One of the most misunderstood marketing concepts is branding. People often think of it in terms of the brand identity—the logo, colors, font style, etc. Or, it is often perceived as a synonym for a consumer packaged good: Do you prefer the Tide brand or the no-name detergent brand?

In reality, the brand is absolutely everything, every touchpoint, every action, every message. It represents the entire company or organization—including the office, the staff... and, yes, you.

Many retail marketers understand how important their physical stores are to the customer's brand experience. Retail outlets that are successful at merchandising take steps to draw in customers and ensure their experiences are memorable, such as use attractive displays, pleasant scents, color, lighting, free samples, sales and promotions. Exciting the senses and offering product value, whether low or high-end, go a long way toward building brand loyalty.

Yet, imagine how this experience can be shattered in a flash when the salesperson ignores you, is rude, or gives you a hard time when you return an item. Or consider your impression when the store is dirty or products are strewn everywhere after excessive customer handling. End of memorable brand experience.

It's no different when a company or organization is housed in an office instead of a store. Whether a business is located at a single address or in multiple sites, customers are customers, and their impressions and perceptions affect their brand experience.

First Impressions Count

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