Houzz Support on Removing a Review That Is Inaccurate

The last several weeks, there has been much fizz in the interior design community regarding the behemothic dwelling house furnishings website, Houzz.

Nigh of y'all are almost likely familiar with Houzz, but if not; Houzz is a website and online customs most habitation comeback, decorating, landscaping etc. It was started past a husband and married woman, Adi Tatarko and Alon Cohen in 2010; their corporate headquarters are in Palo Alto, CA.

Over time, Houzz has grown into a business worth four billion dollars. At its core are some 200,000 interior designers who've uploaded millions of images from their own portfolios that are shared in millions of idea books.

Plus there are profiles from auxiliary businesses; anything having to do with the business of home edifice and furnishings.

Some honey Houzz.

Some don't.

My Own Houzz Story

Similar a lot of things, I'm not sure how I first heard virtually houzz, simply I exercise know that I've had a profile on information technology, since 2010.

In the kickoff, I call back information technology as existence a charming thought that would undoubtedly help me grow my business as nosotros were slowly coming out of the deep recession of '08-'09. Then, I put up a few photos from my portfolio and wrote a lilliputian blurb and waited for the phone to ring.

It never did. And I'm not saying that this is their fault; but I received no telephone calls from my contour.

So, in late 2012, the calls did start coming!

However, not from potential customers, but from marketing folks from houzz urging me to sign up for their "pro plan." This is a paid program for which houzz promises far more cyberspace exposure. I don't call up how much information technology was and so, simply these days the pro programme is $3,500 a year my sources tell me.

Afterward the beginning telephone call or 2, I started getting an uneasy feeling, especially after the woman snidely said:

"Well, I guess that you're not ready to grow your business."

I guess not; not with you!

Eventually, they got the bulletin and the calls stopped.

After that experience, I was dubious about houzz and their true intentions, but I just went virtually the business of growing my brand on my own platform– this website.

While a few interior designers DO go jobs from houzz, mostly one hears about the plethora of "tire kickers" wanting ONLY gratis advice.

A few years ago, houzz started selling furniture.

I did detect this but didn't pay much attention to it.

But, things started heating upward (to put information technology mildly) When early last month, Houzz purchased a immature offset-up visitor called Ivy. (Now called IvyMark) – purportedly for from 30-xl meg dollars.

Ivymark is an interior design direction organisation started by two young, aggressive women. Lee Rotenberg and Alexandra Schinasi all the manner dorsum in 2016. They have most two,400 designers who pay most 700 a twelvemonth for the service.

The outcry in the interior blueprint community has been nothing like I've ever heard before.

Hundreds of designers who take been using Ivy to build their businesses, said that they feel phenomenally betrayed as now houzz has all of their private customer data. It was all over social media.

And that is when my curiosity was piqued.

I needed to know more virtually this situation and share my findings as I did with Restoration Hardware.

(At this fourth dimension, I would like to recommend that you put down your coffee/tea/wine and SWALLOW. It will become clear in a sec.)

The interior design community, in an attempt to assert their position and gain some command has created a petition which later on my research, I do urge yous sign; this is the link to access it.

I've vowed that if I see something, (large) I'grand going to say something.

However, I'm not ane to rely on hearsay and speculation.

And I figured if lil ol' me was going to take on the GIANT HOUZZ, I would need to beef upward, grow some balls and arm myself with slingshot, T-foursquare and the facts.

"Davida"

 Damn. That's a good lookin' lad! ;]

The biggest complaint that I'm hearing from interior designers is that they are agape that houzz has been using them this entire time for Houzz's gain, but at the designer'southward expense.

And they believe that Houzz's merger with Ivymark is the proof.

I began my research past looking at the Houzz trade programme.

Houzz claims that they care about designers.

Well, duh… of course they do, because without designers, there would be no houzz!

But permit'southward investigate the Houzz trade program.

Trade pricing: I exercise non have a trade account, but I have sources that exercise and I asked them to look into a few random pieces and become back to me with the merchandise discount.

Folks, in every case looked at, the discount to designers is 3% and usually only for REINVESTMENT WITH HOUZZ!

Please observe the wording. There ARE thousands of products and if but i of them has a 50% disbelieve, so they are telling the truth.

