Your retail, professional or municipal Interior space presentation is a vital part of your Marketing Plan!
When your “market share” walks inside, they immediately receive your message – and you always want that message to accurately convey what you have to offer, and what they expect.
Ordinarily, Customers, Clients and Community arrive at your facility for the merchandise, services or information they need, and you accommodate them with your best preparation: your inventory, your expertise and the answers they want. And that, of course, is the primary reason for your facility – and your preparation.
However, your facility has other exciting potential!
You can invite your market share inside – not for business – but to socialize, relax and get to know each other on a more personal level. However, how you do that is an important part of gaining benefits from your hospitality!
Of course, you can always clear off the desktops and file cases and spread out a make-do buffet of snacks –with a cooler nearby with beverages – but there are much friendlier ways to present! (And your employees shouldn’t have to clean up drips and crumbs on their work stations!)
When designing new or modified commercial Interior space, it is possible – and smart — to consider ideas for accommodating a social aspect for welcoming your market share inside, just to enjoy visiting and socializing. Sometimes, a dedicated space is possible. But more likely, there would be a multi use space that can serve the purpose – a substantial staff-break room, your conference room or your reception area.
Considering such a plan, when designing your Interior, just makes good business/social sense. We can all think of times when we are conducting business with our valued clients and customers — and we wish we could spare more time to continue an interesting conversation!
If you have not previously considered some social time on your business turf, it’s not too late to bring that idea up to speed.
How can you benefit from socializing with your market share in your business facility? Wow! Let me count the ways! First, just getting to know your customers, clients and community members better, when not actually doing business, is interesting, enlightening – and fun! And, the opposite is also true: They get to see other sides of you.
Having dedicated or multi-use space is better than converting desktops, but what if there is no immediate alternative? Do you decide you just can’t entertain your customers, clients or community? Well, no. Perhaps you can compromise – push two desks together and fully drape with marvelous colors, spread attractive distracting yummies and make no apologies! Having better options has the distinct advantage of more successfully distracting your market away from their usual reasons for being there, and toward discovering other things about you and your other guests.
Another huge advantage available with business socializing is the opportunity to showcase other businesses in the community by buying your food, ambience and beverages from local vendors. What better way to support and validate your other business associates? Wineries, bakeries, florists, party supply, grocers and equipment rentals are all available for spreading the benefits. I knew of one creative host who hired the local Chamber of Commerce member limo driver to go around town and pick up their guests! He did it at no charge – and loved the exposure.
Specialists in our business community can help you plan hospitality that will fit your means and available space. And I can share, from personal experience, there is hardly a more enjoyable way to reach out to your own business community, invite them in and get to know them better!
Try it! You’ll like it!
Robert Boccabella, B.F.A. is principal and founder of Business Design Services and a certified interior designer in private practice for over 30 years. Boccabella provides Designing to Fit the Vision© in collaboration with writingservice@earthlink.net. To contact him call 707-263-7073; email him at rb@BusinessDesignServices.com or visit www.BusinessDesignServices.com or on Face Book at Business Design Services.
