Huron Expositor, 2006-02-15, Page 32Page 4 - Wednesday, February 15, 2006
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NJS Design benefits from online presence
bg Jennifer Hubbard
As technology evolves, so does
its role in wedding planning.
Nancy Snell, of NJS Design and
Party Rentals has capitalized on
that trend, taking her Clinton -area
business online.
"Two years ago in January,
Highway 4 was closed for 11 days
and there were a lot of days that it
should have been closed but it
wasn't," she said, adding snow
days are often the busiest because
brides are off of work.
"People were calling asking me
to email pictures and I decided to
make things easier by posting
them on a website.
"It's been huge, probably 50 per
cent of our business now comes
from online."
Snell has two websites, one for
rentals (www.njsdesign.on.ca) and
one for retail (www.njswedding-
shop.com).
Targeted to the Ontario and
Canadian markets, the rental site
features hundreds of photos of
Snell's products.
Photographs of displays at local
halls are also available.
"People don't want to see their
decorations in the shop, they want
to see them out in the halls. They
can't always visualize how many
people you can actually fit into a
hall," Snell said.
"Usually brides take three or
four visits, but by viewing things
ahead of time online they come in
with a pretty good idea of what
they want.
"There's still lots of questions
though, and that's where the per-
sonal touch comes in."
However, the personal touch is
The photo is of a wedding reception at
Photo by Jennifer Hubbard
the Benmiller Inn decorated bg Nancg
Snell of NJS Design and Partg Rentals
not always necessary. Snell
recalled some customers who pre-
ferred to order and pay online,
without ever stopping by the shop.
While rental items are being
shipped across the country, the
boundaries for Snell's retail sale
website are almost non-existent.
Because the retail site is e-com-
merce enabled, brides from across
the world can browse a seemingly
endless list of wedding items -
including memorial candles, atten-
dant gifts, ring pillows, bridal
accessories and more.
"The furthest away we've
shipped was a winter halo for a
wedding in Japan and cake tops
into Rome," Snell commented.
"There's been a lot into the U.K.
and U.S. this year, as well as the
Northwest Territories and even
resorts in Mexico and the
Carribbean.
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big, not even close. Yesterday alone
I got 30 e-mails that all need to be
answered."
And while online orders and reg-
ular shop duties are keeping Snell
and her staff - up to five full-
timers during the peak season - on
their toes, Snell can't help but
smile as she looks back to the
beginnings of NJS Design and
Party Rentals.
"We did 261 events last year
above and beyond our online
sales."
Since first opening in 1997, NJS
Design and Party Rentals has more
than tripled in size.
Last summer Snell added a 1,200
square -foot showroom to its facili-
ty, on Highway 4 just north of
Clinton.
For more information check out
the NJS Design and Party Rentals
websites or call Snell at 482-5184.