Referral "Bonuses"

They give your client 5% off and y'all also get 5% that you go to REINVEST at houzz.

Honestly, guys, every time I read this, I feel sick

Merely, let'south put this into some physical terms and the way to do that is to expect at the products I sent in for merchandise pricing on houzz.

The beginning is this Chesterfield sofa constitute on multiple sources on houzz. (houzz is a storefront, they say NOT the vendor.)

Uhh… it's NOT linen, simply whatever, that'due south pretty expensive for this piece.

I plant the same sofa at some other Houzz vendor for more than money. They turned the epitome around, but it'southward the aforementioned slice.

Golly gee, but I found it again for a amend price.

And again at an even better cost. Plus, they saved me the trouble of looking up the source.

Above is the designer "discounted" price sent back to me from my sources.

***Actually, no disbelieve, it says. Designers get a iii% credit to reinvest at houzz.***

Really? As much as that?  Let's encounter. 3% of $viii,130 is $243.90 and it'southward not actually money, in the designer's pocket. The money tin only be reinvested back at Houzz.

(I promise that my mortgage visitor will understand.)

Luckily, I have a designer trade business relationship at Four Hands, the source of the Chesterfield sofa.

As an aside, Four Hands is 1 of about 500 sources in Laurel's Rolodex and it is one of the approximately 180 Designer Friendly sources, where designers get a hefty disbelieve off the retail price. To find out more most Laurel's Rolodex and how it can put more $ in your pocket, click here.

I rarely do this, but it is necessary to make a bespeak. Below is a screenshot from my 4 Hands Designer Account which lists the designer's price. There is no other way to convey the truth.

(To exist clear, this is not rock bottom wholesale. The vendors on Houzz are all purchasing from Four Hands, I am presuming at full wholesale and giving a hefty cut to Houzz.)

Whoa! My trade price is almost HALF of the commencement 2 sofas and all Houzz tin manage as a "discount" to the merchandise is a measly 3% that tin can but be reinvested?

I would take sold this sofa for nearly $5,700 and would accept fabricated $1,500 in my pocket.  Designers need to understand how this works. No worries. Some of this took me a while to become too.

Exhibit #ii

I looked up the most expensive sofa on houzz. A double-barely-leather-fugly-recliner

WHOA! 64k??? That's some large for a cheesy recliner. For that kind of dough, I await it to come with George Clooney, plus–it needs to massage, wash/accident dry out my hair, tidy, dust, vacuum, practise laundry/put it away, brand dinner, practise the dishes/put them away AND pay my taxes for the balance of my life!

Oh phew! I found the same recliner on Amazon for 99% less the price  found on houzz.

And, I actually put the $63,999 recliner in my cart on houzz and yep, that's the cost. I am wondering what would happen if some foolish person really bought it? Would Houzz discover the mistake and correct information technology?

I would chance it, merely I wouldn't want to go smacked with a "restocking fee!" haha. Think not?

Please read the following reviews

Houzz reviews on sitejabber

Houzz reviews at the Better Business Agency

I chose some other slice that I have a trade account with from Currey and Company.

The Whitmore Chest from Currey & Co.

Currey & Company is one of my favorite designer friendly sources in Laurel'due south Rolodex.

And in one case again, we have the whopping 3% that can only be reinvested.

From my designer'southward toll list. I would sell this chest for about $1,500. I would prove them the piece on houzz and tell them that I can get it for them for ten% less. That volition brand them happy.

Therefore, through houzz, it's $50.70 to the designer, that tin can only exist reinvested vs. $500 in the designer'due south pocket, if purchased directly through Currey & Co.

***Annotation to designers: Get Laurel'south Rolodex. $199. FREE LIFETIME UPDATES. Open your OWN accounts.*** You'll brand more coin and salvage your clients money besides! win-win-win!

I found this cool opium tabular array on houzz.

Information technology's from a vendor called Belak. Very strange, but this table does not expect like his other tables.

And again, we take the miserly three% designer insult.

But, I was shocked that Mr. Belak is selling the table for $1,629.00 Less on his own website!

Belak's opium table reminds me of the ane we did from Safavieh a few years agone.

I found it on Overstock for $1,352, but it appears to exist understock haha, right now.

This is the square version, too out of stock. But it is verrrry shut to Belak's tabular array for a lot less $.

