How To Get Upload Products To Wayfair, Overstock, Houzz At Once

The last several weeks, there has been much buzz in the interior design community regarding the giant home effects website, Houzz.

Most of you are virtually likely familiar with Houzz, simply if not; Houzz is a website and online community near home improvement, decorating, landscaping etc. It was started by a married man and wife, Adi Tatarko and Alon Cohen in 2010; their corporate headquarters are in Palo Alto, CA.

Over time, Houzz has grown into a business organization worth four billion dollars. At its core are some 200,000 interior designers who've uploaded millions of images from their own portfolios that are shared in millions of idea books.

Plus there are profiles from auxiliary businesses; anything having to do with the business concern of dwelling edifice and furnishings.

Some love Houzz.

Some don't.

My Own Houzz Story

Like a lot of things, I'm not certain how I first heard about houzz, but I practice know that I've had a profile on information technology, since 2010.

In the beginning, I recall it as being a mannerly idea that would undoubtedly aid me grow my concern every bit we were slowly coming out of the deep recession of '08-'09. So, I put up a few photos from my portfolio and wrote a little blurb and waited for the phone to ring.

It never did. And I'm non saying that this is their mistake; but I received no phone calls from my profile.

Then, in belatedly 2012, the calls did first coming!

However, not from potential customers, but from marketing folks from houzz urging me to sign up for their "pro program." This is a paid plan for which houzz promises far more than internet exposure. I don't remember how much it was then, simply these days the pro programme is $iii,500 a year my sources tell me.

Subsequently the first call or two, I started getting an uneasy feeling, especially after the woman snidely said:

"Well, I guess that you're not gear up to grow your business."

I gauge not; non with you!

Eventually, they got the message and the calls stopped.

After that experience, I was dubious about houzz and their true intentions, simply I just went almost the business of growing my brand on my own platform– this website.

While a few interior designers Do get jobs from houzz, mostly one hears nigh the plethora of "tire kickers" wanting Only free communication.

A few years ago, houzz started selling piece of furniture.

I did notice this simply didn't pay much attention to it.

But, things started heating up (to put it mildly) When early last month, Houzz purchased a young start-up company called Ivy. (Now called IvyMark) – purportedly for from 30-xl million dollars.

Ivymark is an interior pattern management system started by two young, aggressive women. Lee Rotenberg and Alexandra Schinasi all the fashion back in 2016. They accept nigh ii,400 designers who pay about 700 a year for the service.

The outcry in the interior blueprint customs has been cypher similar I've ever heard earlier.

Hundreds of designers who accept been using Ivy to build their businesses, said that they experience phenomenally betrayed as at present houzz has all of their individual client information. It was all over social media.

And that is when my curiosity was piqued.

I needed to know more about this state of affairs and share my findings as I did with Restoration Hardware.

(At this time, I would like to recommend that you lot put downward your coffee/tea/wine and Consume. It will become clear in a sec.)

The interior pattern community, in an try to affirm their position and gain some control has created a petition which afterward my research, I do urge yous sign; this is the link to access it.

I've vowed that if I see something, (big) I'thousand going to say something.

All the same, I'm not i to rely on hearsay and speculation.

And I figured if lil ol' me was going to have on the Giant HOUZZ, I would need to beefiness upwardly, abound some balls and arm myself with slingshot, T-square and the facts.

"Davida"

 Damn. That's a skilful lookin' lad! ;]

The biggest complaint that I'yard hearing from interior designers is that they are afraid that houzz has been using them this entire time for Houzz's proceeds, but at the designer's expense.

And they believe that Houzz's merger with Ivymark is the proof.

I began my enquiry past looking at the Houzz merchandise program.

Houzz claims that they intendance most designers.

Well, duh… of course they do, because without designers, in that location would exist no houzz!

But permit'south investigate the Houzz trade program.

Trade pricing: I do not have a merchandise account, but I have sources that do and I asked them to look into a few random pieces and go back to me with the trade discount.

Folks, in every case looked at, the discount to designers is 3% and unremarkably only for REINVESTMENT WITH HOUZZ!

Please notice the wording. At that place ARE thousands of products and if only one of them has a 50% discount, then they are telling the truth.

Referral "Bonuses"

They requite your client five% off and yous likewise get 5% that you get to REINVEST at houzz.

