Has anyone put in a showroom that could vouch for its immediate benefits? What are your thoughts on a Showroom in an offsite location.(somewhere different from your shop). Thanks in advance for your remarks.
Zac
From contributor De
I currently have a showroom at my production facility. Well worth the money. I previously had a seperate one in a retail location.
Seperate is definatly more expensive and complicated. We originally were open 9-5 m-sat. Then closed Saturday.
I have looked at opening a second retail location in another area of our market. My number is total monthly expense for that location including labor to man it times 4 is what I need it to do in sales directy from that location to break even.
From contributor Za
Derrek,
I'm a little confused by your break even statement. I know it would vary by location, but wouldn't your total expense/cost be your break even point? Can you explain? Also, did you have the showroom when you opened up shop, or did you put it in later?
Zac
From contributor De
A showroom is a marketing expense, no different than direct mail piece or AdWords campaign. I have a profitable business now and if I open an additional showroom it has to make me more money than it costs. Without getting into all the accounting details I use a number to calculate the roi of a marketing campaign, which are the numbers I posted. Its not just breaking even, itsbeing worth all the effort and hassle and be profitable.
I went 6 years without a showroom.