15 years ago, I sold an accurate antique opium coffee table to i of my loveliest clients ever.

I found this beauty at the D & D Building and brutal instantly in love. Oh, information technology was perfect for my client in Pound Ridge!

"How much?" I gingerly asked the salesman.

"It's an antique- $2,100."

Then, at that place information technology is; an antique gorgeous opium table for $two,100 vs $four,900 for something which is indistinguishable from a Chinese import.

While nosotros're on the field of study of opium tables, I did a little experiment.

I asked on Houzz…

"Where is this table from?"

Houzz gave me an answer, of sorts.

The next day, while perusing my page, I see a price tag on MY customer'south table on MY photo and that houzz is attempting to sell merch to the public using MY image. And really, all designers' images. This is what they are doing now. (notice Belak's table in the lower left as a suggestion)

Does Houzz have a legal correct to practise this?

Yes, they do. It is clearly stated in their terms and conditions that they can use our images for any purpose they wish.

Is it an ethical matter to practice?

I'll allow you be the judge and I will also ask:

Practise you think it is HELPING or HURTING interior designers for Houzz to use our images to sell merchandise to the public? (please reply in the comments)

More evidence of houzz using designer's images to sell product. These are known as keywords, if you don't already know. Please observe that there is no mention of "Laurel Bern Interiors" anywhere!

Distressing, non feelin' the love.

Food for thought.

If EVERY designer took their images down, at that place would be no houzz; no idea books; no way for Houzz to sell piece of furniture.

A few weeks ago before I knew that I would be writing this mail service, I was looking for a good General Contractor near me.

And of class. Upwardly popped Houzz. I figured that houzz would be a good identify to look for a good GC to renovate my bathroom.

I clicked on the link and filled out the form, incognito.

Excitedly, I waited for all of the wonderful GCs to pop up.

Merely, in that location was only one.

Are you set?

They sent me back–

ME.

I tried it again.

And again, they sent me dorsum, ME. Just me, not anyone else and I ain't no building contractor in any way shape or grade.

Then, they sent emails to ME wanting to know if Me was interested in possibly taking a job with ME.

I wrote dorsum,

"No, you freaks, I'grand not interested. That Laurel is a bowwow to work for!!!"

They sent me another email request me if ME got in contact with ME!

When I wrote those idiots to tell them of their lunacy, I got crickets.

And And so, they sent me a concluding email wanting to know how the "back up" was?

A Disturbing Finding on Houzz

Last twelvemonth when I did a mail on Mark D Sikes, I asked a question of my colleagues.

What I wanted to know was how much is the Santa Barbara sofa designed past Mark D Sikes for Henredon.

A wonderful colleague, Patrick Landrum  (he claims that nosotros were separated at birth) ;] said that he found the Santa Barbara sofa on Houzz. The retail price is $8,000.

That sounded nigh right except that Patrick said that the sofa was not attributed to either Mark or Henredon.

Then, I went over to houzz and indeed, non simply was this company using Henredon'south imagery, they were challenge that it is THEIR design.

Where's that damned slingshot?!?

Information technology's NOT their pattern. Information technology'south not THEIR Santa Barbara sofa and It's Not their right to use Henredon'south imagery to SELL copyrighted designs. If simply, they had credited Henredon, all would exist fine. Or even if they left it blank. But to put that THEY are the manufacturer is Incorrect.

At present THAT , is Balls!

Merely, it'due south non merely Henredon that Eco First Arts on Houzz is ripping off.

This Bunny Williams sofa has also been filched. AND those chinless thieves who stole information technology accept the temerity to charge an additional $2,400 over Bunny'due south price!  Dearest Bunny!

Baton Baldwin – In that location is only ONE licensee of Billy Baldwin furniture and it is not Eco First Arts.

Information technology is the Billy Baldwin Studio formerly known as Ventry.

I contacted the designer of this sofa, Kimberly Denman; she wrote back:

Laurel,

Good morning. Cheers so much for making me aware of this situation. Information technology is so frustrating! I have reached out to HOUZZ three times with no reply from them. They seem unconcerned with such situations. I would beloved to hear the whole story and maybe if we all band together we tin practice something.

