Why Do Interior Designers "Go To Market"?
Have you heard your interior designer or friends who are designers say they are “Going to Market”? Do you find yourself smiling and nodding but really wondering “What on earth does that mean?”? It’s definitely an industry phrase that may seem odd to those we as interior designers interact with.
To help shed some light on why interior designer’s “go to market”, we are sharing four reasons such a trip can be valuable for clients and also to help demystify this common bit of interior design jargon!
What kind of “Market” do interior designer’s visit?
The term “Market” may evoke the images of the local grocery store, a weekend farmer’s market or street side market stands. For an interior designer, it means something a little different. The the term “Market”, in this context, refers to a business-to-business trade center. It is a place where an interior designer (or other retailer) can go to connect with manufacturers, browse their showrooms and work with their sales staff.
Often the buildings that these showrooms are located in are called “Markets”, such as the Dallas Market Center . However, a designer may also be referring to a specific event held through out the year, like the Fall Market held each Autumn at the “largest home furnishings industry trade show in the world” at High Point Market, North Carolina. There are also trade shows like NeoCON, held at Chicago’s massive Merchandise Mart, which cater mainly to desigers focused on commercial spaces and products. Now referred to as just “theMART”, it is so large that it’s 25 stories take up two city blocks, it has it’s own L stop on the second floor and it even had it’s own zip code in the past.
Four (of many) reasons why Interior Designers “Go to Market”:
To see ‘to the trade’ items in-person
Through regional market centers, designers have access to products available only “to the trade”. As a consumer, you won’t find those items at your local mega furniture store.Test Sit
Since interior designers often recommend items to their clients that are only available ‘to the trade’, there may not be a local place to see, touch and feel those items in person. Regular visits to regional design markets, like those mentioned above, give designers an opportunity to really ‘kick the tires’ of products. Designers can then confidently recommend that custom sofa or extension dining table to their clients because they have seen the quality, construction and craftsmanship up close.
Keep/make industry connections
Visiting “market” allows designers to make industry connections that they can rely on during the course of a project. Developing a face-to-face connection with a manufacturer’s sales staff can be very help in getting information quickly or in trouble shooting any snags that may come up on a project.Stay up to date on latest items
Each year art, furniture, fixtures, lighting and decor manufacturers release new innovations and products. Being able to visit a manufacturer’s showroom in-person gives designers the opportunity to become familiar with new product lines and get educated on changes to the industry directly from those who know it best.
How to stay ‘in the know’ as a client:
Follow us on our social accounts to catch our stories (like these from Instagram “Market in 2020” and “Dallas Market May 2022”) and recaps every time we “go to market”!
We’re always excited to share the latest and best with our clients!
