STORE PROFILE
With four stores located in the greater Los Angeles area, this is of the oldest and most successful retailers in the CBA industry. Contact with IGP was made in the fall of 1998. The mandate was to create a new 9,960 square foot store in the upper income city of Orange. The client had previously never used a design firm but realized that erch it their old way of doing things was not going to work. Prior work Merch it did for friends of the Lighthouse owners that are also southern California regional retailers convinced them Merch it would understandingly guide them through the daunting design process. Within two years this store became the second highest grossing store in the chain.
In 2002, a second project was undertaken to remodel the 6,537 square foot Pasadena location. Because there was the uncertainty of a long-term stay at this location, many options were evaluated. The final decision was to clean up the interior, bring a better circulation path to the interior, create a gift department capable of selling high-end gifts, install a new lighting system, and completely remodel the music department.
Within twelve months, the owners declared it a huge success with sales having increased better than 25%. A minimum budget produced big results!
CLIENT COMMENTS
"It's been a joy to work with Merch it. We still get wonderful compliments on the Orange location even four years later! Customers just love the Frame Art Department. They seem to feel like they can always find something because you made it warm and inviting like a home.
"The traffic flow of the Pasadena store is a night and day difference compared to what it was before we remodeled. We're getting more upscale clientele and selling higher priced gifts than previously. And sales have increased!
"You always give us ideas we would have never thought of and incoporate them with our ideas. It's a great partnership. Your ideas are not cookie-cutter and have made our stores distinctive. I especially appreciate how you have worked within my budget and still created great stores that customers love! It's been wonderful to work with (David) and Michelle."
Mark Bingle
