Domus Classica

Domus Classica is a unique hardware store in Hattula that has been serving its customers online and through three brick-and-mortar stores for over 15 years. A multi-channel approach is vital to the company—without brick-and-mortar stores, there would be no online store, and vice versa.

“The importance of an online store cannot be measured solely by sales figures. You have to understand all the visibility and customer service benefits that a well-optimized online store brings,” says entrepreneur Pia Kuurma.

– We originally chose Confirma as our partner because they were able to offer a fully integrated online store and point-of-sale system. This allows us to operate within a single system both in our stores and in our online store.

From the Barn to the Great Churches

The story of Domus Classica began with the manor farm of Kimmo, Pia Kuurma’s husband, which the new generation set out to restore, one building at a time. The renovation process was a learning experience, but at the same time, surplus building materials began to pile up in the old barn.

“We had the idea that maybe we should start selling them. At first, we kept the barn open for three hours a week, always on Sundays. For five years, the barn was our only sales location, but once my husband Kimmo joined the business, we needed to expand our operations,” Pia explains. The product selection grew in response to customer requests and suggestions, expanding from doors and windows to paints and other products for historic construction. An online store was launched in 2008.

– We immediately realized that the online store and the physical store support each other and are also interdependent. Many people want to come in person to browse and check out the products, even if they end up buying them later from the online store. The online store, in turn, serves as a showcase and sales channel for the products.

As more and more customers began coming from the Helsinki area, it was time to open a store in Helsinki. The spacious location in Erottaja serves as a showcase and a pickup point for the online store. Shortly after the Helsinki store opened, the Laukontori store in Tampere also opened.

Shift into fifth gear

The trend toward home improvement during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the overall growth of online retail, were also reflected in Domus Classica's figures.

– The stores were closed for several months. Without our online store, we wouldn’t have had any sales at all. Now our goal is clear growth. With that in mind, we revamped the online store’s navigation - that is, how products are categorized. Now it’s easier to add new items to the store, and the site still serves visitors well.

– Revamping the online store’s navigation was a major undertaking, but with the help of Confirma’s experts, we were able to successfully complete the project. We also launched our first marketing campaign on Facebook. We’re confident that the marketing efforts we’ve made with the help of professionals will be reflected in our sales figures.

Kuurma praises Confirma's experts and the entire company for their excellent service and, above all, their enthusiastic attitude.

– Our goal is for online retail to play an even more significant role in the future than it does today. A lot of resources go into staff training, scheduling shifts, and maintaining retail spaces—resources that could be put to other uses. It’s great to make growth plans with a reliable and enthusiastic partner like Confirm. We’ve been on this journey together for over fifteen years, and we look forward to continuing to grow together in the future.