Tag: Remodel

Effective Space Planning | Part 3- Taking the Plunge for Your New Space

optical space design, eyewear displays, office remodel, optical office design

Effective Space Planning | Part 3- Taking the Plunge for Your New Space

Finally, we get to part 3 (of 3) in our Effective Space Planning blog series and it is time to “take the plunge” on final decisions and see your dream become a reality! In parts 1 and 2 we discussed laying the ground work for the pre-design and worked through the design process. Now we will help you through the final steps and share with you how to prepare your new space for patients!

Final Details and Production

Once your space design has been perfected to the exact look you want, your design team will compile a formal quote and approval drawings. Take your time to review all the documents they provide for you. They should include a list of your color selections, final dimensions of the fixtures, and a general layout of the space and how it will look. As we have mentioned multiple times, taking your time up front to review all information allows you to avoid costly mistakes and change orders in the future! Keep in mind, your design team should provide you with cost estimations for things outside of their scope. Things like shipping costs to move the products from their location to your new space, as well as sales tax. We include these charges in our formal quotes, but not all companies do so make sure you account for these additional fees.

After you have given your design team the green light and submitted your down payments to get the project into production it is time for you to relax! That doesn’t mean you get to completely check out, but your level of involvement on the day to day will decrease. You still need to be available for questions and we recommend you communicate with your contractor on a regular basis to stay informed on the progress of the build out. It is important to also note…things may change (and that’s ok). Delays are not uncommon at this point in the process, and often the delays are out of the hands of your design team and contractor. The city can delay projects (due to permitting) or materials can be backordered from suppliers, there are a myriad of things that can change timelines. Don’t get discouraged if this happens and know that your teams will do everything they can to make sure the project runs smoothly and on time!

Reaping the Benefits of Your New Space

Once your space has been built out and all the fixtures installed it’s time for you to put the finishing touches on! Prepare your space for frames and create the environment you want your customers to experience. A well done new or remodeled space can often lead to a 20% increase in your average selling price for eyewear, and great client experiences lead to success for your practice. Make sure to keep your frame displays organized and up to date; a clean, orderly, and well-arranged space is more conducive to sales. For our suggestions on how to set up your displays, check out Preparing Your Space for New Frames, Follow the Leader? Trends in the Industry, and The Sales Magic of Display.

We also recommend having a grand opening (or reopening) to bring your community and patients together. Events like these are a great way to create a connection with your patients that extend beyond the exam room. Your patients will appreciate the time to mingle with other patients and see your new office!

Beyond Your Finished Space

Once the build out/remodel is done it is important that you do not become complacent. It is vital that you stay up to date on your promotional materials and feature walls. Mixing things up and keeping your displays fresh will ensure your patients continue to be impressed and inspired when they visit your office.

We hope our Effective Space Planning blog series has helped you feel more confident in your upcoming (or potential) design project! We are happy to answer any questions you may have and welcome you to reach out to us!

Don’t scare away your customers!

October can be a bit “spooky”… whether it be because of Halloween, the change in weather, or the sudden realization that summer is officially over. We find ourselves being cooped up inside (especially for all of us in Seattle!), which can often lead to serious evaluation of the environment where we spend most of our time…the office!

Do you look at your space and think…that’s outdated, I should really change out that display, or why did I buy that extra line of frames? If the answer is yes, then it’s time to update your space before you scare away your customers! Ok, that’s a bit dramatic… but they will really appreciate the new look and feel of your space!

Not all changes have to be big and grandiose! Here are some small changes that can be made to liven up a space:

  • New Signage: Adding signage can point your patients in the right direction, making it easier and more convenient to shop and find exactly what they are looking for!

Signage

  • Mirrors: Mirrors are the perfect addition to any space. They help to open up the space, but also provide the perfect canvas for your customers to view your merchandise.

Mirrors

  • Feature Displays: Creating hype for new products or a specific frame line can make all the difference when trying to make the sale. So, the idea of “showcasing” with a feature display is a great way to spice things up! (Check out these great feature displays for inspiration…. Flight Boxes, Luminato, & Freestanding Displays)

Feature Display

If you feel it is time for a big overhaul you could consider making some of the bigger changes:

  • New Dispensary Design: Creating a new space for your patients to shop and your employees to work creates an exciting and refreshed environment. Need help thinking outside the box?
  • New Displays: Even just updating your frame boards can create the look of a new dispensary without having to redo everything and start from scratch! With the help of our new “Complete Systems” it is even easier to pick out a new look!
  • New Accessories: Surprisingly, new space accessories (i.e. paint, flooring, seating, lighting, etc…) can make all the difference in the overall appearance of your space. Perhaps changing the color of your walls can create just the pop you were looking for!

