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Gabberts is an entirely new store. Customer research and feedback played a key role in the new store design. This data was instrumental in making careful and appropriate decisions around what we feel is a unique experience in service, quality and choice. The things that have made the Gabberts a trusted brand for 60 years will remain core to our business moving forward, with many improved features: • The Gabberts "Inspiration Center" is a must-see destination. Located on the lower level, the Inspiration Center features the "tech bar" where clients and their Gabberts professional can discuss their ideas and work on their project using Icovia®, ePreVue, and dreamDraper® software. Other tools make it easy for our clients to learn more about their preferences including the Gabberts proprietary Personal Comfort Profile. • Other resources include a Benjamin Moore® paint lab; three semi-private client conference rooms; and a full array of fabric, upholstery, and window treatment options. Specially-designed furniture helps customers see, feel and experience their choices, with a variety of skirtings, legs, and arm styles; finishes; cushions; trims and upholstery on each piece. • Our signature Concierge service is featured on both floors and handles all facets of customer service from engaging with a designer through scheduling deliveries. • Gabberts is focused on providing a more meaningful "experience" for customers, with an easy-to-navigate layout complemented by skylights and bay windows that flood the showroom. A half million dollars was invested in state-of-the-art lighting throughout the showroom to give a truer sense of color. There are seven private client conference rooms, each with natural lighting, and three semi-private conferences rooms near the lower level Inspiration Center and Design Studio to assist customers in their design process. • The Great Room, devoted to our education and design seminars and other special events, was designed specifically for the events that Gabberts known for to inform, educate, entertain and enlighten customers. Gabberts hosts more than 100 events a year on-site and off-site. • Gabberts will continue to carry and lines exclusive to Gabberts, like Stickley, to ensure clients have a unique, one-of-a-kind interior. • The new Gabberts is organized into three lifestyle realms (traditional on the lower level, and contemporary, and casual on the upper level) each with a series of view points to help customers visualize and experience a variety of styles. The Traditional Realm features Penthouse, Classic 18th Century, Collector's Mix, French, and Italian view points; the Contemporary Realm is represented by Loft, Urban, Tribal, and Asian view points; and the Casual Realm includes Lake Home, Lodge, Cottage, Thoroughbred, and Arts & Crafts view points. View points will evolve to remain relevant to our customers. 2. What drove the decision to construct an entirely new store? Gabberts needed to make the brand relevant to today's customer. We gathered valuable information through research with our customers and the market that indicated they wanted Gabberts to return to what it does best - focus on providing the highest level of service, design expertise, unique and quality merchandise which all represent value and an experience that can't be found anywhere else. In essence, we are returning to our roots - to what Gabberts is known for. The new showroom, Design Studio, and Inspiration Center demonstrate our renewed focus to inspire and help clients discover and experience what is possible in their home. 3. What did it cost? Gabberts invested nearly five million dollars in the new store. 4. When was it completed? The new Gabberts was unveiled to the public on February 16, 2007. 5. How many square feet has been remodeled? The new Gabberts, completed in February 2007, totals 78,000 square feet which includes 63,000 of showroom, Inspiration Center and Design Studio, and 15,000 of office space. More than fifty percent of the reduction in space was due to reduced office space. 6. What new lines or services are being added, if any? We've added more unique product offerings to meet our clients' desire for merchandise they can't find anywhere else, and continue to carry lines exclusive to Gabberts like Stickley. We've also focused on service and making the experience first class from the minute customers cross the threshold and interact with any Gabberts professional. The new showroom, Inspiration Center, Design Studio and well-trained staff help our clients bring their ideas to life, not just by selecting from what is displayed on the floor, but by easily explaining the limitless options available to customize or personalize their choices. Our home furnishing consultants are specialists with experience and in-depth merchandise knowledge to assist customers in creating an enjoyable living experience. 7. What existing lines or services are being taken away, if any? Our merchandise and service offerings have been refined to align with our revitalization of the Gabberts brand and our core strengths: quality, value, service, choice, and design integrity. To ensure that our vendors meet the expectations of our customers and of Gabberts, we use a vendor scorecard. We hold our vendors to the same standards we expect from the Gabberts organization. Those vendors that no longer meet our criteria are no longer at Gabberts. There is no decrease in our service offerings, in fact most are increasing, which can be experienced throughout the showroom, Inspiration Center, and Design Studio. We have streamlined much of what we offer to make it easier and more efficient for our customer. We've also expanded our use of technology to better communicate, inform, educate and engage the customer. A user-friendly kiosk in the Inspiration Center makes it easy for our clients to learn more about their choices and explore their needs using our proprietary tool, the Personal Comfort Profile. 8. Have you used Twin Cities-based architects or designers?