The verdict is in: The popularity of customization and personalization is no passing fad. The appeal of unique, bespoke décor over standard, premade options is a trend experiencing considerable growth along with digital decorative print. Sure, one could buy the peel-and-stick wallpaper that’s all the rage from major retailers like Target, but digital printing opens the door for so much more.
“The principle field of innovation is with digital printing offering an alternative to analog that allows [much] more design freedom, and even the possibility of individuals creating their own bespoke items,” reads a report on decorative print from Smithers Pira. “For example, consumers and interior designers can customize a wallpaper and directly print onto work surfaces and furniture. Online portals now provide open access for consumers and providers wherever they are, and this is attracting new print suppliers into the market for wallpaper and direct printing.”
One such print supplier is Lancashire, England-based e-commerce company Wallsauce.com. The online retailer was founded in 2013 primarily as a superhero-themed wall decal printer, but has since evolved into a made-to-measure wall mural provider with global reach. “We ship worldwide and have a strong presence in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand,” says Nicole Yeardley, digital marketing executive. The small, dedicated team works hard to ensure that “delivery is super speedy, no matter where you are in the world.”
Wallsauce.com offers an online portal with access to millions of images, including fine art and designer collections, a “use your own image” option, and integrations with stock libraries so customers can find the perfect customized design for their wallcovering. Yeardley says with the vast amount of imagery available that it’s tough to single out what patterns and designs are most popular, but that “Timeless designs that won’t [become] outdated, like forests and map murals, are always at the top of our recommendations.”
The customer journey goes like this: Online shoppers choose a design from Wallsauce.com’s extensive collection or upload their own imagery, input measurements/dimensions and crop the image to suit their needs, select from three wallpaper materials, and add the final product to their shopping basket. Wallsauce.com generally digitally prints the murals one to two days after receiving an order, with customers within mainland UK receiving their graphics in three to four business days. US customers can expect delivery in three to five business days.
The e-commerce company’s murals are all made to order – Wallsauce.com holds no stock. The PSP also has no need for a network of professional installers, as wallcoverings are designed for simple, DIY installation. Wallsauce.com has a section of its site dedicated to ensuring its clients’ DIY work looks like that of a professional, complete with guides on measuring walls, how to order, detailed descriptions of material options, an FAQ page, and written instructions for installing, as well as a three-minute how-to video. “The team works extremely hard to maintain its ‘excellent’ customer rating on Feefo,” an online reviewing platform similar to Yelp and Angie’s List, says Yeardley. The team focuses on the shop’s online presence, plus high quality control; fast delivery; stylish, branded packaging; and “impeccable service from start to end.”
And all that hard work is paying off – Wallsauce.com currently has a Feefo rating of 4.8/5 and the shop has dedicated, returning customers. Says Yeardley, “We find that once they get a feel for our high-quality product with their first mural, they’re looking to see what other murals they could have in additional rooms.” Perhaps “wall mural fever” is the newest craze – once you have one, you’re itching for more and more. And custom wallpaper providers like Wallsauce.com are more than happy to scratch that itch.