The Retail Observer is an industry leading magazine for INDEPENDENT RETAILERS in Major Appliances, Consumer Electronics and Home Furnishings
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RETAILOBSERVER.COM JUNE 2017 46 R esearch has proven time and again that consumers make a near-instantaneous decision just inside a retailer's front door. Within seconds (ten or less) they scan the environment and decide whether to shop, or turn tail. To win in today's competitive home furnishings marketplace, retailers absolutely must ensure that the customer's first impression of their store instantly intrigues, engages and flat-out wows. The trick for most independent merchants is figuring how to accomplish this without tearing up their store and without making significant investments in up-fits and capital improvements. As a retail strategist responsible for the look and feel of more than 20 million sq. ft. of retail space around the world, I've spent my entire career helping retailers and manufacturers maximize return on the least amount of investment. My ongoing challenge is to create fresh and inviting environments that elevate the guest experience and to do so in a way that is fast, easy and affordable. That's why, when Moe's Home Collection—an internationally recognized, whole-home brand supplying consumers across the globe with modern furniture and accessories—approached me about creating a new merchandising program, I jumped at the opportunity. Launched at the High Point Market last fall, Connie Post Select is a color-based merchandising program for decorative accessories and furniture that solves retailers' first and last impressions problems (since the first few thousand sq. ft. of a store is also the last thing a customer sees). Encompassing six, color-focused collections drawn from Moe's line of lifestyle furnishings, the new program enables retailers to present consumers with a fresh, female-driven, and most importantly, on-trend presentation that visually stimulates (and wows) from the moment a shopper walks through the front door. Each completely decorated vignette is a bold merchandising presentation in and of itself featuring tabletop and metal sculptures, wall décor, lighting, area rugs, accent pillows, a color-coordinated occasional chair and accents like bookcases, bars and stools, ottomans and carts. Style and color stories include consumer favs like Turquoise Twist (turquoise), Moody Blues (blue), Passion (red), Sun-Kissed (orange and yellow), Gold Dust (black-and-white with gold accents) and Driftwood (nature-inspire neutrals). The executives at Moe's call it plug-and-play for retailers. Indeed, ask, and they'll tell you this new system for showcasing accessories is quick and easy to incorporate and a great opportunity for retailers to maximize their sales-per-square-foot in a minimal footprint. From my standpoint, the best part is that shoppers intuitively understand that a professional designer has put the impactful display they are encountering together for them. This means they don't have to worry about making a costly decorating mistake and are more apt to buy it just as they see it. INSTANT UPDATE Enhance your first and last impression without tearing up your store Connie Post ShowroomTrends Connie Post is CEO, Founder, and Chief Excitement Officer at Affordable Design Solutions TM Contact Connie at www.conniepost.com RO Driftwood Turquoise Twist Passion