The world of interior design offers limitless opportunities for creativity, style, and connection – but how do you know where you’ll find a home for your career? If you’re considering the Design Consultant path but are curious about what your options are, here are a few things to consider.
Types of Showrooms to Explore
Builder Showrooms
Working as a Design Consultant in the builder aspect can include working with Custom Homes or Production Homes with a strong focus on guiding clients through the process of Hard Finish Selections. This includes carpet and tile, cabinetry or millwork, hardware, paint selections, and other built-in details like edits to the architectural plans. If your interests are more in line with material or product selection as opposed to FF&E, this can be an excellent path to explore.
Single Product Line Showrooms
If you enjoy becoming a product expert and knowing all there is to know about a niche in the industry – this is your chance to excel! Single product showrooms can even deal in “Product Categories” such as Closet Design, Window Furnishings, Tile & Stone, or Flooring just to name a few. Learning all there is to know about the benefits of the products you represent will help you educate your clients on what best suits their needs. These opportunities often come with the opportunity to assist not only end-user clients but also those that deal with the trade.
Multi-Line Product Showrooms
This is what most designers tend to think of when you default to a “Home Furnishings Showroom.” This includes your well-known brands like RH, West Elm, and Ethan Allan where a single showroom can provide a shopper with furniture, décor, accessories, lighting fixtures, and soft goods – all under one roof. If space planning, furniture selections, and building out perfectly styled rooms sounds like a dream, consider a multi-line showroom!
Benefits of Showrooms vs Design Firms
Both settings offer different experiences, benefits, and daily tasks during the design process – so how can you decide if joining a showroom team is of interest to you? Consider the following…
Opportunity for Additional Income
Many showrooms offer commission structures that can make the experience quite lucrative. For designers that like the challenge of building relationships and their book of business, the commission can be seen as a great advantage.
Flexible Scheduling
The “Nine to Five” is not ideal for all individuals. There is an upside to having rotating hours or varying days off during the week – maybe this better aligns with your partner’s schedule or a child’s after-school activities?
Interpersonal Communication
If you’re the type of person that thrives from meeting new people and consistently interacting with clients, working in a showroom provides an opportunity to design for a variety of styles, help clients with varying levels of need, and work collaboratively within a space to bring design ideas to life.
Types of Roles [Within a Showroom]
Showroom Managers
If you’ve worked your way up through the Design Consultant path and are now leading a team and overseeing daily operations, a showroom manager position could be a great alternative. This role generally blends working with clients, overseeing the design sales staff, and managing day-to-day tasks to ensure the showroom runs smoothly.
Technical Designers
Not all showrooms are alike. Some focus more on the technical side of the industry – take Kitchen & Bath showrooms or Luxury Cabinetry as an example. These designs are generally more technical than dealing with other aspects of home furnishings, so certain showrooms have positions that are less sales-based and more geared towards ensuring the highly technical drawings and space planning are done properly.
Business Development Representatives or Trade Sales Representatives
These titles are generally geared towards more of an “Outside Sales” path but are still housed under a similar umbrella. Traveling and forming connections throughout the community or a region overall is another way that brands bring their products to market. Once you’ve become a product expert, many showrooms have career paths that can transition you to a broader scope of work where you’re able to further the reach of their products and strengthen bonds within the A&D community.
Showroom Opportunities Available Near You!
If you’re ready to take the leap and check out new opportunities to become a Design Consultant in a showroom near you, head over to Jobs.InteriorTalent.com to learn more and apply today.