Spring into 2021 with New Fabrics
March 29, 2021Photographing Window Treatments
May 17, 2021Efficiently closing sales is critical to the success of your business. Create a formula for that success by choosing a Carole program that supports your sales process and takes into account the needs of both your customer and your sales staff. Before you can decide on the best program for your business, ask yourself these questions.
1. Questions About Your Business
- What is your business model? Do you have a storefront, shop-at-home business, or a full-service design firm? Do you have space to house fabric books, or do you keep all of your samples in your vehicle?
- What does your business sell? Do you offer window treatments only, or do you offer full-service design that requires a more extensive selection of fabrics?
- What is the experience level of your salespeople? Are they experienced at selling soft window, or are they new to selling draperies and soft shades? Do you need to keep it simple, or can they navigate more complexity? Your program choice can empower your salespeople by helping them feel like experts.
- How much time can your business dedicate to the sales appointment? Time is money!
If you are selling exclusively in your customer's home, you need compact easy-to-carry samples that will provide your client plenty of choices without overwhelming them.
If you have multiple meetings with your client because you are providing full-service design, then you are accustomed to using individual sample books. You may need more choices to select fabrics that will coordinate with other items in your design plan.
2. Questions About Your Customer Base
- Who is your customer? Are they new homebuyers or established homeowners with a flair for luxury style? Do your clients put more focus on function or design? While it is likely that you have some of each, your client base may tend toward one direction. Knowing who your customer is helps you tailor the sales process for success.
New homebuyers are typically overwhelmed and have a sense of urgency to cover their windows, so it helps to provide great solutions in a timely fashion. On the other hand, your luxury client may want to take more time, see more choices, and request more customization.
- What types of houses are you servicing? Historical? Coastal? New construction? Each of these housing types influence the type of customer you may have, so give it some thought!
Now that you have thought about these questions, let's take a look at the individual programs.
3. What is Carole Design Essentials?
This program is for the experienced professional. It includes over 32 individual fabric books organized by category. It also includes Fall and Spring seasonal fabric introductions for a very current and comprehensive collection of fabrics. There are thousands of fabric and lining SKUs available through Carole Design Essentials.
Of course this program does require the space to store or present these books, making it more conducive to the storefront or design firm business model.
Carole Design Essentials support materials provide all of the detailed specifications information you need to place an order, including:
- An excellent Lookbook filled with room scene photography
- Specification and Pricing Guide binder
- Fabric Price List and General Information Guide
4. What is Simplicity by Design?
This is the Fifth Generation of the system designed for the shop-at-home salesperson or for those who need a simplified selling process. Each time we produce this collection, we incorporate your feedback and improve on the previous version.
Simplicity by Design offers choices from all of our product categories, but we have simplified the collection of products and options. This makes it ideal for someone who is new to the business or who needs to streamline the sales process. Everything you need is stored in one book of top-selling fabrics, making it easy to transport to your appointments while giving your customer ample options.
Elements of the Simplicity by Design program:
- All-in-one program with 304 total SKUs of fabrics and linings
- A single sample book that opens to lay flat, making it easy to flip through coordinating options and remove swatches for showing at the window
- Three decks of fabrics with patterns and jacquards on the left and right, and coordinating solids and textures in the center
Simplicity by Design support materials:
- A beautiful Lookbook that serves as a great conversation starter; show your client an array of room scenes to quickly get an idea of their preferences
- The Specifications and Pricing Guide, which gives you all of the details you need to order products
5. How do your needs compare to both programs?
Use the table below to review how each program meets your needs.
Considerations | Carole Design Essentials | Simplicity by Design |
---|---|---|
What is your business model? | Storefront Design Firm |
Storefront Shop-at-Home |
What do you sell? | Full-Service Design | Window Coverings Only |
Who is your customer? | Luxury Buyer High Design/Style |
Functional New Homebuyer |
Is customization needed? | Yes | No |
What is the experience level of the sellers? | Experienced | Novice |
How much time is spent on a design appointment? | More Time | Less Time |
What types of houses? | Historical | New Construction |
6. Which program is right for you?
Review the table below as you make your final decision. It outlines the differences between our two programs and will confirm the choice you have made.
Program Basics | Carole Design Essentials | Simplicity by Design |
---|---|---|
Product Offering | Expanded | Simplified |
Specifications | Expanded | Simplified |
Lookbook | Yes | Yes |
Specification and Price Guide | Yes | Yes |
Sampling | 32 Fabric Books, plus Seasonal Additions | One Book |
Number of Fabrics | Thousands | 293 |
Number of Linings | 27, plus 2 Roller | 9, plus 2 Roller |
Swatches, Memo Samples and Fabric by the Yard | Yes | Yes |
Trims | Access to All | Access to All |
Hardware | Access to All | Access to All |
Carolenet | Carole Design Essentials Program | Simplicity by Design Program |
Webinars and Training | Access to All | Access to All |
Whether you choose Carole Design Essentials or Simplicity by Design, you are ready to efficiently sell soft treatments and offer great choices to your customer while adding profitability to your business.
7. Carolenet.com - Our Online Ordering System
When you start selling, you will definitely want to use our online ordering system, Carolenet.com, to access all of the program information electronically then create your quotes and orders.
Easy Quoting and Ordering
- Place custom product orders
- Order cut yardage or swatches
- Access intuitive help text available throughout
- Eliminate incomplete or inaccurate orders
- Obtain instant and accurate pricing
- Prepare and save quotes for clients
Access to Great Information
- Learn about special promotions
- Review new product information
- Watch recorded webinars and how-to videos
Sign up for Live Webinars and Training Courses
- Live Webinars offered every month
- Wide range of topics and experience levels covered
Manage Your Business
- Keep track of quotes, order statuses and invoices all in one place
- Save favorite fabrics, linings and trims, organized in folders
If you have an account with Carole Fabrics, reach out to your Territory Manager for more detailed information and pricing. If you do not have an account, contact us for information about opening one. We look forward to working with you!
Susan Pfingst
National Training Coordinator
With over 35 years in the Home Design Industry, Susan brings her extensive experience in design and sales. Training is her passion and she looks forward to sharing her insight!