zuesel

I hope the following info will be helpful to you furniture shoppers. Feel free to ask any questions.

- As an interior decorator/designer, we do get discount prices. Depending on individual stores, anywhere from 10-50% off of retail prices. It's up to the individual designer how to make a profit. I usually will split the discount with the customer. eg: A piece cost $200 retail - 20% disc. = $180. The customer pays $190, I make $10. The designers have to apply for an account at the store using business licence. I have accounts from Inspiration to small Richmond furniture stores.

Many of the wholesale and custom-made furniture stores sell only to businesses and designers, therefore, don't' have retail pricings. The mark up from retails who buy goods from them usually have at least a 100% markup and up. I usually have a $30% or less mark-up depending on if it's a part of a client's home decor project or just a simple purchase. Designer discounts can also include wallpaper, window treatments (blinds/drapes), accessories, building materials, etc. They also have other resources that are not known to the general public.
- Style In Form has a showroom and warehouse in Burnaby. (open to public) They have clearance sale here and there but only retailers and designers will be notified and know their prices.

- Vangoah and Stylus are example of custom made sofa makers. They have a showroom (a designer has to accompany the customer to go in). You'd be surprised that they are great quality sofa at a reasonable cost compare to most of the retailers who mark up at least $100%

My opinion:

Very high-end stores carry not only great quality but a designer label or imported from Europe. This contributes to the high cost.

Mid-end stores prices and quality varies. Sometimes, you are paying the price for the design but not the quality or vice versa. They are more reasonably priced.

Low-end stores are great to search out for quality or breakage isn't a concern. Maybe a good source for very lightly used pieces.

- Ikea is great for items that quality isn't too much of a concern Eg: decorative products. And has great ideas!
- It's not my first choice for cabinets and sofas because most are made from compressed wood which is very heavy yet, not durable. eg: their book cases and TV unit curve after a short while. It's funny that my mover commented a piece they were moving that it must me from Ikea coz their furniture are so heavy! LOL
- Also having furniture that everyone recognize and able to name where you got it from and cost instead of admiring it isn't very fun.
- They are so popular they lack personality thus, not reflective of your own unique style and specialness.
- The DIY pieces don't fit properly. And hard to rebuild after taken apart.
- They aren't necessarily less expensive if you put everything together that they sell separately. (Really do your math and compare the final cost and quality vs other retailers similar products) and you don't have to DIY!

Advantage of custom made furniture:
-Price reflect quality which can work with your budget
-Uniquely yours and reflective of your lifestyle and personality
-Can be made to the right size with materials and color you feel most comfortable with. Eg: Ever come across a sofa you love the comfort but hate the color? A chair that's perfect in every way but not the right size?

Many people relate high cost to custom made, non-ikea brand. They're afraid that everything nice=$$$$$. In my opinion as a designer, a few quality or high end pieces maybe all you need. Other elements in your home can cost as little as nothing yet enhances the not-so-great areas. Or think of creative ways to multi-task a piece. Eg: a chest that doubles as a storage and coffee table. So in the end, it could balance out the cost or even better! Think creatively and outside of the box!

The best way to go about furniture shopping is to set a budget. It will lead you towards better understand of what and where you can get out of your set budget. You can then,  reallocate if necessarily or adjust your budget.

*** A top salesman once reminded me: 平, 靚, 正 you could only choose 2 ***
You want 平 & 靚 - can't be 正; 靚 & 正 cannot be 平; 平 & 正 cannot be 靚

zuesel

Everyone has their own preference and needs which is determined by their budget, space, and practicality. That's why a good designer will interview and work closely with you to make the right choices incorporating all of the above. Personally, I do agree with spending more on heavily used furniture ie: sofa, mattresses, entertainment unit, etc.

Special and unique DOES NOT equal to big $$$$$. There are lots of alternatives such as you can DIY, buy used furniture eg: I bought a live edge (a handmade coffee table from a cross section of a cedar tree), spray painted the legs. Total cost was $69. Bought a large framed mirror $45 fr. Walmart, spray painted the black frame to silver, etc. Use wallpaper for a small wall section to add interest. Buy a plain canvas for a few $ and paint whatever you like for hanging. Buy some cushions to spice up instead of throwing away your boring old sofa.....OMG! THE Possibility is endless! Of course not everything could be DIY but if you are on a budget,  these are just examples of things you can do after spending a big chunk on things you can't avoid, ie: good mattress.
What I also mean by unique is "not" get from a catalog or IKEA that everyone owns or have already seen. (Not bashing IKEA, like I said, it has good decor ideas and accessories). It is about thinking outside of box, alternatives, seeing a furniture functioning other than its intent...

