EP 019 | Successful Vendor Relationships with LuAnn Nigara

July 31, 2017

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We can’t do our jobs without the cooperation, hard work and talent of a variety of vendors and suppliers. These professionals make or break our reputation. Developing healthy relationships with key vendors can lead to an infinitely more satisfying career by helping you satisfy your clients, earn their trust and grow your business. In this episode, we learn first hand from window covering specialist and podcaster Luann Nigara, some of the simple and things designers can do to improve relations and strengthen project outcomes.

In this episode we learn:
– the benefits of working with a concierge service vs. a workroom
– the stressors and pressures your vendors may be under
– why thoroughness matters

 

Take Aways

1. If you are loosey-goosey about the details at the beginning of the project you better be prepared to be loosey-goosey about what’s delivered.
2. When you criticize your trades and suppliers remember, YOU were the one that introduced them to your clients. Never throw a supplier under the bus.

 

LuAnn Nigara is an award winning window treatment specialist and together with her husband and her cousin she owns Window Works, which provides custom window treatments and awnings to both retail clientele as well as to the trade. They are located in Livingston NJ, a suburb of NYC but regularly serve the entire Metro area from Philadelphia, to the Hamptons to Connecticut.

Window Works exemplifies their tagline, which is Experience Expertise Excellence. In business together for more than 30 years they have designed, created and installed window treatments and awnings for more than 24,000 clients.

Designer clients include prestigious firms such as Sussan Lari Architects in Long Island, Anyon Designs in San Francisco, House of Funk in NJ, DiMare Designs in Miami and Charles Pavarini in NYC. Their work has been featured in Design NJ and on House Smarts TV.

LuAnn recently was the keynote speaker at the IWCE (International Window Coverings Expo) in Charlotte and a presenter at The Design Bloggers Conference in LA. She spoken to ASID groups, at Hunter Douglas conferences and is often called on by Design NJ as a resource for articles specializing on window treatments.

LuAnn also hosts the 3x weekly podcast, A Well-Designed Business, which features in depth conversations with interior designers and industry professionals on the business of interior design, which can be found on ITunes, Stitcher and IHeart Radio.

www.windowworks-nj.com

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Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be used for any legal decisions. Kimberley Seldon Design Group, Kimberley Seldon Productions Inc., Kimberley Seldon Design and Media, Inc., Business of Design™, or any of its affiliated companies or staff is not responsible for any errors or omissions effecting accuracy in any content, and they will not be held liable for the use or misuse of information, facts, details or any other aspects should there arise any defects, errors, omissions or perhaps inaccuracies. Extensive research has been conducted to put this podcast together for the purpose of educating our industry in order to better serve the public. Care has been taken to acknowledge ownership of copyrighted material. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. This work is offered with the understanding that we do not render any legal, accounting or other professional advice. Seek the advice of a lawyer and/or other competent professional person in all matters of law. Further, listeners should be aware that internet websites mentioned may change or disappear between when this was recorded and when it was listened to.

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