The home and garden experts will be bringing its Luton and Burton-on-Trent stores online by partnering with Jones Digital.
Creating a new hybrid model, which integrates both a physical and virtual showroom offering, Homebase’s decision to enlist Jones Digital follows the roll-out of its new generation of kitchen and bathroom showrooms launched in February. Customers will be able to browse the Homebase and Bathstore ranges independently or be guided by a design consultant with free design consultations available both in-store and virtually.
The home and garden improvement retailer currently has 152 stores and 15 stand-alone Bathstore outlets employing over 5,600 people across the UK and Ireland.
Ian Penney, Business Unit Director for Room Solutions at Homebase says, “So many people start their projects by looking for inspiration online, and our new 360° virtual tours of two of our kitchen and bathroom showrooms make it even easier for customers to see how they can turn their ideas into a reality. Our free design consultations are available in-store or virtually, so customers really can browse and plan everything from the comfort of their own home.”
As the KBB sector begins to recover post-lockdown, premium retailers that are able to provide an online experience in support of a retail space is a great way to build consumer confidence: especially among those who are shielding or feeling anxious about shopping in-store. Scott Currie, Managing Director at Virtual 360° Tours Glos adds, “Safety still remains a huge concern for many consumers, so offering an online tour package can help attract and retain business opportunities without risk. We are very pleased that we can facilitate Homebase’s many customers so that they can see even more of their fantastic ranges – whether that’s from their own home or visiting a local showroom.”
Peter Jones, Managing Director at Jones Digital agrees with Scott and says, “I am delighted that such well-known UK brands like Homebase and Bathstore, are now able to reap the benefits of working with our multimedia solution that simulates an existing retail space, as silver surfers and digital natives bring their purchasing power to the KBB industry. We all need to move with the times and raise engagement with our potential customer base, especially at a time when clients are often building relationships online first, rather than by popping into to visit a showroom to get a feel for it. Scott and I are dedicated to adding value to KBB specialists so that they can showcase their offers directly to the end user 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
“Every showroom tour can be seamlessly embedded into the architecture of your website with tags, links and videos containing further product information, as required. This in combination with chat bots and online enquiry forms, which all help customers to interact with your business in real-time with messages instantly delivered to members of your team” says Scott.
Jones Digital → Foyne Jones Towers: 5 The Waterside Centre, North Street, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 2PE | t 0207 486 1777 | e info@foynejones.com | w www.foynejones.com
Virtual 360° Tours Glos → t 07973 419 933 | e scott@virtual360toursglos.co.uk and sales@virtual360toursglos.co.uk | w www.virtual360toursglos.co.uk
