It’s hard to believe another year is quickly coming to a close. We thought you’d enjoy taking a peek at Clarke Top Performers in 2018. When we look at top performance, we consider Sub-Zero and Wolf product sales, Clarke showroom visits to our locations in Boston Seaport and Milford, Massachusetts, as well as South Norwalk, Connecticut. In addition to that, we look at the success of events and, above all, we look at research to see what factors are considered the biggest motivators for customers to visit our showrooms.
Clarke’s Showroom Consultants Head the List of Top Performers
In the first quarter of 2018, Clarke hired an independent research firm to conduct an extensive qualitative and quantitative consumer perception study. We took a deep dive into who our customers are and what these upscale homeowners are saying about why they visited a Clarke Showroom and how we stacked up against their expectations. “Staff Expertise” ranked at the very top of a dozen reasons they considered as their motivations to visit Clarke, with a whopping 75% reporting that the knowledge and expertise of Clarke’s showroom consultants was the top reason to visit a showroom. The Clarke Showroom was cited as the top resource by the majority of customers for not only appliance research, but also kitchen design research, once again pointing to our highly trained and seasoned staff who act as personal consultants to each and every visitor who walks through our doors.
Who walked through Clarke’s doors in 2018?
Over the past year, Clarke welcomed and discussed projects with more than 3000 showroom visitors. Some were looking simply for design inspiration, others visited with their architects, builders, kitchen designers or interior designers to gather detailed information on what appliances would be ideal for their project. Another group were interested in test driving one or more Wolf appliances to help inform their final decisions, while others came for a cooking demonstration or Wolf Convection Steam Oven Class. All of them were offered a Small Plate, the custom culinary creation of the day, by a Clarke chef.
In addition to these individual visitors, Clarke hosted approximately 1000 additional guests at events that ranged from trainings, designer award celebrations, charity fundraisers and more. The final event of the year took place during ABX, where more than 150 of the Boston area’s elite architects and designers filled 7 Tide for a golden holiday happening with Poinsettia signature cocktails and delicious holiday-inspired cuisine designed and prepared by Clarke Executive Chef John Craig and his staff.
What were the year’s top choices for Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances?
With so many spectacular appliance options – including Wolf’s new Convection Steam Oven and the long-awaited 30” Integrated Wine Storage with Refrigerator/Freezer Drawers – it’s always fascinating to see which appliances are the top-sellers in New England each year. In 2018, the Wolf 36-inch Gas Range stands out as the favorite.
In the 1990s, Sub-Zero introduced a refrigerator revolution with the introduction of Integrated Refrigeration. Part of that industry innovation was the concept of point-of-use refrigerator drawers. Now, more than 20 years later, Sub-Zero Refrigerator and Freezer Drawers remain the top seller for New Englanders in 2018. This, now classic, was actually cited in Connecticut Cottages & Gardens this year by several designers when asked about their favorite appliance. Following Sub-Zero Drawers closely in 2018 sales, were Sub-Zero’s 42” French Door Refrigerator and Undercounter Wine Storage.
When we look at the numbers, 2018 was another very successful year and we thank every one of our customers, our designer partners and dealers for continuing to trust Clarke as the New England guardian of the world’s finest appliances. Looking forward to 2019!