An article in the latest Conservatory Magazine brings the issue of the requirement of a showroom back into focus. The article explains that despite the internet being one of our most powerful marketing tools, the showroom is still a very necessary part of a double glazing business.
I asked a quick question on Twitter this morning: Are
showrooms really dead in this digital age? These are the responses I got:
Never!! People buy from people – @Universalarches
NO, people love actually seeing the products in the flesh
and a showroom gives the impression of a stable company!!! – @samsimpsonaa
Even Amazon hasn’t been able to kill Curry’s, Comet, HMV Waterstones etc – @TheSpares4Guy
No our showroom on main shopping street give customers sense of security and they know where we are. Not just a mobile tel – @StJohnsWindows
No! Even for a systems manufacturer it’s invaluable to show products to trade. it’s a great convincer! – @K2Glassroom
Virtual solutions have improved & are a viable alternative now,but there is nothing like a showroom,were very proud of ours – @SynsealTweet
A website does a great job in portraying the company, explaining it’s ethos, showing off the ranges of products they have etc. But when it comes to the point of purchasing, windows, doors and conservatories are still such a specialized product with unlimited options, a showroom is still the very best place for customers to see their options in the flesh and get their hands on what their buying before they have it installed in their home.
The showroom is also a great place for customers to commit to buying. They’re in an environment where they can see the product, the company provides good hospitality (hopefully), changes to specifications on the contract can be made there. From a personal point, a lot of my deals are signed in our showroom.
A showroom is still the heart and soul of the business. Without it, a company doesn’t have the best selling tool in their armory. The best thing for installers to do, would be to integrate online and digital features within the showroom, to create an even more interactive experience.
showrooms are becoming a thing of the past. form the customers point of view why travel round showrooms especially in the bad weather when you can sit at home in the warmth to view all products available and even order there windows. from the retailers point of view showrooms are outdated and cost money that would be better spent on a real windowquoter website. no salesman required. end result the savings that are made can be passed to the customer so everybody wins!
i agree with real windowquoter,showrooms are dead they cost money and space,our industry treats the public like fools.everybody knows what a window is, we sell hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of window a year online,to people we never meet or show a window, that tells me showrooms are dead
Of course you agree with him your the same company and more than likely the same person and as your business is pumping out your online ordering system to your trade customers of course you feel that showrooms are not needed.
However i bet 99% of your customers will take a window sample in to the end user when they sell them your products so in effect becoming a mobile showroom.
No website will be able to fully give the user the touch and feel, accurate color match that they require before they make a purchase like this.
peter facts and figures speak louder than words. our online ordering system, as you put it, is selling thousands of pounds worth of windows and doors to comsumers that dont see the product til its delivered. the public love it coz they are not subjected to endless phone calls and visits from salesmen that try bombarding them with information thats not required
Hi I am sure thousands of pounds per week of windows and doors are being ordered via your online ordering system, however the majority of this is being done by your customers (installers/ex fabricators) rather than the consumer, yes i appreciate that the odd consumer may decide to measure there own windows and fit them etc but by far the majority do not. So in effect the installer goes round measures up shows them a window sample and then gives them the price after its been worked out on your quote paakage, customer orders and then your customer orders it… Read more »
Real windowquoter – not every double glazing company with a showroom subjects customers to endless phone calls and bombarding visits from salesmen. While you’re selling thousands of pounds worth of products to customers who have never seen the product (which is a risky way to do business, what if the customer is deeply unhappy with the product when it comes to installation?), there are many other companies with a showroom or network of showrooms selling tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of products. Fact is, people still want to see and touch the product before they sign on… Read more »
I still believe that people buy from people & want to have a good look as well as touch & feel before they make a considered purchase.
we are not the deluded ones we are just moving with the times. fact is more and more goods and services are being purchased online. every industry is moving towards this way of trading so why are you as an industry trying to fight this and stay in the dark ages? we understand the negativity towards change as Alexander bell probably had the same when he invented the telephone. while we appreciate the old ways still work we are just pointing out that moving toward buying and selling online is the future. consumers just want honest upfront pricing
reading this blog and your comment in responce to the replys from real windowquoter you give the impression that the window industry cant sell windows and doors online without the consumer seeing the product in the flesh. but then i read the blog from 31/1/12 entitled technology changing the way we sell where you give the impression that technology like real windowquoter is an easier way of selling windows. i quote ” instead of using old fashioned brochures and leaflets and window sample they are now able to put a ipad in a customers hand” so where do you stand… Read more »
Hi Greg
Technology is aiding sales in a very positive way, things like iPads are also able to give the customer a more visual experience in the home. Technology like that will help aid selling in the home and close more details. But I also think that people will still want to come visit the showroom to see the products in their physical form. A computer screen can aid the selling process, but for a lot of people, seeing the product physically will seal the deal. I believe you can use both technology and the showroom together well.