Member Black Book - HSR Home Staging Certification Training

Member Black Book & How to Shop Like a Pro

Since I know most of you will be anxious to start shopping (it's what we do;), I include this section in the Member's Home Page AND in the Week 3>>Shop Like a Pro area.

Part of becoming a "professional" who shops on behalf of clients allows you to access products at wholesale or trade discounts.  Some of these discounts are better than others and here's some things we want you to keep in mind:

    HSR does not endorse or guarantee any of these products but simply connects members with discounts that the vendors themselves have supplied

    Due to the evolving nature of the Internet, please email Audra if you see a dead link (we do our best but pages change)

    Each discount vendor has a DIFFERENT way of applying and their own process.  Please click on each vendor link for details on how to apply

    Most of these vendors will require a "resell license/sellers permit" (see below) and your HSR Certificate which is earned when you complete the Week One Quiz and HSR Test.  Please do not ask us to make an exception for you since these vendors want assurance you've gone through an Accredited staging training.

Shopping Advice

By the end of the training, you will not only be a professional stager but you will also be an expert shopper.  Here's some good rules of thumb for shopping:

  • Never pay with your own money when shopping for clients!  Clients should give you cash, a check to cash (make sure it's gone through) or use a Chase Liquid Gold card they purchase from you that you can fill by taking a photo of their check.
  • Never go in with the idea that you are going to take the items back!  Stagers are getting a bad reputation for buying items for clients, then returning those same items once the home has sold.  Your business holds to a higher standard, so please don't do this.  Instead, shop for clients with their cash (see above) and give them the items with the receipts, so if they don't like something...THEY can return it. 
  • Emphasize Your Shopping Expertise - You are the design expert, so be confident and hold true to your shopping and design choices...DO NOT WAIVER.  If they client, still does not like an item, they can return it.
  • Emphasize Your Shopping Efficiency - Most people do not haunt furnishing stores like you and have no idea where to "source" things!  You are saving them oodles of time by doing this for them.

Now that you're a "professional", you get to shop like one.  You get to shop "to-the-trade" and "Go to Market" which is a Designers term for shopping wholesale at unique furnishing brands who only sell to you....pretty cool huh?  

NEW!  Audra's Favorite Trade Vendor List and Booth Location for the Las Vegas Market

I hope to see some of you at the Las Vegas Market, so I wanted to give you a cheatsheet I created for myself of the showrooms I want to make a priority in my visit!  Watch the quick video tips below (and see my full training below if you have time and download my cheatsheet:

Shopping to the Trade and Audra's Best Advice

I'm very excited about all the shopping doors that are opening up to us as home stagers and designers!  In this new video I am sharing a new, FREE "to the trade" shopping portal that will allow you to get those trade discounts I describe in my "Going to Market" video below WITHOUT having to open separate accounts for each vendor and meet their minimums...woot!

Resale License/Sales Tax ID/Seller Permit  Info

As you can see there are varying terms for the same type of license/permit in each state that "allows you to purchase items wholesale (without paying tax) in order to retail those items for sale in your business."  Every state differs a bit, so go to the link below to find your state and easily register online for this license to buy wholesale. 

  • If you could not find your state or province on the list, simply go to Google and search "Sellers permit STATE" to get information
  • Most wholesalers will ask to see a sales tax ID or reseller's license before they will sell you the goods. This is because they are legally obliged to check whether you are able to collect sales tax from the end user.
  • Click Here for a link to a company that can register it for you but also has some good general information about this topic.  http://www.sellerpermit.com/

Going to the "Market" and What that Means...

The Las Vegas Market and High Point are massive places where vendors showcase their goods and designers shop/create accounts to get DEEP discounts on items a handful of times a year.

 The RESA Convention always coincides with the Las Vegas Market, so you can attend the convention and then shop the market for your business.  Below are the links to both markets, so check out the dates to see if they work for you:

Michelle Minch, Me and Laurie

Our very own Michelle Minch an HSR Grad and owner of Moving Mountains Design teaches a live class at the market on her favorite vendors and how to shop.  For information, go to her website at:

https://www.shopfurnituremarkets.com/

Make sure to tell her I sent you!

How to Shop the Market Video Presentation

Here's the second part of this video presentation where I scroll through tons of photos of products AND tell your their wholesale price, so you can see what kind of deals are to be had at the market...

