Showrooms, unlike typical furniture and fabric stores, rarely sell pieces from the floor. Items are generally for display only, to allow the designer and clients to see pieces that would otherwise be only visible in a catalog. The prices are not discounted; in fact they can be quite steep depending on the showroom. For instance, certain fabrics in the design center can sell for upwards of $250 per yard, whereas in a mainstream fabric store prices are usually in the $30 per yard range. Showrooms come in all types. They showcase kitchen and bath fixtures, hardware and cabinetry, fabrics and wallpapers, furniture reproductions, exterior furnishings, flooring materials, lighting, antique and wall-to-wall carpeting, and accessories. Some showrooms offer only one type of item, whereas another may have fabrics, furnishings, lighting and accessories all together.

Showroom Jobs

Sample department: Employees in a fabric sample department assist the showroom salespeople and designers by maintaining the inventory of fabric samples and assembling sample requests. Showrooms typically provide custom notepads on which clients interested in a specific sample will note its manufacturer, the name of the fabric, its color and code. This paper is then turned in to the sample department to gather the requested samples. The samples are on loan for a specific time period and are billed to the borrower if not returned. The samples department may also have to fill phone requests or requests from sales representatives. A designer may call her sales rep and ask for "all the blue chenilles"from certain manufacturers. The samples department will gather these items and mail them out. A job at a tile (or other material) showroom involves similar duties, though the samples would be tile or hardware or whatever product the showroom displays.

Customer service representative: Customer service representatives are responsible for expediting all orders. These include contacting clients to ensure cuttings for approval (CFAs) have been accepted, payments have been made and shipping bills were paid. A customer service representative also alerts clients when reserves are going to expire.

Showroom sales representative: This type of salesperson is located on-site and is usually assigned to specific designers. Reps are responsible for helping their clients find fabrics, providing suggestions, inputting orders and checking stock and supplying quotes. Once a designer has decided on a certain fabric, she'll call her showroom rep, let him know the quantity of fabric needed and the dye lot if applicable. The sales rep will check his inventory, or call the factory and let the designer know if the fabric is available, and if so, what the lead-time is (time from when payment is received until the fabric is expected to arrive) and what cuts are available. Sometimes only a group of small pieces are available at a given time, but if those aren't usable to a designer who needs one large length for, say, a window treatment, the designer must decide whether to wait for the next batch of new goods or select an alternate fabric. The fabric may also need to match a certain dye lot. If a designer has already used the fabric before, say on a sofa, and now needs more of the same fabric for a new chair in the same room, she'll want to ensure the fabric comes from the same dye lot or is similar enough in color to ensure continuity. Sales reps ensure that the designer receives written quotes with shipping charges and a cutting for approval (CFA) if requested. Maintaining good rapport with each client is imperative to ensure sales.

Outside sales representative: This type of sales representative is much more mobile than her on-site counterpart. She is usually responsible for the clients in a certain region. An outside sales rep visits design and architectural offices, keeping her clients abreast of the newest innovations. Both fabric and furniture reps often update their clients' resource libraries, which entails gathering a client's existing fabric swatches or furniture catalogs and making sure all the new options are added and any missing samples replaced. Visiting clients typically means making a formal appointment with someone on the design staff. In addition to providing information on the latest products, sales reps educate designers on the quality of their line. Most importantly, these reps develop strong relationships with each client and nurture these connections for future sales.

Showroom manager: The showroom manager is responsible for the management of all sales staff, including teaching employees about the various products. The manager is the one to whom clients turn when there is a problem or question. For example, a sales rep may not have the authority to lend out certain samples and must defer to the manager for authority.

Vice president of sales: The VP of sales is in charge of all sales representatives throughout the company. Many sales reps are required to fill out forms about what clients are looking for that the company does not currently provide. The VP of sales analyzes this information and relays it to the VP of Design. The VP of Sales also has input on new product development and may attend color forecasting meetings. Vice president of design: The VP of design is in charge of brand imaging and press kits, including magazine advertising. She creates strike-offs, custom colors and new products. The VP of Design may accompany the President on trips to scout fabric or furniture shows. Similar to the fashion industry, many shows are held in Europe, which U.S. companies attend to see what colors and designs are coming down the design pike.