Every project hinges on sourcing and shopping, and how you approach the product side of your business can make a big difference for your bottom line. There’s no right or wrong here, just what’s right for you. Ready to start thinking more strategically? Twelve designers share what works for them.

What if there were subtle course corrections that could transform your sourcing process to make it more efficient, more inspiring and, yes, more profitable? With that goal in mind, we asked a dozen designers with wildly different approaches to spill their shopping secrets. Taken together, the result is an array of strategies and shortcuts that are not only easy to implement, but may also challenge you to look at procurement in a new light—and as a ripe opportunity for revenue growth. 

» Stock up strategically if you want wholesale pricing.
Birmingham, Alabama–based designer Douglas C. Davis has adjusted his approach to shopping as his eponymous firm keeps adapting and growing. These days, sourcing challenges have shifted his vendor loyalty and helped him clarify what he’s looking for from his partners.