The saying, "you never get a second chance to make a good first impression" is so true, especially as it relates to your customer relations efforts as you work to boost your business in today's struggling economy.

Your shop's exterior is the first thing that customers and prospects see as they drive into or drive by your location. So your shop's "curb appeal" speaks volumes - in terms of your shop's expertise, repair quality and professionalism. If your shop's exterior looks rundown, the grounds are unkempt and the windows are dirty, it doesn't say much for what goes on inside the shop. On the other hand, if your shop looks "put together" from the outside, it's a positive reflection of your business ethics, your staff and the caliber of work that's performed.

With the goal of providing you with ideas to improve your shop's exterior appearance, Babcox Research asked a sample of shop owner readers for their ideas on this topic. We received dozens of great responses, so thank you to those of you who responded.

10 Ideas to Improve Shop Exterior Appearance

Make a daily routine of cleaning up the parking lot before customers arrive, to remove any litter, debris and/or cigarette butts. If the shop looks sloppy, customers will think your work is also sloppy.
Keep a clean, well-maintained lawn, which you can enhance with good landscaping.
When it's time to paint the e...