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The furniture industry has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, with more brands shifting towards direct-to-consumer (DTC) models. According to a report by Shopify, sales in the home furnishings eCommerce sector reached USD $133 billion in 2021, accounting for 17% of the total online retail market. While these figures have slightly declined since then, eCommerce has firmly established itself in the discovery and purchasing journey for furniture shoppers. This approach enables businesses to offer a more personalised customer experience, lower costs, and higher profit margins.
In this blog, we'll explore how Shopify Plus empowers DTC furniture brands in the UK and why it's the ideal platform for furniture retailers looking to scale their operations.
Why Choose Shopify Plus for Furniture Brands?
Shopify Plus, a leading eCommerce platform, plays a key role in this revolution, providing furniture brands with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive market. It is a robust, scalable platform, that is tailored to meet the needs of high-growth furniture brands.
One of the main reasons furniture brands choose Shopify Plus is its flexibility and customisation. Whether you're selling industrial furniture UK, bespoke pieces, or ready-made collections, Shopify Plus can adapt to your business's unique requirements. The platform's built-in features, including advanced reporting, inventory management, and multichannel selling, enable you to streamline operations and optimise the customer experience.
Building an Engaging Online Store
For DTC furniture brands, an engaging online store is the first step in driving sales. Shopify Plus enables businesses to create visually stunning and user-friendly eCommerce websites. Customisable themes and a wide range of apps allow you to design a store that reflects your brand's personality, whether you're selling premium, eco-friendly, or industrial furniture UK.
Using high-quality product images, easy navigation, and responsive design is essential in keeping customers engaged. Shopify Plus also allows for seamless integration with third-party apps, enhancing your store's functionality with features like augmented reality (AR) to help customers visualise how furniture will fit in their homes.
Inventory and Order Management
Managing inventory and fulfilling orders are two critical areas where Shopify Plus truly shines. As DTC furniture brands grow, managing stock levels and order fulfilment across multiple channels becomes more complex. Shopify Plus offers real-time inventory tracking, automating many aspects of order management to ensure you never run out of stock or miss an order.
Marketing Strategies for DTC Furniture Brands
To drive traffic and increase sales, effective marketing strategies are crucial for DTC furniture brands. Shopify Plus enables easy integration with tools like Google Ads, Facebook, and Instagram, allowing furniture brands to reach potential customers through targeted campaigns.
With the right marketing strategies, furniture brands can stand out in a crowded market. For example, offering special promotions for free delivery, loyalty programs, and cross-selling can help increase Average Order Value (AOV) and attract repeat customers.
WIRO has worked with many furniture brands that leverage customer data to deliver tailored promotions, resulting in higher customer engagement and sales.
Case Studies of Successful DTC Furniture Brands on Shopify Plus
Several leading furniture brands have found success with Shopify Plus by embracing the platform’s capabilities and adapting it to their unique needs.
1. Arhaus's Journey from a Complex Custom Build to Shopify
Arhaus is a premium home furnishings brand known for its sustainably sourced, handcrafted furniture and décor, offering both in-store and online shopping experiences. The brand migrated from a complex homegrown platform to Shopify. Since the transition, Arhaus has experienced significant improvements in scalability, customer engagement, and conversion rates. The move allowed the brand to unify in-store and online commerce, enhance the customer experience, and streamline operations. Arhaus has also benefited from Shopify's flexibility, ease of integration, and data-driven decision-making capabilities. Looking ahead, the company is excited about innovations such as AR/VR and checkout extensibility to further improve the shopping experience and support long-term growth.
2. Lulu and Georgia Scales Exponentially After Migrating from Adobe Commerce to Shopify
Lulu and Georgia is a family-owned home furnishings brand based in Los Angeles, known for its exclusive in-house designs and collaborations with local artists and famous designers.
After migrating to Shopify, the brand experienced significant improvements in scalability, performance, and site stability. They no longer faced issues with site downtime or performance during high-traffic events. Shopify's robust app ecosystem streamlined integrations and automation, making operations more efficient. The unified checkout system supported both B2B and DTC needs, saving time and resources. These improvements allowed Lulu and Georgia to scale effortlessly, optimise their tech stack, and enhance the overall customer experience.
3. Industry West's Revamped Website: A Sophisticated Online Shopping Experience
Industry West, renowned for its high-quality and internationally-inspired furniture, has launched a redesigned website on Shopify, reflecting the elegance of its products. The new platform features a wide range of visually striking furniture pieces, from expansive couches to small stools, each showcased with attention to their unique design. The brand's commitment to craftsmanship is demonstrated through expanded product galleries and enhanced zoom capabilities, allowing customers to fully appreciate the intricate details of each item.
How WIRO Can Help
At WIRO, we have extensive experience working with furniture brands looking to elevate their online presence and improve performance on Shopify Plus. We focus on helping brands optimise their Shopify stores, enhance their user experience, and implement strategies that drive growth.
Our team has worked with furniture brands in the UK, helping them improve everything from site speed to custom functionality. Whether you’re a growing business or an established brand, we can help you harness the power of Shopify Plus to scale effectively.
Conclusion
As the furniture market continues to expand, DTC brands must leverage powerful tools like Shopify Plus to stay competitive. From building engaging online stores to optimising inventory and order management, Shopify Plus offers the features and flexibility needed to grow. By adopting effective marketing strategies and drawing inspiration from successful case studies, furniture brands can ensure long-term success.
If you're looking to revolutionise your furniture business, Shopify Plus is the platform to help you achieve your goals. And with the expertise of WIRO, we can guide you every step of the way.
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