As the winner of Exclusively Housewares and Exclusively Electrical’s Survive and Thrive competition last year, independent homewares store Huus won a consultation with trend forecasters Scarlet Opus. Huus – a brand and lifestyle concept store that specialises in contemporary home accessories and gifts inspired by North European design – says that it found the experience “extremely valuable.”
The consultation reviewed the store’s layout, décor, product offering, website, social media and merchandising and provided recommendations to create a retail environment that is appealing to today’s consumer.
When asked to share three tips gained from the consultation with fellow retailers, Huus advises:
- “Regularly step back from your business and get input from fresh eyes about your store experience.
- Keep innovating.
- Keep strengthening the bricks and mortar customer experience and provide advice which differentiates the business from online stores.”
Scarlet Opus reinforced the importance of spending time with each customer to ensure that new expectations of a ‘retail experience’ are met. Moreover, Huus is making some changes to its layout.
The retailer reports: “We have thought carefully about how we improve the customer experience. One of the projects we are working on is creating an inspirations hub, which will give us an obvious space away from the counter to have styling and advice conversations with our customers. It will also be a space where they can sit and take a look at some of our inspiration sources such as books, magazines and supplier catalogues to help them with some of their interiors decisions. We will also be putting in place a new social media strategy to support our move to be a destination for styling and design inspiration.”
Huus admits that while it is “continually remerchandising the store,” it is now “much more alert to having consistency in the look and feel of the store in line with our branding.”
The store is now making some internal redecorations and merchandising products outdoors, when the weather allow. It is also planning to work with other local businesses to increase the town’s profile to generate more footfall.
Huus is delighted to be one of the recently announced finalists in the Greats Gift Retailer Awards (in the Best Newcomer – South & Wales category). The Greats are organised by Progressive Gifts & Home and GiftsandHome.net
* Exclusively Housewares and Exclusively Electrical return on June 11-12 2019 (London’s Business Design Centre) with trends talks, displays and tours by Scarlet Opus.
Top: Huus is merchandising products outdoors when weather permits.
