It’s been said that people appear intelligent until you hear them speak, simply because first impressions last a lifetime. A dress code is necessary in a business, whether you work in a small office, large corporation, fast food restaurant, hair salon or a hospital. Your appearance shows your customers the “real” you. Many businesses will prefer a dress code that is in harmony with their business philosophies and ideologies. Cliff Omondi, a marketing manager at the Alink Company asserts that, “the way employees dress gives a full picture of their organization.” “All employees must be presentable and this can only be achieved if they wear formal attire for official duty. This is important because one’s dress code is a first impression of who you really are. Employees can either present our level of disorganization or organization.” As Omondi puts it, our dress code in any place of work is very important because it portrays the organization’s mission and values. Probably this is why some companies prefer their employees to dress in uniform. A company’s choice of colour, or even advertisements, is significant in furthering their objectives. Kevin Mukotanyi, a Tigo sales officer working at the Tigo Sales and Marketing branch, Kigali affirms that “Tigo as a company uses a variety of colours which are a symbol of client and officer relationship.” “The way we dress at Tigo promotes our services and advertisements regardless of our location. For instance, if I’m at the bus station wearing my uniform, it will be easier for a stranger to inquire anything about the company and I will be willing to help.” It’s true that the dress code any organization decides to embrace has a great significance on their promotions and services that they offer; and serves as a great publicity tool. iruikmo@yahoo.com