你覺得呢張檯好speical好unique，但係兩年後已經覺得冇咩特別，５年後你唔搬的話都可能想再裝修。所以我又唔覺得要買到好貴or好special...

With regards to that, it is one of the challenges designers have...to get people to understand it isn't always true. Just because you may change your location every few years, it doesn't mean you have to settle with the plain and ordinary forever. Either way, if your plan is to change your furniture every few years, why not enjoy something you really like in the meantime? Besides, if it's something nice, it has a resell market of which you can use the $ towards new furniture.
The choice is yours:
A. Get something nice, enjoy for a few years, move, get something nice, enjoy, move....
B. Get something you don't care for (afraid you will move), use for few years, get more you don't care for stuff (afraid you will move), use for a few yrs....

And as with everything else, after looking at everyday for 2 yrs, will you still have the same excitement as the first day you got it?

反而越＂特色＂嘅家俬越唔襟睇
I agree and disagree.
Actually, people are relating＂特色＂to something very outrageous or very modern. If you look around, many designs can be very appealing yet lasting in its style too. BTW, little do people know that modern designs we see today were actually replications of designs from the 40's-70's. Furniture styles cycle is just like fashion cycle.
。
Note again, nice, unique DOESN'T have to be expensive.
you may feel that I'm doing commercial here because I mentioned a lot about custom-make and how the wholesale vs retail works. I want to let people understand these are facts. Besides an opportunity to introduce myself, in this thread, I'm more interested in answering some questions, clearing some misconceptions and genuinely sharing my interests. A designer who needs to make a living will not promote DIY. *wink *wink

If you are on a budget, before buying, you might want to weight out:
-Design (how long can it last before being considered as outdated style)
-Purpose and How often it will be used
-Size/Color/material/Comfort
-Cost (within your budget?)
-Value (is the price tag a result of its design or quality?)
-Quality of material
-Resell value (if you intend to sell in the future and use the $ to reinvest in new furniture)

Hope this helps!

zuesel

Don't say 請教. I'm just sharing my ideas based on my work and own experience.

When i say resell value as a consideration, it is for those with a budget concern. it should not be used as a major consideration when buying furniture. Comfort, quality, suitability should be first considerations. Resell value is used for if you REALLY want a piece but is having a hard time 說服 yourself.

所以買現成有買現成好處。
If you can find a ready made piece than ABSOLUTELY get it! You don't want the wait time! Custom made is for ppl who can't find what they want or the right size to fit.

Personally，我自己經驗係，你要賣家俬係非常難。一，你賣家俬通常（９成）係因爲搬，你唔會有超過幾個月時間去賣你啲家俬。而且你係有deadline，假設你４月尾要交吉，你１月開始賣，２月有人出低價買，你賣唔賣？你又驚到３月尾都冇人買，分分鐘仲要俾錢人般走
Selling isn't easy at all. Lots to think about. I totally agree with you on your example. That's why planning is essential. If you are in need for the money, 及早賣 in order to recuperate funds maybe a priority. Having to sit on the floor for a little while may not be a huge concern vs getting rid of what you don't want anymore. (you could consider on your posting to add: "Available in Sept...".

Few things to consider when selling used furniture:
Price reasonably:
-search for other similar item for what ppl are selling for and current retail cost
-the current condition
-how fast you want to get rid of it
-your location for ease of viewing/pickup
-how outdated is your piece
-what is your bottom line of acceptance

selling point:
-highlight the positive Eg: great for small spaces, had lots of compliments, gently used, selling for 50% less than retail, clean, comfortable, blah blah blah...

photo:
-use natural lighting and well lighted (a tripod is useful)
-take at an angle that show its best and about 40 inches fr. ground up if it's a sofa (depending on what you are selling).
-clear away mess on and on the background of the furniture
-choose a back ground that can bring out the best of the piece. EG: a sofa sitting in a garage doesn't make ppl want to buy
- take pictures ahead of time in case the furniture ended in storage of which you can't take pics anymore when you want to post again if the first time doesn't sell
-Post anywhere and everywhere!
-You'll never know.

