When Dropping in on a Prospect the First Time.....

[Builder]

....do you as an agent wear attire suited for: (pick any that apply for BOP's/GL/WC/Business Auto/Package-no personal lines)

A: Conservative Corporate Culture, Suit, Tie etc
B: Attire matching the prospects environment: Business Casual, you wear business casual, they wear sportcoats, you wear sportcoats
C: Always a tie
D: Nice golf shirts
E: A step above their cultural attire, not to appear stuffy.

This ought to invite a range of opinions......

Then, if principal is not there, or willing to see you, do you:

1. leave no card
2. leave a business card
3. leave a letter/flyer/card
4. flirt with the staff....

Thanks....

 

[GreenSky]

What do you do?

If it works, keep doing it.

Rick

 

[senior-advisor-indiana]

Always where a golf shirt and have your clubs in the trunk. You might not sell a lot but you will always have something to do. Oh yeah, don't forget a fishing pole either and always make sure you have permission to fish.

 

[xrac]

....do you as an agent wear attire suited for: (pick any that apply for BOP's/GL/WC/Business Auto/Package-no personal lines)

A: Conservative Corporate Culture, Suit, Tie etc
B: Attire matching the prospects environment: Business Casual, you wear business casual, they wear sportcoats, you wear sportcoats
C: Always a tie
D: Nice golf shirts
E: A step above their cultural attire, not to appear stuffy.

This ought to invite a range of opinions......

Then, if principal is not there, or willing to see you, do you:

1. leave no card
2. leave a business card
3. leave a letter/flyer/card
4. flirt with the staff....

Thanks....

I don't do P&C but this would be my modus operandi:

1. Attire matching the prospects environment: Business Casual, you wear business casual, they wear sportcoats, you wear sportcoats

2. Leave no card but leave a letter/flyer with something that stirs interest.

3. If principal is not there, or willing to see you I would ask for or grab his card. This will allow you to follow up by name and aslo begin a drip campaign.

 

[Builder]

I don't do P&C but this would be my modus operandi:

1. Attire matching the prospects environment: Business Casual, you wear business casual, they wear sportcoats, you wear sportcoats

2. Leave no card but leave a letter/flyer with something that stirs interest.

3. If principal is not there, or willing to see you I would ask for or grab his card. This will allow you to follow up by name and aslo begin a drip campaign.

There are quite earthy crunchy type businesses in my area, who dress like they just rolled out of bed. They run some successful shops in this area; retail, services, that I've never gone after. I'm not going to go out and get a tattoo or a piercing, just wondering if the biz cas or tie would scare them.

 

[xrac]

There are quite earthy crunchy type businesses in my area, who dress like they just rolled out of bed. They run some successful shops in this area; retail, services, that I've never gone after. I'm not going to go out and get a tattoo or a piercing, just wondering if the biz cas or tie would scare them.

Sounds like a place for kahkis and polos with maybe an insurance logo or bluejeans and cowboy boots.

 

[Frank Stastny]

....do you as an agent wear attire suited for: (pick any that apply for BOP's/GL/WC/Business Auto/Package-no personal lines)

A: Conservative Corporate Culture, Suit, Tie etc
B: Attire matching the prospects environment: Business Casual, you wear business casual, they wear sportcoats, you wear sportcoats
C: Always a tie
D: Nice golf shirts
E: A step above their cultural attire, not to appear stuffy.

This ought to invite a range of opinions......

Then, if principal is not there, or willing to see you, do you:

1. leave no card
2. leave a business card
3. leave a letter/flyer/card
4. flirt with the staff....

Thanks....

If you are dropping in on them for the "First Time" how do you know what they will be wearing?

An agent should wear clothes that fit/tailored, clean, pressed, shoes/boots that are shined. Attire that the agent is comfortable in and that makes him/her feel confident wearing.

It really doesn't matter what the prospect is wearing. It isn't clothes that make the difference it is the all in the agent who is wearing them.

The concept of "dressing a level above" in my opinion indicates a lack of self confidence on the part of the agent. If the agent is professional in their approach, an expert on their product and proficient at engaging the prospect in a relaxed conversation then clothes become incidental. Just my two cents worth.

 

[djs]

Here is the problem with trying to match the 'culture', if there is even any way to know what that is before you get there.....

Hopefully you see more than one prospect in a day. What are you going to do? Change clothes between every appointment? Seriously...

Dress professional (whatever that means to you), act professional, be professional. Be confident and have a bit of swagger in your step. Then, don't worry about it.

I have people come to my office (vendors, not referring to clients) and I always observe what they wear. Some, sport coat and tie, some polo shirts, but it all works. What image do they want to present? Does their image match thier product? If not, they get shown the door.

Frank, with the exception of the boot comment, summed it up pretty well. Wear clean, pressed, new clothes. Don't wear breakfast!!!!

I recommend staying away from jeans, but there are times and places they are very appropriate as well. A nice polo and a pair of dockers, with nice shoes can work very well for meet and greets.

Dan

 

[xrac]

Here is the problem with trying to match the 'culture', if there is even any way to know what that is before you get there.....

Hopefully you see more than one prospect in a day. What are you going to do? Change clothes between every appointment? Seriously...

Dress professional (whatever that means to you), act professional, be professional. Be confident and have a bit of swagger in your step. Then, don't worry about it.

I have people come to my office (vendors, not referring to clients) and I always observe what they wear. Some, sport coat and tie, some polo shirts, but it all works. What image do they want to present? Does their image match thier product? If not, they get shown the door.

Frank, with the exception of the boot comment, summed it up pretty well. Wear clean, pressed, new clothes. Don't wear breakfast!!!!

I recommend staying away from jeans, but there are times and places they are very appropriate as well. A nice polo and a pair of dockers, with nice shoes can work very well for meet and greets.

Dan

I don't favor jeans either but in the west they may be appropriate.

 

[BTFuzz]

Business casual almost daily. I have sold many a policy in shorts though....the only time I even consider going above business casual (golf shirt/dress pants) is if I am meeting with a client in a profession that I know he/she wears that type of attire.

I still think suit and tie makes you look intimidating or "stuffy" as someone mentioned earlier.