We understand that as an Interior Designer, you have an extremely difficult job to do. You are tasked with the challenge of scouring the home decor industry for the perfect pieces that will transform your client’s house into a home. With the immense selection out there, this is surely no easy task. Selection, quick turn around and deliverability are just a few of the things that you count on to make your clients happy and to get the job done.
Check out this video about why designers look to Howard Elliott as their partner to make their vision a reality…
Find the perfect pieces to transform your client’s house into a home at www.howardelliott.com!
In addition to selection, quick turn around and deliverability look to our design team to work with you on getting custom pieces for your project. Find out more here: Read more
High Point, NC — The Home Furnishings industry doesn’t have an expansive archive of information on the designers who shaped, and are shaping the industry today. Students and people just plane interested in furniture design don’t have a place to begin their exploration into the Home Furnishings industry. The “Design Between the Lines” podcast offers this, and so much more.
“Through these conversations with professional furniture designers”, host, John Conrad says, “our listeners can learn more about those doing the creative work of design in our industry and the ideas that inspire them.”
“Design Between the Lines” is the only Design and Home Furnishings Podcast where we talk with the real game-changers, industry innovators, and lifetime legends of the Home Furnishings industry. It is here that listeners can sit down and listen in on a casual conversation with the people who craft the furniture industry into what we see today, and to learn a little bit more about life in their world.
Episode #107 Features Jason Phillips, Vice President of the Phillips Collection.
With customers torn in a million directions these days, it’s hard to truly “stand out” among their busy days. As an independent retailer, that’s exactly what you should aim to do. Your store should be an experience, not just a place to shop…wouldn’t you agree? Below are a few tips that can make your store memorable to those who come through the door.
Store Perks
Include store perks that go above and beyond what the customers expect. Beyond great customer service and strong inventory, your store can offer “extras” that may include lemon infused water or complimentary coat hanging. It’s these little details that help shape memorable experiences in a store.
VIP Services
Is the product you sell extra large and often hard for customers to get into their car? Or possibly it’s not over-sized at all, but customers may prefer to have it shipped or delivered to their home. Maybe your consumers prefer private shopping hours, or possibly you have a group of women you know are friends that all shop at your store and you want to host a private party just for them? The ideas are endless, but the goal is the same…make your store have unique, one-of-a-kind experiences that your local competition doesn’t and that your local customers will remember.
Be Nice… Yes, Be Nice
Just as your customers are busy, so are you. We get it, BUT what we don’t get is when a store owner or their employees are too busy, flustered or uninterested to graciously greet customers who walk into their stores. You did open a store to support customers, right? Well, even if that wasn’t the case, the reality is your doors are open and in order to keep them open, you need to support everyone that walks through them with open, welcoming arms. Stocked shelves with great inventory only goes so far. Your attitude and the attitudes of your team make a huge impact on your store success and ultimately, how your store is remembered among customers.
Remember that customers not only have choices as to where they shop, but choices as to why they shop. Make sure your store is a place they want to be not just because of what you sell, but also because of the experience you deliver.
Retail vacancy is still at a high, so the idea of a pop up shop may seem confusing to some. But the reality is, a pop up shop is a (nearly) perfect solution for businesses looking to enter the retail market, introduce themselves to a new geographical area or simply want to reach a consumer audience without the hassle (ie: expenses, staffing, inventory, etc.) of a permanent store front. This also offers a great way for landlords to gain some income on empty storefronts, while also giving businesses owners an idea of how realistic a permanent store may be for them.
Pop Up What?
Plain and simple, a pop-up shop is a temporary store. Typically, a pop-up shop is located in vacant, landlord owned storefronts that are rented on a short term basis, though a pop-up shop can open practically anywhere. Many pop-up shops open for long, 3 day weekends while some open as long as six months. But on average, a pop-up shop opens and closes within just a couple weeks. While this may seem like a short amount of time for a lot of effort, the pop-up shop expectations are not equal to a typical store. Merchandising, fixtures and other expected store features are set up on a temporary basis, therefore less is necessary as well as less is expected from customers. Don’t let this fool you, though. Pop-ups can still look great, particularly with good budget planning.
Are They For You?
There are a variety of reasons pop-up shops have been successful. Some top reasons why pop-ups work well are listed below.
1. To gain attention for your business. Between the media interest and the interest of everyday consumers passing by your pop-up, you are almost certain to gain new customers.This combined with proper PR planning and marketing offer a great avenue for new exposure.
2. To get rid of excess inventory. Online companies often want to clean house without dealing with a massive online sale. A pop-up can be a great alternative for them. Likewise, companies looking to simply get rid of inventory – whether new or old – can use pop-ups to effectively reach a consumer audience in an exciting outlet. Some smaller companies have even shared a pop-up shop to offer more to customers while reducing overall overhead for them.
3. To test new markets. Often businesses are successful in one area and naturally, want to expand to another. Pop-ups allow for business owners to determine if an area is right for them before investing deeply in real estate contracts, overhead and much more.
4. To try a new business idea. Some pop-ups are used simply to test the waters. Whether offering a product or a service, a pop-up can allow you to gain customer feedback and really determine if your idea will be successful year round.
5. To make money and to save money. Money is always an issue. While it will cost money to open a pop-up, it could save you money long term. Traditional expenses include insurance, rent, merchandising fixtures, inventory, and staffing.
