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10 Reasons Why Interior Designers Love Working with Mercana

Feb 28, 2019 | Company Culture, Designer's Picks, High Point Market

Over the past twenty years, we’ve collaborated with thousands of Interior Designers to help them complete projects of various sizes. In fact, we are committed to helping designers procure the best decor, lighting, art, and furniture for their projects and clients without having to worry about technicalities like shipping and order quantities.

We know you’re busy with a ton of projects! So, without further ado, here are 10 Reasons Why Interior Designers Love Working with Mercana (… and maybe you should too).

 

1. No Minimum Order Quantity 

 

What does this mean?

This is the simple bit. No Minimum Order Quantity. Ever.

Simply buy as much or as little as you want, depending on the projects you've undertaken right now. You don’t have to mandatorily stock-up for future projects unless you want to.

How does this help me?

In addition to reducing your upfront costs per project, ‘no minimums’ means you never have to stock up on items that you may not need again. You can truly focus on personalizing your client’s home without having to worry about clearing product you inventoried from your last project (….the products you bought from the other guys).

 

Convenient Mobile and Tablet Access

 

2. Lights, Furniture, Décor, Art

 

What does this mean?

From furniture to lighting and décor to art pieces, we’ve really got it all! With over 7000 SKUs that align with one or more of the nine Mercana design styles, we really are a one-stop shop.

How does this help me?

Picture this – you walk through our showroom or browse through our catalog and choose products for every room of your client’s house. Feels great right? That's exactly what we want. Furthermore, this is a stress-free process since there are fewer vendors for you to deal with!

 

3. The Best Account Managers

 

What does this mean?

Simple. When you sign up, you get to team-up with one of our awesome account managers who help you with all your purchases and related queries.

How does this help me?

What makes our account managers so special (… and so successful) is their customer-centric approach. Their ability to provide exceptional customer service while helping you choose the perfect products for your projects is what has allowed us to build and maintain relationships that have lasted decades. In addition to great service, our account managers are known for their vast knowledge of our products as well as the industry, which is something you’ll surely appreciate more and more as time passes and project sizes begin to increase.

 

4. Real-Time Online Inventory 

 

What does this mean?

We value your project deadlines and understand that your commitment to your clients depends on numerous factors, including the availability and estimated shipping time of the products you choose. To make sure you always know the availability of the products you wish to purchase, we implemented a state-of-the-art inventory system that gives you detailed information on stock, freight and expected delivery.

How does this help me?

With our new Online Inventory System, you’ll always know what we have in stock and when we’re getting new stock. This means you can always stay on top of the timeline commitments you make to your clients.

 

Product Page

 

5. Secure Online Account 

 

What does this mean?

When you sign up on the Mercana Marketplace, we set you up with a secure, personal account that allows you to browse our latest products, place orders, view purchase history, and more.

How does this help me?

Your Mercana Marketplace account is the easiest way to browse through products and place orders at your own convenience, whether you’re in your office or vacationing in the Bahamas. Moreover, any product related questions that you may have, can be answered by our account managers through the online system, saving you large phone bills and more importantly, time.

 

6. Product Catalogs & Beyond

 

What does this mean?

Because we design our products in-house, we know everything there is to know about them. This allows us to equip you with resources like catalogs, pre-show look books and technical specification sheets that help you get to know our products just as well as we do.

For example, we’ve got detailed product descriptions, specification sheets, and assembly and electrical configuration documents (if required) available for print or download on the Mercana Marketplace.

How does this help me?

You already know how important this is if you’ve ever tried to assemble furniture without an assembly guide because it was lost in shipping. Well, that doesn’t happen when you team up with us!

Digital Catalogs Now Available on the Marketplace

 

 

 

7. Amazing Freight Rates 

 

What does this mean? 

Simply put, we’ve got some of the best shipping rates and structures in the Industry. You pay a fixed freight percentage based on your net invoice total excluding any taxes. We can also facilitate delivery to specific residential and commercial addresses within North America.  

How does this help me? 

Fixed pricing on shipping means you never have to worry about fluctuations in freight tariffs. One less thing to worry about.  

 

8. Convenient Payment Solutions

 

What does this mean? 

