Mercer for professionals

Try it

Give it the brief you'd never give a search engine.

Mercer searches makers, dealers and workrooms, including ones you haven't worked with. Every result comes with its price, lead time, condition and anything to check before you commit.

The Hale residence · Dining roomComparison

Brief

Nine-foot walnut dining table, seats ten.

Under $14,000Not Restoration HardwareInstalled by 14 JuneYour style: low, simple edge

Each option on one line: price, lead time and the catch.

OptionPriceLead timeNotes

Made to orderA cabinetmaker in the Hudson ValleyNew to you $11,8009 weeks Solid black walnut, oiled. Delivered on time for its last three orders.

1960s, restoredA dealer in CopenhagenVintage $13,2004 weeks Hairline crack in one leaf, disclosed. Ask for the restoration notes.

From your own networkThe joiner your upholsterer usesSaved $9,40014 weeks Cheapest, but arrives two weeks after the install. Saved in case the date moves.

Client files

Your eye, their taste, Mercer's legwork.

Mercer keeps three layers: your style, each client's preferences, and the details of each project. Every line shows where it came from, and you can edit any of it.

Your style

Low and horizontal. Earth and clay.Learned from 212 of your decisions
One strong colour in every room.You said
Avoids the obvious version of anything.Learned from 38 rejections

Client · the Hales

Limewash, pale oak, linen. 41 saved images.The client
Nothing glossy. Rejected twice.The client
No brass, even aged.You, in March

Project · dining room

Seats ten. $90,000 for the room.You said
Install 14 June. Weekday deliveries only.You said
Actual budget closer to $82,000.Learned from "over budget"

When your style and the client's disagree · only you see this

You use one strong colour in every room, but the Hales' saved images are all neutrals. Suggestion: put the colour in the rug and keep the walls neutral.

Accept it or change it.

In practice

What it looks like day to day.

Mercer lays out each job the way it's easiest to manage: a schedule for an install date, a checklist for a per-guest budget, a shortlist when you're hiring someone.

Interior designers

Track every open item against the install date. Mercer flags what's running late and finds replacements for anything discontinued or delayed.

The Hales · Install 14 JuneSchedule

Works back from the install date.

Dining tableOrder by 22 MarOn track

Rug, custom wool16 weeksOrder this week

Pair of sconcesDiscontinued2 replacements found

Sofa, client's fabric1 week late8-week option found

Linen, 22 yardsIn stockPrice up 6% since quote

Every lead time shows its source and date, e.g. "workroom, by email, 3 Mar".

Sconces, pair · discontinuedComparison

Two replacements, with the differences noted.

Plaster, hand-cast$1,640 · 7 weeks

Same size and light as the original. Slightly warmer white.

Bronze, 1950s pair$2,300 · 3 weeks

Closer to your style. $420 over the line item.

Wedding and event planners

Build guest gifts and table settings to a per-guest budget, and find vendors who are free on the date.

Cape wedding · 120 guestsChecklist

Running total against the per-guest budget.

Olive oil, 250 ml$18

Linen napkin, hand-hemmed$14

Beeswax candles, pair$12

Marcona almonds$9

Engraved bottle opener$22

Box, tissue and ribbon$11

$64 a guestbudget $85

Florist for 6 SeptemberShortlist

Three florists, with availability, rates and recent work.

Studio on the North ForkFree 6 Sept

Did two tented weddings on the Cape last summer, both in the rain.

Florist in ProvidenceFree 6 Sept

Bigger team, faster setup. More traditional than your style.

Your usual, in BostonBooked

Holding the 7th for you in case the date moves.

It learns

It learns from what you turn down.

When you pass on something, tap the reason. Mercer uses it to get the next search right, and keeps what it learns about each client separate from your own taste.

Not what I asked forRereads the brief before searching again

Wrong size for the roomNotes the space limit for this project

Won't arrive in timeOnly shows options that will

Too expensiveSearches a lower price range

My client won't like itAdds it to that client's file

Good, but not for thisSaves it for a future project

Wrong supplierFinds the same piece from another source

When you say yesSave it, choose it, or add it to a client board, which shows your name, not Mercer's.

Pricing

Priced by the clients you work with.

You pay for the client files you keep active, not for searches. When a project closes, archive the client; their file stays for the next time they come back. Billed annually.

Independent Up to 5 active clients

Your style file
A taste file per client
Unbranded client boards

Practice Up to 15 active clients

Everything in Independent
Trade pricing where available
Your saved suppliers and workrooms

Studio Unlimited clients, 3 seats and up

Everything in Practice
One shared studio style
Shared supplier accounts