Changes, whether large or small, can make all the difference when it comes to the way you present your business and merchandise to your patients! And just think…now is the perfect time to make these changes as we start rolling into the busy holiday season!

 

Refresh for Summer!

Creating Rays of Sunshine!

Summer is almost here. The kids are almost out of school and there is more sun than clouds. Does your optical space feel like it needs the brightness the sun is bringing to the outdoors? Is there a feeling of “blah” when you walk in the door of your office?

Now is the time to change that. There are several options available to bring a new sparkle of sunshine to your space. From changing the front window display to replacing the pictures on the wall to adding new lights to replacing your flooring, doing one or all of these can put a freshness into the office that will bring in that summer feeling.

Need a refresh invitation?

How long has it been since you changed the appearance of your front window display? Changing the look for all of those that pass by will be like standing out front and waving a sign “Come look at what we have for you!”

Installing a new floating box or shelf system, hanging a new lit graphic, or are all things that can refresh your window display and present a new face to your existing and potential clients.

How long has that poster been on the wall?

Changing your existing posters or adding new graphics can do a lot towards creating a new, more exciting space. Ask your frame reps for new artwork or graphics, and then have Ennco print it on an acrylic board which you can mount on the wall or hang in the window. Or get the artwork printed on a transparency, buy a lit graphic box from Ennco and either mount or display the lit graphic in your space for a “pop” of “sunshine”.

Not bright enough?

Summer can be a good time to add new lighting. The brightness of the outdoors can be overwhelming but it is also appealing and adding more light to your displays can help create that feeling inside.

Adding new display lights to individual panels or a complete track lighting system are ways to refresh and highlight your frames. Doing this for specific displays and areas within your space can create “spots of sunshine” that will attract your clients and even those passing by.

Looking for some new colors?

Tired of seeing the same faded look when you walk in the door? Painting your walls, adding new wallboards, or changing the flooring are all steps you can take to brighten your shop.

Any or all of these suggestions can bring a new freshness to your space that will linger beyond the summer season. If you would like help implementing any of these ideas, or would like to discuss ways to create some of your own ideas, let the design team at Ennco Display help bring that sparkle back to your space.

 

Wanting to Create a New Space?

Thinking about redoing your optical space? Or moving to a new space? What should the design be? Answering these questions as you work towards creating a new space can be a daunting process. Perhaps the first issue to resolve is who to approach and ask for help with the design and creation of the space. As you evaluate the various individuals and teams some of the critical questions to answer are:

  • Is this a person, or persons, I can work with?
  • Can they help me through the entire process?
  • How much will it cost just to get a design?
  • What are the hidden costs?

Taking the time to choose the right team in the beginning will be the most important decision you will make and can have the most impact.

Can I Work With YOU?

As you look for someone to work with on designing your new space it is important to remember that this will be “your” space, not the designers. You want to find and establish a team that is responsive to your needs and makes you feel that you are a part of the design, not just the occupant for someone else’s creation. Some of the things to notice as you proceed with selecting someone to work with:

  • Do they offer to come see your current space and how you work?
  • Have you seen any other spaces that they have designed? Do you feel comfortable in those spaces?
  • Are they responsive to your questions?
  • Are they equipped to help you through the entire process? Design, construction, installation, beyond.

After you choose a designer the process of creating your space on paper begins. Again, this is a process that you need to be involved in, from understanding and helping to create the flow; to having an open mind when the designer might suggest a different approach to a particular issue. If the design team asks questions, or raises issues that cause you to say “I never thought of that,” then you can have a sense that the team is thinking about “your” space and process. This is also the time when colors, finishes, displays, and furnishings should be considered and selections start to get finalized.

To Construction and Beyond

The design portion of the process is only the first phase. Now you need to satisfy the requirements of the municipality in which you are located and the building or landlord’s conditions. Depending on your location and design team there will be permit, bid, and/or construction drawings needed; the selection of a general contractor, interior designer, display manufacturer; the selection of fixtures, furnishings, and equipment, sequencing, and coordination. Again, some questions for the design team:

  • Will they produce the drawings for the permit? Bid? Construction? Do they have staff qualified to produce the documents required?
  • Will they help with the selection of a general contractor?
  • Do they have resources for selection of fixtures, lighting, flooring, seating, etc.
  • Are they ready to help with the design and layout of your display, exam rooms, lab space, etc.

If the answers to any of these questions are no, then you will have to expand your team to include those people necessary to complete the requisite parts of the project.

