Post-lockdown, small changes make a big difference: By Stephanie Azran, SH Design-Build

If you’re thinking of changing up your showroom in the next few months due to new social distancing practices, why not take the time to think about leveling up your customer experience? While the primary concern is to keep staff and clients safe over the coming months, this is also an opportunity to refresh the look of the showroom with an eye on the future.

Even though people are beginning to shop in-store again, some people are still hesitant to go out in public and have turned to online shopping. While showrooms have been dealing with this issue for years now and succeeded by improving in-store experience, it’s more important than ever to focus on creating a safe, comfortable environment for clients who may not be ready to shop in high-traffic public spaces.

In order to create showrooms that feel safe, comfortable and clean, we predict that showrooms will move towards designs with open plans, simplicity and overall minimalistic design. With proper organization, display fixtures and a clear merchandising plan, you’ll be amazed at how many products can be on display without cluttering the showroom.

Sensory experiences will also become a focus. The joy of showroom shopping comes from interacting with products, something that may be restricted for the time being. With the sense of touch removed from the experience, it’s time to experiment with sound, scent and vision. Calming music and spa-like scents like eucalyptus and citrus are great starting points.

The visual experience takes a little more effort, but a look that conveys organization, cleanliness and openness (all of which comfort people concerned about social distancing) can be accomplished with color-blocked areas, taller displays arranged along the walls, and low displays that allow for a clear view of the entire showroom.

For now, events may be limited, but the multi-functional areas you use to host classes and cocktails are a powerful tool. If you choose to open by appointment and have to keep people spread out across the showroom, kitchen vignettes and designer tables are good options for design or sales meetings. If you don’t already have these multi-functional areas in your showroom, now is a good time to define those spaces for social distancing reasons, knowing that once things are back to normal, they can become great multi-use spaces.

Things may be stressful right now and not every showroom is thinking about making major changes. Still, even the smallest changes can make a difference to make your clients feel safer and more comfortable, now and in the future.