My pieces are existence copied past different people. I am sure not at our quality, but it is very maddening. I fifty-fifty accept a Los Angeles designer who memo'd our Themis dining chair "to show a customer" terminal summertime… twice – I just saw an EXTREMELY similar chair in her line, just released at Loftier Point. This is a well known designer who is more than an acquaintance of ours. Some people have no shame and unfortunately information technology seems there is no way to protect our designs.

Hopefully nosotros tin can talk more before long!

All-time,
Kimberly Denman Rebuffel

To be clear, I am not insinuating that Houzz is involved with any nefarious action. Simply they Demand to know what their vendors are up to. Don't y'all think?

Well, there'southward much more than but this is long already, then I'd like to sum things up and make some recommendations based on my years of experience, both as a designer and blogger.

I don't think that designers have much to worry about at this point.

Clearly, Houzz doesn't take a handle on things– yet.

Merely that doesn't mean that they won't.

And I don't like what Alon Cohen said:

Seriously?

Therefore, I urge everyone reading this if you take non still, to sign the petition.

This part is mostly for designers and my recommendations

Take your badges down. I realize that this is very hard to do because we've been brainwashed into thinking that they are beneficial, but they are the opposite. The best of… badges are only benefitting houzz not you because you lot are giving them a powerful backlink from your website.

THAT is exactly why they always appear on page one in search results! Isn't that rich? Please believe me. We've been shooting ourselves in the foot all along!

However, when houzz links to your website, they are using a NO FOLLOW tag, which is telling google to disbelieve the link and not give you dorsum whatever Search Engine Optimization  (SEO) credit. (aka: link love)

This has been corroborated by ii Spider web Geeks. I don't look normal people to sympathise this, but the rel = "nofollow" is what tells google to discount the link back to our websites from houzz!

An excellent post about nofollow links written by Amy Lynn Andrews.

And to a higher place taken from the Houzz website source lawmaking is the nofollow link for me.

(I learned a lot of geeky things from my wasband, a techie)

And to learn why this code is even worse than I realized, please read this enlightening comment by Website programming good Ken Lewis

Should I remove my profile on houzz?

It depends on your situation. If it is yielding you piece of work, I suppose information technology would be okay to get out it up. Simply ideally, it is always best to utilize your own website to promote your business. What if Houzz went out of business concern?

Delight remember the gilded motto.

Houzz has been the low-hanging fruit. Information technology seemed to exist the perfect solution for busy designers to get some internet love.

Sorry, not buying it.

Delight read virtually the Settlement over privacy violations by Houzz

"I take an Ivymark account and really savor the platform. Is information technology a mistake to stay?"

I can't make that decision for y'all, but I exercise have facebook screen-shots which evidence both Ivy girls, (Lee Rotenberg and Alexandra Schinasi) putting Houzz in a negative light. And and then they did a merger with them?

Plus, I retrieve that many will find listening to Nick May's Podcast (The Chaise Lounge) where he interviewed Lee Rotenberg quite enlightening. I did. Information technology is episode 193 that says Greg Durrer. The first thirty minutes is the interview with Lee.

If you are looking for a great project management system, I would get with My Doma Studio. (no affiliation, only reputable and user-friendly)

In closing, I encourage designers and everyone with a business and website to take control of your businesses and not on the back of someone who might plough their back on you lot!

Side by side month, I am going to exist presenting an easy-to-follow guide that explains in not-geek terms, everything I've done to accomplish this website. It is not simply for designers only anyone who wants to larn everything I wish I had known six years ago about starting a website and blog!

***Only, if you lot're a designer, a wannabe designer or only love hangin' with designers, I accept some more wonderful news.***

Laurie Laizure who started the awesome Interior Design Community on Facebook is making a bold motility. The correct move. She's in the process of taking her platform off of FB and onto her own website!

Her new interior design community website is in Beta and all are welcome to sign up. I just did that.

And please, delight share this post on facebook, twitter, pinterest. Share the link with friends. We need to get the word out. And please don't forget to sign the petition.

If you demand a graphic for social media, I created this image which is on my instagram.

And of course, you may pin it to pinterest, facebook, Twitter, Linkedin or wherever. Delight be sure if information technology'southward not automated to link back to this mail service.

Much Love,

fenwicktheized.blogspot.com

Source: https://laurelberninteriors.com/2018/03/18/ugly-truth-behind-pretty-interiors-houzz/

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