Give an example of my past experience:
I sold my sofa I bought about 5 yrs ago 2nd hand. The sofa was worth over $6000. I bought it for $1,300. Used it for a few years. I wrote a nice description and took some great pictures. I asked for $1,900 coz i know I kept it nice and clean and would easily worth that much (given I know buyer will haggle alot! So i was prepared to sell it for $900 if needed). But I know that the color would be a challenge for selling, so I decided to post months ahead. I had lots of request. However, got turned down due to the huge size. Then a dentist offered $950 for it to put in his new office. He paid a mover $150 to move it. The same night, someone offered for $1300! @_@! Well, too late! . Anyway, in total, I paid $400 for a great sofa to use for 5 yrs! Not to mention endless compliments throughout the years!
So, you'll never know! But if you have the patience and an eye for something nice, get it by all means.

同埋訂造家俬都係好頭痛，香港瀨唔少嘢。首先，你心諗嘅款係咪轉達到俾個師父呢？同埋有啲"designer"好有性格，佢又會加自己嘅諗法，唔理你鍾唔鍾意。所以到最後貨不對版，遲交貨，唔啱measurement...
Sorry for your bad experience. 有時都好激氣. It's the bad business ppl that affect the good honest ones. Hard to gain trust from customers again. Luckily, in Canada, we don't have to accept 貨不對版 (unless you're dealing with Chinese who operates the Chinese way and cash transaction). If you have a designer, he/she will do the measurement and design for you. If you are doing it yourself, just make sure you measure correctly and find pics of what you want your piece to look like to the best of your ability.

zuesel

About Designers:

With regards to designers. Everyone, including photographers, artist, hairdressers all have some kind of 藝術家脾氣 and their own style which makes them popular in their own way. Some will pay $$$$$$$$$ to hire a designer for their branding. Eg: I had a client that hired Sxx (name withheld) before hiring me who charges $2000/hr for her assistant to do a consultation (not even herself)! But my client didn't like the ideas given nor the customer service. He said there was NO service! No questions were asked. The assistant just came in and dictate what goes where! But you know what? Sxx is very famous in the world of interior design. Some designers choose to operate with the philosophy of "my way or no way!" and people buy that! I don't agree or disagree with their business practice and fully respect them.
(not advertising, just explaining)
I however believe that a professional interior designer should understand a customer's needs, life style, hobby, likes/dislikes. He should constantly ask questions and follow up with the customer. Understand and work within their budget. Give options and let the client aware of the pros and cons of each option.
Designers have their challenges too! Husband and wife can't agree, client changes mind half way, want the service for free, want things done their way, not cooperative, don't pay, no replies ......the list goes on! And unfortunately, Asians is one of the hardest to get business and do business with. I've experienced most of it. LOL
-I had a client who didn't listen to my suggestion and painted her room which I said will be too bright. She ended up had to repaint it.
-Another one insisted on hiring contractors from china who had no experience but were cheap! She got exactly what she paid for. They took the money and left holes in cabinets and half completed jobs.
-My current client had a floor installer that ran off with the money, no where to be found.
-I was hired to design a restaurant in Calgary, but the husband and wife didn't agree on the ANYTHING! that prolonged the process and made it very difficult! And I only had 1 week to do it!

Sorry, just some of the examples I had to share!

zuesel

我個心舒服啲啦依家，連interior designer都唔係好知點賣家俬最化算，都係靠運氣我覺得冇咁蠢同蝕抵。

    I think you misunderstand an interior decorator/designer's 工作職責。 我們並不是專業二手賣家。我從來沒有任何client要求 and I won't do it. So when you said 請教， I said I'm only sharing. The experience and points I stated about selling 2nd hand furniture were purely personal. If you want to feel better, you should compare yourself to someone who specialize in selling used furniture. Why should an interior designer/decorator know how to sell 2nd hand furniture? 雖然同樣是水果，但是賣橙不一定需要識怎樣挑選蘋果。

    一般里民連咩木打咩木都分唔清，問佢想要咩檯，好多人其實唔係好識形容，淨係見到一張檯覺得靚先講得出點解會鍾意。所以你搵designer之前都係要自己搵到啲鍾意嘅design再問designer造唔造到。

   In the eyes of an interior decorator/designer, the general public are not expected to have knowledge about wood or anything relative in the field of design. That's one of the reasons they are being hired. 如果你自己乜都識便不需要雇用 interior decorator/designer/furniture maker.

