Since this issue includes bath and kitchen trends, Showroom of the Year and distribution software technology, I spent quite a bit of time talking to showroom operations managers and owners. When I ask about keys to success in a showroom, one of the responses is always great customer relationships. My next question, since we are living in the age of coronavirus, is what do those relationships look like right now? How did you maintain them while customers couldn’t come to the showroom?
The response to this questions, to me, speaks volumes about our industry; most say that they have built a loyal base of customers over the years, and the lack of face-to-face interaction did not really disrupt these relationships. Sure, actively seeking out new customers may not have been easy to do during this time, but being able to rely on consistent, loyal customers that stick with you through the tough times reflects the hard work you’ve put in prior to the pandemic.