Honestly, guys, every time I read this, I feel sick

But, let'southward put this into some concrete terms and the style to do that is to look at the products I sent in for trade pricing on houzz.

The outset is this Chesterfield sofa found on multiple sources on houzz. (houzz is a storefront, they say Not the vendor.)

Uhh… information technology's Not linen, only whatever, that's pretty expensive for this piece.

I found the same sofa at another Houzz vendor for more than coin. They turned the paradigm around, simply it's the aforementioned piece.

Golly gee, but I constitute information technology once more for a ameliorate price.

And again at an fifty-fifty better price. Plus, they saved me the trouble of looking upwards the source.

To a higher place is the designer "discounted" price sent back to me from my sources.

***Actually, no discount, it says. Designers become a 3% credit to reinvest at houzz.***

Actually? As much as that?  Let's see. iii% of $8,130 is $243.xc and information technology'due south non actually money, in the designer'south pocket. The money tin can only be reinvested dorsum at Houzz.

(I hope that my mortgage company will empathize.)

Luckily, I have a designer trade account at Four Easily, the source of the Chesterfield sofa.

As an bated, Four Easily is i of about 500 sources in Laurel's Rolodex and it is ane of the approximately 180 Designer Friendly sources, where designers get a hefty discount off the retail cost. To observe out more than about Laurel's Rolodex and how it can put more $ in your pocket, click here.

I rarely practice this, but it is necessary to make a betoken. Below is a screenshot from my Four Hands Designer Account which lists the designer's price. At that place is no other fashion to convey the truth.

(To be articulate, this is not rock lesser wholesale. The vendors on Houzz are all purchasing from Four Hands, I am presuming at full wholesale and giving a hefty cut to Houzz.)

Whoa! My trade price is near HALF of the showtime two sofas and all Houzz can manage as a "discount" to the trade is a measly 3% that can only exist reinvested?

I would accept sold this sofa for most $v,700 and would accept made $1,500 in my pocket.  Designers need to understand how this works. No worries. Some of this took me a while to get as well.

Exhibit #2

I looked up the virtually expensive sofa on houzz. A double-barely-leather-fugly-recliner

WHOA! 64k??? That'south some big for a cheesy recliner. For that kind of dough, I expect it to come up with George Clooney, plus–it needs to massage, wash/accident dry my pilus, tidy, dust, vacuum, do laundry/put it away, brand dinner, do the dishes/put them away AND pay my taxes for the remainder of my life!

Oh phew! I found the same recliner on Amazon for 99% less the price  found on houzz.

And, I actually put the $63,999 recliner in my cart on houzz and yep, that's the price. I am wondering what would happen if some foolish person actually bought it? Would Houzz find the error and correct it?

I would adventure it, but I wouldn't want to become smacked with a "restocking fee!" haha. Call back non?

Please read the following reviews

Houzz reviews on sitejabber

Houzz reviews at the Better Business organisation Bureau

I chose another piece that I accept a trade account with from Currey and Company.

The Whitmore Chest from Currey & Co.

Currey & Company is one of my favorite designer friendly sources in Laurel's Rolodex.

And over again, we accept the whopping 3% that tin can simply be reinvested.

From my designer's price list. I would sell this chest for near $one,500. I would show them the slice on houzz and tell them that I can get information technology for them for 10% less. That will make them happy.

Therefore, through houzz, it'south $l.seventy to the designer, that can only exist reinvested vs. $500 in the designer's pocket, if purchased direct through Currey & Co.

***Note to designers: Get Laurel's Rolodex. $199. Costless LIFETIME UPDATES. Open up your OWN accounts.*** You lot'll make more than coin and salvage your clients money too! win-win-win!

I found this cool opium table on houzz.

It's from a vendor called Belak. Very strange, merely this tabular array does not expect like his other tables.

And once again, nosotros have the miserly 3% designer insult.

Simply, I was shocked that Mr. Belak is selling the table for $one,629.00 Less on his ain website!

Belak's opium table reminds me of the one nosotros did from Safavieh a few years ago.

I found it on Overstock for $one,352, but it appears to be understock haha, right now.

This is the foursquare version, likewise out of stock. Simply it is verrrry shut to Belak's table for a lot less $.

