Delayed Expectations

 
It took until my senior year of college before I heard of anyone pursuing an undergraduate degree in supply chain management. Since then, the idea of having everything from luxury items to daily necessities delivered to your front door has become commonplace. Add to that an increase in products that have parts made in several different countries, and a world where it seems everyone has a credit card saved and poised for instant purchases, and the phrase “supply chain” becomes common knowledge. 

Fast forward to today. Now you mix together a global pandemic, a labor shortage and a few weeks earlier this year where there was a ship, quite literally stuck in one of the major world shipping routes, and you get A Big. Ongoing. Problem. A problem that has created this year’s catchphrase: “Supply Chain Issues”.

So many products, sitting in a shipyard

Supply Chain Issues is a problem that hits me straight in the gut, personally AND professionally. Every order, every deadline, has a little asterisk next to it with the possibility of being delayed. I’ve seen delays before, but this has been a bit different. Maybe the doors are in stock, but we’re missing the glass, or the hardware, or the paint. Custom upholstered items have been especially difficult to anticipate, with a current minimum wait time of 24 weeks. 

This is a time where the relationship between designer and client is paramount. There is benefit to working with an experienced designer in this unique situation, I am familiar with a wide variety of options that can take us from idea to reality. Part of the consultation for any project is setting realistic expectations. The last thing I want is for a client to be waiting on an item without any recourse. When the original choice of a product is unavailable and a client is unable or unwilling to wait it out, I have a line-up of options in my back pocket. If a vendor is experiencing extreme delays, I can pivot to another vendor, or suggest another option that keeps the design and scope of the project intact. I am in constant communication with my vendors and in turn, my clients, to keep them as updated as possible on where we stand with a project. I am also tremendously thankful for the patience and grace of my clients as we navigate this global challenge together. 

We Appreciate You!

 This August we are taking time to acknowledge and thank the people who have made my business possible - Our Clients! 

CW Interiors truly began when I was a girl, observing homes and the people who live there. Why was this house built? What motivated their choices? What would I have done differently? Motivation and choice has always been a fascination of mine, how they influence each other and work their way into every nook of life. 

As my curiosity developed into a passion, I began helping friends make design choices within their own homes. How can I help a friend who is starting over in a new place make her house a home? An acquaintance from long ago is back in town and not sure where to begin after her parents sold her childhood home. Little by little these consultations for friends became phone calls from a stranger who received my name from someone else. I thrived in difficult environments, consulting with people who were working through unexpected life events, and developed a skill for understanding complicated needs. 

Before too long I was working full time with friends who began as strangers. I was then and continue to be astounded at the level of trust my clients instill in me. When design is approached from the viewpoint of motivation, it takes time and effort to realize the source. I have clients that know exactly why they are making a change. “I was told I couldn’t have children and now I’m pregnant with twins”, that motivates a certain kind of change. “My mother is no longer able to live alone, she moves in next month”, this motivates a completely different kind of change. Other clients have more opaque reasons for making a design change. This is part of my job as the designer, build the trust, find the motivation and make each change - difficult or celebrated - a beautiful, personal, livable choice. 

Trust does not come easily to everyone. For every person who made that first call, took a chance on my expertise, whether a friend or a stranger, I appreciate you. You have trusted me enough to let me into your home, and therefore, your life. 

I am overflowing with gratitude; I get to live my passion everyday because of the trust and confidence that my clients have in my ability to realize their dreams. Thank You!