The Problem of Samples – And How Architects Are Solving It
As an architect, there are quite a few things that you just have to put up with.
In a perfect world, an architect could do only what they love every day – what they dreamed of as children and the reason they endured years of school and exams – instead of being burdened by the demands of the process, regulatory requirements, difficult clients, and other inefficiencies of the profession.
One of the most universal inefficiencies an architect will experience is requesting product samples. While everyone will face their own firm or municipal requirements for what samples are required for a given project, all will likely encounter some combination of the following issues in the process:
- A manufacturer’s website does not have samples available for request
- A manufacturer’s website has information about samples but requires a generic contact form submission with a dubious response time
- A manufacturer requires sample requests to go through a sales rep, who is either difficult to track down or not quick to respond
- Sample requests are slow to arrive (if they even arrive), at times showing up weeks after the project deadline
- Samples arrive in generic, haphazardly-wrapped packaging that is either damaged or at the very least unsightly
- Samples that are no longer used regularly need to be thrown away in large quantities
One of the biggest issues with ordering samples is that the experience can be so different between different product manufacturers. One brand might have an exceptional program with fast and accurate shipping, while hundreds of others specified in a project might make you want to pull your hair out in frustration.
This is the context in which a platform called Swatchbox arrived on the scene a few years ago.
Swatchbox is owned by a team of architects and is billed as a premier sample fulfillment service for building product manufacturers. Their stated goal is to provide an “exceptional sample experience” for architects, and they’ve had some noteworthy accomplishments to back it up.
Here are a few ways that Swatchbox is changing the way architects request samples – and why it might be worth your time to consider checking them out for your next project.
A Central Destination for Samples
The foundation for Swatchbox as a platform is a centralized library of samples from all kinds of architectural building product manufacturers. It’s built on the premise that visiting one unified destination for samples is preferable to visiting many (e.g. Amazon.com).
With Swatchbox, you can browse and select decking products in the same place as trim, lighting, paint, and more, then get material samples of each all in one box. Even if you aren’t able to obtain every sample in your project from a centralized location at once, each additional item helps eliminate another website, form submission, or call a sales rep. As the centralized library grows, everyone becomes more efficient.
Fast and Free
Let’s face it – when you need a sample for a project, you really needed it yesterday. That’s one reason why the lack of consistency in delivery from multiple manufacturers is such a headache. You might be able to get one sample overnighted to you (if you have a rockstar sales rep), but good luck getting 10+ samples from a variety of brands to you in a timely manner.
In fact, overnight shipping isn’t even particularly necessary in most instances. What architects need is consistency. Whether that’s consistent next-day shipping, or 2-day or 3-day shipping, it doesn’t really matter as long as it shows up on time.
Finally, it almost goes without saying, but samples should also be free. The hassle of paid samples isn’t worth the time for an architect, and it absolutely sends the wrong message from a manufacturer.
Combined Shipping
Speaking of eliminating hassle from the lives of architects, combining shipping from multiple brands into one box just makes sense.
Not only is the experience of selecting products in one centralized destination convenient, but receiving each item in one combined package helps streamline the process and eliminate unnecessary waste in the process.
Reuse or Recycle
The darker side of samples – as well as the AEC industry in general – is the high volume of waste. Whether your firm’s sample library is overflowing or you need to replace an old color collection with a new one, there are more garbage containers filled each year with product samples than you’d ever want to imagine.
Part of how Swatchbox deals with the problem of waste is inherent in the centralized library – combined shipping means less packaging, fewer carbon emissions from shipping, etc. But they also openly invite recipients to use the same box the samples arrived in to return any unwanted materials. Samples that are undamaged can then be put back into circulation, while damaged or outdated samples can be sustainably recycled. All you have to do is scan the QR code inside of the box to print a prepaid shipping label for a free return.
Built by Architects
One final reason to take a look at Swatchbox is the origin story. Swatchbox was built by a team of architects who were fed up with the mess that is the world of building product samples. This means a few things.
First, it means that their goal is to make life easier for architects. It would seem that this translates into not only useful tools for architects but key policies and standards as it concerns data privacy and other industry-wide concerns. Look for Swatchbox to be an advocate for architects, not another sales gimmick.
Second, it means that the voices of architects will certainly be heard for the future development of the platform. The Swatchbox Pro platform has an open call for architects to request brands that they wish were available as part of the Swatchbox ecosystem, and they seem to have a responsive product team that utilizes architects as beta users of future platform upgrades.
Interestingly enough, the architects behind Swatchbox are actually the same ones who created BIMsmith – the free product research tool and leading library of BIM objects. Once Swatchbox gains the same volume of products as BIMsmith, it might even become unusual to not use Swatchbox to request material samples.
What’s Next for Samples
Time will have to tell just how much permanent impact platforms like Swatchbox will be able to make on the practice of architecture. That said, it’s refreshing to have someone out there trying.
Take a deeper look at the story behind Swatchbox or order a box of building product samples for you to experience with your own eyes at www.swatchbox.com.
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Note: Building product manufacturers can learn more about Swatchbox sample fulfillment by visiting www.swatchbox.com or calling +1 (224) 242-9088 in the U.S. or +44(0)203-365-6255 in the UK/Europe.
