LOCKDOWN LESSONS: CHESNEYS
Throughout the past 12 months, the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed all of our working lives in unexpected ways. We are incrediblygrateful that we have been able to continue to offer our full range of video production services. From this gratitude, we were inspired to begin a new article series dedicated to the lessons we have learnt from our clients during lockdown. To kick off the series, we reflect on our work with long-time client, Chesneys, as they changed approach in response to the pandemic.
1. Client background:
Chesneys is a British family business and one of the UK’s leading designers and suppliers of luxury fireplaces, stoves and outdoor living products. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, they had two large London showrooms — in Battersea and Haverstock Hill.
When the pandemic hit, it caused a considerable drop in footfall in Chesneys’ existing showrooms. At the same time, there remained a relatively buoyant market for online orders — particularly their outdoor bbq heaters. How did Chesneys respond to the change in circumstances?
2. Working together:
As their long-standing video content provider, Chesneys approached us to help them pivot their brick-and-mortar retail offerings into a smaller, more bespoke service. With this shift, they intended to showcase even more products than their existing large showrooms. But it would be within a smaller ‘design studio’ setting that they planned to open in the Chelsea design district.
How did we help them make this shift? Initially, we filmed the full range of fireplaces on display at their two London showrooms over a series of days ahead of the retail space being reduced. Then we edited these films into short promo films. These showed the products in situ and provided detailed shots of their materials and carving.
But that was not all our films were used for. The films then became incorporated into an interactive display in the consultation area of the new Chelsea design studio. They also became new additions to their existing website, taking the same content online to an even larger audience.
3. Lessons learned:
Overall, embracing the value of video content allowed Chesneys to adapt quickly and seamlessly to an overnight seismic change to the retail environment. It also set them up for both further expansion into online retail and opening up a more bespoke service, which appeals to the high-end interior design market in which they operate.
Producing these films for Chesneys and assisting them to adapt to the new set of circumstances was an insightful process for the Blueprint Film team. It shows how experiencing constraints can encourage creative solutions that can boost your business or organisation even further.
How does the case of Chesneys relate to your own experiences of work during lockdown? Did you learn anything from their lessons? If you are interested in how video content can boost your business/organisation in lockdown and beyond, contact us here!
~ This article was originally posted on the Blueprint Film Blog ~
