TEXTILES.ORG
By Janet Preus
There’s a lot of talk about diversification in today’s challenging market. While that’s a worthwhile discussion, there’s another “take” on the topic that has more to do with customer service than new products.
I used to spend quite a bit of time in Nashville hanging around songwriters, for the most part. Nashville, which is overflowing with creative people, has a few catch phrases that stick with you and are useful beyond the Mason-Dixon line and the music business.
Like this one: Keep it simple, stupid. It is said with a laugh, of course, but they take the idea quite seriously. In fact, what differentiates a great country song from a mediocre one is often the perfect simplicity of its message. No one has ever accused a county song of being too complex.
The same concept can be applied to your shop. The goal is to make it easy for your customers to use your products. Handling installation and replacement products simply and economically is one way you can provide great service and save your customers time and effort. Creative use of the tools you have at hand, including your staff and your equipment, can be the difference between your customer’s furrowed brow and a relaxed smile.
You’re the expert, and experts make the work look easy, which puts your customers at ease. Looking for cost-saving replacement methods and mechanisms could be worth the extra effort in the long run.
There are additional tools to make it easy for you, too. Triga® Systems has a new quick-change fabric banner system that incorporates fabric panels with sewn-in top and bottom edge strips that are dropped into Triga’s parallel-mounted graphic rails before wall-mounted Triga tensioning devices are button-fired. This means leased display space can be changed easily at minimal cost. Graphics can be applied to straight or curved walls for more versatility.
Moss Inc. offers its EZ Fabric Wall System for rent. Around since 2009, the lightweight, modular wall system for fabric graphics exhibits has accessories available and Moss will rent the blank white wall, or supply printed fabric covers.
Tension fabric graphic display systems are popping up everywhere. Lightweight and portable, they offer you another selling point and your customer another solution without having to go to another vendor. Suited to trade shows, the concept can readily transfer to POP displays, special events, museums, theaters and even office spaces. If it’s self-supporting and portable, there’s no reason you can’t include a graphic.