Showroom samples

[muttin]

I am wondering what everyone is doing for showroom samples ? i currently have tile racks but most of the stone is so outdated that needs to be thrown and having a tough time finding anywhere to get new so looking for other options. to see what other companies are doing

[Caleb]

I am wondering what everyone is doing for showroom samples ? i currently have tile racks but most of the stone is so outdated that needs to be thrown and having a tough time finding anywhere to get new so looking for other options. to see what other companies are doing

Are you saying you're having a hard time finding anywhere to get granite samples?

[Bedrockron]

Here's

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Here's what we do, a bit of maintenance, keep a numbered system. big 8x8's. A pain, but they do the job. When we cut a job, the scraps become samples. Nothing earth shattering
EDIT: Ok, maybe technically earth-shattering

[mikedean]

EDIT: Ok, maybe technically earth-shattering

hahah!

[Kowboy]

Ron:

No offense, but that doesn't look good to me. What is all over the floor? Do you get any kids in your showroom? Wait until Junior drops one of those on his foot.

I just posted about how poorly IKEA shows its countertops. Fabricator showrooms should look like car dealerships.

[ChrisGraham]

Ron:

No offense, but that doesn't look good to me. What is all over the floor? Do you get any kids in your showroom? Wait until Junior drops one of those on his foot.

I just posted about how poorly IKEA shows its countertops. Fabricator showrooms should look like car dealerships.

I say bullshit! If your show doesn't have dangerous crap laying everywhere you aren't busy. I tell them to leave the kids in the car. This isn't Walmart it's a stone production facility. Just my .02 although I would agree a couple of those shelves need a extra brace or two.if I was just selling tops then yes I would agree that it should be prestine. But most of us our shop is a extension of our show room.

[Reddick Marble]

Ron:

No offense, but that doesn't look good to me. What is all over the floor? Do you get any kids in your showroom? Wait until Junior drops one of those on his foot.

I just posted about how poorly IKEA shows its countertops. Fabricator showrooms should look like car dealerships.

I am quite certain that Ron would allow you to come in and clean his floors and build his showroom to your specifications of what you feel it should look like but in the real world it does not work that way. It appears to me that Ron worked with what he had and seeing as how he is operating an actual store front I would say he is doing something right. Also, Ron was simply offering a solution to a question that was asked and you took a jab at someone else's hard work.

From what I can tell you do nothing but stir the pot and I think you should have to lick that spoon every now and again

Anyways what you commented flew all over me (as you can tell). Rant over

[Darryl Miller]

Ron has a good idea there. Especially if you don't have the room to stock your own inventory.

We are fortunate in that we have NO samples in our showroom. We have a few tops on display, but we have a small warehouse that we keep full of slabs. So our customers can choose the exact material and see what the whole slab looks like. It really makes it easier to close the sale while they are here.

[muttin]

I am wondering what everyone is doing for showroom samples ? i currently have tile racks but most of the stone is so outdated that needs to be thrown and having a tough time finding anywhere to get new so looking for other options. to see what other companies are doing

Are you saying you're having a hard time finding anywhere to get granite samples?

yes the 12x12 samples from the suppliers i use

[Alex_Bores]

I would get rid of the shelving system you have and put up cabinets and cut 4x4 samples for your customers.

This is in the slab area I take it? By putting up the cabinets, It will seem less cluttered. I wouldn't do anything fancy, just list them alphabetically.

Our old shop had samples on wood tables that we made. I hated it. Looks like its a bargain bin at wally mart...

[Kowboy]

I am quite certain that Ron would allow you to come in and clean his floors and build his showroom to your specifications of what you feel it should look like but in the real world it does not work that way. It appears to me that Ron worked with what he had and seeing as how he is operating an actual store front I would say he is doing something right. Also, Ron was simply offering a solution to a question that was asked and you took a jab at someone else's hard work.

Eric:

I'm sure Ron is a fine gentleman; as I said I meant nothing personally.

Many times guys will post pictures of their new graphics on their truck or a link to their new website and ask for opinions. Just being a "yes" man and saying either looks great without giving constructive feedback does the poster no good. What if the letters on his truck are illegible? What if his website is a mess? If you can't get honesty here, where are you going to get it?

The stone industry needs to step up its game when it comes to presenting itself to the public. Ron, you, and myself included.

Joe

[Bedrockron]

No offense taken, I appreciate the feedback and other input given. We haven't had any issues with people 'playing with the samples', because this is not in the main showroom, it is in the slab area, where a showroom associate is always present. The stuff on the floor is just chips in the concrete paint, aside from a couple leaves blown in from the garage door.
We're trying to update all aspects of our business, but so far the samples have been working as-is, so it's a little bit of a back burner issue.
Thank you everyone for your input!

[mike@BMG]

From up in Canada, make a showroom that represents the work you do. From the first step your client takes in your showroom let them know you take pride in your work and that reflects in your showroom. Or be a hack job and have a hack showroom. Just because we are in the stone industry that is dirty does not mean our showrooms and shops have to be a disaster. It is all about the environment you set and it starts in your showroom. If your workers see how clean your showroom is and especially our shop, this clean environment goes to the clients home at the end of the day. Our works clean their boots, cover all the floors before they bring 1 piece of tooling inside and when they leave the vacuum up every piece of dust they made.

Just my opinion that your showroom reflects your work.
Just finishing off our sample room.

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[Alex_Bores]

I think your showroom is beautiful Mike! However, lets not forget about the guy that is doing 3-4 kitchens a week and has not broken into bigger clients and or is just making ends meet. Not everyone has that capability. It should be a goal and agree with your post.

[Eric R]

Nice showroom Mike! Love the pics.

[BellaTerra]

Beautiful Showroom for a beautiful city.
I have to agree though that for many to have any type of showroom can be a financial stretch but also think that whatever size area you show is still representative of who you are, what you offer, and what they can expect. Or atleast that is what the customer often thinks when they see your space.
As to the OP's question- we continually cut samples from remnants and have to continually remind the guys to keep on that as its a pain and they'd prefer to just throw all the waste out each day rather than take the time to cut new samples. We have a small slab showroom for viewing however quite often people would like to take a sample home with them. So we find the best solution is to have both- slabs and samples.

[Brian Briggs]

I had crown molding 3" shelves around my walls that had 8x12 samples on them. I chose 8x12 so that I could take a 12x12 supplied my a distributor and have a wall sample and3 4x4 samples. When I started importing I required the supplier to provide me with 12x12's and when we cut a new material we cut our own from scraps. Worked great.

[ashshutze]

Main thing I see it is that you need to cut your own samples. You can't rely on distributors/manufacturers to keep you sampled these days. Just find a wall and stack them there. Just get started and you'll figure out what works best.