We can’t be afraid of shopping online.

A few years ago I wrote a post about buying furniture online for clients. And after recently hosting Virtual Design Gold, my course to help designers add virtual design to their services menu, lot of the students had concerns about buying online without the ability to see in person.

I’m here to tell you it’s okay! Buying online is certainly not going away, I’ve been doing it for clients since the beginning of my design career in 2006.

I thought that with the coronavirus pandemic we are all enduring (save a life - wear a mask!) that this would be the perfect time to readdress this topic for a couple of reasons.

Why you should get on the online shopping train.

One - one of the best ways to keep your interior design business going right now is to pivot to offer your clients a non-contact way to get their home design done. This means that like most of the rest of the world - designers should be incorporating more contactless services and precautions into their business for clients to feel safe.

And two - that online shopping is not going away. It’s growing. And it’s growing even more with this pandemic when brick and mortar business are going exclusively online or aren’t open. Online shopping is becoming unavoidable.

Whether you are shopping for your own home or shopping for a client's home, online shopping is necessary.  

There is always a certain amount of risk buying online.

A certain amount of risk (and reward) is involved when you shop online and can’t see the piece in-person first.  You have to be aware of it and expect it.  You will have disappointments, there is a lot of crap out there.  Remember the old adage - you get what you pay for. But just as there is risk for you as the designer to buy online - your clients also have that risk.

Clients are very much aware that what you see on screen may not be what arrives. But this is pretty rare in my long online shopping history. And if your clients aren’t aware - that’s a good opportunity to set their expectations.

I think it’s important to realize that shopping online is not going away and to become comfortable with that slight loss of control now - otherwise you’re fighting a losing battle in your business.

Here are some tips to a good online shopping experience:

• Know your vendors. Have you heard of the manufacturer that your are buying from? Do a little research, read reviews and make sure that you are buying from a reputable dealer. I like rewarding vendors that have quality product and good customer service.

• Buy antiques - you’ll have a much better idea of quality with antiques than new products and many times they are better made, longer lasting, and very affordable.

• Visit markets and shows so that you can examine the product in person. Even if the vendors don't have all the pieces, you can still get an idea of the quality.

• Read the warranty and return information. If it is too strict and/or the company does not stand behind its product - beware!

• Shop artisans and small creators, they are hand-making items and take pride in quality and service. Set up realistic expectations - here is where you should listen to the old adages you get what you pay for and it's too good to be true.

• If you can, ask for more photos of the exact piece you are buying so you can examine the quality closer. This is where building relationships with small dealers, artisans, and creators is to your benefit.

• Check and see where the piece is made. Sometimes, though not always, you can get an idea of quality from the country of manufacture. Unfortunately, many designer pieces are getting copied for cheap overseas.

• Ask for samples - everywhere from Home Depot to West Elm and independent furniture makers have samples - see if they can mail you a sample for approval.

• Have faith - yes, things can look slightly different on a computer - especially colors, but most of the time they are pretty close. Buying online for the sake of convenience, expedition, and ease outweighs having something that is slightly off.

• Search reviews and photos - sometimes you can find photos of items inside a home, which gives different views and lighting. Also people may comment that the piece was redder or has more wood grain than the photos show. This can all be valuable information when you are making selections.

By being cautious and informed you can improve your online furniture shopping experience.

What are your go-to online vendors? Share in the comments!

About The Author

Hi! I’m Capella and I’m an interior designer who helps fellow designers build their businesses. Forget secrecy and competition, I believe designers should support and uplift each other. By helping and boosting one another, we can elevate the business of interior design together! Hang around a bit and I’ll share all the business “secrets” no one else wants to talk about.