Ironically, Huskey previously ran and maintained its own showroom, but found it burdensome as the company’s business became almost exclusively pro-oriented. “In fact, our showroom is now office cubicles,” says Sommers, who adds that he isn’t concerned about other dealers’ names hanging on the wall at the PPW facility, especially if he’s the one sending his customers there. “My guys aren’t going to shop me around,” he says.
While the Brentwood showroom is currently the only one of its kind that PPW operates, others could be on the horizon. “We could potentially look at other markets in the future,” says Thomas.
In the meantime, though, the focus is on the ground in Tennessee. “For us, the return on investment is really gauged by traffic, and how many of our dealers are getting sales as a result of the showroom,” Thomas says. “We’re getting busier every day.”
Allen & Allen dedicated 1,000 square feet of its showroom to windows, giving salesmen like Oscar Fernandez and James Otremba plenty of room to demonstrate the functionality of the firm’s offerings. Top Left: Allen & Allen president Buzz Miller (left) and brother-in-law Coddy Pena, executive vice president. Bottom left: The showroom’s 1,600 square feet of hardware displays allow builders and homeowners to see detailed product features in an installed setting. Elsewhere, smart workspaces blend with displays for a comfortable sales environment. Top Left: Allen & Allen salespeople Oscar Fernandez (left) and Lee Rickabaugh make use of the “column room,” which shows off decorative molding. Throughout the showroom, clean lines, high ceilings, and skylights provide an open feel, while a smart layout allows browsing by room and extensive hardware displays offer feel-and-touch options.
