lthough some retailers are doing away with traditional mood rooms, they don’t advise denying customers a chance to wet test altogether.
The technique still can work to increase some sales. But rather than invest in a permanent private room, retailers suggest alternatives such as retractable walls or theatrical curtains.
Because those techniques offer the ambiance of the darkened mood room, retailers can still show off certain features such as lighting. When the test is finished, you can put the hot tubs back on general display, says Russ Scott, general manager at Arco Pool & Spa in Rockford, Ill.
“Several spas will be a little bit elevated and they will have theatrical spotlighting on them,” Scott says. “We’ll also have different air handlers in that portion of the showroom so we can leave the spas open. Then with a push of a button, we can have curtains drape and, bang, you’re in an intimate environment.”
Another benefit, according to Scott, is that the new setup allows him to have any spa in the showroom ready for a wet test in hours, instead of the usual one or 1-1/2 days it would take to switch models in the mood room.
Retailers have a couple options for portable theatrical curtain setups. They can call their local university or community theater and find out where they got their curtains. Or they can contact Rose Brand, the fabric and production supplies resource for the entertainment industry. It has offices in Los Angeles and New York, says Brian Dyches, a retail designer at the Retail Resource Group in Laguna Niguel, Calif. Dyches says you can expect to pay between $250 and $500 for a curtain setup.
Retractable or removable walls can be easily constructed on your own or with the help of a local fence construction company. A wall setup can cost anywhere from $500 on up, depending on size and material used.
