i+D - July/August 2019 - 23

The Designer Connection
For sites like 1stDibs, Chairish, Sotheby's Home, and others, interior
designers are becoming a fast-growing-and very important-segment of
their customer base. And, they're being rewarded for their patronage in the
form of favorable to-the-trade membership programs that offer discounts,
services, connections to potential new clients, and other advantages.
Designers can be important and effective ambassadors for purchasing
pre-owned goods, helping to educate their clients about each piece's
background and its place within the ongoing history of home furnishings
design. And, for designers, such digital marketplaces offer a way to infuse
classic and timeless design into a project. "Unlike most new items that
will begin to decline in value immediately after purchase, quality antiques
and vintage furniture will generally retain at least the value that's paid for
it," explains Brown. "Infusing vintage décor into a home is a great way to
keep design in circulation."
Interior designers are crucial to the business, says Liebel, because they are
particularly well suited to pass on the unique stories behind an object,
whether it's a stunning design or an antique with a remarkable history.
"We are committed to advancing design, and a large part of that is helping
to make interior designers' jobs easier and more efficient," she notes.
1stdibs estimates that around one-third of its buyers are interior designers,
and more than 40,000 of them are registered members with the company's
trade program. This program offers numerous benefits depending on
how much the designer spends with the company: special pricing, an
opportunity for being showcased in 1stdibs' editorial channels, a chance
to be connected to potential clients, and the services of the company's staff
(about 100 employees strong) devoted to the trade channel.
At Sotheby's Home, a similar percentage of its clientele are designers.
The company has developed a trade program to benefit its industry
customers, which includes a 15-percent trade discount, tax-exempt status,
opportunities to market their services, and access to a dedicated designer
concierge service.

If it's worth creating,
it's worth protecting.
Not every insurance policy has the right level of
protection for your business. That's why ASID,
The Insurance Exchange, Inc., and The Hanover
have partnered to offer a cost-effective
insurance program for ASID members,
including:
* Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions)
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Now that Charish, Inc. includes not just its flagship brand but also
DECASO and Dering Hall, designers benefit from the synergy of
the three platforms with one comprehensive trade program. Members
get special net pricing set by the sellers (typically up to 30 percent)
and 48-hour hold requests so designers can get approval from their clients
before purchasing.

* Homeowners & Auto

Such sites also offer interior designers the opportunity to sit on the
other side of the table: as sellers. The consignment model is an ideal way
to resell an item from an installation where the client changed his or
her mind. Some of the companies, such as Sotheby's Home, even offer a
preferred commission structure as part of a trade membership program.

800-346-1403

Contact us for a quote, or to learn more about
the ASID Member insurance program.

| www.ASIDinsurance.org

www.TIE-Inc.com

i+D - July/August 2019

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i+D - July/August 2019

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