HIGH POINT &#; Creating an outdoor space that is truly an extension of the home is top of mind for consumers, especially as summer approaches, and those consumers are more than ready to shop in furniture stories to furnish their outdoor spaces.
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Furniture Today&#;s Strategic Insights reported in March that 30% of consumers said they have purchased outdoor furniture in the past two years. Among people who said they were very or somewhat dissatisfied with their outdoor furniture, 61% said they would replace it within the next 12 months.
What does all that shopping mean for the retail sales associate, guiding that consumer to the purchase that best fits their outdoor space?
Five industry leaders in the outdoor category told Furniture Today that while some of the top tips they would offer RSAs would apply to selling any furniture in the store, other tips are specific to knowing the function and features, bells and whistles of outdoor furniture.
Something every RSA needs to know how to do is making a customer feel comfortable, trusting their salesperson to listen to them and help them find the best option, not just the highest sale.
OW Lee&#;s Vice President of Marketing Leisa Rogers McCollister noted that a genuine, truthful approach should not only be a tactic used when greeting the customer, but also during the entire duration of their visit.
&#;It&#;s most important to be knowledgeable, tell the truth and find a way to make the customer feel comfortable,&#; she said. &#;I always look for commonality between us, but be sure it&#;s genuine. Strike up a conversation about something else besides furniture while they are trying out the furniture.&#;
Part of being authentic means that RSAs takes the time to know what their customer is searching for, and that doesn&#;t start with a question of budget.
Instead, start with questions such as the space the customer wants to fill, how many people to seat, if there are young children or pets, preferred furniture styles and what qualities are most important. These types of questions provide important information to the RSA, and also create a rapport with the customer.
&#;It is critical to build trust with your customers; in most cases, buying outdoor furniture is an expensive purchase, and customers want to have confidence in who is selling them,&#; said Paul Sklar, vice president of wholesale sales at Summer Classics. &#;Start with qualifying and ask good questions to understand the customer&#;s needs, their expectations and usage. Budget and spend is last.
&#;Make sure the customer falls in love with the product,&#; he added. &#;The best RSAs listen to the customer.&#;
Todd Wingrove, vice president of sales at Agio USA, believes that the key to selling outdoor furniture successfully is setting reasonable expectations of how products will perform when exposed to the elements of nature.
&#;Outdoor furniture is often more expensive than indoor because of the additional steps necessary to withstand the elements,&#; Wingrove said. &#;Over the past several years, the market has been saturated with lower price points and often poorly crafted products just to hit price points.
&#;It&#;s important to alleviate buyer&#;s remorse when viewing furniture in person as opposed to online. In training, we like to point out the elements that make our furniture solid and able to withstand years of use.&#;
Customers are often willing to compromise on their wish list in order to find the furniture that has the most important qualities to them. Presenting both the potential pros and cons of a product can assure that the customer is happy with their purchase and doesn&#;t feel they&#;ve been lied to.
&#;For any product, you should have a feature and benefit story,&#; said Mark Osborne, director, residential sales for MamaGreen. &#;Every product has something about it that&#;s great for situation X and not ideal for situation Y. Our ability to speak on behalf of the customer&#;s specific needs positions us as the expert and builds immediate trust with the customer.
&#;It gives them the experience that we are invested in what&#;s best for them first and foremost,&#; he continued. &#;Some of the biggest sales can be the result of helping the client avoid a wrong purchase.&#;
As much as knowledge about a product can influence the buying decision, it is only part of that decision.
&#;There&#;s an old saying that people don&#;t buy features or benefits, they buy emotions,&#; said Patrick Isaacs, vice president of business development at Polywood. &#;While it certainly makes it easier to sell when you&#;re working with an in-demand brand like Polywood that&#;s built a reputation for the highest quality over three decades, it&#;s imperative to understand what motivates your customer (and) what will make them feel good about themselves and about the purchase.&#;
Sklar notes that different customers value different things such as quality, construction, easy care, availability of extra or complimentary pieces, warranties and replacement costs.
&#;I believe that a good RSA is knowledgeable about the entire category, at different price points and qualities,&#; he said. &#;This knowledge enables the RSA to offer choices, remove hesitations and, most importantly, upsell the customer.&#;
Location is key for any small business, but it also matters what you do with that location. An attractive curb appeal invites customers in to make a purchase, and placing the right furniture outside your small business can enhance your exterior while also meeting visitors&#; needs. But with all the outdoor furniture options available, picking the right pieces comes with plenty of choices to consider.
Here is an overview of outdoor furniture ideas for small businesses and tips to keep in mind to help you decide.
As you decide to use outdoor furniture, there are a few things you should consider. It&#;s important to choose furniture that suits your location and your store&#;s style.
These are some factors to think about as you start viewing outdoor furniture:
Once you have evaluated your business&#;s space and personal circumstances, it&#;s time to start selecting furniture. If you&#;re not sure where to start, here is a step-by-step guide you can follow:
A great way to begin your outdoor furniture process is by mapping out your current location. A map is an excellent strategy for taking stock of your situation at the moment and using it to plan for new furnishings.
To create your map, consider using a blueprint or drawing your own sketches. Take measurements of the outside area and be sure to record them. That way, you can use the dimensions as a reference when looking at furniture sizes. You can also envision where you would like to place certain pieces of furniture. For instance, if you know you&#;d like a row of picnic tables, look at your outside space and think about where they would fit best.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Outdoor Furniture Supplier. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
You can create a tentative sketch of your ideal outdoor space and use that to guide your buying decisions.
