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habitatery Plans To Add Youth And Bedding Lines in 2012 Published Feb 10, 2012, 4:03pm
 We don’t always get a happy ending Published Oct 3, 2011, 1:56pm  As I spent my Sunday perusing the Times and Wall Street Journal looking for what’s new in the design world, I came across an article that tugged at my heart strings and I felt was worthy enough to pass along. Normally, I would find big, bold, beautiful furnishing pieces that could truly be labeled couture fashion. But for today, I refer a posting that is much more serious and deserves to be shared with others.habitatery ® actively assists our design members with design projects, order processing and follow up. We get all kinds of feedback and everything is so rush rush: “my client needed this yesterday” even though it was just ordered a week prior. A designer quotes the same item four times over a six month time period and then freaks out that it can’t be delivered in a three week time frame for their clients’ husband’s fiftieth birthday party. Most times our designers have realistic expectations. Other times, not so much. Regardless of whether the expectations are realistic, the designer and client expect a happy ending. In the background habitatery works relentlessly with manufacturers asking the manufacturer customer service person “what do you mean it’s late and on the water?” “Can’t you rent a boat and pick it up?” We rush carriers and insist that receivers check product as soon as it hits the dock. Most times habitatery staff has realistic expectations. Other times not so much. Regardless, habitatery expects their designer and their client to have a happy ending. As I read the attached article, I could actually feel my pulse slow. I could feel a difference in my stomach. A calmness and feeling of solace had overtaken my being. My racing thoughts to find the best, perform the best and be the best came quietly to a halt. Although I know there are lots of unfortunate situations in the world, the following article brought it much closer to home and made me realize --- we don’t always get a happy ending. NY Times Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/magazine/lives-the-closer.html My best in making the change and starting a revolution, Beverly Cotton CEO and founder Maintaining and Creating Alliances in the Design Industry Published Aug 29, 2011, 4:00pm
In the design business, companies have flourished and others have closed. Business models have come and gone. Originating back to Dorothy Draper, Designers have stretched the imagination in design and implementation.
My husband and I were recently guests of several Italian lines. We traveled throughout Italy visiting factories and showrooms. Although there were many different variations in presentation, manufacturing and distribution, one thing remained consistent – habitatery’s building and maintaining of alliances.
Regardless of the backdrop, the characters, logistics and product type, in the end it’s all about alliances. habitatery has been building and maintaining alliances from day one, from Barbara Barry and Mitchell Gold to our most important alliance – the Independent Designer.
habitatery pledges to solicit, nurture and grow our alliance with the Independent Designer. Through our alliance, we will remain consistent in providing the Independent Designer with the best furnishings, prices and service in the industry. In return, our hope is that as you grow your business, you will think of habitatery as one of your greatest alliances. If you are already utilizing habitatery we thank you. If you have not experienced the habitatery difference we invite you to provide us with an opportunity to get acquainted.
My best in making the change and starting a revolution,
Beverly Cotton
CEO and founder A Welcome From habitatery Founder Beverly Cotton Published Aug 10, 2011, 4:22pm  Wow it's hard to believe that it has been seven years since I set out to change the way designers purchased furnishings. At the beginning of my journey, I had just closed my high-end design studio. Throughout the eight years that I owned and operated my studio, I came to realize that most designers, real designers, had to beg, borrow and steal to obtain a great discount on furnishings. How could one go to school for all those years, be a trade professional and pay the same and reap the same benefits as someone who simply filed for a sales tax id number? Although there were many distribution channels - local design centers, manufacturer reps and retail stores, the professional designer was often forced to purchase product for resale at the same price as a housewife, builder or basically anyone who could obtain a sales tax i.d. number. I was determined to change the industry, me and me alone. habitatery would only sell to the true vetted professional designer. habitatery would provide the best pricing from the best manufacturers with an information network that included the tools that vetted designers needed to do their business and make a profit. That pricing would allow the designer to make a margin and get a better price than their clients purchasing directly from the big box stores, online businesses and Carolina outlets. I suppose that you could equate the scenario to David and Goliath. Seven years later, after much support from my family, friends, manufacturers, designers and industry leaders, the habitatery revolution rolls on. In addition to habitatery's newly released website and it’s manufacturers and receivers, habitatery members span 35 states. habitatery has succeeded in only selling to vetted designers. In fact, habitatery is so committed, we will not even process an accommodation sale. habitatery maintains the best pricing from the best manufacturers. Our designers get a great discount that their clients cannot match. In fact, every single designer that has joined habitatery has stayed with habitatery. The economy is bad, the industry is changing. However, designers now have the opportunity to directly influence those changes. For every true design professional that is accepted into the habitatery network, a positive change occurs. I embrace the future with excitement and optimism. Join us in the habitatery revolution and cast your vote as a true design professional. My best in making the change and starting a revolution, Beverly Cotton CEO and founder Market Highlights Published May 18, 2011, 4:06am  Barbara Barry Bev, Jodi and Claire had the honor of meeting very distinguished, highly fashionable and classy Barbara Barry at the Baker showroom. What an amazing women and renowned designer. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Did you know MG+BW have a reclaimed wood series? It will be available late this summer. Many furniture manufacturers are trying to "go green" and create more sustainable lines of furniture and accessories. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams have been eco conscious right from the start. Their eco statement reads "We've been eco-friendly since 1989. Not since it became fashionable." The company uses regenerated fibers derived from used plastic bottles, earth friendly foam padding produced with a soy-based biomaterial and recycled metal. One other note... How cool is this? We were invited to have dinner and cocktails at Mitchell Gold's house! The ladies had a fabulous time hanging out with the owners of the company. MG+BW have updated their website. Their e-catalog is a great tool for designers. It allows you to view settings of rooms that utilize their unique furniture. Go check it out! http://www.mgbwhome.com/ Basal Living Collection "This collection is raw beauty with lifetime durability. Each piece is handcrafted to be 100% sustainable using FSC certified hardwoods; chemical free natural upholstery options such as jute webbing; biodegradable, non-toxic rubber latex foam cushion; natural organic certified cotton; and no fire retardants. A complete, sustainable, socially-responsible production from "seed to shelf." Basal Collection caters to healthy, earth-sensitive choices with a high esteem for comfort and lovely design." Lee Industries The outdoor furniture at Lee Industries is out-of-this-world. The comfort and durability of the furniture is incredible. It is exceptional how they incorporate beauty and function to outdoor living... And it's built to withstand natural elements that Mother Nature throws at us. http://www.leeindustries.com/ |
Alliances -- The world is constantly changing and life is not predictable. The markets are up. The markets are down. There are horrible catastrophes. There are what seem to be miracles. There are those who are very fortunate and there are others that are not. We have seen companies and individuals whom we have thought to be wonderful break our hearts and others that have disappointed us have regained our confidence. 
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