Beyond 2000/Pedro Mendiguren (confinued fr om page 113) DESIGN, FABRICATION, INSTALLATION N• 1_0-43 4343—a Al 7675 HIGHLAND RD WATERFORD, MI "Celebrating 41 Years in Business" ...— ...f. ' la VArieki #.4. n META *MC INCIJA.- afg= Mira %EWE NSIOA ' , t + O" 0"= , s 4 a,jtea Oa WON4,174a 7, 1111111MMUitz,f,: Aft SAVE UP TO A Our window specialists canquote you an unbeat- able price. Call for free home estimate. NUTTER HOP 1 14 • WINTER 1995 • STYLE BIRMINGHAM, 1705 S. Woodward . . . . 810' 647.5581 313 285.8010 SOUTHGATE, 15348 Fort 313 525-4420 LIVONIA 810 775-6128 ST. CLAIR SHORES 810 229-0051 BRIGHTON 313 994.6060 • ANN ARBOR TOLEDO (419) 536.2900 GRAND RAPIDS (616) 4514705 LANSING (517)349-2810 warehouse - format stores with a high lev- el of customer service, and have struck a re- sponsive chord with consumers. Looking to the future, retailers will offer larger than tra- ditional stores with a significantly broader and deeper selection of products and ser- vices in the design areas. Other consumer benefits include: a more convenient layout; a professionally staffed design center in a central-store location: grouping of complementary product cate- gories; and a variety of "how-to" clinics con- ducted by in-house design professionals. Customers are becoming more knowl- edgeable and sophisticated and need to be treated with respect. We're seeing a gen- eration that is highly educated in many ar- eas—high-tech, professionally—but have had limited experience with "hands-on" home improvement. As baby boomers reach middle age, they are spending more time at home, and in- vesting more in improvement and updat- ing of their homes. Younger consumers, many buying or building their first homes, are also focused on the home. All of these consumers seek value; thus, the increase in "doing it yourself ' and "buy- ing it yourself." They take great pride in the accomplishment as well. While many "baby boomers" are comfortably "high-tech," they are not necessarily "hands-on" when it comes to their homes, and have high ex- pectations of customer service. Important- ly, they are reluctant to pay a premium price. In coming years, retailers will need to pro- vide extra design services and instruction to consumers. Convenience in the form of fast "in-and-out," convenient and ample park- ing, easy access, and speedy checkout will be the hallmarks of the successful retailer. Faster checkout lines, with electronic coun- tertop scanners and faster registers, as well as a system to speed up check approval, will be widespread in coming years. Electronic Data Interchange offers larger retailers a direct link with suppliers, allowing retailers to order and pay for merchandise through linked computer systems, enabling the stores to have the prod- uct on the shelf when the customer needs it. The "power center" format is continu- :ng to be strong, offering convenience and ow prices. Consumers today want a one- stop shopping format with everything un- der one roof and with exceptional customer service.