A Designer’s Trade Secrets to Help You Save Money
Let’s face it. No one likes to waste our hard-earned money. We are all trying to squeeze every penny out of our paychecks.
Getting a good deal feels like striking gold. I personally love seeing the total rollback at Kroger after the cashier swipes my Kroger Plus Card. And when I find that perfect piece on sale, I want to share my finds!
That’s why I’m letting you in on a secret
Did you know that markup on furniture and accessories can sometimes be as high as 150-250% or more from the original cost it took to manufacture the piece? The reason for this markup is vendor’s costs; furniture vendors need to pay for advertising, freight, and brick and mortar overhead (salespeople, rent, etc.).
However, designers who have trade relationships with vendors directly can offer significant savings! A custom sofa that retails for nearly $3,000 can be purchased for $1,600 through an interior designer who has great direct-to-market connections － like me!
Take a look at the charts below. The chart on the left is showing the reasons why the sofa in the retail store costs more than twice the price of the EXACT SAME SOFA purchased via an interior designer. Unbelievable, I know.
Let’s look at a few real-life examples of savings in action….
This Heirloom Collection rug by Loloi (8×10) is sold online for $3,879 and can be purchased through a Direct to Market vendor for $2,617.
This Nash Lamp is currently sold online at Arteriors for $640. Wow. It can be purchased through a Direct to Market vendor for $394.
This sofa like this is currently sold online at Pottery Barn for $2,800. With vendor connections, a designer like me can find an even higher-quality sofa through a direct-to-market vendor for $1,649.
Beyond the cost savings, ordering furniture through an interior designer means you have access to uniquely-designed pieces. Volume purchases drive retail; what the public likes, and what everybody sees. If you purchase from a retail store, it is likely that friends and family also have that same piece. Custom orders and furniture direct from the vendor are beautiful and have higher quality, and the pieces will always be more unique to you. Hiring a designer, like me, means you value higher quality product, and can avoid lots of headaches! Isn’t your happiness and sanity worth the investment?
