Everything is an Opportunity. By Stephanie Azran, SH Design-Build

Even if things seem challenging right now, decorative plumbing showrooms have always been in it for the long haul. The industry has seen many challenges over the years and weathered them all. This pandemic is no exception.

These past few months, retailers have been adjusting to a major shift in consumer habits. Researchers have been scrambling to track and analyze how people are shopping online and in-store. Changing the way you sell or market to clients based on trends, especially such new ones, may lead to unsustainable sales practices. On the other hand, there’s no doubt that some ‘trends’ may actually be long-term solutions that will improve customer service and sales long after the pandemic is over.

So what’s new for consumers? People are more mindful about their spending. They are often purchasing less expensive products. They’re researching more before buying. Supply chain disruptions have led people to explore different options when they can’t find what they want- meaning they are open to trying new brands and stores.

When choosing where to shop in person, research is showing that shoppers look for places with visible safety measures in place (enhanced cleaning and physical barriers, for example). More than this, people are turning to brands that show they care for the health and safety of their clients and employees.

Decorative plumbing showrooms already have an edge. Cleanliness and spaciousness have been watchwords for years now. If shoppers are going to feel safe anywhere, it’s in a kitchen and bath showroom.

And now, showrooms can really step it up by offering the products that people want to make their own lives safer and healthier. People are interested in touchless technology in faucets, showers and toilets, as well as products that make cleaning and sanitizing easier.

With the consumer browsing mentality out of the way, showroom salespeople have an opportunity to interact with their clients in a more meaningful way. It’s time to have lots of options at the ready, at several price points. Additionally, if shoppers are more committed to purchasing, it’s a chance to present quality, durable products they will not be able to get anywhere else. As for pre-shopping research, showrooms can optimize their online presence to get in on the first stage of the buying journey. That kind of authority inspires confidence and leads them to the showroom when they are ready to make their final decision. Once a client is in a showroom with experienced, knowledgeable salespeople who truly want to help, the battle is won.

There’s plenty of research out there to help adapt to pandemic selling and shopping. But at the end of the day, we know what really matters in the kitchen and bath showroom world. It’s turning everything, no matter how difficult, into an opportunity to succeed.