I can't wait to read the comments and answers you get to this as I've always wondered the same thing! Over and over I find fabrics, furniture, lighting, etc. on-line only to find there is no way for me to purchase. Frustrating!

Before I had my own legitimate "trade business" I used to phone people like this up explain I was a new startup and ask what their requirements for "proof of business" were ;-) Often all that was required was a letterhead or client invoice........

Here in the UK I do not need to have a registered company nor do I need to have anything official from the Inland Revenue (IRS) for the first 3 months of trading. So quite legitimately I might not have anything official. Failing that you can probably find a friend/contact who would satisfy their trade requirements buy them a drink and get them to sort if for you (as I have also done!!)
Sam

Just contact a decorator and ask them to get you the fabric. I have done it - easy and really no big deal. They up the price a bit and you pay a tiny bit more but it is quick, easy, and you can get what you want. And you don't even have to go into the design center, they can bring fabric samples right to you so that you can actual see it in the space before you end up making a mistake.

I don't know how you can get around this, but I can think of possible reasons why these companies don't sell to the public.
If you are a store, and you purchase things for your store to resell and make a profit, you would lose a lot of customers who would just skip your store and go straight to the manufacturer. And then if your stuff wouldn't be selling, you wouldn't be buying it from the manufacturer.
At the same time, the manufacturer usually has a minimum on how much they sell to a store, which will be still more than what they would sell even at a higher price to the public. Especially if they sell to a bunch of stores all over.

So they can either sell a large quanyity to a bunch of stores all over( and have a storage room, not deal so much with a store front) or hope that enough people will come to them and sell their product at a higher price ( which means also dealing more with customer service etc)

i work in the showroom industry. It really isn't that hard to get the fabric. There are plenty of purchasing agents that you can hire to purchase it for you..They will charge a small fee but since they just purchase it for you, they will not charge a percentage as an interior designer might do it.

I would contact your local design center or Donghia itself to see if they can recommend purchasing agent for you so you can buy the fabric. The fabric will be a lot more expensive than say, buying it retail. Donghia can usually cost anywhere from 65 to 400/yard, dependent on what you are interested in.

You might try calling the Custom Workrooms in your area (companies that make window treatments, bedding, etc. for the trade). They usually have accounts with the local design center vendors, and they may charge a lesser surcharge than an interior designer would.

Its also because these companies want to maintain exclusivity. People who can afford to hire a designer often need to feel that said designer is finding unique, upper eschelon type items that they cannot go and purchase at a retail store.

Many of the designers clients would be turned off by the fact that the gorgeous Donghia fabric on their chair was on the same chair in the window at Macy's or something, where it was available to the masses.

Ridiculous, I know. I work for a design firm. I see this every day. I have seen so many products that the public would just eat up, and could be so profitable to the manufacturer. But, they only want to deal to the trade so they can say they are "high end" marketed.

In a way, I get it, in another way, I don't.

The reason that many businesses only sell to the trade is that the average home customer is too much of a liability...manufacturers aren't equipped to handle the volume of calls that would come from individual buyers. When it's through a designer, you minimize the chance of error as it's the designer's job to help make sure that the fabric is suitable for the application and that you get the correct yardage, and if there is a problem, the individual goes to the designer to rectify it instead of to the manufacturer. Also, designers are typically going to be buying in either substantial volume or on a regular basis, so they'll become familiar with how to work with a manufacturer. The average "civilian" is going to make one purchase. It's a better business model in terms of efficiencies to keep the designer firewall.

and during my tirade....i forgot to answer your question!

If I were you, I would try to find a small, start-up designer (like someone right out of school) to buy the fabric for you. Really all they need is to have a Tax ID Number, and an account with the manufacturer in question (not always, but most times).

I 'get' the argument for having the "to the trade" businesses. But it's very frustrating for someone who doesn't want the same old, same old stuff that gets purchased by the big fabric and furniture stores. Which, lets face it, is sometimes a bit boring and maybe is the safest bet for the big box stores because they know people will buy it - but I want something unique, something you wont see in your neighbor's house. And I want to be able to shop around and see things in real life not just on the computer screen - I'd have to have a decorator who'd be able to go shopping at these places with me all the time. And neither of us would love that!

