During my sports career, there was a saying that always seemed to ring true. Look good, feel good and play well. The same can be said for your company. If your company’s image is a priority from the upper level management, you will see the importance carry across the company. Having an image to be proud of does not come cheap or easy.
Employees First
Starting with your employees, make sure he/she is outfitted in safe, clean and stylish company apparel. Be sure the gear provided by the company is always clean, matches the weather and is personalized. You will find this breeds accountability as much as it does self-pride. When employees look in the mirror prior to shift, let them be their own judge. Are they properly equipped to safely perform the job and look good doing so? If your employees walk with pep in their step, chest out and head held high, that’s the start to a successful day. I believe that giving them a good-looking uniform is the start.
Facilities and Equipment
The next step for a proud company image would be in your facilities and equipment. At Florida Express Environmental, we spec all of our trucks with every option imaginable. These trucks are moving billboards—an everyday first line representation for your company, and obviously the daily office for the driver operating the truck day in and day out. The way I see it, why shouldn’t we make the driver comfortable and dress the trucks up with plenty of chrome goodies? Generally, human nature is to take care of new toys and nice equipment. In general, I have seen the employees take care of the nicer equipment, although there are always exceptions to the rule.
If you plan to spend the money on nice equipment, plan on having the fleet washed daily by employees, and detailed by a professional company biannually. Everyone’s opinion is different, but my belief is that this is all part of my marketing budget. If one shiny truck in the line of duty catches the eye of a decision maker that becomes a large account, it was all worth it. A clean truck is also a safe truck. The employees driving a truck loaded with chrome are less apt to fly through muddy roads, the landfills, transfers, etc. leading to a boost in company image and a reduction in maintenance cost.
Taking pride in your equipment has many advantages, while at a cost, I believe all to be worth it. | WA
John Paglia, III is a 4th generation garbage man. Before he climbed the ranks to become Florida Express Environmental’s (Ocala, FL) General Manager, he had a successful career in college and professional athletics. John has been around the garbage industry since his car seat days. Currently, John is focused on growing his company and offering the highest level of customer service and prolonging the world that we live in today. John wakes up every day knowing the impact professional haulers have on their community is far greater than most realize. He can be reached at (352) 629-4349, e-mail John3@ floridaexpress.us or visit www.floridaexpress.us.