Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
Creativity in small spaces is a part of every retailer’s experience, but there’s more to the skill than shifting product selections and managing backroom storage.
In the search for a new workshop idea for Cole Hardware in San Francisco and Oakland, California, marketing manager Julia Strzesieski decided a low-cost option that still allowed a large amount of creativity would be best. She decided on crafting terrariums, which she felt could be fun for groups and families, while giving each participant their own project to take home.
“They’re really simple to make, and with the kinds of supplies we offer, each can look very different. The customers could use sand, soil, charcoal, plants and even moss to change up their terrarium to their tastes,” Strzesieski says. “We try to have as much time with customers as we can so we limit the number of participants, but it sold out really fast.”
The total cost to create the terrarium is $10. Other items used in the creations were seashells and colored rocks to add a pop of color. Participants also brought in items from home they could use.