Wasn’t That Part of the Price?

The hidden fees and costs. I have deliberately left out any discussion about cost or budget until now. For most of us this is probably the most important issue, but it seems too often it is the one that is left out of the design discussion. So, as you re-read this post ask the question “what is the cost of this?” at each phase of the process. Incorporating this question into the process from the beginning will create a transparent atmosphere and effective process. Because everyone involved has one thing in mind – the creation of an exciting space for you.

If you are at the point of looking for a design team, or thinking about it, consider the team at Ennco Display Group. We can help with your space selection and design, are equipped to deal with permit drawings and bid sets; have connections with flooring, lighting, and seating manufacturers; and we design and build displays and casework for the optical space, exam rooms, lab, and other spaces in your optical practice.

Follow the leader? Trends in the industry!

Have you seen the latest _____? Did you get the newest _____?

Life seems to revolve around trends. We like to see, use, have the latest and newest, but as soon as too many of us have the latest and newest we are looking for the next latest and newest. At the same time there are those of us that have a preference for the tried and true.

This creates a dilemma for someone selling optical frames. Do I try to attract those looking for the latest and greatest or do I want to attract those that prefer the tried and true. How do we create a space that can appeal to those seeking the latest and newest without always having to change the space and, at the same time, maintain a space that also attracts those looking for the standards they have established and prefer.

There are several ways to approach this question. Having a space that is considered “timeless”, creating a variety of “mini” spaces, or using accessories that can be adjusted and refreshed to reflect the latest and newest.

Timeless

Some looks and the quality of certain items have created a standard of “timelessness”.  Using high quality materials and avoiding a look of clutter are two ways to create a look that will always appeal to the majority. Whether your space uses primarily shelves or rods or other types of display, if you are willing to invest in quality material and workmanship, your display will stand up to the test of time.

Mini Spaces

Within your space, the different ways and types of display can create an atmosphere that has an appeal to the different types of people that come in. The “Modular Wall Panel” system that Ennco has developed has a variety of fixtures and appearances that can be mixed and adjusted to your space in order to create a cohesive look while also incorporating several difference types of display.

Accessories

Just as you might change the look of your space to reflect the holiday or time of year, there are things you can do to change the appearance of your space and make it seem new and fresh. Moving accessories such as plants and chairs to new locations, making sure your signage and graphics are up to date, and rotating the feature displays are all simple ways to make your space new and exciting.

One of the ways that we can help is with the addition of lit graphic boxes. These can get mounted on the wall above your frame display and can enhance what is often a blank space with an attention-grabbing graphic.

For those of us looking for the latest and newest, it is always good to remember that someone has to start the trend. And, for those of us that have already established a standard, it is important to realize that even the classics can be improved and refreshed. If you have an idea or look that appeals to you, whether new or classic, and want to see it incorporated into your space, let the Ennco team help you make your idea a reality.

Shelf Magic PRESS RELEASE

A Returning Trend in Eyewear Merchandising

Redmond, WA, March 2, 2017– Ennco Display introduces two new glass shelving options to satisfy a returning trend in eyewear merchandising.  These new panel shelving systems are designed to give retailers maximum flexibility to show frames “Flat” on shelving or “Elevated” on countertop displays.  The COVE was designed to allow customers the ability to showcase their merchandise with counter displays and point of purchase materials. Ennco’s Tray Elegante, Showoff, and Angler displays are perfectly suited to maximize the number of frames shown on the deep 10” shelves the COVE series provides.  The MIRAGE was designed to create a boutique look with more shelves in a tighter array which allows for the perfect spread of horizontal minimalist frame presentation. The MIRAGE series focuses more attention on a single frame by providing a shallower profile of glass and less visible hardware.

MIRAGECOVE

Jan Ennis, President of Ennco Display, notes “Store fixturing is much like clothing styles…the methods change about every seven years. Frames held by wires, pegs, rods, panels and glass shelves have all been part of the changing style of display. Shelving is back in vogue as more point of purchase and counter displays have been made available to the industry”.

The COVE and MIRAGE shelf packages can be found on Ennco’s website and purchased directly from their new dynamic online ordering site www.ennco.com.

About Ennco Display Systems

Ennco Display Systems is a store fixture and office design company specializing in retail optical environments.  The Company’s products and services are designed to aid both individual optical practitioners as well as non-optical retailers of eyewear in creating the most effective visual presentations.  The Company’s offerings include both architectural and product design as well as the fixture and casework solutions needed to optimize customer interest and balance practical concerns.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact

Ennco at (425)883-1650

6975 176th AVE NE, Suite 350

Redmond, Wa 98052