You notice the lighting when you walk into a restaurant. Friends ask you to help choose their sofa. You can lose an entire afternoon in a furniture showroom.
That interest could lead somewhere.
The interiors industry brings together creative people, relationship builders, problem solvers and organizers. Behind every beautiful room is a much bigger network of people who help products get designed, discovered, purchased and delivered.
Whether you’re starting out, ready for a change or already working in the industry, there may be more directions open to you than you realize.
Image courtesy of Moe’s Home.
Find your place in the industry
Furniture and home décor retail
If you enjoy connecting with people and helping them make decisions, retail can be a rewarding place to build a career. Sales associates, design consultants, store managers and visual merchandisers help customers create homes they love while keeping the business moving.
Interior design and project support
Design firms rely on people who can manage details as thoughtfully as they choose finishes. Alongside designers, there are opportunities in administration, sourcing, procurement and project coordination. Specific qualifications vary by role, but an organized mind and strong communication skills can take you in several directions.
Manufacturing, wholesale and distribution
There’s a whole business behind the products you see on a showroom floor. Furniture and home décor companies need people in sales, marketing, customer service, purchasing, logistics and operations. These roles connect products with retailers, designers and, ultimately, the people who use them.
Trade showrooms and manufacturers’ representation
Enjoy learning about products and building lasting relationships? Trade showrooms and rep agencies connect brands with retailers and design professionals. Opportunities can include showroom sales, account support, territory sales, training and marketing.
Start with what you already do well
Your next move might build on skills you already use every day.
A background in hospitality can bring attentive service and an ability to understand what people need. Retail experience can translate into account management or showroom sales. Marketing skills can help a home furnishings brand tell its story. Strong administrative experience can be valuable to a busy design studio.
Think about the work you enjoy most. Is it helping a customer find the right piece? Coordinating the details of an order? Creating content? Keeping a complicated project on track?
Those answers can help you search beyond familiar job titles and recognize opportunities you might otherwise overlook.
You can explore before you’re ready to move
Sometimes you’re actively looking. Sometimes you like your current role but would consider something that offers a better fit, more responsibility or a new direction.
Both are good reasons to stay connected.
Interiors at Work brings together career opportunities across furniture, design and home décor, including retail, showrooms, manufacturing, wholesale and the businesses that support them.
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