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1.\\xa0 INTRO

It takes a village as they say and we couldn\\u2019t agree more. In last week\\u2019s episode on Partnerships, we discussed the importance of agreeing on what outsourcing expenses to incur as a company such as bookkeeping, tax prep, social media etc. Today we are going to talk about all the other people we rely on (and why) to make our business successful.

2.\\xa0 ART AND WINDOW TREATMENT INSTALLER

We have been working with the same window treatment/art installer since the inception of our business. We worked together at the design showroom (Decorating Mart) where we met. It has been an incredible partnership. A few important expectations we live by:

1.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Be super courteous to our clients.

2.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Be professionally dressed \\u2013 no holes in shirts, no belly hanging out, no smelling of smoke, no dirty shoes

3.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Come prepared \\u2013 every tool, ladder, grommet, drill bit, saw, touch up paint, glue, paint brush, steamer etc. should be on that truck.

4.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Be on time- need we say more?

5.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Be flexible \\u2013 installs can get hairy and hectic \\u2013 you have to be able to go with the flow with no attitude and a \\u201cmake it happen\\u201d attitude.

3.\\xa0 WINDOW TREATMENT AND SOFT GOODS FABRICATOR

Quality, professional custom window treatments, pillows, headboards, upholstery etc. is a huge part of our business. For years and years Kelly took all the measurements, wrote up all the work orders and ordered the custom hardware herself. We still do some of that but we\\u2019ve also started outsourcing a lot of this. Mistakes are big and expensive in our business so why have the stress? A ton goes in to custom window treatments \\u2013

1.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Our fabricator goes to the clients house to measure, writes up all workorders, orders all specified hardware and delivers the window treatments to the job site to assist the installer and make sure the quality is perfect.

2.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Tricky walls and ceilings, molding and corners sometimes require a custom template to be made for that the hardware or how the mounting board is cut.

3.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The quality of the lining and pillow inserts we use are items we have perfected over time.

4.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Motorization for unreachable windows, room darkening treatments in media centers, unlined sheers in sunrooms \\u2013 all items we need to discuss with the client.

5.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 You need to be able to make your design concept or a clients particular wish come to life and it\\u2019s all about your workroom\\u2019s abilities to make this happen.

6.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Remember \\u2013 you get what you pay for.

4.\\xa0 RECEIVER AND MOVERS

Being established designers, we order 85% of our product direct from manufacturers. Most manufacturers don\\u2019t drop ship to residential addresses (nor do we really want them to for quality assurance purposes). So this means that most of our product has to be delivered to a loading dock, inspected for damages, and stored safely until install. Upon install, this same company delivers all of the product at one time (hopefully) to the install.

1.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Our experiences from Chicago to Charleston to Atlanta.

2.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 All the same expectations that we have for our art installer (which sometimes requires babysitting- story of the belt).

3.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The cost for receiving and inspection, storage and delivery are big costs in our business and ones that have to be managed carefully. For example, as soon as the last time arrives for a client, we plan the install.

5.\\xa0 FURNITURE MAKERS

These peeps are a huge part of our team and our ability to make visions reality. When you can\\u2019t find what you want in the market place, what are you going to do? When you have a client with big dreams that he or she is looking to you to create, what are you going to do?

1.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Curating relationships with artisans.

a.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Thad at Modera

b.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The Jersey guys making the banquet for Allure

c.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Mitch \\u2013 Joann\\u2019s bed, my mirror, custom sized kitchen tables, Klein\\u2019s sofa table, the arched doors at the Magnolia Showhouse

6.\\xa0 WALLPAPER INSTALLERS

1.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Quote thoroughly and quickly

2.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Be prepared for ceilings and tight spaces.

3.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Sometimes working with difficult papers \\u2013 MAKE IT HAPPEN attitude

7.\\xa0 PAINTERS

We\\u2019ve used the same painters for 18 years. When we call for our clients, they get the utmost service because of our partnership with our paint company and the respect we have for one another.

1.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Our expectations

2.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Big crews \\u2013 efficient and timely completion

3.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Few call backs

4.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 In uniform

5.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Quality paint at all times

8.\\xa0 KITCHEN & BATH REMODELERS

When the recession hit Atlanta in 2008, we were still super busy. People could sell their homes or build new ones because the market was in the toilet but they still had money. So lots of people started remodeling. This began our quest for really good contractors especially in the kitchen & bath arena.

1.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 How we work together \\u2013 it doesn\\u2019t always work out.

2.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Working such that we alongside our contractor are both making a profit.

3.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Contractors that can think outside the box and collaborate with us.

4.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Contractors that have a good steady team of office peeps and reliable subs.

5.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 How good are they with follow up issues and/or problems at any stage of the project especially the very end.