My Favorite Staging Trade Vendors & Deals You Can Get (Over 100 Photos!)

Get Instant Discounts at Most Places You Shop Online

Did you know there's an "automatic rebate" website that will give you cash back on a percentage of almost ALL of your online purchases?  Click on the button below for details...

 I couldn't believe it when my friend told me about this company but sure enough, I've been getting checks in the mail from them ever since!  All you do is sign up (it's FREE), and when you go to shop online, it will prompt you to "activate your cash back" so that you get credit for every dollar you spend at their participating vendors.

Who are their vendors?  Almost everywhere you go online!  Places like Houzz, Overstock, Costplus, Crate and Barrel and Amazon!

Another HOT TIP is to share this information to your clients, so they can save too!

List of Vendors & How to Connect

Please Click on the Link for the Pop-Up Vendor Information:

Just know that because of our large, HSR network there is no vendor out there who won't give you their best trade discount.  All you have to do is ask;).

The BEST Staging Insurance for Your Business!

RESA - Join the Real Estate Staging Association at a discount!

RESA Buying Group

Houzz.com - Join the Houzz Trade Program through your membership at ASHSR!

WayFair/Joss&Main/All Modern/Birch Lane/Dwell Studio - My personal FAVORITE place to shop for EVERYTHING!

Artist Guild of America -  Trade source for LARGE CANVAS ARTWORK

Diamond Sofa - AMAZING trade pricing for furniture!  Stop renting from Cort and use these guys

Ashley Furniture - Accessories, Art and Furniture (Great Trade Discount and RESA Sponsor)

Sagebrook Home

Surya - Rugs, Pillows, Online Decor (Great Trade Discount and RESA Sponsor)

Paragon - Awesome Art, Online Decor (Great Trade Discount and RESA Sponsor)

ProPac Images - Awesome Art, Online Decor (Great Trade Discount and RESA Sponsor)

Habitatery - One-stop-shop for designer (bespoke) trade pricing

 PierOne - Easy place to shop for seasonal accessories and smaller furnishings

Bed Bath and Beyond - Another great place to shop!

 Living Spaces - AWESOME furniture chain mostly on West Coast but growing rapidly

CB2 - I'm crushing on their products these days.  Trade is only 15% off  but every bit helps

ZoomCasa - Apply to allow your home sellers to NOT have to pay upfront for staging!

Dillards Design Network - Have a Dillards Dept Store near you?  Get 20% off!

Olivya Stone - High-end furnishings for design clients at 20% off using my code...

Abbyson Designer and Home Staging Program - Wholesale pricing!

Staging Risk Management

ProSource Wholesale Flooring, Tile, etc..

All Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams Sonoma Family of Stores

 PropsAmerica for Fake TV's, food, etc...

HSR's Own BuildASign Online Store for Yard Signs, Decals and More...

Ballard Designs - One of my favorite furnishing stores!

BellacorPro - HUGE online designer discount retailer

Restoration Hardware - Not much of a discount but an awesome store

The Shade Store - Love this window covering company - Get FREE samples!

Arhaus - Beautiful home furnishings

Ethan Allen Home Furnishings

Bassett Furniture Store

MirrorMate - Easily frame old bathroom mirrors!

Just Dough It - Fake food props

Artfully Walls - Great art source that can even build a gallery wall for you!

Serena and Lily - Huge selection of classic home accessories you get 20% off!

Luluan Georgia - Very cool place for accessories

Frontgate & GrandinRoad - Outdoor furnishings and Christmas Decor - get your catalogue

Luxedecor - Huge online furnishing company

Shades of Light - Great for lighting

Lamps Plus - Inexpensive lighting and accessories

Horchow - Unique lighting and furnishings

Audra's Favorite Wholesale Designer Fabric Resources

Sherwin Williams - My favorite paint company who is a huge supporter of RESA

Cort Rental Furniture - Start here for vacant homes

Amazon Staging Decor Essentials

In full disclosure, these are affiliate links

Amazon Bed Essentials

Did you know that you could stage a bed, single-handedly for under $300?

Click to Open PDF Shopping List with Links!

Staging Toolbox Essentials

In full disclosure, these are affiliate links