Heather McManus - Sourcing Expert & Speaker

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Heather McManus - Sourcing Expert & Speaker

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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, Heather 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.

11/03/2026

You almost become your own furniture store, it's that kind of power in numbers!

-Heather McManus

Join now
www.thedesignerscollaborative.com

11/02/2026

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/

11/01/2026

✨ Build Your Furniture Vendor Dream Team! ✨

Great design starts with great partnerships! Join interior designer and industry expert Heather McManus for an exclusive webinar designed to help you take the guesswork out of furniture sourcing.

Discover how to build a reliable vendor roster that aligns with your design aesthetic, meets your clients’ budgets, and protects your profit margins. From choosing trusted vendors to streamlining your sourcing process, you’ll walk away with actionable strategies to make smarter, more confident purchasing decisions.

📅 Thursday, December 10, 2026
⏰ 1:00 PM EST
💻 Virtual Webinar

Say goodbye to sourcing stress and hello to a vendor dream team that supports your creativity AND your bottom line!

✨ Register today and start building better vendor partnerships: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/build-your-furniture-vendor-dream-team-presented-by-heather-mcmanus-tickets-1977743242277?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/31/2026

Members love TDC!
“Without this group, we would miss out on significant opportunities and the enriching experience of collaborating with other designers.”
– Julie Kay

Join now
www.thedesignerscollaborative.com

10/30/2026

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.

10/29/2026

Ever notice that a chair often feels more supportive than a sofa? Here’s why. 👇

It’s not just the cushion—it’s the construction.

Because a chair has a shorter span between its arms, it naturally provides more structural support. Sofas have a wider seating area, which changes how the cushions feel and perform over time.

Understanding these details helps designers recommend furniture that not only looks beautiful but also fits their clients’ comfort needs and lifestyle.

Small details. Big difference.

10/28/2026

You are invited to the event Pros and Cons of Using COM Presented by Heather McManus

Ready to finally understand the good, the bad, and the surprising truths behind using COM in your design workflow?

Join us November 19th 1 pm EST for a fun, informative online session where Heather McManus—founding member of The Designers Collaborative and sourcing expert—breaks down everything you should know about COM before your next project.

Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pros-and-cons-of-using-com-presented-by-heather-mcmanus-tickets-1977743195136?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/27/2026

"I have made over 30% more profits as a result of joining The Designers Collaborative!"

-Megan Thompson

Join now
www.thedesignerscollaborative.com

10/26/2026

🐟 Stop being a little fish out on your own in a big ocean.

Running an interior design business can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to figure out everything on your own—pricing, sourcing, profitability, vendors, client challenges… the list goes on.

But you don’t have to swim solo. 🌊

The Designers Collaborative is where designers come together to learn, grow, connect, and build more profitable businesses—together.

✨ Better resources.
✨ Real industry knowledge.
✨ A community that gets it.
✨ More confidence. More connection. More profit.

There’s a whole school waiting for you. 🐠🐠🐠

Empower your design business with profits + community. Join The Designers Collaborative.

https://thedesignerscollaborative.com

10/25/2026

Let’s talk PROFITS — not just pretty spaces!

Check out this Family Room Profit Chart — Smarter sourcing through The Designers Collaborative.

By purchasing through TDC’s trade partners, this designer made $9,817.42 in profit on one room — all while giving their client the same look, quality, and experience.

Design smarter. Source better. Keep more.

Join TDC today and start increasing your profitability one room at a time!
www.thedesignerscollaborative.com

Address

Kinnelon, NJ
07405

Telephone

+18628121600

Website

https://heathermcmanus.com/

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