Designers take note: Survey says room packages still a winner with consumers
Designers take note: Survey says room packages still a winner with consumers

We were intrigued by a recent survey conducted by
Furniture Today that showed a sizeable number of consumers – especially
Millennials -- prefer to buy home furnishings in room packages.
Given the consumer’s well-known preference for eclectic
pieces instead of suites and seating groups in recent years, this finding might
seem surprising. But this item-by-item approach can work just as well when
furnishing an entire room on a single shopping trip, and that offers some
significant sales opportunities for interior designers and retail sales
associates whose stores focus on room packages and price such packages
accordingly.
According to the survey, 41 percent of Millennials said
they strongly agree or somewhat agree with the idea of buying room packages, as
do 37 percent of Gen Xers and 33 percent of Gen Z. The only demographic group
that isn’t too keen on the ides is Baby Boomers. Only 18 percent said they
strongly agree or somewhat agree with it.
But regardless of the preferred shopping habits of Baby
Boomers, we think these survey numbers represent good news for interior
designers – a group that always has preferred furnishing a whole room or an
entire house. Since the survey indicates it may now be a lot easier for
designers to “sell” consumers on the notion of furnishing a whole room, that
gives designers a lot more time to focus on the fun stuff – picking out the
specific pieces of furniture.
As part of that process, interior designers need to
carefully choose vendors who have products to furnish an entire room, as well.
Zuo is one such vendors, and CEO Luis Ruesga says the consumer’s appetite for
room packages has helped the company boost its business with designers.
“Buyers from all retail channels are wanting to do more
business with fewer vendors,” Ruesga said. “We’re in a great position to fill
that need, and we’re working hard to keep our top selling items in stock,
despite all the supply chain challenges.”
A wide array of Zuo’s upholstery, dining, decorative
accessories, accent and outdoor furniture offerings can be seen in the
company’s showroom beginning this Saturday, June 5 at the High Point Market. If
you can’t make it to the market, a virtual showroom tour is available from the
homepage of the company’s website.