Don’t Overlook These Things When Opening Your Interior Design Shop

Deciding to take your online business to a brick and mortar location is huge. Though your online business may have been successful, transitioning to an actual store has certain dynamics you need to prepare for. Beyond choosing the right location and finding the right pieces to showcase your skills, there are a lot of elements you’ll need to put in place to sustain a successful business. Below, are a look at just a few things you don’t want to overlook when opening your interior design shop. 

Choose a Business Structure

Most entrepreneurs start off working alone and, therefore, don’t see a need in choosing a business structure. However, when you own or lease a commercial property, establishing a business structure is a must. Having a Limited Liability Company or a Corporation not only adds a level of professionalism to your brand, but it also protects you personally. Should you be sued by a customer, vendor, or contractor, operating under a name separate from your own prevents them from being able to come after your personal assets.

Select Insurance

Insurance coverage is another absolute must for your interior design store. You’ll need several types of insurance to protect yourself, your staff, and your customers. This would include liability insurance, property insurance, and, once you start hiring staff, workers compensation insurance. Without these protections, your company could go under. An employee gets hurt on the premises while moving furniture around, they could contact a Personal Injury Law Firm to seek compensation. If you have a business and property insurance, however, the money doesn’t have to come from your own pockets or hurt the company budget.

Suppliers

Your interior design store will need to be filled with decor, furniture, and other supplies necessary for servicing your customers. Not only do you want to make money on your services, but you can also earn a decent percentage by getting clients to choose products of recommended brands in your stores. Unless you have your own line of furniture and decor pieces to offer, you’ll need suppliers to provide these types of things for you. Start looking for suppliers and building relationships to get your shop filled with beautiful things that express your creativity. 

Staffing

You may have been able to run an online interior business on your own but a storefront is another thing. You will eventually want to hire someone to help you out. Whether it’s a receptionist, accountant, or other decorator specializing in different services, you want to put together an efficient yet creative team that is willing to work together towards your vision. Finding the perfect group of people to work together can take some time and some money, so it’s best to start the process as soon as possible. Begin by deciding what type of skill sets you’re interested in and begin reviewing various platforms to find professionals to fill those vacancies. 

Marketing

Hopefully, you’ve been utilizing a plethora of platforms, tools, and resources to market your interior design business online. Now that you’ve moved your business to a physical location, however, you’ll need to start finding ways to combine your digital and traditional marketing efforts. Signage, flyers, business cards, brochures, and pamphlets will be essential marketing tools to use at your brick and mortar location. You’ll also need to come up with neat promotions whether it’s discounts, free design advice, or seasonal offers to get clients interested in working with you. 

Customer Experience

It’s a lot different interacting with clients online than in person. When potential customers come to your store they are expecting to get the experience of a lifetime. They want to walk into a space that is modern, creative, and comfortable. They expect high-quality service that persuades them to not only come back but to refer others. 

Think about the type of experience you want your customers to have and how you will help to create that within your store. Will you have meetings in an office or out on the showroom floor where they can feel more comfortable? Will you provide coffee, tea, and other beverages and light snacks? What software will you utilize to help bring the customer’s visions to life? These factors may seem minimal, but how a customer feels ultimately determines the success of your business. If you take the time to focus on the little details that evoke a positive experience it will take your brand further. 

As you can see, there is more involved in transitioning your online business into a store than finding a commercial property and choosing the decor. In order for your company to be a success, you must ensure that you have established the proper protections, chosen the most effective team, and invested in marketing and promotional efforts that provide your customers with positive experiences. In taking care of these steps, you increase your chances of being a success within this very popular industry.