The outdoor furniture brand has the largest crowdsourced showroom platform in the United States
Outer, the fastest growing direct-to-consumer home brand of 2020, announced the opening of its 1,000th Neighborhood Showroom, becoming the largest peer-to-peer showroom platform in the United States. Outer’s neighborhood showroom program allows shoppers to visit a home nearby to experience Outer products firsthand before purchasing. Consumers are able to browse a unique array of local showrooms online and then make an appointment with a local host to see, sit on, and feel Outer products in person.
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“We design our products to be lifeproof. What better way to experience that than in a real customers’ outdoor space?”
Unlike the traditional furniture showroom experience, Outer’s Neighborhood Showroom Hosts are available to answer questions honestly and are not salespeople. There are no sales scripts and Hosts are compensated whether or not the visitor ends up purchasing. With locations in 49 states, this no-pressure, local browsing experience allows consumers to shop conveniently and confidently.
“The way people shop is evolving. We saw an overlooked opportunity in outdoor furniture, not only in the way it was designed but the way people shop for it,” said Jiake Liu, Co-Founder and CEO of Outer. “Our Neighborhood Showroom program is not only the next generation of retail, but also a way for people to re-engage with their communities and neighbors. After a long year of isolation, we are thrilled to celebrate this milestone and give people an opportunity to connect and enjoy the outdoors together.”
During the pandemic, Outer pivoted to virtual showroom visits for safety and in tandem, experienced an influx of Neighborhood Showroom Host applications. As the country begins to re-open, Outer is celebrating the program’s rocketship growth and the ability to host outdoor gatherings again.
Outer’s Neighborhood Showroom footprint represents a diverse range of places, spaces, and styles. Whether a shopper is looking to furnish a sprawling backyard in Texas or a cozy balcony in Brooklyn, Outer’s Neighborhood Showrooms offer a sourcebook of style to inspire their outdoor oasis.
“We design our products to be lifeproof. What better way to experience that than in a real customers’ outdoor space?” said Terry Lin, Co-Founder and Chief Design Officer at Outer. “Every region has different weather conditions for outdoor products to contend with. Our Neighborhood Showrooms allow shoppers to see firsthand how our innovative products hold up to extreme heat, rain, wind, and snow.”
Neighborhood Showrooms have allowed Outer to scale rapidly with minimal environmental impact. Rather than waste resources by building and maintaining traditional brick-and-mortar showrooms, the startup has unlocked the power of backyard enthusiasts across the country.
The Neighborhood Showroom program starts and ends with Outer’s customers, empowering existing customers to become Hosts and potential customers to experience products first-hand. Outer Hosts are loyal customers who receive exclusive benefits for providing their neighbors with first-hand, candid, and unbiased product reviews, from the comfort of their backyards. To become a showroom Host, customers complete an application and receive a 10% discount on their Outer order. After a stringent vetting process, Hosts who are accepted into the program receive discounts on Outer products, early access to new collections, and the ability to help develop new Outer products from the ground up.
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“I really enjoy meeting new people, especially when I get to talk about something I love,” said Emily Porche, a Neighborhood Showroom Host and interior designer based in Marietta, Georgia. “Outer has truly changed how our family relaxes outside and I love sharing that with others and showing them how comfortable it is first-hand.”
Upon hitting this milestone, Outer has conducted a survey of their Neighborhood Showroom network to uncover new insights about their experience. Findings include:
- More than 80% of Hosts reported spending more time outside after joining the Outer community
- 89% of Hosts reported feeling “more connected to [their] neighbors and community” after hosting a Neighborhood Showroom visit
- 98% of Hosts would recommend becoming a Neighborhood Showroom Host to a friend or family member