15 years agone, I sold an authentic antique opium coffee table to one of my loveliest clients ever.

I found this beauty at the D & D Building and fell instantly in dearest. Oh, it was perfect for my client in Pound Ridge!

"How much?" I gingerly asked the salesman.

"It'southward an antique- $ii,100."

So, there it is; an antique gorgeous opium table for $2,100 vs $4,900 for something which is duplicate from a Chinese import.

While nosotros're on the subject of opium tables, I did a piffling experiment.

I asked on Houzz…

"Where is this tabular array from?"

Houzz gave me an answer, of sorts.

The next day, while perusing my page, I see a price tag on MY client's table on MY photo and that houzz is attempting to sell merch to the public using MY paradigm. And actually, all designers' images. This is what they are doing now. (discover Belak's table in the lower left as a suggestion)

Does Houzz have a legal right to do this?

Aye, they practice. It is clearly stated in their terms and conditions that they can use our images for any purpose they wish.

Is information technology an ethical thing to do?

I'll let yous be the judge and I will too ask:

Do you think it is HELPING or HURTING interior designers for Houzz to use our images to sell merchandise to the public? (delight reply in the comments)

More than bear witness of houzz using designer's images to sell product. These are known as keywords, if you don't already know. Please notice that there is no mention of "Laurel Bern Interiors" anywhere!

Sorry, non feelin' the love.

Food for thought.

If EVERY designer took their images down, there would exist no houzz; no idea books; no style for Houzz to sell article of furniture.

A few weeks ago before I knew that I would be writing this post, I was looking for a expert Full general Contractor near me.

And of course. Upwards popped Houzz. I figured that houzz would be a good place to look for a good GC to renovate my bathroom.

I clicked on the link and filled out the class, incognito.

Excitedly, I waited for all of the wonderful GCs to popular up.

But, there was only one.

Are you ready?

They sent me back–

ME.

I tried it again.

And once once more, they sent me back, ME. Just me, not anyone else and I own't no edifice contractor in any style shape or course.

And so, they sent emails to ME wanting to know if Me was interested in possibly taking a job with ME.

I wrote back,

"No, you freaks, I'1000 not interested. That Laurel is a bitch to work for!!!"

They sent me another email asking me if ME got in contact with ME!

When I wrote those idiots to tell them of their lunacy, I got crickets.

And then, they sent me a final email wanting to know how the "support" was?

A Disturbing Finding on Houzz

Terminal yr when I did a mail on Marker D Sikes, I asked a question of my colleagues.

What I wanted to know was how much is the Santa Barbara sofa designed by Marking D Sikes for Henredon.

A wonderful colleague, Patrick Landrum  (he claims that we were separated at birth) ;] said that he found the Santa Barbara sofa on Houzz. The retail toll is $viii,000.

That sounded about right except that Patrick said that the sofa was non attributed to either Mark or Henredon.

So, I went over to houzz and indeed, not only was this visitor using Henredon'south imagery, they were claiming that it is THEIR design.

Where'southward that damned slingshot?!?

It's NOT their design. Information technology'due south not THEIR Santa Barbara sofa and It'south NOT their correct to apply Henredon's imagery to SELL copyrighted designs. If only, they had credited Henredon, all would exist fine. Or even if they left it bare. Simply to put that THEY are the manufacturer is Wrong.

Now THAT , is Assurance!

Merely, it'due south not only Henredon that Eco First Arts on Houzz is ripping off.

This Bunny Williams sofa has also been filched. AND those chinless thieves who stole it accept the temerity to accuse an boosted $2,400 over Bunny's price!  Beloved Bunny!

Billy Baldwin – At that place is only One licensee of Baton Baldwin furniture and it is non Eco Start Arts.

It is the Billy Baldwin Studio formerly known equally Ventry.

I contacted the designer of this sofa, Kimberly Denman; she wrote dorsum:

Laurel,

Good morning. Thank you lot so much for making me aware of this situation. It is so frustrating! I have reached out to HOUZZ three times with no answer from them. They seem unconcerned with such situations. I would honey to hear the whole story and perhaps if we all band together we can practise something.

My pieces are being copied past unlike people. I am sure non at our quality, but it is very maddening. I even have a Los Angeles designer who memo'd our Themis dining chair "to prove a client" last summertime… twice – I but saw an EXTREMELY similar chair in her line, but released at High Point. This is a well known designer who is more than an acquaintance of ours. Some people have no shame and unfortunately it seems there is no style to protect our designs.

