MarketingProfs Know-How Exchange : Design Center Experience

Posted by: NuCoPro	Member Response
6/17/2004 12:10 PM (CST)
It would be helpful to have some more information on your Design Center. What are you designing? Is this people who are looking to buy a home, or already have? What's your market (low 6 figures, high 6 figures, 7 figures)? The forum members stand ready to help - when they have sufficient information on which to act. :)

Posted by: aosterday*	Accepted Answer
6/17/2004 12:12 PM (CST)
When you're spending that much money, it gets stressful. The funny thing is that deciding how you're going to decorate your house should be fun and enjoyable. Tell then that straight out. It acts as an ice breaker and usually gets people more relaxed, puts it in perspective.So aim to please. Give client multiple optoins that meet their needs and are in their budget. Smile. Laugh. Ask about their home life and family - you may get some new ideas on how to decorate and save. Offer coffee, wine, soda, etc., maybe some light snacks. Have examples of interior design that met their needs and are in thier budget. Sometimes it is hard for a guy to look at a piece of furniture or a color of paint and invision the entire room, the finished product. Help them see that.

Posted by: kwinters*	Accepted Answer
6/17/2004 1:01 PM (CST)
In my mind, a lot of people don't really know what they like on the interior...so you could make that a part of the experience where you ask some funny and insightful questions to get people talking about themselves (people always love to talk about themselves)...offer sodas and snacks...ask good questions however, like if you were an animal what animal would you be? why? if you could paint your interior one color and only what would it be? why what is your favorit texture? your favorite thing to feel? If you were a zillionaire and could live anywhere in the country where would it be? why? in the world...where would it be? why? what is your favorite thing to play with on a playground? what is your favorite vacation spot? what is your favorite sport? etc. hope this helps... ps. the most important thing in making the experience great is not going to be anything external that you do but their experience of the design consultant, so no matter what things you put in place, if your people aren't likeable and enjoyable people then you are spinning your wheels...

Posted by: Val (Moderator)*	Moderator Response
7/6/2004 3:25 AM (CST)
Hello all. I am closing this question. This is our standard procedure when the question asker gets busy and falls out of the conversation for a while - or isn't clear about the process for closing. Thanks, so much, for participating! Val (Moderator)