The Designers Collaborative marks 10 years with High Point Market events

The Designers Collaborative will celebrate its 10th anniversary during Fall High Point Market with tours, talks, networking and a party in High Point, North Carolina. The schedule also previews a new website and member portal set to launch in late November for the buying collective’s 500-plus design members.

Why it matters: - The Designers Collaborative is using its 10th anniversary to showcase how a designer buying collective can cut sourcing costs, expand vendor access and build a larger professional network for interior designers. - The milestone also comes as the group prepares to launch a new website and member portal designed to improve search tools, education and private community features for its 500-plus members.

What happened: - The Designers Collaborative is celebrating its 10th anniversary during Fall High Point Market in High Point, North Carolina. - The anniversary schedule includes showroom tours, networking events, a spa experience, a talk with ANDMORE and a closing educational session. - The anniversary party is set for Saturday, Oct. 17, from 5-7 p.m. at Massoud Furniture, 310 N Hamilton St., #104. - The company says the event is open to designer buying group members, industry supporters and vendors. - Heather McManus, founder and CEO, said the organization has grown from a handful of designers in 2016 to a community of more than 500 members and more than 300 vendors.

The details: - “Recharge Before the Rush” is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 18, from 9-10:30 a.m. at the IDS Headquarters Radio Building on Main Street. - The spa morning is a limited-capacity event created with the Interior Design Society. - The event includes coffee, donuts and five minutes of chair massage from two professional therapists. - “Conversations with Currey & Company - The Inner Circle Tour at HPMKT” is set for Sunday, Oct. 18, at 11:30 a.m. - The Currey & Company event will include a private tour, catered lunch, dessert and a signature cocktail. - Heather McManus and Serena Martin of 24/7 Creative Agency will co-host the Currey & Company event, and Cecil Adams, Currey & Company’s creative director, will lead the tour. - The Currey & Company event has already sold out. - WithIt and The Designers Collaborative will host an evening networking event on Sunday from 5-7 p.m. in the Sarreid showroom on the 3rd floor of the C&D Building. - The event will include food, cocktails and prizes. - Heather McManus and ANDMORE will present “Source Smarter: The Designer's Guide to Vendor Relationships That Last” on Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 1-2 p.m. at the Suites at Market Square, 3rd Floor, Suites Seminar Room, T-1022. - The session will focus on streamlining sourcing, protecting margins and matching vendors to client style and budget.

Between the lines: - The anniversary events double as a marketing push for the collective’s value proposition: lower pricing, more vendor options and stronger peer support for designers. - McManus said TDC members can access stocking-dealer pricing of 65%-70% off retail, or more depending on the vendor, rather than standard designer discounts. - The new platform is expected to expand product search, vendor pages, educational resources and a private community space inside the membership portal. - The new website and member portal is due to launch in late November, after fall markets. - TDC says its membership includes interior designers, decorators and home stagers across North America, with some international members. - The collective says it offers access to more than 300 vendors, monthly webinars, business development tools, market meetups and a private Facebook group. - TDC also says dedicated account holders help members with damages, vendor payments, freight billing and logistics. - A separate RSVP link was included for the WithIt networking event.

What's next: - The Designers Collaborative will roll out its new website and member portal in late November. - More fall market programming may continue to reinforce the group’s focus on sourcing, education and community building. - More information is available at The Designers Collaborative's website.

The bottom line: - The Designers Collaborative is pairing its 10-year celebration with a broader pitch: deeper vendor relationships, better buying power and a more useful digital platform for design professionals.