Is Your Building Products Showroom Working Hard Enough?
By: Chris Kennedy, AIA, LEED AP | Principal
If your showroom hasn’t changed much in the last five or ten years, chances are it’s not keeping pace with your customers or your competition. In today’s market, your showroom is more than just a place to display products. It's your sales floor, your brand billboard, and often your customers’ first impression of your business. So, if it’s not working as hard as it could be, it may be time to rethink it.
A well-designed showroom does more than look nice; it supports your team and helps drive sales. But before diving into finishes or fixtures, take a step back and ask: What kind of experience do you want your customers to have?
Do you want to focus on homeowners, contractors, or both? Are you showcasing your bestsellers, or just everything you have in stock? Do customers feel inspired when they walk in, or do they feel overwhelmed?
Equally important: how does the showroom work for your staff? Is there space for real conversations, design consultations, and side-by-side product comparisons? Are they easy to see when someone walks in, or are staff tucked in a back corner?
It’s also worth considering what the next few years hold for your business. If you plan to grow, can your current space grow with you? If you want to attract more high-end clients, is your showroom reflecting the level of quality and service that they expect?
A showroom redesign doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch. But with the right planning, it can transform how people experience your business. You can guide them toward higher-value purchases. You can make your team’s job easier. You can create a space that reflects where your business is headed, not just where it has been.
At MA+KE Architects, we collaborate with lumber yards and building supply retailers to design showrooms that deliver tangible results. We help you think through your space from the inside out, who it’s for, how it flows, and what it says about your brand.
So, ask yourself: is your showroom helping you grow your business, or holding you back?