5 Reasons Sourcing Doesn’t Have to be Scary – Happy Halloween Edition
I find that there are some interior designers who still feel intimidated by sourcing for their clients. In the spirit of Halloween, I thought I would share some reasons you shouldn’t be afraid.
Some reasons why sourcing isn’t so scary!
1- Money. Lots of money is left on the table if you don’t source….enough money to make it worth your time and effort to consider it. It’s the kind of money that makes all the difference to running your business (paying yourself well, hiring a coach, redesigning your website, marketing, hiring new staff, etc).
2- Real creative freedom. Instead of being limited to what you have available at a store, you could have a tremendous amount of options at your fingertips. Your design will up-level as a result, which means you have projects worthy of professional photography that can land you in the magazines, and so on. Up-leveling your business through sourcing enables you to make design selections from hundreds of vendors.
3- You are capable. You are more capable than you give yourself credit for. I know you are capable of writing a Purchase Order (PO) and dealing with a local receiver who will deliver to your clients. I see too many designers lacking confidence in themselves and it holds them back. I was labeled “learning disabled” in school, so if I can do it so can you!
Tip – To get over your spooky nerves and experience the process in a low-pressure situation, start by ordering something boo-tiful for your home. It could be new lamps for the living room. Start small and build your confidence.
4- Don’t go it alone. You don’t need to do it all yourself. Hire a part time virtual assistant (VA) to handle the sourcing for you or at least the paperwork part that you don’t enjoy. This doesn’t have to be costly or a huge commitment. VA’s usually work on monthly contracts with as little as 10 hours a month for about $55-ish per hour.
5- Join The Designers Collaborative (TDC). Being a Member of TDC pays for itself in one order. You will have instant access to over 300 top vendors at the very best pricing, plus tools, templates, education, and community galore! TDC is a designer’s best friend.
There is no reason to be afraid of sourcing and so many reasons start today!
Happy Halloween from The Designers Collaborative!
