What's In A Name? That Which We Call A Rose-Vancouver Home Staging
When I was in Paris (oops, there I go again!), I would walk down from our hotel to the local cafe for my daily cafe au lait and croissant. Every day, I would pass this flower store on Victor Hugo street, and just looking at the display of roses would set my heart a flutter. I had an emotional response to this flower shop. Actually, the store didn't even sell flowers in general, but specifically, roses! My mind wandered back to Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet play, and the quote: What's in a name? That which we call a rose.
Now, I don't know about where you live, but in my city, we can buy roses. They are in the refrigorator section in a big, white, plastic tub! Not very romantic, eh? This shop in Paris, aptly named "Au Nom de la Rose" (In the Name of the Rose), seemed to understand the concept of retail merchandising. Every morning, the shop keeper would come out and display all the beautiful rose bouquets, cleverly crafted in rose topiaries and various beautiful arrangements. Then she would sprinkle rose petals all over the side walk, and sweep them into carfully designed trails. The pink banners and green painted trim of the shop echoed the colours of the roses. This display delighted my senses!
Being a Vancouver Home Stager, I couldn't help but think about how we market a home. Do we use the "plastic bucket in the fridge" approach? Or do we take a petal leaf out of a shop like Au Nom de la Rose, and carefully seduce our buyers, by presenting the home in a way that will speak to their emotions?
A rose is a rose is a rose, and a house is a house is a house, so how do we differentiate our home for sale from all the other homes on the market? With careful attention to detail, and staging the home to really capture the heart of the potential buyer. This may be through a bistro set on the patio with an outdoor hurricane lamp and a book with sunglasses carefully placed on top. It could be a flower arrangement placed on the coffee table, along with treasures from the sea, such as coral or driftwood, sending an organic signal.
Yes, we are Home Stagers, but we are also Merchandisers for the Real Estate Industry, tugging at Buyers' heart strings, just as this shop tugged at mine.
Exit Stage Right - Home Staging and Redesign Sally Weatherley 604-838-9431
Sally Weatherley is a full time home stager and owner of exit stage right - home staging, Vancouver, B.C.
We help home owners and real estate agents sell their homes quickly and for maximum profit. When selling your home you want to "set the stage for a lasting first impression".
Home Staging Website: www.exitstageright.ca
Before & After Photos: Exit Stage Right Portfolio
Email: sally@exitstageright.ca
Blog: Exit Stage Right Blog
Sally, plastic bucket in the fridge is the same for me as drive through coffee ~ I see no emotional connection. That flower shop in Paris makes me want to stay....the same idea we bring through our staging we want buyers to get emotionally attached and stay.
Sally ~ it's all about merchandising a product for the target buyer, isn't it -- whether it be gorgeous roses in Paris or a home for sale. I like your analogy! The shopkeeper who swept the rose petals as part of the display is brilliant -- it offers the passersby the total experience of all the senses!
Hi Sally--something the French know how to do--merchandize. How could you not want to buy a dozen roses from this shop every day to go with your croissant and coffee Ah, Paris--my favorite city in the world.
I love this pic, Sunshine Sal! I can smell the heady aroma from here! I'm glad you had a lovely time!
Anna - You're so right. It is the same as a drive through coffee as opposed to sitting in a cafe, with all the charm and ambiance, and being servied a beautiful cafe au lait with a silver spoon and a little chocolate on the side. We want the whole experience, not the run of the mill, every day stuff of life!
Maureen - Absolutely! I couldn't have said it better: "it offers the passersby the total experience of all the senses". Well said!
Janet - Too true. If I lived in Paris, I would at least gift myself a beautiful bouquet of roses at least once a week. How could one resist?
Peggy Sue! Trust me, it was tough to walk by this store without my tongue hanging out! Hey, and thanks for catching that typo - it made the world of a difference! Good to know you've got my back, sista'!
You were in Paris? Why is this the first I'm hearing of this Miss Sally? You must learn to share with your AR friends!............. LOL. Lovely little rose shop, I agree, it's all in the merchandising.
Roger - Oh! Did I neglect to mention my trip to Paris? Well, if you have a month free, I'll tell you all about it! Seriously, those rose petals on the ground really messed with my mind.
You know...I think I may have passed by this flower shop on my last trip to Paris! I remember walking along that avenue, but I can't place the store exactly. Clever merchandising indeed. This gal knows how to grab your attention!