The idea to re-merchandise your store EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. is like one that makes you want to cringe. After all, you’re busy. And we get that! But here us out.
1. A little bit of something everyday makes a big impact.
Take working out, for example. If you workout everyday – even if just for a quick 15 minutes of half hour – you are more likely to see results, stay consistent at it and enjoy the benefits of it, as well. Merchandising your store is actually very similar. If you consistently work at making your displays, store shelves, signage and total in-store experience a stronger experience for your customers through merchandising, you will reap the benefits of having an always evolving store. Customers will appreciate the change in how your store looks, as well, and for many local businesses, this provides a huge benefit. What may have been on a shelve one day may land on a center rack the next day, and suddenly sales of the item may shift. Change – plain and simple – creates impact, and that’s the goal.
2. Customers enjoy the experience of something new.
If your store remains too consistent in it’s displays and merchandising, customers take notice of it… or lack of it, depending on how you want to look at this. Keep your customers on their toes and with their wallets ready by mixing things up. Make their experience in your store fun, engaging and inviting. While you may have a general area they can expect to find something – such as a back wall with your best selling, staple items – how you merchandise the overall store and even specific areas should change daily. Now, we understand not EVERYTHING needs to change daily, but if you change at least one area a day, within 7 to 10 days your store should have a whole new face-lift and feeling to it.
3. Your store responsibilities won’t feel so overwhelming.
Have you ever walked into your store and just felt overwhelmed with everything on your to-do-list? We can’t promise that will go away, but we can suggest doing a little bit of merchandising everyday to help elevate that dreaded feeling of having to give your entire store a makeover. Naturally, you may want to still do a seasonal, holiday or special event overhaul every now and again, but for day to day sales, merchandising things differently a little everyday can help you from feeling overwhelmed with having to do it all at once.
While keeping a store fresh and exciting goes well beyond just merchandising, how you merchandise it certainly makes an impact. Consider highlighting “just arrived” inventory in a special spot. Incorporate “locally produced items” in a key area. Identify unique products with special call outs or signage. The ideas are endless to keep things engaging for your customers while also keeping YOU on your merchandising toes.
Think back to the last time you bought something. Was it because you were thirsty, and got yourself a refreshing drink? Or maybe it was because you were heading to a birthday party and needed a gift. Just like your own purchasing actions are influenced, so are your customers. That idea that customers “need” things can be challenged with the idea that customers actually “want” things. Consider your own unique customers. Do your buyers typically need something or want something? Why are they returning to your store… for real?
When catering to customers, consider each action you take to best support them. Below, gain 3 tips to help you navigate consumers who buy things because there’s a reason to… not just because they want to.
1. Customer’s emotions support their buying decisions.
People buy things that make them feel good. Whether it’s quenching their thirst or buying a new pair of earrings, the satisfaction delivered to a customer based on what they purchased is an important feeling that merchants should not ignore. Consider what it is you sell and then consider the emotions you are actually selling to. How can you support your customers better through these emotions? By recognizing that you are not just selling products but instead also selling to emotions, you can further enhance your customer experience and increase sales.
2. Customer’s love positive memories
Let’s face it, who doesn’t love good memories? From birthday celebrations to days spent at amusement parks to completing a goal you worked hard to accomplish, “happy” memories sit well with folks… aka consumers. What does your store do to deliver “happy” memories? Is your store delivering memorable experiences, or do customers feel as if their visit to your store was just another visit to another store? In other words – are you memorable or are you not? Strive to be memorable in a good, positive way. Customers will not only return to your store, but tell others about how awesome your store is. Remember – it’s not just about the product. It’s the experience within your store that matters, as well.
3. Customer’s want to make feel good decisions
Consumers nowadays have a tremendous amount of shopping options, so it’s truly a blessing (hey, we can get extreme sometimes) when any customer shops anywhere. Literally. But let’s consider all the hype around why some customers shop at specific places versus others. Is it because it’s “locally owned” or maybe because they sell “fair trade”? Do customers appreciate the fact that you may give a percentage of all purchases to an animal shelter? Maybe it’s because you support your local community and the customer, in return, supports you? Many customers decide to shop places because they appreciate the impact their purchase will make. Does you store do a good job of communicating the impacts purchases in your store makes? While you can’t necessarily shout “thanks for helping to pay for my kid’s college”, you can say “thanks for supporting local” or “We appreciate you shopping indie”.
challenge of scouring the home decor industry for the perfect pieces that will transform your client’s house into a home. With the immense selection out there, this is surely no easy task. Selection, quick turn around and deliverability are just a few of the things that you count on to make your clients happy and to get the job done.
With customers torn in a million directions these days, it’s hard to truly “stand out” among their busy days. As an independent retailer, that’s exactly what you should aim to do. Your store should be an experience, not just a place to shop…wouldn’t you agree? Below are a few tips that can make your store memorable to those who come through the door.
Pop Up Shops – What Are They? Can You Use One?
Have we lost you yet?
Think back to the last time you bought something. Was it because you were thirsty, and got yourself a refreshing drink? Or maybe it was because you were heading to a birthday party and needed a gift. Just like your own purchasing actions are influenced, so are your customers. That idea that customers “need” things can be challenged with the idea that customers actually “want” things. Consider your own unique customers. Do your buyers typically need something or want something? Why are they returning to your store… for real?
