Fragrant Music

[DavidS]

Help please

I'm sure this has been covered B4 but a search does not show what I want
What types of background music do you use in a frameshop cum gallery and what about fragrant oils etc?
Thanks in advance David

 

[Skippy the Bush Kangaroo]

I heard of research that said people buy more when they smell lavender. I tried it and I think it works. I have an automatic lavender spray above the door.

 

[JRB]

The topic of music has been covered several times that I can recall. Scents is another, and interesting thought. The only scents my shop has is wood being cut, various sprays and chemicals, and the stores cat box, in the morning, before we have a chance to clean it. These assorted smells seem to be working for us. Overall, business is good.

John

 

[Marion P]

I used to take art class, and my teacher always burnt lemongrass as she said it got the brain moving.. not too sure if that worked. Lavender is a relaxing scent, be great for the customers but not good for the workers lol.

I have the sound of a printing press and saw in the background, at least my customers know that work is happenin out back.

But I like the music in the back ground, especially toe tapping kind of stuff. I know personally I like boppin a bit while I'm looking around, we play alot of music from the 60's and 80's, but with scents I'd be very careful, as so many people are so sensitive when it comes to smells.

My mom is one of those people, she stays clear of any stores that smells.....(I mean the good kind of smell along with the really "bad" smells LOL)

 

[osgood]

There looks like a lot of Aussie's on this topic, so I better put in my two bobs worth!

If you use some sort of "pong" in your shop, just be aware that some people just can't cope with some strong aromas. Be very gentle or you might elimante some people from your customer list!

(You could always grind up some Koala poo and sprinkle that over the doorway every time it opens!)

PS. Are you guys all going to the Sydney trade show???

www.ormondsframing.com

 

[Marion P]

Crikey Ormond LOL

I might just run down to Steve's Croc zoo and get me some Koala Poo.... or does Kangaroo poo do the same (ewww lol)

I think I like the smell of ground coffee more

How ya doin Ormond, its Marion here from the Sunshine Coast...

Yes I am going to the trade show! Might catch ya there.

 

[DavidS]

Thanks for the comments please keep them coming!
On the framing show no not this year cirumstances are against it, will try to catch up next year
David

 

[Ron Eggers]

Fragrant Music

If someone comes in and tells you your music stinks, does that count?

(I couldn't let JRB be the only non-Aussie to post on this thread.)

I finally settled on classical CDs after years of playing soft rock that made people my age flash back to a less complicated time (e.g. Joni Mitchell.)

I never thought about fragrances in my shop. I knew if someone wrinkled their nose, it was time to adjust Dogzilla's diet, but I never INTENTIONALLY introduced any particular smells into the shop.

My last shop shared a building with a bakery. People often commented that it was a nice, homey smell but after a few weeks, I couldn't smell it at all.

 

[HannaFate]

I often use a little ginger and lemongrass in my shop. Sometimes it smells link homemade cookies.

I like instrumental music for background; classical, butt boy, new age, acoustic guitar.

I keep both music and scent low key. I can't stand going into a shop with loud music, even if it is music I like. And, don't get me started on places with clouds of incense....

 

[HannaFate]

Oh, here's samples of butt boy, it's hard to describe, sort of techno I guess. http://buttboymusic.com/Conundrum.htm

 

[FramingFool]

We play jazz and classical ... and the air is wafted with Nag Champa, a traditional Indian incense ... 95% of the people love it ... the other 5% we kick out.

 

[FramerDave]

I've heard citrus helps stimulate people to buy.

The skeptic in me would really like to see some of these studies that have been mentioned. Noy just woo-woo aromatherapy stuff, but real studies done in stores testing various scents and controls.

 

[Framar]

I use Nag Champa incense as well - folks always comment how nice it smells in the shop (although a lot of people say that after I have sprayed some Krylon!). Nag Champa is pretty subtle but if someone proves allergic the scent is quickly carried out opened doors or by the A/C.

 

[Donna at MetroAF]

You need to be VERY careful if you are considering using fragrances. With so many people being sensitive- and horribly allergic- its best not to use any at all.
Also, scent is linked to memory, so if you choose a scent, definatley pick something light, airy, and happy, that will make your clients' stay enjoyable.
I like the idea of lavendar or lemongrass. However, my first suggestion stands- don't.

 

[Paul N]

"What types of background music do you use in a frameshop cum gallery and what about fragrant oils etc?"

Pier 1 sells an air refreshener (spray) called Ginger Peach. It smells great and you only need to spray a couple of times per day. (They also have candles with this great smell). You can also use essential oil burners with some Lavender (mix it with water, 1 to 20 ratio to make it less intense) .

As for music: Light / smooth Jazz seems to be liked by everyone. You can play this directly from the Internet (no commercials!!) and it is free from: www.smoothjazz.com.

Or even better, download ITunes from Apple (free download) and under Radio, you will find hundreds of Internet stations, listed by genre, from Classic to Rock, to Jazz, etc, also commercials free. Itunes allows you to play your own music also (through the CD player in your PC).

Hope that helps.

 

[osgood]

Originally posted by PaulN:

As for music: Light / smooth Jazz seems to be liked by everyone.

Everyone except me! I would have to stay away from my shop if I played Jazz.....then who would do the framing and deal with the customers???

Can't stand Rap or Jazz, like everything else though!

 

[Framar]

I have to second that emotion - smooth jazz (or any kind of jazz) sets my teeth on edge!