There's a huge difference between interior decorator, interior designer, furniture designer, furniture maker.
If you have to find your own design, know about what type of wood, etc, you would seek a furniture maker. He/She doesn't need to know or care if it matches your home decor, how heavily it gets used and for what. He only cares if it's do-able.

There are people who might take on more than one rule. Eg: Interior designer doubles as a furniture maker. In that case, you can expect this individual to be knowledgeable in both aspects.

zuesel

zussel: 2 things
1. I agree with 大C姐 on resale value. Furniture have next to none given it's new.  ...
BiscottiGelato 發表於 2013-2-22 11:22

Sorry for the confusion Biscotti. Lots of people 一知半解 then pass on a judgement. It's a good thing to ask questions. I try to as much as I could based on my knowledge and experience. Hope will clear up some misconceptions for people.

Resell value:
DO NOT buy furniture based on its resell value. It's merely a very minor factor, like I mentioned, it should be just a way to 說服 or 安慰 yourself if you are having a hard time deciding. eg: 我好想買但係又唔捨得，我老公會說：買啦！或者第時賣反出去囉。質量唔錯，應該賣到嘅。. Personally, if I really like someone bad enough and have the funds I won't consider its resell value or try to predict if I'll have the need to sell it later.

Stylus:
http://www.stylussofas.com/faq.php
I just called them and yes! They are allowing customers to go in now. The above link gives you answers to other questions you may have. Although they can''t give you pricing but it's good to go check their fabric selection, quality, etc. If you find something you like, take note of the model and the fabric number. You can then search for a dealer/designer to order it. Please check around for prices. The mark up is different everywhere!

Another good place to look is Vangogh:
http://www.vangoghdesigns.com/
They also have a showroom available to public
I find their style and fabric choice a bit more modern or "younger" if you will.

Custom or Ready made?
I don't condone either/or. There's no right or wrong. It's just what Suits you! If you found something perfect (price, color, size, material...) all the better! Get it!!!!! However, if you can't find something suitable or eg: love the style but don't like the material, then consider custom-made (if you can wait). Other reasons for custom made could be the cost (could be the same as ready-made), uniqueness, to match/enhance what you already have at home, don't trust the quality of imported furniture, or simple feel the word "custom-made" 夠好聽，型！

zuesel

回復 42# BiscottiGelato


So-far-so-good does their own custom-made as well as retail, you might want to check them out.
You can find other stores (including some usa) sell furniture from Stylus and Vanghoh. They have very small selection of fabric choices though but will at least give you the retail prices.

I'm not ignoring you, I'll try to give regards to your other questions later when I'm done work at hand.

zuesel

回復 49# 布小熊

Thanks Bear!

I'll make a quick reply here:

I am a decorator. Sometimes ppl call me designer b/c to them, they are the same. Rather than giving a lecture about the diff, I just let it pass like most of us do. There's no by-law about it. Like a hairdresser vs hair designer. To a customer, they don't really care to know the details. They just want pricing and what to expect as end result.I think the confusion comes from some designers doubles as decorator. Technically, decorators focus on working with an already built premise. I prefer to be called a decorator or interior specialist coz I choose to work with colors, furniture, paints, etc. but don't love the technical stuff. Designer have to work on architectural, fire codes, but they don't receive training on colors, staging, re-design. Some designers are actually decorators but they too, don't bother to explain the differences since most people don't know the difference anyway.

zuesel

I don't want to flood this thread anymore. I've opened up another one to address some questions of concern.
http://www.loyaukee.com/forum/vi ... mp;extra=#pid297674

zuesel

I've looked a few different furniture places and surprisingly, I found Moe's, Urban Barn and Mobler  ...
pkphilip 發表於 2013-3-17 00:09

More to help make decision:
Glass - Great for small spaces, must clean often, scratches easily and visible
wood - Durable, heavy, good for bigger space

Consider how long you want it to last and matching style with the rest of your room/furniture