SMB owner of RE/MAX Metro bolsters curb appeal and client connection with Samsung displays and Smartify
RE/MAX Metro, a prominent real estate firm owned by a small business owner and located in the bustling heart of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, is ideally situated to capture the attention of foot traffic. The team sought to maximize the benefits of the single-owned franchise’s prime location and wanted a dynamic way to attract prospective home buyers, sellers and real estate agents. They knew digital signage was the answer.
A St. Petersburg ordinance restricted businesses from placing signs on the sidewalk, so the RE/MAX Metro team used window displays for advertising, engaging the community and sharing critical information. However, the displays they installed were outdated and failed to live up to their expectations and the quality of the brand.
“They always seemed to fall short,” said Marcus Martin, President Of Brokerage Services at RE/MAX Metro. “They were never really in line with the functionality and vision that we had for having displays in the first place.” For example, the displays only advertised on one side, missing a crucial opportunity to speak to people both inside and outside the office. RE/MAX Metro also struggled to update the screen’s content, finding it more time-consuming than expected.
These limitations left RE/MAX Metro concerned about the displays’ impact on passersby and potential clients. “Presenting a strong first impression is important to us,” emphasized Martin. “It’s one of the ways we can distinguish ourselves.”
RE/MAX Metro was also navigating a workplace transformation. With a team of 125 agents working in a hybrid environment, the organization wanted to maintain a strong sense of culture despite a reduced physical presence in the office. It sought an effective way to communicate important information, recognize achievements and celebrate milestones, such as realtors’ birthdays.
With its office space becoming more fluid, RE/MAX Metro needed an equally flexible solution. Utilizing its office space as a workplace, training center, event space and client meeting hub, its signage had to be updated quickly to reflect different use cases and audiences.
“It’s important for businesses to invest in digital technology, not only because it modernizes and sets the tone for the office, but it’s also very easy to create content and upload it and ensure that it’s personalized for your business and your clients’ needs,” explained Sara Grofcsik, executive director of U.S. sales at Samsung Electronics America.
The agency understood that its displays reflect its brand. “We want to be on the cutting edge of technology because it sets the tone for our organization,” shared Martin. He knew it was time to update to premium, high-grade displays, but they can be expensive and the cost was prohibitive.
