Shopfront – Mike Toweel

In Issue 08 of Elite Agent we had six experts provide their top tips for 2016 in our special feature 30 top business boosting ideas. Here are the top five from Mike Toweel of Vitrine Media.

1. FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE LASTING IMPRESSIONS
   Why settle for anything less than an absolute wow when your potential client sees your place of business for the first time? This space should work for you 24/7; your office rental isn’t based on opening hours so use that asset to gain maximum impact and ‘wow’ all day every day.If you don’t stand out, it is almost the same as being invisible. Visibility and profile are the big drivers of any brand, whether it’s real estate or retail. The message is the same: ‘Be seen – Be heard!’ (And yes – LED backlit signage is the new window wow factor!)
2. IF THE MARKET IS DECLINING, GET AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION BY INCREASING YOUR MARKETING
   As the market softens and starts to contract, the best strategy is to increase your marketing spend, not contract with it. This ‘profitable survivor strategy’ is all about investing enough to increase share position and establishing yourself as the industry leader for the remainder of the market’s decline. Setting yourself up and growing your market share in a declining market is about future-proofing your business. Your position and market share will then become almost unassailable when the market does take that upturn.
3. MAKE YOUR VENDORS HOMES STAND OUT
   LED backlit signage is the cost-effective way to achieve that new brighter, better look, with a great perceived high-end value to propel your business to the forefront in visibility and profile. This is automatically going to make your listings in the window look bigger, brighter and most times more valuable.An agent with a display that is bright and alive with a feel-good aspect is a value-proposition in its own right. A property displayed in cold white backlit LED will come to life and give your vendor the edge. Remember, your window communication display is a reflection of you and your business. It is your silent sales tool and you should make it count.
4. WHEN YOU LOOK GOOD, YOU FEEL GOOD
   Employee morale is something that all too often is not weighted into the effectiveness or success of a business. The self-esteem of employees will impact heavily on their overall job performance. While there are a multitude of factors that need to be considered here rather than just a specific one, present your employees with the best looking office, one that they can take pride in, and watch morale lift substantially. Look at all areas of the office from pot-plants to the window displays, from the desks to the signage and see where you can make continuous improvements so that everyone feels good when they are in your office.
5. STOP TRAFFIC TO GET LISTINGS
   Window-visitation is still linked to listings, which in turn are the life-blood of an agency. White light will draw people to your windows; and this coupled with great property imagery is the sort of thing that will stop traffic. No special printer needed, the light does all the work.

Exclusive FREE Offer: Arrange a demonstration, or free measure and quote mentioning Elite Agent Magazine and on installation of your new display you will receive at no charge an A3 wall-mount display including power-supply.