trade 1st program
trade 1st program
trade 1st program
THE PROBLEM
Interior designers and trade professionals often face challenges when sourcing high-end pieces, from unpredictable pricing and difficult logistics to time-consuming searches and client approval delays. These obstacles can slow down projects, add unnecessary stress, and make it harder to deliver a seamless experience for their clients.
Interior designers and trade professionals often face challenges when sourcing high-end pieces, from unpredictable pricing and difficult logistics to time-consuming searches and client approval delays. These obstacles can slow down projects, add unnecessary stress, and make it harder to deliver a seamless experience for their clients.
Objectives & approach
Objectives & approach
Objectives & approach
Interior designers and trade professionals often face challenges when sourcing high-end pieces, from unpredictable pricing and difficult logistics to time-consuming searches and client approval delays. These obstacles can slow down projects, add unnecessary stress, and make it harder to deliver a seamless experience for their clients.
Interior designers and trade professionals often face challenges when sourcing high-end pieces, from unpredictable pricing and difficult logistics to time-consuming searches and client approval delays. These obstacles can slow down projects, add unnecessary stress, and make it harder to deliver a seamless experience for their clients.
Interior designers and trade professionals often face challenges when sourcing high-end pieces, from unpredictable pricing and difficult logistics to time-consuming searches and client approval delays. These obstacles can slow down projects, add unnecessary stress, and make it harder to deliver a seamless experience for their clients.
Research & Discovery
Conducted in-depth interviews and surveys with interior designers, architects, and trade professionals.
Identified common pain points related to sourcing, pricing, logistics and project management.
Analysed competitors’ and other reward programs to understand industry standards and gather additional inspiration.
Reviewed platform data and buying trends to identify spending patterns and common frustrations.
Gathered insights from sellers to understand their challenges in working with trade professionals.
Conducted in-depth interviews and surveys with interior designers, architects, and trade professionals.
Identified common pain points related to sourcing, pricing, logistics and project management.
Analysed competitors’ and other reward programs to understand industry standards and gather additional inspiration.
Conducted in-depth interviews and surveys with interior designers, architects, and trade professionals.
Identified common pain points related to sourcing, pricing, logistics and project management.
Analysed competitors’ and other reward programs to understand industry standards and gather additional inspiration.
Reviewed platform data and buying trends to identify spending patterns and common frustrations.
Gathered insights from sellers to understand their challenges in working with trade professionals.
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Reviewed platform data and buying trends to identify spending patterns and common frustrations.
Gathered insights from sellers to understand their challenges in working with trade professionals.
After interviewing 50+ trade firms on their ideal trade program benefits, we identified key insights to shape our offering. We analysed their feedback while also considering costs, business requirements, and the impact on 1stDibs.
Each benefit was carefully evaluated for feasibility, balancing trade-offs between 1stDibs, trade buyers, and sellers. This iterative process required extensive refinement to ensure the best possible outcome.
After interviewing 50+ trade firms on their ideal trade program benefits, we identified key insights to shape our offering. We analysed their feedback while also considering costs, business requirements, and the impact on 1stDibs.
Each benefit was carefully evaluated for feasibility, balancing trade-offs between 1stDibs, trade buyers, and sellers. This iterative process required extensive refinement to ensure the best possible outcome.
85%
wanted exclusive trade discounts to improve project margins.
85%
wanted exclusive trade discounts to improve project margins.
85%
wanted exclusive trade discounts to improve project margins.
61%
requested streamlined bulk purchasing options to manage large orders.
61%
requested streamlined bulk purchasing options to manage large orders.
55%
asked for integrated order tracking for better workflow management.
55%
asked for integrated order tracking for better workflow management.
55%
asked for integrated order tracking for better workflow management.
78%
valued priority access to new inventory before public release.
78%
valued priority access to new inventory before public release.
72%
required flexible payment terms.
72%
required flexible payment terms.
72%
required flexible payment terms.
68%
prioritised dedicated account support for sourcing and logistics.
68%
prioritised dedicated account support for sourcing and logistics.
68%
prioritised dedicated account support for sourcing and logistics.
Complex Buying Journey
For interior designers, purchasing for clients is a careful balance of creativity, function and budget. It begins with inspiration and research before navigating client approvals, revisions and logistics. Throughout, designers juggle vendors, adapt to feedback and manage evolving project needs.
For interior designers, purchasing for clients is a careful balance of creativity, function and budget. It begins with inspiration and research before navigating client approvals, revisions and logistics. Throughout, designers juggle vendors, adapt to feedback and manage evolving project needs.
Identifying Needs
Identifying Needs
Decision Making
Decision Making
Researching Options
Researching Options
Managing Orders
Managing Orders
Exploring Suppliers
Exploring Suppliers
Evaluation & Comparison
Evaluation & Comparison
Seeking Trade Discount
Seeking Trade Discount
Research potential suppliers and products that align with the project's style, budget and requirements.
Research potential suppliers and products that align with the project's style, budget and requirements.
Making decisions internally about products and services. Seeking final approval from the client.
