2 Hot, easy ideas for your showroom
If you have a new retail space you’re planning or one that has been in need of a boost, you might like to check out these showroom product ideas. All stores can benefit from a boost, and simple products can make a big impact. Let me share the two best, easy solutions.
Flooring
The last decade included the days of stained concrete floors. Popular for a time, they now have become outdated, and also they are very smelly and messy. Stained concrete takes a long time to cure and causes odor from the products. The other issue with stained concrete is acoustics; concrete floors are loud (echo), cold and hard to walk on for hours for employees. I like vinyl plank flooring that looks like real wood. The look of real wood is warm, while vinyl plank has an easy budget cost, is easy to install and offers easy care! Besides, it makes the space more appealing. The colors and varieties are limitless, so take a look at today’s vinyls and create a new look in your stores.
FYI, flooring does not have to cover the entire store; you can use raw or stained concrete for pathways and leave vinyl or carpet for apparel and product display areas to boost the attraction to shoppers. If you shop malls or big stores, you may have noticed that a trend is to change the flooring for a product zone or brand. So consider an easy low-cost update to your store with a floating floor in the apparel areas to give a fresh new look; If it’s been 10-plus years since your last remodel, it might be a great thing to do.
It costs $3-$7 per foot and is ready to install over most floors and is a timeless product that won’t date your store. Commercial grade is available, and most brands can be purchased in your town.
Lighting
LEDs (Light-Emitting Diode) have come a LONG way, and though the cost is a bit high for LED bulb replacements, consider that these lights last for years not months. The good news is that LED lighting is brighter. LEDs are also cooler to operate; I know a few of you run stores without AC in the summer, and your lighting can be a problem in keeping the heat down and your bills lower. If you’re ready to stop climbing ladders to replace bulbs, or you turn off your spotlights because it’s too hot or costly, you are ready for LED lighting! LED lights can lower your power bills, boost light levels in store and give a lower maintenance solution.
Lighting is the most important element in store design and budget; retailers spend more on lighting than most other elements because a dark store or under-lit store is a turnoff to shoppers. Wash your walls with as much light as you can make sure you have no dark zones, and make sure your light makes all your products pop and can be seen. It will make a big effect on sales.
LED lights cost $9-$50 each, and standard LED replacements are made for most standard lighting fixtures you use in your stores. FYI the brightest LED light is 5000K; look for brighter lighting and white light, and avoid any blue-tone LED. If you’re looking for more info or where to find affordable LED lights contact me at jrobison@tuckerrocky.com.
Jennifer Robison’s career began in 1987 when she served as a service writer/parts sales for a high-end import auto dealer before becoming one of the first generation of Harley-Davidson Motorclothes managers at a Northwest dealership (1991-2000). From 2002 on, Jennifer has been with Tucker Rocky Distributing. Jennifer has educated the Tucker Rocky sales force and dealers about the powersports apparel business and powersports retailing. Jennifer’s expertise is in powersports retailing, merchandising and display, promotions and in-store marketing. She has lectured and written about powersports retailing and continues to perform dealer educational workshops and seminars across the United States.
Contact: jrobison@tuckerrocky.com
Website: www.tuckerrocky.com
