New Showroom Offers ‘Final Touch’ For
Designers
By John Filippelli
Portland, ME Finding the perfect decorative hardware or bath
accessory just got easier, thanks to Leslie Vlachos and her staff
at Homeware Studio, based here. Billing itself as a source for all
the finishing touches of the home, the recently opened showroom
offers some 3,000 pieces of decorative hardware, as well as towel
bars, medicine cabinets, mirrors, bath accessories and counter
stools. To provide plenty of variety, the showroom offers numerous
styles and more than 10 finishes, including glass, ceramic,
porcelain, resin, wood, acrylic and metal.
Opened in August of last year without much fanfare “We just
unlocked the doors,” Vlachos notes the showroom is already
garnering numerous referrals from its clientele. “I believe that
referrals are going to be the core of our business,” Vlachos
states. In fact, she has already implemented a referral incentive
program for the showroom, with referrals continuously tracked and
professionals earning a ‘referral fee’ for sending a customer to
the showroom. This program serves a dual purpose, Vlachos notes, as
it not only offers an incentive to designers, but also allows them
to move onto their next big project while still sharing in the
profit when product is sold.
When queried on this unique approach, Vlachos has a simple
explanation: “[In my experiences,] it is not time-effective for a
designer or salesperson to spend time selecting detail products
when there is a new project to do.”
With such a wide selection of products, a philosophy geared
toward customer service, and Vlachos’ 17 years experience in the
kitchen remodeling business, it is no surprise that people have
begun to take notice. “We have [already] had numerous requests for
a product catalog and Internet ordering from visitors who can’t
locate unique decorative hardware and bath hardware in their own
marketplace,” she points out. While the company’s Web site has not
yet been set up to handle transactions, Vlachos sees this as
something that will develop with time.
Although measuring only 1,000 sq. ft., the showroom’s varied
product mix and location (set in a high-traffic, waterfront area of
the city and close to many design firms) make it a strong option
for designers who want to find plenty of choices or just something
different to help personalize a kitchen or bath.
The showroom seems to attract many tourists as well, with 20
percent of the studio’s revenue so far coming from “folks just
passing through,” according to Vlachos.
Working closely with sales associate Gina Labrasseur, Vlachos is
also keen on making Homeware Studio user-friendly for consumers as
well as kitchen and bath professionals. To that end, well-designed
lighting and music create a studio atmosphere for guests, while
Z-walls constructed in the studio interior maximize wall space for
product displays, and make the products more readily
accessible.
Marketing events, too, are a part of Vlachos’ master plan, and
as such, the showroom has already been used for breakfast meetings,
and for such events as a cocktail gathering for interior designers
with a guest speaker talking about the decorative arts.
It’s this combination of quality service, product variety and a
willingness to offer plenty of “extras” that differentiate the firm
from the “big boxes.”
As Vlachos concludes, “Our concept is that we recognize that the
consumer wants more than polished brass or chrome. We like to put a
personal touch on our homes.”