15. How to Build a Sustainable Supplier Network for Your Interior Design Business

Episode 15: How to Build a Sustainable Supplier Network for Your Interior Design BusinessDescription:If you've ever wished someone would just hand you a list of trusted sustainable suppliers, this episode is for you.As an interior designer, you already have enough on your plate. Researching every flooring, textile, furniture piece, paint, and finish from scratch can feel overwhelming—especially when you're trying to make healthier and more sustainable choices for your clients.But after years of building my own sustainable sourcing network, I've learned that it's not really about having a long list of suppliers. It's about knowing who you can trust, who has the right expertise, and who shares your values.In this solo episode of Design with Impact, I share some of the biggest mistakes I've made when building my sustainable supplier network—from assuming a familiar supplier is automatically the right fit, to taking sustainability claims at face value, to searching for the "perfect" supplier.I'll also share why relationships have become one of the most valuable resources in my sustainable design practice, and how you can start building your own trusted network of suppliers, manufacturers, reps, and other design professionals.If you're an interior designer who wants to source more sustainably without spending countless hours researching every product, this episode will give you a practical place to start.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why your usual supplier isn't always the right supplier for a sustainable projectWhy you shouldn't take terms like "eco-friendly," "natural," or "sustainable" at face valueWhy there probably isn't one "perfect" sustainable supplier or productHow to use a good, better, best approach when making sustainable selectionsHow to identify your own sustainability priorities and use them to guide your sourcing decisionsWhy relationships are one of the most valuable tools in sustainable sourcingHow suppliers, reps, manufacturers, makers, and other designers can help expand your networkWhy your sustainable supplier list should become a living, evolving resource—not just a spreadsheetHow to start building a trusted supplier network without trying to figure everything out on your ownFree Webinar: Build Your Sustainable Supplier List: A Framework for Smarter SourcingJoin the free live training on September 29th to learn how to evaluate sustainable suppliers and build your own trusted supplier network. Register here: Build your ListConnect & continue the conversation:Follow on Instagram: @designwithimpact_Share this episode with a fellow designerLeave a review to help grow the movement