Ambiance design gives you control over the environment. Effective use of ambiance, one can create a sense of security, set the mood over the conscious state of mind, and directly influence guests’ and employees’ impression of their experience. Here are some things to consider when setting the tone for your environment.
Appeal to the Senses
More often than not, people actually do judge a book by its cover; your customers and employees included. Bright lighting, sparse window treatments, bare white walls, hard seating are all what you may picture as an unwelcoming environment. To get the opposite effect we need to take an opposite approach.
Sight
Psychological research has proven that color can actually affect the way we feel and even have a physical effect on us. Color for example plays a role. To create a calming atmosphere one should consider colors such as blue, which proves to reduce blood pressure, or by using green to create a restful state of mind. Purples may inspire contemplation for those that are looking to create a safe haven where customers can discover their innermost thoughts. On the other hand, yellows excite and increase cardiopulmonary activities while red increases blood pressure and appetite. Use of color in accents around your environment will help to design the beginning foundation for the mood. Use with caution however as too much color becomes tiresome on the eye and can cause stressful reactions.
Consider also a method for engaging your customers and employees visually. Tie National, LLC (TIE) for instance offers Digital Signage that for locations such as lobbies or break rooms. This is a “green” way to keep everyone informed of company news and promotions. Fitness centers may choose to stream live video and post health and fitness events in a frame within this monitor that actively changes every few seconds. Waiting rooms may post the average wait times along with local news or current promotions. The applications for digital signage are endless however it is a sure-fire way to engage and entertain your captive audience.
Touch
Replace hard seating with plush lobby chairs and pillows create a welcoming place for your guests. Employees will benefit from ergonomically supported office chairs that offer relief to the body. You may even find decreases frequency in how often your employees step away from their desks.
Production increases through technology in regards to touch as well. Consider the use of handsets for employees who spend much of their day on phone calls. Having both hands free increases efficiency and reduce neck strain. TIE’s sales team can help you to decide what headset features are important to you such as Bluetooth capability to help you make the right decision before purchasing.
Taste
Yes, taste even can be applied in a business setting. Next to the coffee machine offer flavored creamers to try, or even lemon wedges by the water cooler. This little trick makes even these common areas luxurious to guests and can increase the feeling of appreciation with your employees.
Smell
A fragrant bouquet by the front entrance to greet your guests not only provides an inviting welcome, but also can create a happy environment through its scent. For over two thousand years, cultures have used aromatherapy to improve health and well being. Some scents can reduce anxiety, lift depression, or even energize your guests and staff. The internet is full of suggestions on what scents to use for different desired effects.
Sound
Determine what you want to carry out through sound. Through sound, one can reduce stress, create brand identity, increase productivity, and entertain. Sound Masking can reduce ambient noise and increase speech privacy in office spaces and front counters.
Furthermore invest in compliment of sound products such as Background Music and On Hold Messaging. Music platforms should be licensed for business use and music should be carefully selected based on the settings. For instance to entice fast shopping, up-tempo music or for higher end purchases a retailer may choose a sophisticated classical genre of music. (more details can be read on Tie National, LLC’s blog titled Know the Influence of Music on Consumers http://wp.me/p3Remn-jJ)
On hold messaging or overhead messaging should be updated regularly to reflect current promotions and the season. This is a captive audience so keep the message relevant and interesting to those whom hear it.
Do not underestimate the power of ambiance design and the role that technology can play into it to create the perfect environment for your site! For more a free IT consultation by the experts at Tie National, LLC contact us at (630) 518-9600 or visit our website at www.TieNational.com.
Michael Durante spent his teenage years into his early 20s climbing the ladder in a branch of a successful banking firm, starting as a teller and ending as a Sr. Branch Manager within 6 years. In 2003, he left the banking world to join his father and create TIE National, a telecom company 60 years in the making. Together, they grew the company from a two-man operation solely working on telephones to a multi-million dollar international business with employees in over a dozen states, covering everything from phone systems to cloud products and computer systems. You can find Michael on LinkedIn.