SHOWROOM DESIGN


SPACE, COLOUR AND VISUALISATION


Speaking from experience, the team at Designworks Tiles advise on how to create a tile showroom that delivers successful results.


It’s no secret that first impressions count. However, this motto is particularly relevant when creating a retail showroom, store or outlet. Setting customer expectations from the moment they walk through the entrance and then ensuring their purchasing journey continues in a cohesive manner is of vital importance and could be the difference between a sale or a hurried escape back out the door.


Understanding your customers and what they need from a showroom is a good place to start when considering the interior design. What is their typical taste or style? Budget? Age? Gender? Lifestyle? These are all important factors which, depending on the answers, could dramatically change an approach to showroom design. At Designworks Tiles, our showroom is based in Clerkenwell, London; the design centre of the UK. Our customer base expects to see the latest trends and high-quality design in a space where they feel inspired and it’s this understanding which drove the colourful, quirky and sleek interior scheme that is carried throughout our showroom.


When considering tile showrooms, in particular, space is incredibly important. Ensuring your customers have enough room to navigate and explore will help create a more inspiring experience. Displaying large-format tiles? Ensure your customers have the ability to stand back and admire them from afar. If you’re trying to promote a certain floor tile, allow room for your customers to stroll over them so they can see what your gorgeous product looks and feels like underfoot.


It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the more products you have on display, the more you will sell – this isn’t entirely true. Customers can easily become overwhelmed and, if too much choice is showcased, you could end up leaving your customers confused and frustrated. Not only this but, if your customers end up falling over products and bumping into displays, it


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may hinder the overall shopping experience. Put fewer products on display and converse with your customers - if they’re looking for something in particular which isn’t in eyesight, samples can always be acquired.


Providing a creative space where customers can experiment with various wall and floor tile combinations could be of great benefit to a showroom design. Not only would it support upselling activity, but it will provide customers with a superior service; one which they will be eager to share with their friends and family.


Such space could be in the form of a large table, central to the showroom, where customers can deliberate over different colours, designs and formats. Alternatively, a seating area with a coffee table or an inspiration section with pin boards and tile shelves is another way to provide a space for customers to experiment and visualise their project.


Tiles come in many shapes, designs and colours and, when putting them on display in a tile showroom, it’s imperative that the customer’s eye isn’t distracted from the products. To help achieve this, look to incorporate a neutral scheme which complements products and brings the tiles to attention.


One impactful way to bring tiles into focus, whilst also showcasing an array of colour, is through an integrated colour wall. Our Clerkenwell showroom has its own 15-metre-long colour wall which displays hundreds of tile and mosaic samples to our customers from the moment they walk through the door. This feature is a great tool for showcasing a large variety of products but in a more succinct manner, whilst also providing a great starting point for customers to begin exploring. When shopping for tiles, customers generally have specific colours in mind and a colour wall can help showcase the products available that best suit a particular colour scheme.


www.designworkstiles.com www.tomorrowstileandstone.co.uk


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