 

[Mecianne]

I thought at first this was going to be another warped thread about flatulence! Then I thought I might have slipped into the Australian forum by accident! Cool topic...I have been wanting to add some fragrance to my shop. It still smells like new carpet & fresh paint. Not strongly, just still smells "new", which is not a bad smell to have. I like subtle fragrances myself. Even Kirkland's makes me sneeze...too many fragrant candles & potpourri. I have a melon scented candle that I burn sometimes. In the cold weather I had a butterscotch one that smelled heavenly, like fresh baked Christmas goodies. They are very subtle...just have to remember to blow them out when closing! I listen to a LOT of Blues. I work more efficiently to Blues than anything else. I always lower the volume when working with customers, though. Loud and even sorta loud music seems to be distracting to everyone.

 

[j Paul]

Originally posted by OzDave:
I heard of research that said people buy more when they smell lavender. I tried it and I think it works. I have an automatic lavender spray above the door.

There was just a study reported on in our local newspaper today (The Toledo Blade, section D, pag 1) that discussed this topic. In a controlled study with "no scent" "lemon scent" and "lavender scent" dispensed, the lavender scent increased time spend in this restaurant and the average ticket by $5.00. The "lemon" and "no scent" were the same, with no increase in sales.

 

[YooperFramer]

butt boy...
LOL i love it!!

 

[mona]

I have been experimenting with scents, burning candles. The fall I went with apple spice and ones that smelled like cookies pumpkin etc. Christmas we used pine, right now I have vanilla. When the weather is nice I just open the door and don't bother. I am near a Starbucks and in the morning it usualy smells like coffee. I really haven't had any comments one way or another, I do think it ads to the atmosphere. Music I play a lot of crooners Frankie Dino Sammy plus classical the radio is on a oldies soft rock station which is fairly bland and inoffensive. Can't wait to try the lavender candles. Be careful and get better quality candles I realized on the cheeper ones my windows were getting sooty pretty quick.

 

[Julia]

Mona:
We use Airwick's Decosphere in Papaya Mangoe-haven't heard a bad word about it. In fact, even our UPS driver says it always smells good in our shop.
Julia

 

[Skippy the Bush Kangaroo]

I have looked on Google to see if there are any research topics in this area. Plenty of people wanting to sell products for Scent marketing, but not much reasearch on the topic. The place I heard about Lavender was on TV ( I know you cant beleive everything you see on TV), but it was on a leading marketing person who does a lot of research for companies such as Mercedes etc. Making sure that perceptions on a product equaled to the value of the product. e.g. people expect new mercedes to smell like leather, as leather is a prestige smell. A mechanics yard should smell like grease and oil.

Without any real research or trials I found lavender does increase sales. ( the two weeks I forgot to replace it sales for that time compared to last year was down, maybe a coincidence.) For the cost of $10 per month, we use an airwicks too. Strangly some people report hearing the "pssst" before they talk about the smell. Even if it does not increase sales, it makes the perception that the shop was only just cleaned.

 

[DavidS]

Thanks for the comments

I will give Lavender a try & no I won't over do it. See what happens & let ya know

The music bit still undecided on the type, will research it a bit more

David

 

[fortuna]

every morning when i enter my shop, i light a stick of MONEY INCENSE (available at dollar stores and other cheezy places). there is always a virgin of guadalupe votive candle burning in the fireplace. i say a prayer to her and ask for health, love, peace and prosperity before i turn on the lights. i play classical music, mainly baroque chamber music. no one has complained and i work best at that vibe. i am so happy in my business which will be one yr. old august 11. i feel so fortunate and owe a huge debt to all of you. many thanks.

 

[HannaFate]

Anything that smells "clean" is good for a frame shop. I think that's why you get compliments on the smell of Krylon, turpentine, and sprayway glass cleaner, but not on 3 in 1 oil, naptha, plate cleaner or rubber cement.
Unseal(acetone) is about 50/50. You would think it would be a "clean" smell, but a lot of people connect it with nail polish, and repairing fiberglass.

Food smells are good for the gallery area, or gifts , but so-so for the framing part. While food smells are appealing, they can evoke thoughts of oils and sticky stuff, while one is handling the artwork.

 

[Matoaka]

I've always been partial to the smells of stale beer and cigarettes, but for some reason my customers complained.

Anything but patchouli oil.

 

[Mike Labbe]

We use a lot of scents in our shop, generally in theme with the season. (pumpkin pie, apple pie, banana nut bread, Christmas cookie, Pine). During non holiday times it's usually a citrus mix or lemongrass.

We use candles and heated oils when it's cold, and a battery operated device in the summer.

Folks comment on the smells, but I don't know if it helps to close any sales. Frankly, one of the reasons we do this is because we have a shop puppy and i'm concerned that the shop doesn't smell like a dog

The puppy closes more sales and brings in more visitors than the scents, music, or anything else! He even got a Christmas gift from one of the clients last year.

Mike

 

[Framing Goddess]

It seems to me that women are a lot more sensitive to smells than men.
I am no exception.
One thing I find intolerable is what I call chemical smells- something manufactured that is supposed to smell like spring flowers, for instance, or an ocean breeze. Real scents are all that I can handle- dried lavender flowers or some citrus extract. I much prefer the real scent and in fact the fakey stuff makes me sniffle and sneeze. Those plug-in thingys are especially obnoxious.

Just something to keep in mind.

My shop usually smells like glass cleaner with a faint overtone of sawdust.

Food smells in retail shops is totally icky.

edie the nottookeenonperfumeeither goddess