“You never get a second chance to make a first impression”

People in business try to make a good first impression, whether it’s to get a job or to get a client. “There’s no taking it back, no second chance to change that burning first impression” was said by Gwilym A. Price of Westinghouse Electric Corporation in a Life magazine advertisement in 1953. “However, the truth is that he who makes a bad first impression usually doesn’t get a second chance” was printed in a 1961 book about personal relationships.
 
“You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression” was cited in May 1966 in a clothing advertisement; other clothing advertisements in 1966 also used the same saying. “A fellow seldom gets a second chance to make a good first impression” was cited from entertainment writer Earl Wilson in June 1966. Head & Shoulders ant-dandruff shampoo ran commercials in the 1980s with the tagline, “Because you never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
     
 
Google Books
28 September 1953, Life magazine, pg. 143 ad:
How I feel about LIFE
(...)
In a way, Life stakes its reputation on pictures like these. They say (to me at least): “This is the way it was, and this is the way you will remember it.” There’s no taking it back, no second chance to change that burning first impression.
(...)
By GWILYM A. PRICE
Westinghouse Electric Corp.
 
Google Books
The Sex-conscious and the Love-shy
By Gyula Dénes
New York, NY: The Citadel Press
1961
Pg. 182:
However, the truth is that he who makes a bad first impression usually doesn’t get a second chance.
 
24 May 1966, Austin (MN) Daily Herald, pg. 17, col. 1 ad:
“You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression.”
(Gildners clothing—ed.)
 
3 June 1966, Winona (MN) Daily News, pg. 1, col. 3:
Second Chance
A fellow seldom gets a second chance to make a good first impression.
(From Earl Wilson, whose syndicated entertainment column was on page 4—ed.)
 
20 September 1966, Dallas (TX) Morning News, pg. 3B, col. 5 ad:
“You’ll never have a second chance to make a first impression.”
(Gus Roos clothing—ed.)
 
7 November 1967, Springfield (MA) Union, “Today’s Chuckle,” pg. 1, col. 7:
You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.
 
Google Books
Human Engineering and Motivation
By Cavett Robert
West Nyack, NY: Parker Pub. Co.
1969
Pg. 37:
NO SECOND CHANCE AT A FIRST IMPRESSION
How often do you stop just before an interview and remind yourself that your prospect will not consider your product, service or idea until he has first formed an opinion of you.
 
Google News Archive
19 January 1970, Spokane (WA) Daily Chronicle, “Poor Man’s Plato” by Hal Boyle, pg. 4, col. 4:
Worth remembering: “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.”
 
Google News Archive
7 November 1977, Milwaukee (WI) Sentinel, Earl Wilson syndicated entertainment column, pt. 3, pg. 3, col. 4:
EARL’S PEARLS: You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.— Joe Salter, Scandal Sheet.
 
YouTube
1980s Head & Shoulders Commercial
AnnainCA
Uploaded on Aug 18, 2010
“Because you never get a second chance to make a first impression.”