^{BSI: Leader in Design Centers
By Al Petersen
Reprinted from: Builder & Developer Magazine}

^{Providing customers with options makes good business sense. Bringing those options together and making sense of them is what people at Builders Showcase Interiors do best.}

^{The San Diego, California-based Company, one of the largest suppliers of floor coverings to homebuilders in the West, is a leader in one-stop shopping for options. Its the evolution of the design center concept that has kept Builders Showcase Interiors on the cutting edge of new home personalization and has been the driving force behind the company's growth since its inception in 1984.}

^{The attitude of the homebuyer has changed over the years, said Sally Prince, one of the principals of Builders Showcase Interiors. "They're looking for a comfortable dwelling, a home that will fit their needs and personal tastes. As long as the home buyer is looking for a home that meets their lifestyle expectations, the demand for our type of service will continue to grow."}

^{Builders Showcase Interiors has grown to 15 showcase locations in California and Nevada, with multiple On-site locations that are shared with homebuilders. The cooperation and coordination between Representatives of Builders Showcase Interiors and homebuilders make it convenient for homebuyers to personalize their homes. Call it interior decorating for the new millennium or the latest trend toward one-stop shopping, but bringing everyone together to help make the home-buying process more pleasant and Convenient is the wave of the future. Prince said.}

^{"We are the experts that the builder hires to deal with home buyers," Prince said. "We work with the builder with our common goal being customer satisfaction."}

^{In a nutshell, an options program brings construction, sales, purchasing, customer service, vendors and subcontractors together under one roof, increasing communication between those entities while simplifying the Home-personalization process for homebuyers. When done well, options programs make the home-building process a community effort long before the community is built. The increased sense of teamwork is a side benefit of a good options program and helps make the process more effective. With design options ranging from flooring, carpeting, plumbing and lighting to electronics, fireplaces, doors, window treatments and counter tops, ifs easy to see why homebuyers appreciate the personalized attention available at Builders Showcase Interiors.}

^{"We offer a service that meets the home buyer's demands and makes the buying experience more enjoyable," said Mike Moore, vice president of marketing for Builders Showcase Interiors. "We can take care of the entire personalization of a new home. Builders need to make the experience buyer-friendly, not   buyer-frustrating.}

^{Preparation, planning and coordination are a must for builders who want to use options as a selling tool to close more homes.}

^{In essence. Builders Showcase Interiors has two customers-the builder and the homebuyer. Rather than dictating options to builders, Moore said Builders Showcase Interiors acts as a consultant in the development of selections for homebuyers. As a sub-contractor for flooring products with the homebuilder, the company gets started on the ground level of the options process, so to speak. It then acts as an options service for the builder's preferred or chosen subcontractors, and completes the cycle of home personalization through marketing and merchandising.}

^{By sensing this trend toward design center services 16 years ago. Builders Showcase Interiors is already ahead of the game in the booming housing market of Southern California and other parts of the West. "}

^{It wasn't long ago I heard about builders waiting for the day when they wouldn't need to offer options to sell their homes," Moore said. "Today I'm hearing a different story. The evolution of the design center is incredible, and its all driven by consumers who want choices and are demanding options."}

^{One of the largest benefits of utilizing a company that offers design centers is having all the products available in one place, with consultants on hand to help customers personalize their new homes. Since there is no Inventory stock to sell, each product is specifically ordered for an individual homebuyer's needs.}

^{The company's options management system includes exclusive software and information management tools to aid staff in eliminating selection errors, paper flow delays and providing on-time deliveries. A virtual design catalog makes the selection of options an enjoyable and simple process and reduces the home buyer's desire to shop, thus maximizing a builder's control and increasing options opportunities. The company's design consultants are available to follow through on questions ranging from colors and styles to warranties and maintenance. By working closely with construction, sales and loan processing personnel, the people at Builders Showcase Interiors are involved in the entire process of buying a new home.}

^{Its that personal touch that Prince said will never go out of style. "People today want to be proud of their Homes," she said. "It's a lifestyle choice that they hope will last a lifetime. Finding just that right touch can be confusing, if not intimidating when you think of all the choices, but we like to think that we can make the entire process easier and more enjoyable." Not only for the homebuyer, she said, but for the building industry as a whole.}

^{"Everybody in the industry is starting to realize the importance of options," Prince said. "The biggest change in the industry has been the builder's awareness to home buyer's expectations as far as suiting their long-term lifestyles are concerned."}

^{With options being relatively new, builders need assistance with their programs, which require careful coordination between the construction, sales, marketing and purchasing departments and accurate, up-to-date information about market conditions, buyer preferences and availability. A home buyer's desire for choices is putting new demands on builders, who are meeting the demand with the help of companies like Builders Showcase Interiors.}

^{Al Petersen is a freelance writer for Builder and Developer magazine. He has more than 10 years of experience in writing and graphic design.}