mixed corner sample wall

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amarlo

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We were putting up corner samples on the wall in a new shop this weekend, and were needing to just get them up on the wall to clear floor space, thinking we would organize them later. I've never worked in a shop that didn't organize by color, and assumed I would do the same with my store. We found that we were liking the look of the random mix and found it to be more interesting to look at. It kind of fits with the general vibe we're trying to achieve in the store. Also, it obviously makes the individual samples stand out much more from one another. I'd like to know if anyone out there displays their samples in this way, or some variation on a seemingly random mix, and how it's working for them. I can see advantages to doing it this way - it sure would make adding new samples easier - but wonder if I would find myself searching for a particular sample while my customer waits and wonders if I know what I'm doing. I'm pretty visually oriented, so I might be pretty good at finding specific samples in the croud, just haven't done it that way before. Would this be nuts?
By the way, it's just me and my brother running the place, so there would be no issues with employees not being comfortable with such a system.
 
I'm one who prefers separation by color. It makes it a lot faster for me to find a particular sample instead of spending 15 minutes searching the entire wall for one frame. The last shop I worked in tried to sort by vendor. That lasted about 4 months before the staff was sick of spending more time looking for samples than we were designing. I personally think the clean look of division by color may be a little easier on the customer's eyes, and a bit less overwhelming. To me, the random look is just a wee bit too distracting. Good luck in the new shop!
 
Whatever works for you.....works for you.

Actually, we sort by Families first, Styles second, and Material type third. ;)

John
 
I think the problem might be even with just the two of you, is that if the sample doesn't go back in the same place, you'll spend a lot of needless time searching for it. After-all a 2" sample will fit in any 2" space.

I have my walls primarily sorted by color but with some family grouping as well. We also have some framed models mixed in showcasing something from that family.
 
In each frameshop job I've had I've ended up being responsible for setting the corner sample walls. I have always done it by color. ALWAYS. I have long been a proponent of keeping the look of the store fresh byt changing the orcer that the colors are in, but always by color.

Last Friday, for the first time ever I (with a great deal of help from my husband) reset the wall with corners grouped by families. Not every frame has a family. I grouped the poor orphans by color, but rather than just keeping the 1.5 rows worth of golds or black together I broke them into chunks about the same size as most of the families.

I've only had a few opportunities to sell from it this way but so far I'm really enjoying it.

From a customer perspective I imagine it's easier for them to zero in on what it is they like.
 

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Once upon a time I worked in a store where they had hung according to vendor. Pushing a line to get the most out of shipping charges was a much easier task.
 
I had a rep set my wall once and we decided to do it by families and it looked beautiful. The reasoning was to make things stand out better. Rows of blacks, golds etc is just boring. Even though it looked good it was very hard to sell that way. I was always looking for something similar that I couldn't find. I was relieved to change it back by color. So much easier to sell.
 
I have my corner samples on the wall separated in areas for each vendor. Colors and styles are mixed.

I've found its very pleasing to the eye this way. After this, I have some sub separations by 'family' but not all have these... so its kinda open.

Initially, I had it separated by color. It was a little drab, but I thought it was what I wanted. I had a rep come in and add a line and mixed it within his own board space. I loved it. Convinced me to do this for the rest of my samples.

It does have advantages. Which vendors are giving free freight? Sales? I'll go to that board first, sometimes...if the customer is really looking for a deal or discounts. Frustrate me...and your samples are REALLY easy to get to.

I have a few exceptions. For example, I have one section from mixed vendors for my shadowboxes, etc. and another for unique one of a kind mouldings from Bella and Global, etc.

It also helps reps who want to work through their own lines straightening, pulling, etc.

Two years of using this method..and I really love it. As long as you're familiar enough with your lines to know what comes from where...you'll have no problems.
 
While seperating by other criteria may have it's benefits, sorting by color helps to speed the design-selling process and reduces customer confusion-indecision.

Customers generally have a sense of what color they'd like (or not like), but almost never care who the manufacturer is. If their preferred color is scattered around the display, I believe it would cause them to have to explore the entire display, slowing the process and increasing the likelihood for confusion-indecision.

I always want the design-sell process to go as smoothly and as quickly as possible without detours, speedbumps or disruptions. A display organized by color offers the most relevence for the customer and the quickest path to closing the sale.

I would suggest placing very small stickers on the face, or preferably the top or on the end grain, of the corner sample to denote it's manufacturer, in-stock availability, etc.. You'll be able to see it while it's on the display, but the customer won't, or it will be relatively unobtrusive.
 
Ours are sorted by zip code.
 
I generally group mine by family. I do have a gold section and a silver section, but not all my golds and silvers are in there. I also have a couple of brand groupings, where the brand has a distinctive enough look. Therefore, all my Roma frame samples are in one location, and all my Vermont Hardwood samples are together. And all my finished corner samples are together, front and center.
 
I've always gone with color. Tried it once when we moved by going to style and family. Drove me nuts in about a week. Took all 1500 or so down and went back to color. Much easier to sell and design as Paul and others have said. Less confusing to customers for sure.

The only problem it creates is when you get a bunch of new samples and you don't have space available for any more blacks or whatever. I've tried leaving room when I initially set up the wall but it still creates space issues. Discontinueds help but I still haven't come up with a smooth alternative to this issue.

How do others address this problem?
 
You'll get a ton of answers to this age old question.

Go with keeping them in style families. They look better this way. The customer doesn't have to find them on the wall, you do. they just need to look attractive and also make sense to you.

When you decide to drop a family of samples, you can just grab the the whole thing in one fell swoop.

If you don't do this your reps will go insane when they try to sort thier samples from all the golds, greens, blacks, etc.

We also keep the in-stock board separate. That is done by color with families within the color. Make sense?:nuts:
 
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