“The internet is often the best place to start your search when it comes to finding and procuring new interiors for your commercial spaces, but this does not make you a product expert or manufacturer.”

— GEORGE STROUMBOULIS

The internet is often the best place to start your search when it comes to finding and procuring new interiors for your commercial spaces, as it helps give you design inspiration, conduct price checking and become more knowledgeable on product specifics to help narrow down your options.

But when you need to buy large quantities of fixtures, furniture and lighting products from international sources, you need a partner that can help you navigate this tricky process. When a reputable manufacturer presents their products and technology, procurement professionals often say they can buy the same things cheaper online, or that they already have a direct email relationship with a foreign manufacturer, or they even claim the manufacturer is simply buying from the same supplier and adding a markup.

At my company, when we are confronted with these comments, we always advise them to proceed with caution and wish them the best of luck. While these procurement professionals may think they’re avoiding excess costs, in reality they could wind up stuck in very expensive situations down the road, due to the following unknowns:

1) Quality Concerns:

Is the product made with the safest and best materials possible?

2) Sight Unseen:

Are you really getting the exact products you think you found online?

3) Shipping Unknowns:

Will they ship with a major, reputable carrier or a freight forwarder that may damage your goods and have no liability?

4) Source Confusion:

Is the company you are speaking with the actual manufacturer or simply a disguised reseller?

5) Warranty Challenges:

Will product failures be covered by the manufacturer, and will they cover all shipping expenses to replace defective products?

6) Factory Review:

Is the factory violating any international labor and pollution laws?

7) False Certifications:

Is the product certified with a fake product’s number from another supplier?

8) Product Review Before Shipping:

Who is looking into your products for quality assurance and accuracy before sending them?

Our clients understand the risks involved with international procurement of fixtures, furniture and lighting, and they entrust us to do what we do best— design and produce high quality products for their vibrant environments. At Ideoli, we own the entire process from design to packaging, which minimizes risk and results in client reaching their desired outcomes within their budgets.