Building a Strong Procurement Foundation: A Step-by-Step Guide for Purchasing Procedures
A systematic approach to sourcing and order management is one of the primary keys to scaling your design business.
Design businesses thrive on creativity, but success demands mastery of the operational side too.
After twenty years working for various design firms of all sizes, I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t work—and which challenges have the biggest impact on your sanity and bank account.
If your procurement process has been cobbled together or become a source of stress, this dynamic 5-week course will be a game-changer. I’ll guide you through a comprehensive five-stage process—with distinct action steps at each stage—that’s perfect for new business owners or those ready to level up their operations. This system works whether you manage projects solo or with a small team.
Join me to gain the knowledge and confidence to create a customized, scalable system that will grow with your business. Stop drowning in details, separate the creative element from the procurement, and start focusing on what you do best—design. Ready to transform your business?
Interested? Sign up for LuAnn’s updates and early bird pricing!
The 5-Step Path to an Efficient Procurement System
Building the Groundwork
What’s the key to separating selection from purchasing? How do you create non-negotiable proposal tools? Plus: Essential programs and action steps for a strong foundation.
Tues. January 21st at 12:30pm ET
Pricing and Proposal Entry
How do you manage selection vs. approval records? What costs should factor into your proposal? Plus: Strategies for markups, freight costs, and client payments.
Tues. January 28th at 12:30pm ET
Mastering Order Processing
Why are Purchase Orders crucial for you and vendors? What tools streamline order processing? Plus: Critical documents for managing liability and efficiency.
Tues. February 4th at 12:30pm ET
The Bookkeeper's Perspective
How can you bridge design and finance effectively? What’s the best way to manage vendor payments? Plus: Accounting for unexpected purchasing expenses.
Tues. February 11th at 12:30pm ET
Order Maintenance and Warehousing
How can status sheets revolutionize your workflow? Why is warehousing non-negotiable? Plus: Maintaining records and handling damage claims.
Tues. February 18th at 12:30pm ET
What were your biggest, business-changing a-ha moments? How are you taking action? Join LuAnn in picking up insights from every course and every department!
Tues. March 18th at 12:00pm ET
Bethany began her career at Eastern Accents, a Chicago-based textile manufacturer. There, she managed the customs department, overseeing all non-catalog custom trade orders. This role served as the perfect stepping stone for her transition to Gary Lee Partners, an architecture firm, where she managed in-house procurement. In 2009, Bethany branched out on her own and has since been providing residential FFE Procurement solutions for a variety of interior design clients across the country.
Turn procurement chaos into your competitive advantage.
There’s untapped potential in a streamlined procurement process. Don’t let logistics overshadow your creativity.
Mastering procurement is essential—whether you’re handling your first project or juggling multiple clients.
By the end of this 5-week course, you will:
- Transform procurement from a stress point to a strength—treating it like a business within your business
- Have a blueprint to build a procurement process that can be implemented from selection through installation—regardless of the project scale
- Know how to set up purchasing software, create proposals, use a designated purchasing inbox, find the ideal receiving warehouse, and create a status sheet template…plus, you’ll know how to track and bill purchasing costs so the purchaser and bookkeeper work together
- Have a system to track freight or change order costs with precision—preventing profit loss and gaining client trust
- Own and use resources like a visual procurement flow chart, a status sheet template, and action step checklists for each stage
- Learn to balance hands-on design work with efficient operations—creating a truly profitable machine
- Gain confidence in managing complex orders end-to-end
Investing in a procurement system puts you in a position to hire and hand off as needed—freeing up your time for creativity or client relations. You’ll be able to take on more or larger projects knowing you can handle them. This system can be applied now to a one-room project or down the road to multiple full-home projects.
Ready to master the art of procurement? Interested in setting up a system that will propel your business forward?
What's Included?
LIVE VIDEO COACHING CALLS WITH 5 SPECIFIC TOPICS: 5 weeks of 1 hour and 15 minute live zoom video coaching with 1 hour of your instructor teaching and 15 minutes of live Q&A.
PRIVATE CONVERSATION BOARDS FOR EVERYONE IN THE COURSE: Sometimes we need to try something or think about it further...and then we look for clarification. This group is for collaboration, victories and trouble-shooting. Your instructor, LuAnn, and your peers will deepen your understanding of the content.
RECORDED CLASSES: Can't make one of the classes? Recordings of each class will be available the next day! Simply log in to your account at luannnigara.com to access them. We will send you instructions.
Building a Strong Procurement Foundation: A Step-by-Step Guide for Purchasing Procedures
Registration Opens November 11th, 2024
Click here to sign up for updates on the upcoming semester!
FAQs
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Where do we meet? How long are the meetings?
We meet each week via livestream. Expect an email with instructions a few days before your class begins.
Each meeting is one hour and fifteen minutes of live coaching with a combination of dynamic teaching (expect tons of real-world examples!) and live Q&A. -
I can't make one of those dates! What should I do?
No problem! Recordings of each class will be available the next day.
And don’t forget the Conversation Boards! Your instructor will be there each week for additional Q&A and more opportunity to understand the concepts. Even if you are in a different time zone, you can sign up and get full value from this course. -
This sounds amazing, but what if I'm not satisfied?
No worries. If you're not delighted, then LuAnn and your instructor would definitely like to hear from you! Reach out within ten days of the last meeting.
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Tell me more about the Conversation Boards...
Your instructor will be checking in on your Conversation Board at least a few times a week to answer any questions that you post. You will also be able to interact with your classmates, continue discussions from your sessions, and share wins as you put your new-found skills into practice.
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What are the dates and times of the course meetings?
We meet on Tuesdays for five weeks at 12:30pm ET.
Is this course for you?
We’re a great fit if…
- You are in the weeds—experiencing the day-to-day overwhelm of managing procurement on your own
- You are ready to hire help in this area but you’re unsure who to hire and/or how to divide the lines of responsibility within your team
- OR…you are getting ready to embark on your first furnishings project and have no idea where to begin
- You have a decent system in place but you feel like there’s a better way or additional purchasing costs are not being accounted for
- You’re unsure of some specific details—like the best way to bill freight
We’re not a fit if…
- You already have a strong, efficient system in place for the procurement process
- You already have an established team with dedicated purchasing manager
Bethany brings a level of professionalism, thoroughness and understanding to the procurement process that has been my good fortune to experience over the past 15 years working with her. Bethany understands that procurement is integral to the design implementation process and her role in collaborating with designers in delivering a successful end product is essential."
While at Gary Lee Partners, Bethany proved to be a great asset to the firm in leading the furniture procurement effort. Her attention to detail and her strong commitment to excellence greatly contributed to the growth and success of our procurement services. In addition, her positive and cheerful attitude made her a delight to work with."