No interior designer is an island. From furniture and fixtures to soft and hard materials and design-adjacent services like painters, wall covering installers and movers, every successful project relies on strong relationships with high-quality vendors that meet both the needs of the client and the professional standard set by the designer. The best way to cultivate the right mix of vendors is to build a robust network and invest in maintaining those relationships. In this article, we’ll explore some tips for setting up and maintaining a vendorship program to make the sourcing and procurement process as seamless and efficient as possible for both designers and their clients.
Interior design vendors can be found through a variety of sources, including online platforms and directories dedicated to interior designers vendorship program for interior designers that feature vetted suppliers, or by scouring the pages of trade magazines and retail stores for product lines that fit the designer’s aesthetic. Attending major design and furniture shows that feature vendors like Universal to the Trade, where designers can expect gorgeous showrooms with new collections, educational sessions that help them grow their businesses and not to mention a steady stream of food and beverages, is another good way to connect with the right vendors.
Once a designer has established a network of reputable and reliable vendors, they can then benefit from wholesale accounts (also known as trade accounts) with those brands that offer discounted pricing. This can provide significant savings on a range of items from furniture and light fixtures to textiles and rugs, and in many cases the designer can also share those discounts with their clients, which is an added incentive for both them and the client.
Regardless of the type of vendors with whom you choose to work, it’s important to be courteous and respectful of their time and resources. Communicating regularly with your vendors before and during projects is essential, as is paying invoices promptly. It’s also a good idea to share photos of completed projects with your vendors so they can see the great work that their products are part of, and to keep them in the loop about new design trends, products and applications for their products.
If a designer has a good relationship with a vendor, they can be referred by the vendor to their friends and colleagues in the industry who may need design or construction services. This is an excellent way for designers to expand their client base without having to spend a lot of money on marketing, and it can be beneficial for both parties as well, since the designer is working with a trusted colleague who knows their work well. Finally, utilizing a project management software program that is designed to meet the specific needs of the interior design industry can also be beneficial for coordinating communication and managing the approvals process between designers, clients and contractors. This helps to optimize the procurement and delivery of all design details and specifications, minimizing delays that can result in costly mistakes.