Boost Your Curtain and Blind Business with These Essential Tips

Hi there, and welcome to our blog! Are you selling bespoke curtains and blinds and looking to boost your sales, attract more clients, and make some of those tedious tasks easier? Well, you’re in the right place! Stick around because I’m going to share some really useful tips that you won’t want to miss. These small steps could lead to big results for your business!

Today, I want to talk about a couple of strategies you can implement in your business to achieve better results in revenue and profitability. So, let's dive into some e-commerce strategies.

Optimise Your Online Store

First up, let’s talk about your online store. If you’ve got a website (beautiful but useless landing page, sorry to say it out loud) but it’s not optimised for selling interior items and window treatments, you’re missing out on a lot of potential customers. And nobody wants that, right?

Some numbers... 

In 2023, the global market for curtains and window blinds was valued at around USD 23 billion and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.4% from 2024 to 2032. That’s huge potential!

So, what can you do? Ensure your website is easy to navigate, mobile-friendly, and visually appealing. High-quality images and detailed product descriptions are essential. For example, you might have stunning images showing your curtains in different room settings, with close-ups of fabric textures.

Master SEO and Content Marketing

Next up, SEO and content marketing. This is where many businesses struggle, but it’s so important that you can't skip it if you decided to move online. Optimise your website with targeted keywords. For example, instead of just "curtains," use phrases like "bespoke curtains UK" or "custom blinds London."

Regularly publish blogs, guides, and video tutorials. Think about topics like "Top 10 Curtain Trends" or "How to Choose the Right Blinds for Your Home." We had a client who started a blog series on curtain care tips, and their organic traffic doubled in six months!

Here’s a quick model: Think of SEO as a funnel with four key steps, tailored for decorators and designers running an online store:

1. Attract with Stylish Content: Draw in a wide audience with visually appealing content. Showcase design trends, inspiring room setups, and creative ideas.
2. Engage with Design Guides: Keep visitors interested with detailed guides on design techniques, fabric choices, and window treatment styles. Use high-quality visuals and expert tips.
3. Convert with E-commerce Calculator: Simplify purchase decisions with curtain and blind e-commerce calculator. Provide customised quotes and highlight the transformative power of bespoke curtains and blinds.
4. Retain with Design Tips: Keep customers coming back with personalised design tips, trend alerts, and special offers. Nurture their passion for interior design.

Simple, right?

Leverage Email Marketing

Email marketing is another goldmine for running your curtain and blind online store. Send personalised email campaigns with product recommendations based on your customers’ browsing and purchase history. If you are just starting, we recommend going through your existing customer database. Contact them via email or phone, explain why you’re reaching out, and ask how their curtains or blinds are holding up (start with a small talk). Offer support if needed after a certain period and mention that you’ve launched a new online store.

Inform them that you’re writing blog posts on various topics and ask if they would be interested in receiving marketing emails from you, such as tips for taking care of their curtains, information on new products, or discounts. If they decline or don't have an email address, that's okay. At least you’ve reminded them of your business, and often, 3 out of 10 existing customers will say they were already considering returning for a new pair of curtains. This strategy has proven effective for our clients. Try it, and you’ll see it works.

Automate Your Email Marketing: Tools and Tips

Automating your email marketing can save you time and increase your efficiency. Here are some tools and tips to get you started:

1. Shopify: Use Shopify's built-in email marketing features to create automated email campaigns, such as welcome emails, product recommendations, and abandoned cart reminders. Shopify makes it easy to segment your audience and track campaign performance.

2. SendGrid: Integrate SendGrid with your Shopify store to manage your email marketing campaigns. SendGrid offers powerful automation tools, customisable templates, and detailed analytics to help you optimize your email strategy.

3. Mailchimp: Another great tool for automating your email marketing. Mailchimp allows you to create targeted email campaigns, automate follow-ups, and segment your audience based on their behavior.

4. Klaviyo: Known for its robust integration with Shopify, Klaviyo helps you automate personalised email campaigns. Use it to send product recommendations, re-engagement emails, and post-purchase follow-ups.

5. Omnisend: Perfect for e-commerce, Omnisend provides automation workflows for welcome emails, order confirmations, and customer feedback requests. It also offers advanced segmentation and A/B testing features.

Tips for Effective Automation

• Segment Your Audience: Group your customers based on their behaviour, purchase history, and preferences to send more relevant emails.
• Personalise Your Emails: Use customer data to personalise your email content, making it more engaging and effective.
• Set Up Key Automations: Start with basic automations like welcome emails, abandoned cart reminders, and post-purchase follow-ups.
• Monitor and Optimise: Regularly review your email performance metrics and make adjustments to improve open rates, click-through rates, and conversions.

Engage with Social Media

Now, let’s talk social media. It’s not just about posting pretty pictures. Engage with your audience on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Use stories, live sessions, and direct messages to build a community.

And here's a tip:

Encourage your customers to share photos of their purchases and tag your business. Offer a discount in exchange for a social media post, especially when a customer asks for a discount.

We implemented this strategy for one of our clients, and interestingly, they noticed a significant decrease in the number of discounts given out. Additionally, customers who shared their experiences on social media received lots of likes and positive feedback. They felt happier with their purchase because they got to show off their new decor and felt proud of their choice. It was a win-win situation!

Remember, consistency is key. Treat your online store like your local store – open it every day, keep it updated, and engage with your customers regularly. Also do not forget the main thing - no matter how beautiful your website is if you are not offering easy and quick way to buy. Use Calculator for Quick and easy curtain and blind quotation. Offer first order discount and automate emails to inform your leads about your products, services and offerings.

That’s all for today! If you found these tips helpful, subscribe to our blog for more valuable insights. And, leave a comment below if you have any questions or topics you’d like us to cover next. Thanks for reading, and see you next time!