals Service

    Service can be described as a "performance" of some kind... Read More

    Managing Your Business When One Client Takes Alot of Your Time

    How often has your schedule been thrown out of whack... Read More

    Wholesale Buyers Versus Retail Customers

    Are wholesale buyers and retail customers really different? Frankly, there... Read More

    How Not to Get Stiffed, Improving Your Collection Procedures

    Some businesses have slow paying customers or past due balances... Read More

    What Do They Want Anyway?

    You want customers. I want customers. We all want customers.... Read More

    Your Voice Print

    "Mountains are built one pebble at a time and climbed... Read More

    One Critical Question to Ask Yourself Every Day

    What happened to the old saying, the customer is always... Read More

    Keeping Clients Happy Keeps them Coming Back

    Whether you are a seasoned small business professional, or you... Read More

    11 Ways to Get What You Want - Be a Clever Customer!

    We all want great service, whether we are buying our... Read More

    Customer Service - Winning Customer Experiences

    Winning Customer ExperiencesMuch research has been done on what the... Read More

    How To Handle Customer Billing Snafus

    Q: I just discovered that for the past six months... Read More

    CEM Can Improve Customer Loyalty

    'A 5 percent increase in customer retention increases profits by... Read More

    Find Out Where Your Firm Stands in Today?s Customer

    Looking For Ways to Improve Sales and Customer Relationships?Find Out... Read More

    Create a Positive, Upbeat, Can-Do Workforce and Dazzle the Customer with Your Caring!

    Given the choice of dealing with a positive, upbeat employee... Read More

    Got A Consumer Problem?

    Millions of people, just like you, end up with a... Read More

    Breaking the Ice and Winning Over the Client!

    Wherever you turn these days you'll find articles covering every... Read More

    Provide Exceptional Value - Grow Your Business

    The primary objective of a business is to get and... Read More

    Customer Service: Everyone is Fighting Their Own Personal Battles

    Relationships... Money... Health..The Past...Failure..Mental and Spiritual Battles..Time Constraints...Professional pressures..At any... Read More