David - With your keen eye for design and style, I know you would have remembered this store. Actually, they had several of these stores dotted around Paris. There's definitely this one on ave Victor Hugo. They all had rose petals swept on the ground. Brilliant!
Well I am really sick of this whole "When I was in Paris" thing. Day after day after day.....
LOL....so sad I missed all of these everyday while I was gone!
Shar - I tried to warn you, but would you listen?!! No!!! I mean "Non"! So glad to have you back!
Great little story and analogy, Sally! You're so right about the importance of those "emotional" connections. Now I'm jealous, too -- I was in Paris once . . . 35 years ago, yikes!
Aww, great story and so emotional for me as I am packing memories at my home, moving and we went to Paris-my very favorite city on Earth- in 2004! Great blog-thanks for sharing the photos as it actually left me smelly the street of Paris! xoxoxo
Amy - 35 years ago?!!! Ok, it's definitely time for another trip to Paris!
Cathy Lee - Oh, wish I could help you pack and drink wine at the same time. Maybe it's time for another trip to Paris to make new memories... Paris streets really do have a smell, don't they? Hey, will you be at RESA this year?
Sally,
You captured home staging for me. You are right you are merchandizers....with a flair for selling real estate and emotional tugs at the heart for the house that says this is home. Great blog Sally!
Lori - Thanks so much. It boils down to the house being a product for sale. How best to present that house helps to sell it. Always appreciate your support!
I’m so far behind in returning comments but I don’t want to give up.
So I’m visiting as many blog posts as I can today
to spread some Tuesday cheer.
That means I probably didn’t read this post,
which is not going to prevent me from leaving some Tuesday cheer.
Feel free to delete this comment if it doesn’t make you cheerful.
Russel - Always happy for you to spread cheer on my posts. Thanks for the beautiful flower!
Great analogy, I love looking at displays and the creativity of others. You know it's well done when you are somewhere and think, "this reminds me of the time that we...." kind of moment. Especially, when there are scents, visuals and color involved.
Sally,
I often fantasize about being back in Italy-on the Amalfi Coast so I totally understand your obsession!!!!The picture emits lovely emotions. I lover that you are "digging deeper" on what inspires Buyers. That is just ONE of the things that make you so wonderful !!!
Marianne
Cindy - There were some great window displays in Paris that really had me thinking. As you say, throw in scents, visuals and colour and away we go!
Marianne - Obsession? What do you mean, Obsession?... Ha ha ha! Ok, so I'm obsessed with Paris! Ahhhh, the Amalfi coast - another one of my favourite destinations. The psychological side of staging really does fascinate me. As stagers, we just have to work it.
Sally-I want to go to Paris, and I want roses from this shoppe, now!! Merchandisers of RE inventory is a succinct and novel way to describe what we do, BRAVO!
Marie - You must go to Paris, although you may have to wait to purchase one of those roses!
Oooh I love this post Sally! Visual merchandising is so key when selling a product especially an expensive one like a house - it's funny because we stagers sell a service that makes the product look great so part of our challenge is to merchandise our marketing message so our "customers" will buy us!
Karen - I love the way you take this a step further, suggesting we "merchandise our marketing message so our "customers" will buy us!". A great point, indeed, which many of us neglect to do.
Beverly - Thanks. It's interesting that this shop didn't sell other types of flowers, but only roses. Talk about a niche market!
What a lovely post and message, Sally!
Guess what my "graphic" is? "love-in-a-mist"!!! Too perf!
Julie - Makes you wonder how many roses were plucked in the name of design! That's a perfect graphic. Mine is nothing as romantic as that - I got "pummelo" - kind of aggressive, don't you thing?!
Hi Sally...I like your idea, Would a Rose for every lady that comes to my Open House Work...Might get them talking..hey
Love Ya...Enjoy your Saturday, I'm doing a Open House at my Luxury Fairfield Listing 1684 Chandler. Drop in if you're in Town :O))
Fred - I think you'll have lady buyers lining up if you offer roses at your Open House! It's a beautiful, sunny day today - perfect for your Open - best of luck!
Sally, I agree. The presentation is essential for successful marketing and sale of real estate or flowers. And everything in between.
Lloyd - Absolutely. It's all in the packaging, really. Thanks for "schtick-ing" around and stopping by!