I.O. Metro's new catalog part of aggressive growth plan

Home Accents Today Staff -- Home Accents Today, 11/6/2012 9:45:17 AM

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Lifestyle furnishings retailer I.O. Metro Furniture has unveiled a new 40-page catalog, its first. The book began arriving in mailboxes around the country earlier this month.

"I am very excited to share our introductory catalog with customers," said I.O. Metro founder and CEO Jay Howard. "Putting this together has allowed me to reflect on the growth of our company in the seven years since the first I.O. Metro store opened. We have evolved from a one-location boutique to a lifestyle brand with 18 store locations and an e-commerce and catalog presence."

Howard said the catalog is part of a major strategy for 2013 that will see aggressive growth of the company's online retail efforts and in-store sales. "We have an aggressive growth plan for the next three years - 10+ locations starting with our premier Dallas location opening in February, 2013. This catalog will play a major role in that growth."

Consumers can view the digital version of the catalog at iometro.com/catalogs/fall2012. The mobile version of the catalog can be found here.

E-commerce began last fall, with the launch of I.O. Metro's redesigned website. Importance was placed on a design that was user-friendly and effectively communicated the story of I.O. Metro's brand - distinguishing its offerings, business model and sales philosophy from other cookie-cutter furniture stores, according to a company release.

The website was designed to capture I.O. Metro's in-store experience and essence. Special attention was given to connecting the site to the retail stores and marketing efforts, through product icons that identify whether an item is made in the United States or is part of the Eco-Metro or Metro Custom Collections, for example.

I.O. Metro also views the catalog as a customer service feature, with professional photography and styled rooms illustrating the retailer's diverse product offerings and promoting its free design services.

In other customer service developments, I.O. Metro has undergone a major logistics restructure, delivering direct from the warehouse to the customer, and now delivering nationwide. A new centralized in-house customer service department allows for speedier resolution of issues and better communication, according to the company.