EP 474 | Procurement, Profit & Vendor Relationships: What Interior Designers Need to Know with Daniel House Club

March 31, 2026

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Procurement can make or break an interior design business.

In this candid panel conversation, Kimberley Seldon is joined by Alexander Spalding of Daniel House Club and interior designers Jamie Gasparovic and Meredith Huck to talk about one of the biggest pain points in the industry: how to manage procurement without sacrificing profit, time, or sanity.

Together, they unpack why so many designers resist focusing on profitability, how procurement quietly drains resources when handled inefficiently, and why outsourcing the heavy lifting can actually improve margins. They also explore the real cost of going direct, the hidden time lost managing multiple vendors, and why trust, customer service, and reliable systems matter more than ever.

The conversation also touches on the decline of retail shops, the role of online retailers, and the importance of choosing vendor partners who support your business goals—not just your orders.

If procurement has ever felt overwhelming, messy, or not worth the trouble, this episode will challenge that thinking and show you a smarter way forward.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

  • Why designers often resist prioritizing profitability
  • How procurement can drain time, energy, and margins
  • Why outsourcing procurement can improve efficiency and profit
  • How to evaluate vendor relationships for service, pricing, and reliability
  • Why billing for procurement hours matters
  • How strong systems and trusted partners support a healthier design business

 

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Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Daniel House Club!

Stop chasing orders. Start designing.
Daniel House Club members rely on a dedicated Concierge to handle purchasing logistics—saving hours, avoiding the cost of full-time staff, and even tracking procurement time for client billing.

Work with your Concierge to specify custom and semi-custom pieces and receive 15% off your first custom order from exceptional lines like Wesley Hall, Thayer Coggin, Ambella Home, Massoud, Theodore Alexander, and more.

Visit danielhouse.club/bod to start saving time and money.

Join as a Signature Member and get 50% off with code BOD2026 (a $500 annual savings), or start with a Pro account for just $49 and enjoy free shipping—no more shipping headaches.

About Alex Spalding

Alexander Spalding is the CEO and Co-Founder of Daniel House Club, the simplest place to find and actually buy what you’re looking for if you’re an interior designer. He and his brother Peter started the company as a design firm in 2015 before pivoting to help other designers procure across hundreds of vendors more profitably and efficiently. Alexander studied Business and Finance at Texas A&M University and is the perfect ying to his brother’s artistic yang. He is proud to say that Daniel House Club has become known for its World Class Service. When he is not focused on what’s up and coming for DHC’s 7,000 designer members, he enjoys long walks with his golden retriever Harvey.

danielhouse.club/bod

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About Jamie Gasparovic

Jamie’s Studio Gaspo is a boutique, full-service design firm for visionaries and founders who are allergic to the ordinary. Based in Central Florida and working nationwide, Jamie’s firm specializes in creating spaces that are as bold and ambitious as our clients.

With over a decade of experience in luxury new builds and complex renovations, Jamie and her team bring a strategic, identity-driven approach to every project. They excel at managing high-stakes construction projects, ensuring seamless execution from concept to completion. Studio Gaspo’s moody modern aesthetic and expertise has recently been featured by Forbes, Architectural Digest, Better Homes & Gardens, and Business of Home.

www.studiogaspo.com

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About Meredith Huck

Meredith Huck of House of Huck creates curated, family-friendly interiors for busy homeowners who want calm, not chaos. She and her team design and manage every detail. Their projects include custom new builds along the Connecticut shoreline and second homes in Nantucket, Newport and Martha’s Vineyard. Meredith pivoted from corporate life in 2020. She successfully netted six figures in her first ten months of business and hasn’t looked back. She runs an extremely lean team in part because she relies almost solely on Daniel House Club to procure all her project furnishings.

Meredith and her husband live in Milford, Connecticut with their three young children. She is also a licensed real estate agent in the state of Connecticut and enjoys supporting her clients to turn average houses into spectacular homes.

www.houseofhuck.com

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Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and provides general business advice for interior designers and design professionals. It is not intended as individual legal, accounting, or professional guidance. Kimberley Seldon and Business of Design® make no guarantees regarding accuracy and are not liable for how information is used. Strategies shared may not apply to every situation—listeners should seek qualified legal, financial, or professional advice before making business decisions. References and resources mentioned may change over time.

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