Tag: SUCCESSFUL DISPENSING

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.

 

THE SALES MAGIC OF DISPLAY

Display is a MarketingTool

Display is a vehicle for presenting and promoting your merchandise,
your services, and your professional image. Don’t throw a scarf into your dispensing showcase and call it “display.” That old scarf trick can literally make your frames disappear.

Display in a dispensary should have as its main impetus product definition, regardless of the cost, quality or quantity of frames in the showroom. A functioning display enhances the product directs and informs your clientele, and creates an entertaining and relaxing atmosphere in which to visit and shop.

1

Plan Display Time

Display in your dispensary should be easy to create, maintain, and afford. You are the designer of your own display program. Set it up so that it works for you. Support it with a budget. Invest in a display case where you can centralize your display efforts. Assign a
person to be responsible for the displays, and allow some time for general maintenance (five to eight minutes, end of day, to clean and reorganize the showroom). Schedule a comfortable and logical time for any major display changes. (It may have to be after business hours.) Make a display storage space where you can keep tools and materials and display-related paraphernalia: frameholders, seasonal trim, display risers, sign holders, and so on. You can re-use certain displays, or rotate them from one store to the other if you have more than one location. Have a file labeled “displays” where you can keep a list of your suppliers, save notes on display, and keep a record of your expenses (they are tax-deductible!).

Practice Making a Statement

Plan your displays carefully. Concentrate on a theme that ties in with your total in-store marketing strategy. Your visual statement should coordinate with your current advertising and promotional program. The display should harmonize with your decor and company image. The featured merchandise must be available (check your inventory) and your staff should be knowledgeable about the merchandise advertised in your display. Your display should reflect the style and taste of your target clientele. If you are unfamiliar with their lifestyles, simply ask them what they feel about your display. They will appreciate your interest in their opinion; you will gain insight as to what appeals to your clients; and you can determine the effectiveness of your display work.

Display is not difficult to do or undo. If your initial design doesn’t look right, simply adjust the “picture” by moving things around. Keep in mind that patience and practice will improve your skill and build up your confidence.

A beginner should proceed one step at a time. Start with a small spot display instead of taking on a window display instead of taking on a window display as your first undertaking. Concentrate on one line of frames and build a setup with materials furnished by the manufactures. In fact, utilizing the posters, point-of-purchase displays, frame cases, and logo plaques designed by the eyewear manufacturer is one of the best ways to create a display where all the components coordinate and relate to the product.

When you become more experienced, you may add ingredients to the frame display which are not purely optical, like a pair of driving gloves with some men’s sunglasses or that scarf with the women’s fashion frames, But whatever you use, make sure it coordinates with your frames in design, physical makeup, color, and character.

Product is King

Most importantly, do not upstage your frames with your displays. Keep in mind your objective: to project, enhance, and sell your merchandise-your frames, Eyewear is small, translucent, and finely detailed, and can be easily overwhelmed. if you remind yourself to “frame the frame,” that will help you control excess enthusiasm. When in doubt, keep it simple. You need not do artful display for every frame in the office. Placing frames in straight rows is acceptable. Group them according to gender, function, manufacturer, physical quality or price. Do spot displays where needed to highlight a grouping or to relieve monotony. (Hint: use your newer frames for your display set-ups. It’s better to use frames with lenses as these are closer to the finished product your patient will receive. In addition, the lenses will reflect light and add sparkle to the display.) Avoid disturbing the display you spent time and effort designing. Have duplicates available to show your patients.