By Lillian Connors

 

Every business selling products in a brick-and-mortar location can profit from a great showroom. It holds the power to increase cash sales and help retail-minded providers drive revenue streams. However, assembling a showroom that impacts your bottom line is not as easy as it seems. You have to display items to their best-selling advantage and help customers make informed purchase decisions. What is more, if you mean to turn casual shoppers into well-paying brand ambassadors, you must foster a swell retail experience. Here is how to make it happen.

A warm welcome

Shoppers flock to showrooms because they want to witness products in person, a goal that online resources cannot accommodate. So, think about consumer experience from the moment someone arrives at your door: blow people away and welcome them as they enter. Make sure to properly train and motivate your staff. Namely, team members should offer support every step of the way and facilitate purchases throughout the store. Put impeccable sales and service processes in place.

Shrewd layout

Note that easy physical access to products is paramount to success. Therefore, carefully plan the layout and organization of the space around the wants and needs of your target customers. Steer them towards certain products with clear signage and smartly categorize different departments. Sections should naturally lead one to another and it is a good idea to first present your most popular products. Just do not overwhelm shoppers by showcasing every single item you have in the inventory.

Visual pull

Pay close attention to décor and design solutions. It pays off to spruce up the interior every now and then. For instance, applying a fresh coat of paint can do wonders. For outstanding results, you should find commercial painting contractors in your area. Additionally, designate focal points that arrest people’s attention. Eye-catching displays and product arrangements do the trick for showrooms of all types and sizes. Bear in mind that areas around windows need to look good both from inside and out. Namely, window displays are effective in terms of prompting a passer-by to take a sneak peek.

Take them on a smooth journey

Keep the store clean and uncluttered. After all, people need to be able to manoeuvre around and spot what they are searching for fuss-free. And do not worry: products that are not on the shelves can always be featured in brochures, kiosks, displays, videos, and guides. The end of the customer journey is marked by a checkout counter, which is typically placed at the back end of the showroom. Fill the space around it with items that entice impulse buying and upsell opportunities.

Make it fresh and exciting

Finally, to boost the overall appeal of the showroom, let it ooze that fresh and new feel long after its doors open. Rotate items out and highlight them on a seasonal or special events basis. Shine the best possible light on your products (in a quite literal way as well). Set up samples of new products that come in boxes and similar packaging. You can also use displays to invite customers to interact with them. Like it or not, they are keen on touching and getting a feel for products.

The show must go on

A well-thought-out retail showroom can work miracles for sales and revenue of businesses. It spurs plenty of return traffic and builds lasting loyalty. To reap these benefits, give people a sense they are in control, well-informed, and empowered as consumers. Take your time organizing and planning everything from the nitty-gritty to the small details. It is time to assemble a place of comfort, where consumer dreams come alive. Following the tips above, you should be able to see crowds storming the premises and coming back for more.

About the author

As a senior business strategist, Lillian Connors believes that the question of business goes far beyond the maximization of profit through different money-grabbing ploys. Instead, she likes to think that ethical principles should be at the core of every commercial venture, paving the way for much more balanced distribution of wealth on a global scale.