Next, make a list of all the furniture pieces you intend to buy. A list is a great tool for staying organized, as it will help you remember every item you wish to buy. Remember to note the number of furniture pieces in your list, too. If you plan on buying more than one piece, noting how many of each will ensure you don&#;t forget anything.
Your list might look something like this:
Then, you can use your list as a guide while you start making purchases.
After making a list of your desired furniture, you can start considering what materials you prefer. Your furnishing&#;s build and finish greatly impact its comfortability, longevity and aesthetic appeal. Remember that choosing materials for outside furniture is slightly different from indoor furniture. Outdoor pieces constantly face weather conditions, whether a shining sun or mounds of snow. This means that outdoor furniture typically consists of hardier materials that can outlast the constant weather exposure.
Everyone has their preferences for material types. You might select materials that match a certain style, or maybe you prefer the sturdiest options. Either way, there are many options to choose from for your outdoor furniture.
These are some examples of materials you can select:
If you have a particular material in mind, keep an eye out for it as you start browsing for furniture. Or, if you&#;re still unsure about what type would suit your business best, you can always ask a trusted seller for assistance.
It&#;s always in your best interest to buy from reputable sources. It might be tempting to hurry into the cheapest or quickest option as you browse furniture options. But it&#;s always best to take your time with an investment like furniture. Look at choices from a variety of vendors, and weigh which option provides the best customer service and furniture quality.
Reliable sellers have notable traits like:
Once you pick out your major furniture choices, you can also think about adding accents. These extra accessories will give your business more personality, as well as provide another opportunity to showcase your unique style.
Accents are available in a variety of styles, such as:
You can choose accessories that accompany your furniture style or color. These accents will enhance your outdoor space even more and could attract more customers to your business.
There are many choices available for commercial outdoor furniture. Whether you want a large eating space for customers, a gathering space for your employees or just a few lounge chairs, you can find many options on the market.
Here are some examples of outdoor furniture that could be perfect for your business:
Dining sets are a cost-effective way to furnish an outdoor space. Perfect for eating establishments or gathering spaces, these sets come in various configurations and sizes. Choose two-seater, high-top tables if your small business doesn&#;t have a lot of outdoor space for seating. If you have more room, offer a mix of small and larger tables to accommodate different groups. Families will appreciate dining tables that seat four or more, while individual customers will have plenty of room at smaller tables.
Outdoor benches are perfect resting spaces for passing customers or employees on their breaks. They&#;re also available in a variety of colors and styles, making them easy to implement into your exterior. You can easily install one in a tight area, so they make for great outdoor furniture for small store spaces.
You&#;ll commonly find 4- and 6-foot benches, giving your small business some variety to choose from. Again, think about your clientele. If groups or families frequently visit, a few longer benches may be ideal.
Picnic tables are a classic furniture option for the outdoors. Adding a few outside your business will give consumers a comfortable spot to chat or finish a meal. Choose ADA-accessible picnic tables, which let visitors with different abilities gather together at your small business. Installing wheelchair-accessible picnic tables will show your small business cares about customers, employees and passersby.
It&#;s always a good idea to think about customers&#; comfort. Umbrellas provide shade to visitors and protect them from harmful sun rays. And customers are more likely to spend more time at your business while underneath cool shade. Many commercial umbrellas are designed to fit into tables, making it simple to put them together. Choose from pole and fabric colors that complement your building&#;s facade, your business&#;s brand or your furniture choices.
While seating areas are important pieces of commercial outdoor patio furniture, remember to add trash receptacles. Receptacles are essential if your small business sells food or drinks and lets customers dine outside &#; they can easily get rid of their trash rather than littering outside of your business. Even if your business doesn&#;t sell food or drinks, a trash receptacle is a great way to keep the area outside of your business tidy.
Consider installing stylish receptacles that complement your furniture with similar colors and materials. Be sure to get receptacle lids, which make it easy to keep pests out and trash in.
Implementing an outdoor space can benefit your small business in a variety of ways. In addition to attracting new customers, the new outdoor area could also improve employee motivation and excitement. And the happier your employees are, the more likely you&#;ll get more applicants. You&#;ll also have a more motivated staff to help your customers, potentially attracting new visitors.
There are many more advantages to outdoor areas, like:
Overall, outdoor areas can provide many advantages for your commercial business. Selecting comfortable and reliable furniture is an essential aspect of creating these spaces.
An essential part of selecting commercial outdoor patio furniture is finding the right vendor. At Wabash Valley Outdoor Furnishings, we work hard to provide high-quality outdoor furnishings for customers across the country. Our large selection of outdoor furniture includes:
We set ourselves apart from competitors by offering top-notch customer service alongside our variety of furniture options. We offer a pleasant buying experience, cost-effective products and premier materials.
Here are more benefits to buying from Wabash Valley Site Furnishings:
If you&#;re looking for commercial outdoor furniture, shop with Wabash Valley Site Furnishings today. Our durable and high-quality furniture will outlast strong weather conditions while also adding an aesthetic appeal. With so many furniture options to choose from, we&#;ll help you make the right choice for your business. We offer bulk options or sell individual units so we can match any of your commercial outside furniture needs.
Browse our wide selection today to find the furniture colors, sizes and styles that are right for your small business.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Commercial Outdoor Furniture Wholesale.