: Designers often travel to massive industry events like High Point Market in North Carolina (the world's largest home furnishings event) or Salone del Mobile in Milan to "field test" pieces—sitting on sofas and feeling fabric textures in person before recommending them to clients.
: In major cities, designers frequent hubs like the Merchandise Mart in Chicago or the Dallas Market Center .
When they need something rare, vintage, or globally sourced without the travel, designers turn to specialized digital platforms that vet their sellers for quality: