Procurement Services
A procurement service is implemented as part of our full-service interior design package. Procurement (or purchasing) is what happens after the the designs are created, presented, and approved by clients. A detailed furniture budget is created & approved during this phase, based upon the actual designs. At Stefani Stein, Inc., we manage the entire procurement process for our clients, from start to finish. With over a decade of experience, we ensure this complex process goes smoothly.
There are inevitable hiccups that may occur along the way, but we have a vetted network of resources, an established approval + purchasing system, and a comprehensive logistics workflow. All of these steps and processes are in place to prevent miscommunications and swiftly address any issues that may arise. A seamless procurement process is integral to accurate design implementation. This encompasses ordering, tracking, and inspection, as well as coordination with our preferred white-glove receiving facilities all the way through final installation.
An essential aspect of the procurement process entails effectively and accurately communicating furniture specifications.
This starts by providing clients with proposals and, when appropriate, detailed drawings for approval. From there, client funds are received, which commences our back-end process.
We provide vendors, workrooms, showrooms, and custom fabricators with detailed purchase orders, including drawings and specifications when appropriate. All purchase orders are sent with client-specific sidemarks, which are later used by the receiving facility to properly identify and catalogue the goods.
We receive order acknowledgments from the vendors, with logistics details such as lead time, estimated ship date, and other pertinent tracking details.
The information is logged in our procurement system, and schedules are generated, which we use for internal tracking and preparing the receiver for what is anticipated. We update our system and all relevant parties with any changes to lead time or status throughout the process.
We also separately prepare relevant construction schedules covering material, hardware, plumbing, paint, and other related elements that General Contractors, Sub-Contractors, and Specialty Trades rely upon to accurately plan and execute.
We compile all spec sheets, installation instructions, and other technical documents to relay to installers or construction teams when needed.
We confirm accurate records of fabrics & trim (including what is known as a CFA, or Cutting For Approval) for all upholstery and soft goods.
Our in-house bookkeeper posts client payments in our system and reconciles amounts received from clients, as well as amounts paid out during purchasing.
Typically, freight companies will only deliver to a facility with a bay door or dock. We engage a professional white-glove receiving service on our clients' behalf. All goods, with the exception of construction materials, ship directly to this third-party receiver service that professionally receives, inspects, stores, and catalogues our clients' items. They notify us that the item has been received so we can update our schedules. They photographically document the goods upon receipt, assign each item number, and add the images to our web-based portal for review and future reference. They also notify us of any damages that may have occurred during transit, document the state of the packaging, and provide us with the supporting images and notes needed to properly open up claims with shippers or manufacturers on our clients' behalf.
Finally, when all items have arrived, we schedule our client's installation, coordinating with the receiver to pull all the clients' goods from storage. They carefully package and transport the items to the project location. Upon delivery, our white-glove installers execute the installation based upon our design plans and under our supervision. Ultimately, our clients return home to a big reveal and magazine-worthy space to enjoy for years to come.
Since launching in 2015, Stefani Stein, Inc. has created spaces for clients that have continued to receive recognition in local, national, and international publications. Our work has received editorial features in the likes of Architectural Digest, Angeleno, Elle Decor Spain, Lonny Magazine, Modern Luxury Interiors, The Wall Street Journal & more.