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When times are tough, spending money on sprucing up the outside of your building is probably the last thing on your mind, but if you could find a cost effective solution then perhaps it may be a different matter. Alan Lawson from PSJ Fabrications looks at how the exterior of your building can make a statement without blowing the budget.
The first thing that your customers see when they come to your office is the front of the building. It sounds obvious I know, but when was the last time that you actually looked at the front of your building. Put yourself in the shoes of your customer and what do you see – is it a building which you can be proud of or would you rather meet your customers somewhere else?
Quite often the first impression which a customer gets is of a tired looking building in need of a bit of attention. Granted it may be state of the art on the inside, but we all know that first impressions last, which is why it is important to ensure that your building makes the right statement from the outset.
We all spend a lot of time ensuring that our sales literature looks good and that our web site makes the right statement about the company, but you also need to think of your building as a sales tool. By getting it right on the outside you are making a statement to your customers that you are a successful company, and it is surprisingly easy to achieve.
Entrance statement
The introduction of a stunning and eye catching stainless steel canopy on the front of any commercial building can be a cost effective way to breathe new life into a tired and worn exterior.
Because of the versatility and durability of stainless steel it is possible to fabricate a unique design to match the architecture of the building. This not only provides a professional solution and ensures that the exterior of your building has the necessary ‘wow’ factor; it also has the effect of brightening up a tired façade, giving it a new lease of life which will look as good in ten years time as it did on the day of installation.
A good example of this was a recent installation at a commercial vehicle showroom. The client was looking for a freestanding solution which would provide a corporate statement at the entrance to their showroom. Having already worked with the passenger vehicle side of the business we were familiar with the type of branding solution which they required and were able to work with them to achieve the desired results.
This freestanding structure now forms part of their complete branding solution and provides a superb first impression to their customers. Using state of the art technology we were able to work with the client from the initial design right through to completion, carrying out both the fabrication and paint finishing in our factory.
Unique solution
This particular installation was a bespoke solution to meet the needs of one particular client, but the beauty of working with stainless steel is that every installation can be bespoke.
Starting from the initial idea, each entrance canopy can be individually designed using the latest in-house CAD design programme to meet the specific requirements of the client. This basically means that you can let your imagination run wild. While some customers choose a design which fits in with the corporate identity of the company, others go for a more distinctive approach.
But the benefits don’t stop there. Stainless steel is a very versatile material and because of this it is possible to not only produce a design to fit in with the architecture of your building, but also the colour and finish - which can often be the winning factor in making the design a success.
Make it functional
While we have talked about the visual impact which a stainless steel canopy can have on a customer, let’s not forget that it can also be functional because an entrance canopy can have as many or as few functions as you require.
Some designs lend themselves well to a meet and greet area at the front of the building, with space for corporate signage, and to provide shelter as you approach the building. This is probably one of the most popular corporate solutions as it can be finished in a wide range of colours to suit the corporate identity and the landscape surrounding the building and can be manufactured to a size which is appropriate.
Another popular solution is in schools where a structure is required to provide cover for students moving between classrooms. This is another example of a functional solution which can be tailor made to suit the requirements of each individual school and because stainless steel is very durable, it will provide a long term solution.
These are just a couple of examples because ultimately the canopy can be manufactured to your exact specifications and therefore can provide whichever functions you require.
Business benefits
First impressions last and in the current climate you simply cannot afford to get it wrong. It may be that your budget will stretch to a whole building exterior re-design, in which case you are one of the lucky ones. But for those working to a tighter budget, a bespoke but cost effective solution is the answer.
Over the past few years I have visited a number of buildings both large and small and one thing which I have noticed is that a lot of care and attention goes into making the reception area welcoming and attractive. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for the outside of many of the buildings.
When trying to make a good impression it makes sense to spend a bit of time and effort in ensuring that your corporate image extends beyond the front door because in the long term this can only prove to be a benefit to your business.
