Good Idea Or Bad Idea?

ruskent

I know a show room would be very benifical to my company. It would be great to be able to have all the products that i can install on display. However, i am not sure if a showroom will be in the budget right away. But i got another idea.

I have a real nice 2 year old 18x8.5 enclosed trailer. Would it be tacky to paint the inside up real nice, carpet the floor and mount all my displays on the walls? Then i could just bring the trailer out with me after people decide to go with my company and have to make the important choices on material.

I am in the pool in landscaping business. In the trailer i'd have all the different pool tile and coping options, paver samples, concrete samples, fence samples, cutaway of a filter, pictures on the walls etc.

This would only be for about a year. I figure if i set the trailer up nice enough it would go over well. I just do not want to have to drag all the samples into the person kitchen or living room. And i know people like to see the actual product, vs just looking at a picture.

What do you guys think? Yay or nay?

I'm still looking for the right priced office with enough room for a showroom. I got to see what i can find.

Matt

JNLP

I think that's a pretty good idea if it's set up right.

reveivl

Prolly set you a bit apart from the competition, I'm sure.

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Danahy

My gut says it's a pretty cool idea.... My mind can think of a bunch of little negative things, but usually trust my gut.

RobertCDF

I have had this idea as well... However I dont have a spare trailer. I think it can be an excelent idea. How about taking a step further and set it up with lettering and magnets so that if you go to HD or anywhere you can park it with a magnet sign that says. "Please come in and tour our mobile show room" Then you can have brocures and cards and anything else in there for people to take. Then wherever you go, even job sites people can come in and look around.
At least this is the plan I had for mine.

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Mike Finley

Naw, that idea sucks.

Don't mind if I steal it do you?

ruskent

I am glad you guys think its a great idea! I guess out of every 8-10 ideas i come up with, i get a good one!

If i go through with it, i got to see how i should use it. Should i bring it out to the customers house for the 1st consulation? Or should i wait untill it comes to the time to pick tiles and bricks? I just hate the idea of always towing a trailer around to every estimate.

Oh yea, i would letter the hell out of the trailer.

Matt

wackman

Man, that is a good idea. I'd bring it out with you, then it can do double duty as a sales tool and a showroom in one efficient, streamlined process.

RobertCDF

Tow it every day! Sell from it eveywhere you go. Open it up before you go into any store then when you come out see how many fish you caught.

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Colorado Springs Custom Decks
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Mike Finley

I guess I am of the opposite thinking. Only bring it to do what it is created to do, which is be a showroom to pick selections from.

But get a picture of it into your presentation and make it a point to talk about it during every estimate. I don't see the point of it for estimates, since for me selections come down the road, but I could see using it either way. I just don't see you using it for every estimate you would do, I see it having been towed around some times for nothing.

If you would use it as a way to show people different products during your estimate then I'd be saying bring it every time. How do you see yourself using it?

john elliott

I considered this idea myself and would almost certainly have gone ahead with it until the shop next to mine became vacant and we decided to take it over and set uop a showroom in it

My idea was to use it for actually generating leads rather than to assist in the selection process for leads got from other sources.
With that in mind, it was all about finding suitable sites where I would be allowed to set it up for a weekend, where there was good visibility and plenty of parking. The solution to the site question would vary depending on your locality. I look forward to seeing the pictures

John

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fastg60

i know i hate going in my trailer on a hot summer day for more than 2-3 minutes, you'd probably have to put an AC unit in that thing to make it comfortable enough to consider using like that.

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Danahy

Bring it out with you, its unique. Let this idea fail before you come up with anything else.

Reminds me of when I was painting the other week, I noticed the neighbour woman had "haircuts in your home", on her nice suv. She said she has all the members of one house book their hair at the same time, then she comes out, sets up in your kitchen, and whamo..
Perhaps this isn't new to anyone else, I just thought it was the coolest thing for a hair dresser / cutter to make house calls..

...imo

Gordo

It sounds like a good idea, but pictures and references will do the same thing. There are so many showrooms around my area its ridiculous. If they can't make it to showroom, usually they aren't going to get the job done. Kinda like a qualifier.

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john haddad

The idea of being able to have a walk in show room works for carpet sales. To maximize your moving bill board, make sure you invest in an attractive web page showing everything that will be in your showroom.

Your mobile showroom should have your webpage on it as well. Use it to sell and generte leads.

Stone Mountain

Fantastic idea. I thought of it 25 years ago, but never did it. Maybe I should have.
Absolutely take it with you on the first consultation. It will seprate you from the crowd, and will create a terrific first imprssion with the client. I wouldn't be surprised that with a slick and professional prsentation, you make the occaisional first-time-in sale.
Think about it. Those people who can afford your services are in, by definition, a pretty good financial bracket. They are probably very busy, and would likely appreciate the idea that they don't have to bundle up and drive out to some showroom hours (well, minutes) away, when they can just stay in their driveway and see all their choices.
Additionally, from personal experience, I can tell you that an attractively lettered vehicle is fantastic advertising. Just make sure your tow vehicle looks good as well.

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POOLMANinCT

i think it is a great idea,
when i envision the sales trailer see a "wow" factor
if it doesnt knock your socks off it may be cheesey.
Do it up post the pics, I think this has great potential.

ray

Pearce Services

Too late....Home Depot beat you to it.

I went to the HD in Quincy Mass, and there was an annoying voice coming over a loud speaker, I looked over and saw a guy sitting in a HD trailer set up with samples of all their "In-home-services" stuff. The funny thing was that he went on and on, and not one person even stopped by to see what he was offering.

Aside from that, I think it is a great idea. You can also rent booth space at the local fairs, and hometown celebrations for about $100 and drag your trailer in, open the doors and start impressing.

Picture the results when you pull up to a mcmansion, open the trailer, and put on a presentation with a prospective client, within days, you'll be back in the same neighborhood doing it again.

If it is considered Retail, do you need to set it up for ADA compliance. You have the option to put a ramp on the back of the trailer, and maybe even use that as a marketing edge. Some people need pools for therapeutic reasons, now you can really accommodate them, and set yourself apart from the competition.

alaskafunboy

I think you should mosey into the competitions showroom and get an idea on what they're asking. But don't forget to park your trailer in the parkin lot and troll for the people who just walked out of there- lol Might be a good way to get your tires slashed,- or maybe not: if they slashed your tires, you would not be able to remove your trolling boat (trailer). Or you could mysteriously break down, (let air out of your trailer tire, just bring a spare or a 12 volt compressor) just outside their parking lot. Just kidding with all this. Sounds like a great idea you have. I say 'YOU GO' -- do it and post pics. You may have started something here. Good luck. B

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ruskent

The trailer does have a ramp door, since it was bought to move equipment around. With roof vents and the ramp and the side door open, i doubt i will have heat proablems. The trailer is 18x8.5 with extra tall celians so it should not be cramped.

I'm hoping this helps increase my closing percentage. Hell i am going to need all the help i can, until i get a few pools in the ground. I'm opening the good referals i have built doing landscape construction will help me make a smooth transition into pools.

Matt