Making decisions internally about products and services. Seeking final approval from the client.
Talking with the client, understanding the brief, finding inspiration, and creating initial mood boards.
Talking with the client, understanding the brief, finding inspiration, and creating initial mood boards.
Use trade status to secure discounts and access to exclusive products.
Use trade status to secure discounts and access to exclusive products.
Sourcing online, talking to existing relationships and suppliers, attending trade shows and visiting showrooms
Sourcing online, talking to existing relationships and suppliers, attending trade shows and visiting showrooms
Placing orders, managing the procurement process, coordinating deliveries and installation.
Placing orders, managing the procurement process, coordinating deliveries and installation.
Reviewing product quality, pricing, availability and lead times.
Reviewing product quality, pricing, availability and lead times.
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Header & Dashboard Module
Header & Dashboard Module
Header & Dashboard Module
Search & Browse Product Tile
Search & Browse Product Tile
Search & Browse Product Tile
Product Detail Page
Product Detail Page
Product Detail Page
Other Touch POINTS
Other Touch POINTS
We successfully integrated key trade-specific elements into other areas of the marketplace, ensuring a more cohesive experience for both trade and non-trade users. By embedding relevant features across the platform we reinforced the value of the trade program within the broader marketplace ecosystem.
We successfully integrated key trade-specific elements into other areas of the marketplace, ensuring a more cohesive experience for both trade and non-trade users. By embedding relevant features across the platform we reinforced the value of the trade program within the broader marketplace ecosystem.
the FINAL offering
designer profiles
A key benefit consistent across all status levels was the designer directory and profile feature. It allowed them to customise their profiles with business details, recent projects, and curated selections. This feature was accessible to all user types and proved to be highly popular based on the feedback we received.
A key benefit consistent across all status levels was the designer directory and profile feature. It allowed them to customise their profiles with business details, recent projects, and curated selections. This feature was accessible to all user types and proved to be highly popular based on the feedback we received.
32%
32%
56%
56%
68%
68%
increase in trade professionals joining the platform
increase in trade professionals joining the platform
increase in monthly engagement from trade accounts
increase in monthly engagement from trade accounts
of trade users completed their profiles
of trade users completed their profiles
Early adoption was significant. As of 2019 there were over 40,000 trade firms and indiviuals registered to the program.
Early adoption was significant. As of 2019 there were over 40,000 trade firms and indiviuals registered to the program.
results & impact
results & impact
learning outcomes
Designing a trade program required balancing trade professionals' needs with business feasibility. While some features were highly desired, they weren’t practical at scale. Loyalty proved to be about more than just discounts, early assumptions focused on price incentives, but research revealed additional priorities. Clear communication was essential, but on a project of this scale, aligning all stakeholders was critical for long-term success. Ultimately, the program set a new benchmark for engaging trade professionals and reinforced the impact of a user-centred approach.
Designing a trade program required balancing trade professionals' needs with business feasibility. While some features were highly desired, they weren’t practical at scale. Loyalty proved to be about more than just discounts, early assumptions focused on price incentives, but research revealed additional priorities. Clear communication was essential, but on a project of this scale, aligning all stakeholders was critical for long-term success. Ultimately, the program set a new benchmark for engaging trade professionals and reinforced the impact of a user-centred approach.
next case study
next case study
UX Research with Interior Designers
UX Research with Interior Designers
Cross-Functional Design Reviews
Cross-Functional Design Reviews
Product Manager and Designer Partnerships
Product Manager and Designer Partnerships
Product Manager and Designer Partnerships
Every design has a starting point. And it took serious effort to reach this one!
Every design has a starting point. And it took serious effort to reach this one!
Every design has a starting point. And it took serious effort to reach this one!
Refining the Program
Creating the trade experience required multiple iterations, collaboration and rigorous design reviews. Through ongoing meetings with stakeholders, trade professionals and internal teams, we refined our approach, balancing business goals with user needs. Each stage involved testing, refining features, and fine-tuning workflows to ensure an intuitive, impactful final solution.
Creating the trade experience required multiple iterations, collaboration and rigorous design reviews. Through ongoing meetings with stakeholders, trade professionals and internal teams, we refined our approach, balancing business goals with user needs. Each stage involved testing, refining features, and fine-tuning workflows to ensure an intuitive, impactful final solution.
1 point was earned for every $/£/€ spent
As points accumulated, users progressed through tiers, unlocking increasingly valuable benefits designed to incentivise design firms to engage with 1stDibs more frequently.
NB. Status was valid for the calendar year and reset after 12 months.
1 point was earned for every $/£/€ spent
As points accumulated, users progressed through tiers, unlocking increasingly valuable benefits designed to incentivise design firms to engage with 1stDibs more frequently.
NB. Status was valid for the calendar year and reset after 12 months.
1 point was earned for every $/£/€ spent
As points accumulated, users progressed through tiers, unlocking increasingly valuable benefits designed to incentivise design firms to engage with 1stDibs more frequently.
NB. Status was valid for the calendar year and reset after 12 months.