Merchandising is a vital component in any successful retail business. The way you display your stock will affect the number of sales you make so optimise window displays, elevated platforms and colourful backdrops to your best ability.
It’s only natural to want to show off your wares to optimal effect when you’re selling through carpet shops. Cardiff, Manchester or London – it doesn’t matter – you’ll want to display your carpets in such a way that it stimulates interest and entices customers to make a purchase – wherever you’re based! If you attract the attention of shoppers, you will increase the chances of selling stock off quickly and making a profit.
Here are some basic tips on how to best present your carpets to prospective customers.
On racks or rolled
Racks are often used in carpet stores as they allow a customer to sort through large scale samples quickly and with little effort. Carpets can be quite heavy and simply piling carpets or rugs on top of each other may make them cumbersome to lift. A rack takes the weight off your hands and supports the carpets in an upright fashion allowing you to flick through styles like pages in a book.
Rolls of carpet, like racks, are placed vertically for a handy space saving way of merchandising your product. Rolls should be displayed without plastic wrapping to allow the customer to feel the texture of the carpet. Many people make a decision not on the way it looks, but how it feels, so this is a key point in your merchandising process. Carpets should never be folded as this can damage the pile and create marks.
Mock-ups
Room mock-ups are a great addition to any carpet or home retail store if you have the available space. Mock-ups will help a customer visualise how a carpet will look with certain furniture and in different rooms. A mock-up also allows a customer to walk on the carpet and see how it feels under foot. They may not like the feel and decided to go for a longer loop pile rather than a short twist, thanks to the experience.
This is also a great way to showcase your carpet accessories, such as metal door bars and thresholds, or any carpet cleaning products you may sell.
Samples
If you have a small shop space then carpet sample books are a great way of displaying multiple carpets using little space. Place on purpose built tables and stands just above waist height so customers can stand and scan the carpet samples with ease.
A free carpet sample service is a great way of getting interactive with your customers. By allowing your customers to take home a small number of carpet samples, you can help them to visualise what the flooring may look like in their own home. Colours may look different under different lighting or next to furniture so many people choose this method in order to assure they are buying the right carpet. This is a relatively low cost way of keeping your customer happy.
Online
The internet has revolutionised the way we do our shopping today. Three quarters of the world’s population now use the internet, with over 80% admitting to researching a product online before they buy. With a global market, your internet store could effectively sell a carpet to anyone, wherever your market may be.
An online store is convenient for your customers as it allows them to check your stock and availability without making the journey to the store, therefore saving time and money. An online store is accessible 24 hours a day so even if your shop is closed for the day, your business can still make money.
Carpet and Flooring Fanatic 