Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Depending upon the type of business that you’re in, your showroom can be a critical aspect of it. Its design is thus critical. The following contributed post is entitled, Opening Your First Showroom: Conscise Design Advice.
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We tend to think of business showrooms as those reserved for luxury products. For example, a car dealership will tend to place their best cards on display to make the store shine. A showroom also implies that goods are to be demonstrated, shown, and even tested before purchase, which implies they’re not going to be picked off a shelf and thrown into a basket before checkout.
The truth is that opening your first showroom can be a major step up for most businesses. It may even inspire the pursuit of a new type of client or customer. Perhaps you have a modest tech firm hoping to show off the latest televisions or curate a space for audiophile equipment on top of your studio spaces.
One question remains – how on earth are you supposed to design such a unique area? It’s not always clear. Thankfully, in this post, we can give you concise recommendations you can then use to expand your output, and benefit as a result:
Optimal Flow
A showroom can be exciting, but don’t stuff it to the brim with every impressive product you have in stock. Be deliberate. You don’t want it to feel cramped or confusing. Think about how customers might walk through the space. Maybe have a clear path that leads them past all your main products, with trimmings nearer the checkout or other areas. Allow space for your salespeople to shine and move, as well as private meeting areas where negotiations can take place. But don’t make it feel like too exposing – people should be able to wander off and look at things that catch their eye and talk among themselves.
Audience Matching
Your showroom should feel right for the people you’re trying to attract – there’s a reason jewelers or Apple stores try to look as simple and refined as possible – so the impressive inventory speaks for itself. For more everyday products, a warmer, homier feel might work better – think about how specialist candle stores will want to decorate almost like the most pleasant, welcoming living room you could ever enjoy without being too informal. Also think about how that extends into the wider space, for example, if you’re a tech-based showroom, then integrating an electric vehicle charging network in your parking area could attract the right people.
Window Displays & Natural Lighting
A showroom can be many things, but if you think about those that impressed you, they likely implemented great artificial and natural lighting. Moreover, a great window display is like a free advert for any showroom and can draw people in, especially if you’re not appointment-only. It’s Changed it regularly to keep things fresh and show off different products. Just be careful about sunlight fading or damaging products – you might need blinds or UV film on the windows such as if you have fabric or sofas in your mock living room spaces. Some places use artificial lighting that mimics natural light for soft glow, especially as the lighting shifts during the day. Your showroom should feel like the ultimate display, and often subtle effects like this have more of an effect than picture-perfect placement.
With this advice, you’re sure to nail that first showroom.
