Test patterns of bucolic scenarios, including babbling brooks and green meadows, were found to have a soothing effect on hospital patients, causing fewer pain symptoms. Environmental Graphics Inc. VP of Sales, Todd Imholte, is not surprised his murals have healing properties. He explained that murals are a unique product, set apart from wallpaper. Even their slogan attributes their products to food for the soul. The company is now exploring ways to introduce their product to hospitals and doctor's offices.
Murals tend to be a more impulsive purchase than wallpaper.
While the company offers a wide variety of sports themes, the greatest sales are those murals that depict oriental gardens, lighthouse coves and cloud coverings. Imholte accredits the skew to the fact that women tend to make more of the decorating decisions in the family. Perhaps not many women would want to come home to a living room coverted into a baseball stadium shrine. When imagining their customers, wallpaper manufacturers want retailers to start thinking of the big picture. Because people are a collection of varied interests and hobbies, partnerships of home decorators can compliment busy lifestyles with their own collections, according to Brian Murphy, VP of Sales and Marketing at Blonder Wallcoverings.