CLIENT COMMENT

"...I had to appreciate your hard work not just from the layout but also your way of showing us the value of having a well-fixtured store. You were not pushy. You gave us well-reasoned answers. It was amazing how well it was planned when it came to installation. I really appreciate all you did to insure that all was taken care of with the installation befoe you departed despite it being late October. So far, we're running about 35% higher in sales over last year.

"The whole store really opened up because of the overall layout. The store has a very pleasant feel to it. We kind of laughed at first because there are 31 different colors and finishes. But it really gives distinctiveness to it. We changed fixtures and even though it cost more to do this, it has definitely been worthwhile because it all fits together. We have more people browsing for books than we ever had before. Customers often use the phrase 'I feel comfortable in here.'

"I worried initially that the Best Sellers section might block the view of the store. But it has gotten so much action in selling best sellers and more new releases than we've ever had before. You are greeted by the best sellers as you enter the store. It's a double-barrel approach coming and going.

" The Frame Art area has far exceeded my expectations. Customers will wander around for maybe an hour and be enthralled by the display of the art. The display really enhances the more expensive art, even items we personally didn't like and sold them! It has a way of drawing people into it as they wander through it. That is what has the most do do with why we sell so much. It has been an outstanding area.

"The children's department has done very well! The music department has been doing an outstanding job. The events we're doing in the café area are bringing many people in Friday nights. We shrunk the church supplies department, and I thought it would be too small. However, we've sold more choir robes than ever before. The above visual merchandising boards have really accentuated the various departments.

"Customers will search me out to say how wonderful they think 'their' store is. It's like they have a sense of belonging and are proud that they can come into such a store in the Christian community. They feel a part of it and it's a place they can come back to.

"The cost of consulting was well worth it. I've seen stores that have done it themselves or used minimal input. It was a tremendous value because I couldn't think of everything and not everything I had planned was good. There are many things I now am so glad we have that we wouldn't have without your consulting. Thank you, Michelle, for helping us create the store we wanted."

Les Beardsley