Heather McManus - Sourcing Expert & Speaker

Heather McManus - Sourcing Expert & Speaker Collaboration over competition, always! Your trusted guide in to-the-trade furniture sourcing. Every breakthrough starts with a story.

Through industry knowledge and transparent insights, Heather equips designers to source smarter, price
confidently, and drastically increase their margins. For Heather McManus, it began on Long Island, where a love for art and
design blossomed into a career built on bold decisions and resilience. Now the founder of The Designers Collaborative and an award-winning designer based in New Jersey, He

ather is
the author of Love Where You Live – Dream Homes Made Real and a leading educator in the industry. She’s
dedicated to helping designers navigate sourcing, pricing, and vendor relationships with clarity and confidence,
championing bold collaboration and redefining how designers can succeed together. Despite the challenges of dyslexia, she wrote her book to share her philosophy of creating homes that are both
functional and beautiful. Her practical experience—spanning custom window treatments, furniture craftsmanship,
and client-focused solutions—has been featured in national magazines, HGTV’s blog, and House Smarts. Heather’s personal passions include nature, historic houses, and her two rescue cats, who remind her daily that life
is as much about love and joy as it is about structure and design.

You're invited to Behind the Scenes of a Buying Group Presented by Heather McManus!📅 Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026🕐...
09/07/2026

You're invited to Behind the Scenes of a Buying Group Presented by Heather McManus!

📅 Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM EST

Ever wondered how buying groups really work — and how they can transform your business? Join us online for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look as industry expert Heather McManus pulls back the curtain on the systems, strategies, and partnerships that make buying groups so powerful.

During this live webinar, you’ll learn:
✨ How buying groups operate behind the scenes
💡 The key benefits and opportunities they offer members
📈 How to leverage a buying group to help your business grow and thrive

Whether you’re a new or seasoned designer, this event will give you valuable insight into one of the most impactful networks in the business.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/behind-the-scenes-of-a-buying-group-presented-by-heather-mcmanus-tickets-1977742709684?aff=oddtdtcreator

Ever wonder which Vendor TDC has on their list?You can request the Vendor list here https://thedesignerscollaborative.co...
09/06/2026

Ever wonder which Vendor TDC has on their list?
You can request the Vendor list here https://thedesignerscollaborative.com/vendors/

See which of our over 300 Vendors at the BEST price tiers you would order from. Joining TDC is a no-brainer if you want to be able to compete with the internet and have access to Vendors.

✨ VENDOR OF THE MONTH: ALDER & TWEED ✨Every month, The Designers Collaborative brings you industry intel with a closer l...
09/05/2026

✨ VENDOR OF THE MONTH: ALDER & TWEED ✨

Every month, The Designers Collaborative brings you industry intel with a closer look at vendors worth knowing. This month, Laurie Berry of Sharon Ryan Design Group shares why Alder & Tweed deserves a spot on your sourcing radar.

Here’s what makes them stand out:

✔️ Contemporary + mid-century modern styling
✔️ Upholstery and case goods at an accessible price point
✔️ Options for bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms + offices
✔️ A Made-to-Order sectional program with customizable configurations, fabrics + styles
✔️ Responsive customer service that makes freight quotes and inventory checks easy

Laurie especially loves their upholstered beds, dining chairs + side tables, and TDC members have also been impressed by the durability of their sectionals for family-friendly spaces.

“If you like Four Hands, Moe’s, Bernhardt or Arteriors, take a fresh look at this brand for contemporary-leaning pieces or something with a mid-century modern vibe.” — Laurie Berry

And Heather agrees: Good customer service is everything.

If Alder & Tweed hasn’t been on your sourcing list lately, it may be time for a fresh look. ✨

In this episode of To The Trade, Laurie Laizure sits down with Heather McManus, an interior designer turned founder of T...
09/04/2026

In this episode of To The Trade, Laurie Laizure sits down with Heather McManus, an interior designer turned founder of The Designers Collaborative. Heather shares her journey from studying art education at Pratt to learning the trade from the ground up at a local upholstery and drapery workroom. Her path eventually led her to open her own design firm and, more recently, to create a collective that empowers independent interior designers with shared buying power, structure, and support.

Heather speaks candidly about the challenges she faced when clients began shopping online for better deals, which often damaged trust and undermined her business. This experience inspired her to launch The Designers Collaborative, a vetted, membership-based group offering designers access to top-tier pricing, detailed purchasing tools, and a unique emergency fund for added security.

Tune in to hear how Heather’s full-time focus on the collective is helping designers build stronger businesses together. From the administrative side of purchase orders to tech integration and community events, Heather brings clarity and confidence to the often messy business of sourcing.

Listen Now- Link In Bio On Press Page- with podcast episodes
https://interiordesigncommunity.com/ttt-s2e27-why-go-it-alone-heather-mcmanus-strength-of-community/

09/03/2026

Members love TDC!
“I am able to offer our clients a must more vast selection of products I couldn't do on my own without the collaborative”
– Sara

Join now
www.thedesignerscollaborative.com

TDC is so excited to share that our very own Heather McManus will be speaking at the inaugural NorthEast Design Conferen...
09/02/2026

TDC is so excited to share that our very own Heather McManus will be speaking at the inaugural NorthEast Design Conference (NEDCON) this October 5–7 in Hoboken, NJ.

What drew us to this event is that it's not a trade show and it's not an event filled with surface-level conversations. NEDCON is bringing together some of the most respected voices in our industry to openly share real experiences, business lessons, successes, failures, and actionable strategies that can help designers build stronger, more successful firms.

We truly believe this is the kind of event our industry needs more of—honest conversations, meaningful connections, and practical knowledge that attendees can immediately apply to their businesses.

Heather is honored to be part of the speaker lineup and look forward to sharing my insights while learning from so many talented colleagues.

If you're serious about growing your design business, we hope you'll join us in Hoboken this October. We have a feeling this is going to be something special.

Look at us go 👀✨TDC members popping up all over the map—turns out great design has no zip code.
08/31/2026

Look at us go 👀✨
TDC members popping up all over the map—turns out great design has no zip code.

✨ Vendor of the Month: Vilmers ✨This month, Rebecca Compton-Allen of Vela Creative shares why Vilmers is one of her favo...
08/30/2026

✨ Vendor of the Month: Vilmers ✨

This month, Rebecca Compton-Allen of Vela Creative shares why Vilmers is one of her favorite brands to source.

From incredibly comfortable modular sofas and modern designs to impressive quality at an exceptional price point, it’s easy to see why Vilmers has earned a place on so many designer project boards.

Even better? They support interior designers and The Designers Collaborative—something we’re always proud to champion.

Read the blog here: https://thedesignerscollaborative.com/vendor-of-the-month-vilmers/

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