5 Ways to Help You Sell Well-Designed, Profitable Closet Systems
Designing and installing custom closets does not have to be complicated.
Think about it this way for a moment:
The client whose home you’re in has an existing closet with a rod and shelf.
Nearly anything is an improvement.
Configuring a new organizational system that works does not have to be complicated to be effective.
I’m Denise Butchko, Award Winning Registered Storage Designer, author of the book “How To Design a Walk In Closet” and creator of “Closet Design 101”, a course that coaches you through closet design basics.
I know that you’re often in a client's home and they may ask you about closets.
Fear not! Stop saying you “don’t do closets” and incorporate these tips. You’ll grow sales and revenue and help your clients all at the same time.
5 tips to increase your confidence and sales with custom closets
1. Handling the corners in Walk In Closets is easier than you think
Don’t complicate things with fancy devices that spin and don't’ muck it up with corner shelves.
Run hanging all the way across the back wall.
Come out 24” from that back wall and start your next sections on the side wall. This leaves 24” of clearance for garments to fit into the space.
Ideally the sections on the side walls are shelving or Long Hang.
It’s the most efficient and effective way to handle corners.
2. The materials and installation aren’t complicated
Closet industry standards specify that we leave ¼” to ½” gaps between the walls and the closet system.
We don’t work with fillers in basic closets.
And if you’re installing a hanging system, your materials don’t go to the ceiling or the floor. That makes things a whole lot easier (and profitable because it’s a quick design, quick install).
Most closets are made from melamine so there’s no staining, painting or matching grains.
3.Closets that are “Hanging Systems” are easier to design and install than “Floor Based Systems” so start simple
This photo shows a combination installation - the drawers are floor based and the sections with rods are hanging sytems.
A Hanging System is a closet structure with panels that are typically 48” high X 12”/14” deep. They’re supported on the back wall by a hanging rail.
A Floor Based systems goes to the floor and has a 2 ½” toe kick. So you’ve got taller panels and a toe kick to deal with.
4.No shoe shelves below hanging
I know, it seems counter intuitive. We wear shoes on our feet. We’re used to throwing our shoes on the floor of our current closets.
Here’s the deal - your clothing is 24” deep. The materials of most closet systems is 14” deep. If you have shoe shelves below hanging - you won’t be able to see the shoes because the clothing blocks them.
So you say - hey - I’ll use 24” deep material. Do that and you’ve now just upped the price of the closet, made the installation more complicated and decreased the effectiveness of the space.
5. Reserve corner shelves for pantries - not for closets
Corner shelves fitted into spaces that are 7 or 8 feet high are harder to build and fit into a space. And from an organizational perspective, they don’t work in closets because the things we put in closets are soft (clothing) and small. They don't stack well in corners and ends up being a mess (this includes shoes and purses).
Pantries are used to store more “contained” items - like trays and bowls or cans of soup.
WANT MORE INFO FOR FREE?
HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO DOWNLOAD A COPY OF MY BOOK “HOW TO DESIGN A WALK IN CLOSET” FOR FREE!
Click here to get your copy:
https://butchkoandcompany.lpages.co/closets-for-woodworkers/
I’m Denise Butchko and I’m here to spread the word about closet design best practices. I love the closet industry as much as I love sharing it with others.
So if you got at least one “aha” from the five tips and I’ve piqued your interest to learn more effective and efficient ways to design closets, I’ve got an AWESOME surprise for you.
It’s a copy of my book “How to Design a Walk In Closet” - ABSOLUTELY FREE!
This book is written specifically with woodworkers and cabinetmakers in mind.
It walks you through the specific steps to creating a closet design that sells profitably.
It gives you industry standard reference charts and guidelines.
It’s got some great before and after pics as examples of things you can when designing a client's project.
And it’s SHORT!
(As in - you can read through it - get some good ideas - and then keep it around like a reference guide to use when you’re actually designing a closet project).
To get your hands (and eyeballs) on this awesome content, simply click below to get your free copy. You’ll receive the content download via email in a matter of minutes.