Maybe I should get myself one of those cheapo on-line decorating degrees! Design myself a beautiful letter head and go for it! For the record, I'd just be buying for myself, I don't have a store.

Just call the Seattle Design Center or the company that reps Donghia in the Seattle area. You don't ALWAYS need a designer. Purchasing agent is the way to go. Basically it's a person with a resale license that can go with you to the showroom and purchase the fabric at the net cost without inflating the cost. You only pay for the fabric and for a small fee for their services.

I used to work in the Seattle Design Center- I used to giggle at the signs that say "This Showroom Open to Trade Only, Customers Must be Accompanied by a Design Professional."

I get the reasoning, but it does come off so elitist. Might as well say, "All Civilians Must be Leashed."

I'd go straight to the vendor and ask them to refer you to a designer who is already established with them as a buyer. That will shortcut the sometimes tedious process of setting up an account. If you've ever worked with a contractor they might be able to help as well- I work for a contractor and we make purchases from these types of vendors all the time.

Have you looked on Ebay? Lots of fabric to buy there, and lots of designers selling job left-overs.

I don't think it's elitist, I think it's wholesale vs. retail.

It's actually quite simple. We purchase wholesale and sell retail, like many, many other businesses.

In our shop, when I discover that a wholesaler is selling retail directly to the public, we stop dealing with them. They are literally removed from our purchasing system and their catalogs returned. That is because one, they are now my competitor; and two, I won't get the professional attention I need to have from my wholesale supplier. But mainly, I know that they have sacrificed their business model to make a quick buck.

The reason why vendors don't deal with the public, is to maintain a connection with the interior designer rather than their client. This prevents the client from going behind the designer's back and purchasing fabric without paying the design fee. By keeping the purchasing exclusive, they are maintaining their relationship with their real client, the designers, who will give them repeat business, not just a few yards here and there.

plus there is such a thing as "rubs" "double rubs" and other lexicon that the civillian hasn't been schooled in.

frustrating it is indeed and i feel for you. there are ways around it if you are clever enough!

@grpfrtjus your answer is well stated.

I don't know how trade showrooms outside of CA operate but I've worked for several fabric and furniture trade showrooms in L.A. and the first thing that they want to see is your resale #.

This protects the designer. Some people lie and say that they are designers which is really annoying and you can usually tell that they're lying because they get irritated. Actual designers know that we're just trying to protect their business and profits.

As far as getting around that - Good luck:)

I work in the design industry in Seattle, and you have a few options. The Seattle Design Center will pair you with a designer, i.e. someone who can buy at the showrooms for you. Just go to seattledesigncenter.com for the relevant info. It doesn't mean you have to use them for your project.

Designer Fabric Liquidators (rickbaye.com) is a fabulous resource...see this blog post for a little more info: http://blog.seattlehomesmag.com/stores/shopping-at-designer-fabric-liquidations/

As far as the reason for to the trade...well, there are many, but just remember that if you love good design (and as an AT reader, I would assume that you do), please support interior designers. They, along with your local retail stores, need your patronage to continue providing you with inspiration (designers via published projects, and retailers via unique merchandise).

I actually work at a Donghia showroom. I know that it's been mentioned but I would suggest going through a purchasing agent. I have 3 to 4 that I recommend on a regular basis, I always suggest that the end user call all of them to get the best price. You are more than welcome to walk into the showroom and get samples of the fabric that you are interested in, the samples are decent size and will help you make your final decision before you call a purchasing agent. Please do not call and try to deceive the showroom saying that you are a designer, you can send the most elegant letterhead but without a signed Donghia registration form with your resale info we aren't going to give pricing. Good luck and have fun! I can't recommend going to the design center enough, it's a fabulous place for inspiration.

Try the website www.iluvfabrix.com. They sell Donghia fabrics (and many others) at an amazingly discounted price and just might have the pattern and yardage you're looking for.