I think that the Pottery Barn catalog is a nice example of order and simpleness. Some people just don't have an eye for it or a knack for it and the pages may just look like a foreign language to them. But it is worth a try!

Nathan, I understand that the way people who are trained to know what forged money feels like is to give them REAL money to feel -- over and over. I used the same type of training when I owned an antique store. I felt the real thing so often that I (usually) wasn't fooled by the make believe thing. So showing very nicely staged homes or even the catalogue pages you speak of may have some value. If people see over and over what a staged home looks like they may be more favorable to having their home staged in order to get their home sold. It is worth a try. Good luck.

Nathan: This is exactly the sort of AHa! moment home sellers have when they see their staged home for the first time. Convinicng someone without having experienced the before and after of staging is the biggest challenge. The catalog might not hurt but some of the before and after photos from the Staging Before and After group would help too. Most Home stagers carry a portfolio of their before and after rooms so potential clients can see the difference staging makes. Nice post!

Great post, Nathan.  I agree that the photos of their room are a) nice and b) would benefit showing it to a seller.  I've admired their rooms (in their catalogue, flyers, you name it) for years and have tried to duplicate a similar look and feel. 

Kathy

What a great idea. It might be a good idea to have several pages in your listing packet to give seller's an idea of what they shoud strive for.

This is a great idea.  We often refer to the popularity of the pottery barn look and many of our projects have that feel but not all clients immediately connect with the Pottery Barn statement.  My next catalog is going right in my sales kit!

Jo Potvin

www.designtomarketllc.com

Nathan - I like this idea because homeowners are familiar with Pottery Barn, whereas they don't know a lot about home staging.  I often try to point them in the direction of shows like Sell This House and Designed To Sell, but that requires them having to go and do some "homework."  I like the idea of being able to just hand them the catalog to show them what their home could look like with staging.  Thanks for the idea.

Nathan:  In business, we must find a dozen ways to say the same things to our clients, because everyone absorbs information a little differently.  Your idea is a good one, and represents just one more tool in the belt.  Remember that other catalogs can accomplish the same thing....Smith Hawken is a great one for porches and gardens, which are just as important to merchandise as a foyer, kitchen, or master bedroom.  How about The Container Store to demonstrate the effect on storage areas?  Perhaps a folder with several different catalogs will really help deliver your entire message.

Cheers, from DC!

   Jaynee

Jaynee had a brilliant point, we have to find different ways to appeal and get our points across.

Cheers,

Cindy 

I agree  - it's funny I was thinking the same thing when I got my catalog - they now offer Benjamin moore paint colors featured in the designs and I saw that you can order the recommended paint samples for free...was thinking of incorporating this on the listing presentation for staging ideas.

My vendors and I use PB as the yard stick: this is a PB straight up, or PB with a twist, or PB meets Neimann Marcus.

Having just done a house in the Ben Moore paint colors, I can tell you that I'm over their yellow.  Not every room has to be yellow.  Not every stairway, not every corridor. The reds and greens are nice and the ice blue is completely delightful, especially in a bathroom.

marang - the way that dessert would be spelt if there weren't french people... which might not be a TOTALLY bad idea.....