For a lot of people, watching videos or playing games about home decorating is therapeutic. But home decorating is actually more than just a game and interest. It has a booming market, earning a revenue of $122 billion in 2016 alone. As such, venturing into the home improvement industry seems promising.
You can start off by selling products from inexpensive sources, but if you have the talent for creating beautiful ornaments, you should definitely market your works. Being in business is a great way to establish yourself as a competent artist and entrepreneur.
But how will go curate your original works to a market that’s used to Ikea and other popular brands?
Present Them Artfully
Before starting your business, create an online portfolio first, and present your works artfully. Give the illusion of luxury by having your pieces professionally photographed in the right setting, and using the appropriate accessories and complementary items. For example, if you’re presenting an exquisite vase, place it on top of an equally luxurious table or sideboard. Settling for basic backgrounds and props will make your piece look cheap, even if it’s far from being such.
If you’re selling in a brick-and-mortar boutique, avoid price stickers, and use tags containing the price and the story behind the product, instead. Your packaging should also be elaborate and appealing to reflect the luxury of the product inside.
To create more impact on your buyers, include a personalized note in the packaging. Your customers will surely appreciate the simple gesture, encouraging them to purchase again.
Use Pinterest
Pinterest had 11 billion home decor pins in the summer of 2017, and 2.3 billion home decor searches and saves every year. Suffice to say, Pinterest is the most influential platform for people furnishing their abodes.
It may not have a lot of users like Facebook and Instagram do, but 93% of Pinterest pinners plan to make a purchase, and 60% of those actually make a purchasing decision.
Thus, post your portfolio photos and product catalog on Pinterest. Share your board link on your personal and business social media pages to reach out to your audience.
Perform a Style Profiling
Since there are millions of home decor products in the market, buyers can be conflicted when making a choice. But by conducting a style profiling, through which you’d find out their tastes and preferences, you can narrow down their options as they shop in your store.
Style profiling can be done by having your customers fill out a questionnaire online. Your website will then recommend products to a customer based on their answers. As a result, they can shop much easier, because their options are all suited to their taste.
Provide Decorating Tips
Instead of just selling, become a resource for reliable decorating tips as well, using blogs, photos, and videos. This gives you an opportunity to engage with your customers. In addition, the quality content you’ll post can also help you gain more traffic and conversion for your website. By looking into the analytics of your social media pages and website, you’ll discover the type of content that pushes your customers to make a purchase.
Consider Supplying for Other Shops
If starting your own brand is not within your means, consider making your creations available in a local home decor shop. Have your sketches or paintings reproduced by a top-rated fine art reproduction company. Once people start becoming interested in your works, you’ll slowly gain recognition for your talents, which may present an opportunity for you to finally start your own brand.
Home decorating is truly a fun and awesome activity, so it’s not surprising why so many people are drawn to it. By including your own style into the endless array of beautiful home decor items, you’re giving buyers something new to be excited about, bringing a buzz for your creations.
