A showroom can give businesses competitive advantage but it does not necessarily guarantee a sale.

Cory Foster, store manager of Sundown One, said showrooms are the first visual impression for the consumer.

“If it’s clean, full of new and interesting products, and well organized, it can make a very powerful statement,” Foster said. “On the other hand, if it’s non-existent, bare, disorganized, dirty, or out-of-date, that can also create a powerful statement, just not a good one. A showroom is a preview of how a company does business.”

The showroom at Sundown One is approximately 6,000 square feet, and Foster said the financial commitment to the showroom and its upkeep is large.

“We take great pride in maintaining our showroom’s integrity and image, and doing this is no minor undertaking,” Foster said.

Foster said he cannot put a specific dollar amount on the cost of maintaining his showroom.

“The overwhelming majority of people who visit our store/showroom buy a product or service from us,” he said. “We are one of the top dealers in Illinois for the products we carry, and in some cases we are one of the top dealers in the nation.

“We do a tremendous amount of business, and it is because of our showroom, reputation, and staff,” Foster said.

Maintaining an up-to-date showroom floor is critical in the consumer electronics industry.