We all want things to run smoothly. No business, large or small, benefits if their customers are unhappy. In our world that can mean backorders, dye lots being off, workroom delays, just to name a few. Most people don’t know that these snafus are a part of our world. So, I offer these tips from the retailers perspective to help the design process run smoothly.
1. Ask yourself about time lines. Is there a party coming up? An in-law that is coming to visit? If time is an issue, as in “we need it NOW”, try avoiding special order fabrics. No vendor can predict shipping delays. We all want to, but the truth is all of us are at the mercy of shipping companies, importers, customs, all the things we can’t control. This is a perfect time to head to one of your favorite in stock retailers. There you have everything you need in stock, ready to go out the door to your upholsterer, or workroom. Most stores, like The Whole 9 Yards for instance, can ship the fabric anywhere you need it to go, saving more time and hassle.
2. Dye lot variance. (Which means the color.) All pros know the headaches of planning everything around a VERY specific color and having the fabric show up with 20% more yellow in the fabric yardage than in the sample. If I ran the world, no paint would go on the wall, or any other item purchased based on a fabric that you do not have in hand. If you are not fussy about the color being exact, you will not have a problem. If you are sensitive to color change, read on...
There are a few easy steps to prevent this problem. The easiest solution brings us back to the store that has the fabric in stock. If you are ordering, be sure that you can get a CFA (cutting for approval). To get a cutting, you need to know how much you need. Do not ask for a cutting unless you have decided on the exact fabric you are going to purchase. CFAs are a tool to assure correct color, not as a sample to ponder. There is usually a small fee for a CFA. At The Whole 9 Yards we credit that fee toward your order if the cutting is approved by you. I'm not sure if this is a universal policy.
Some of the best pricing available are fabrics that come direct from the mill. That is how I stock The Whole 9 Yards. These are fabrics that come by the bolt. This is a fantastic way to save money, but not an option for a customer who needs a CFA, because mills won’t do them. Mills are great for price, but not on the services provided by cut yardage vendors. So if you can find a fabric already in stock, that is the BEST way to insure that you are happy with the color.
3. Workrooms delays can happen. From small workrooms like ours, to large production houses, everyone experiences delays. What can you do to minimize them? First, be realistic about time. We are all so accustomed to the immediate gratification of the internet and mass produced products. However, in the design world, time is still a valued element. Craftsmanship takes time. If you need drapes panels by the weekend, head to one of the many places that carries them. The Whole 9 Yards carry some that we feel very good about, and I know there are many more out there. But those premade panels are not the custom work you get from your favorite workroom. Another tip, give accurate measurements to the workroom the FIRST time you hand the job over. Changing measurements mid job can be done, but they do slow everything down.
4. Educate yourself from the beginning. My experience has been that people really appreciate understanding the process. The Whole 9 Yards is staffed with people who are highly educated in interiors and they really enjoy the process. Whatever store you are purchasing from, take advantage of their experise. We can also reccommend a designer to come to your home for a fee.
3. Workrooms delays can happen. From small workrooms like ours, to large production houses, everyone experiences delays. What can you do to minimize them? First, be realistic about time. We are all so accustomed to the immediate gratification of the internet and mass produced products. However, in the design world, time is still a valued element. Craftsmanship takes time. If you need drapes panels by the weekend, head to one of the many places that carries them. The Whole 9 Yards carry some that we feel very good about, and I know there are many more out there. But those premade panels are not the custom work you get from your favorite workroom. Another tip, give accurate measurements to the workroom the FIRST time you hand the job over. Changing measurements mid job can be done, but they do slow everything down.
4. Educate yourself from the beginning. My experience has been that people really appreciate understanding the process. The Whole 9 Yards is staffed with people who are highly educated in interiors and they really enjoy the process. Whatever store you are purchasing from, take advantage of their experise. We can also reccommend a designer to come to your home for a fee.
5. Finally, if you are feeling overwhelmed by the decorating process, take a deep breath and do what I do...thank goodness that your big problem of the day is about decorating!!
1 comments:
Very informative and useful. Thank you for sharing.
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