Are your vendor spreadsheets quietly killing your profits and sanity?
Fragmented sourcing isn’t just an inconvenience; it drains time, eats into margins, and creates chaos you can’t afford. Host Darla Powell talks with Lee Anne Blake, CEO of The Expert, about why many designers are frustrated with juggling numerous vendors and outdated processes.
They discuss how client expectations have changed, with buyers wanting smoother, faster, more transparent experiences, and what it really takes to keep up without losing your personal touch or design integrity.
You’ll hear about the real challenges designers face when trying to manage a thousand-row spreadsheet of suppliers, the benefits of consolidating orders without sacrificing variety, and how emerging generations of designers are rejecting slow, clunky systems in favor of something easier.
It’s an honest look at the tradeoffs of stocking-dealer pricing, the risks of vendor instability, and what access to new brands can do for your creative vision and business growth.
You’ll learn:
✅ Why multi-vendor chaos is hurting your margins and your time.
✅ How shifting client expectations demands a more seamless buying experience.
✅ Ways designers can gain leverage with trade programs and consolidated checkout.
✅ What the future holds for sourcing, from better vendor access to stronger client trust.
If you’re an interior designer looking to grow your business while staying sane and profitable, this is the episode that’s going to help you get there.
Listen now and start taking control of your sourcing process before it controls you.
(00:00) Intro and setting up the pain of fragmented sourcing.
(02:42) What The Expert is and how it evolved from consultations to marketplace.
(05:04) How designers can qualify for the consult roster and trade program details.
(09:25) Addressing pricing, discounts, and competitive trade concerns.
(13:19) Client transparency, design fees, and evolving expectations.
(17:03) Generational shifts in buying behavior and the push for streamlined online shopping.
(21:12) Future plans for expanding vendor access and improving designer tools.
About Lee Anne Blake
Lee Anne Blake is the CEO of The Expert, a leading online marketplace transforming how interior designers source and purchase high-end furnishings. With a career rooted in technology, marketplace growth, and media, she brings deep expertise in building user-friendly, scalable solutions that meet real-world needs.
Prior to The Expert, Lee Anne led growth at Babylist, helping modernize the way new parents shop and plan. She’s also held leadership roles at companies like Google, ShopStyle, PopSugar, and AOL, where she honed her ability to marry technology with seamless customer experiences.
At The Expert, Lee Anne is focused on streamlining the often chaotic sourcing process for designers by offering a curated platform with over 180 brands and tens of thousands of products, all in one place with trade pricing and consolidated checkout.
She’s passionate about empowering small businesses, independent designers, and artisan makers alike, ensuring they have the tools and exposure they need to thrive in a changing, tech-driven world.
Outside of work, Lee Anne is a dedicated mom who’s no stranger to early mornings and the balancing act of career and family, making her deeply empathetic to the time pressures her customers face daily.
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