Hopefully we can talk more than soon!

Best,
Kimberly Denman Rebuffel

To exist clear, I am not insinuating that Houzz is involved with any nefarious activity. Simply they NEED to know what their vendors are upward to. Don't y'all think?

Well, there's much more than simply this is long already, so I'd like to sum things upwards and make some recommendations based on my years of experience, both as a designer and blogger.

I don't call up that designers accept much to worry virtually at this betoken.

Conspicuously, Houzz doesn't have a handle on things– yet.

But that doesn't hateful that they won't.

And I don't like what Alon Cohen said:

Seriously?

Therefore, I urge everyone reading this if you lot have not yet, to sign the petition.

This part is mostly for designers and my recommendations

Take your badges down. I realize that this is very difficult to do because nosotros've been brainwashed into thinking that they are beneficial, but they are the opposite. The all-time of… badges are only benefitting houzz not y'all because y'all are giving them a powerful backlink from your website.

THAT is exactly why they always announced on page i in search results! Isn't that rich? Delight believe me. Nosotros've been shooting ourselves in the foot all along!

However, when houzz links to your website, they are using a NO FOLLOW tag, which is telling google to disbelieve the link and not give you back whatsoever Search Engine Optimization  (SEO) credit. (aka: link dearest)

This has been corroborated by two Web Geeks. I don't expect normal people to empathize this, simply the rel = "nofollow" is what tells google to discount the link back to our websites from houzz!

An excellent postal service about nofollow links written past Amy Lynn Andrews.

And in a higher place taken from the Houzz website source lawmaking is the nofollow link for me.

(I learned a lot of geeky things from my wasband, a techie)

And to learn why this code is even worse than I realized, please read this enlightening comment past Website programming good Ken Lewis

Should I remove my profile on houzz?

It depends on your situation. If it is yielding you piece of work, I suppose information technology would be okay to leave it upward. But ideally, it is always best to utilize your own website to promote your business organisation. What if Houzz went out of business organisation?

Please think the gilt motto.

Houzz has been the low-hanging fruit. It seemed to be the perfect solution for busy designers to go some net love.

Lamentable, not ownership it.

Please read near the Settlement over privacy violations by Houzz

"I have an Ivymark business relationship and really enjoy the platform. Is it a fault to stay?"

I can't brand that decision for y'all, but I exercise have facebook screen-shots which show both Ivy girls, (Lee Rotenberg and Alexandra Schinasi) putting Houzz in a negative light. And then they did a merger with them?

Plus, I remember that many will find listening to Nick May'due south Podcast (The Chaise Lounge) where he interviewed Lee Rotenberg quite enlightening. I did. It is episode 193 that says Greg Durrer. The showtime 30 minutes is the interview with Lee.

If you are looking for a great project management system, I would go with My Doma Studio. (no amalgamation, simply reputable and user-friendly)

In closing, I encourage designers and everyone with a business and website to accept command of your businesses and non on the back of someone who might plow their dorsum on you!

Next calendar month, I am going to be presenting an like shooting fish in a barrel-to-follow guide that explains in non-geek terms, everything I've done to accomplish this website. It is not only for designers but anyone who wants to learn everything I wish I had known six years ago well-nigh starting a website and blog!

***But, if you're a designer, a wannabe designer or simply honey hangin' with designers, I have some more than wonderful news.***

Laurie Laizure who started the awesome Interior Design Community on Facebook is making a bold move. The right move. She's in the process of taking her platform off of FB and onto her ain website!

Her new interior design community website is in Beta and all are welcome to sign upwardly. I just did that.

And please, delight share this post on facebook, twitter, pinterest. Share the link with friends. Nosotros need to get the word out. And please don't forget to sign the petition.

If you need a graphic for social media, I created this prototype which is on my instagram.

And of course, you may pin it to pinterest, facebook, Twitter, Linkedin or wherever. Please be sure if it's not automatic to link back to this postal service.

Much Love,

Source: https://laurelberninteriors.com/2018/03/18/ugly-truth-behind-pretty-interiors-houzz/

Posted by: connollydicagand.blogspot.com

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