Moving away from the traditional shopping approach, strategic sourcing can elevate your design game significantly. By building an efficient sourcing system, you can save time, money, and hassles while discovering unique design elements. You can harness the expertise of your trade partners and reps to secure the best products for every project. Every project should be as unique as your client, and strategic sourcing is the key to achieving this originality.
The Importance of Sourcing
Unlike shopping, which sounds like something your client could do themselves, sourcing is about the expertise of finding the best materials, products, and services for a design project. Sourcing unique pieces in interior design is a craft that transforms a room from ordinary to extraordinary. This practice is not only about purchasing beautiful items but also about creating a cohesive design that resonates with the client’s aesthetic and functional needs. The items sourced for your project should be as unique as the client.
To source successfully and find those hidden gems, you’ll need to develop relationships with vendors and reps to access products that you didn’t even know existed. Your trade team plays a vital role in this process, helping you save time in sourcing all by yourself. Leveraging your reps’ expertise will help you get the best product selections for every project. It’s also important to keep your sourcing system organized by using tools like purchase orders and tracking systems, in order to stay efficient when sourcing.
Tell a Story with Your Sourcing
An essential aspect of sourcing is being able to sell your pieces effectively, especially when a client shows some hesitation over an item you’ve sourced. Stories are what sell design, and an interesting story can help convince the client to invest in the piece. Create a compelling story around each item. Highlight the unique aspects of the piece, its history, and why it’s perfect for the client’s space.
If you spend the time getting to know each piece you source intimately, you won’t even need to make up a story for its value. As you source pieces, think about the story behind each item. Is it a vintage piece with a rich history? Is it a modern, bespoke piece that represents cutting-edge design? These narratives can help sell your pieces and make your design more engaging and meaningful. Use this kind of storytelling to create spaces that echo the personality, values, and lifestyle of your clients, and they will be that much more likely to see its importance within your design. When you’re ready to take your design practice to the next level, explore your expert coaching and training options with Melissa Galt.
Leave a Reply