When you’re ready to make a purchase, you have the option of paying by credit card (we accept all major credit and debit cards including Amex, Visa, and MasterCard) through the online system or if you prefer bank to bank payments, our account managers can make that happen for you too. You can also speak to your account managers to know more about our payment terms and credit options.  

How does this help me? 

As a business owner, bills can rack up quickly. Having the option of paying by credit, debit, cheque or cash can help you manage your finances better and allow you to focus more on making money instead of paying it.  

 

9. Premium & Affordable Collections 

 

What does this mean? 

We understand that your clients’ budgets vary. Keeping this in mind, we’ve got affordable collections as well as our premium, Studio M collections to help you choose the perfect products for each project and client. 

How does this help me?    

The freedom to work with any budget. Need we say more? 

 

10. Marketing Material

 

What does this mean? 

Since you stuck around for the last one, we’ve got something special for you. Unlike our competitors, we’re looking to team up with you. That means – you grow, we grow.  

How do we make it happen?  

Our talented marketing team devises personalized plans and marketing resources which you can distribute among your clients, prospects, and social followers. We collaborate with you to stage room inspirations that can be shared with our followers on social media.

Check us out on Instagram and Facebook to know what we're talking about!  

How does this help me? 

More clients, more projects. Want to know more? Drop our marketing team an email and we’ll help you understand the rest! 

 

Want to feel the Mercana difference first-hand? Register now on the Mercana Marketplace to start your journey with our team, as a team! 

The short answer

Neither shape is better on its own; the right one depends on your seating layout, your traffic flow and how you use the room. A round coffee table suits compact rooms, sectionals and busy households, while a rectangular coffee table suits a long sofa and rooms that need extra surface.

Shape is one of the first decisions our design team makes when a coffee table moves from sketch to sample, because it sets how a seating group feels and functions. Below is how we think it through, and how designers and stagers can apply it to a real floor plan.

 

  • When a round coffee table works best

    Choose round when the room needs softness, easy movement or a centre point for seating on several sides.

    • Sectionals and L-shaped seating. A circle reaches every seat equally, so no one sits facing a corner.
    • Compact or square rooms. With no corners to walk around, a round top keeps pathways open in condos, dens and reading nooks.
    • Busy households. Rounded edges are kinder to shins in high-traffic rooms.
    • Rooms full of straight lines. A circle breaks up a rectilinear sofa, rug and media console.

    The Shima Round Coffee Table brings this idea to a generous 45-inch circle in solid wood, with arched cut-out legs that keep the base visually light. For a smaller footprint with natural stone, the Rumer Coffee Table sets a 36-inch round of veined white marble on dark brown hardwood legs.

When a rectangular coffee table works best

Choose rectangular when a long sofa anchors the room or when the table has to work hard.

  • A standard three-seat sofa. A rectangle echoes the sofa's length, so every seat can reach the surface.
  • Long, narrow living rooms. The shape follows the room's proportions instead of fighting them.
  • Function first. More usable surface for trays, books, games and serving, plus room for shelves or storage below.
  • Formal or symmetrical plans. A rectangle reads as structured and balanced, ideal for facing sofas.

The Tabor Coffee Table wraps recycled pine in a black oak veneer waterfall frame for a clean, architectural rectangle. For collectors, the Arelius Rectangular Display Coffee Table pairs a glass-topped shadowbox with a black metal base, turning the centre of the room into a place to show treasured objects.

Oval and square: the in-between shapes

If you want the reach of a rectangle with the ease of a circle, choose oval; if your seating forms a square, choose square.

Oval gives a long sofa full coverage while removing the corners, which makes it a strong choice for families and tight walkways. The Shima Oval Coffee Table measures 48 by 28 inches in solid mango wood and arrives fully assembled. The Terra Oval Coffee Table adds a fluted base that conceals a lift top and storage.

Square suits a deep sectional or four chairs arranged around a central table. At 48 inches square with a 3-inch reclaimed wood top, the McArthur Coffee Table anchors large seating groups. The Lucas Coffee Table scales white marble down to 30 inches square for condos and paired-chair corners.

Sizing and clearance guidelines

Whatever the shape, scale matters more than style: a well-sized table makes a seating group feel intentional.

Guideline

Rule of thumb

Length (rectangular or oval)

About two-thirds the length of the sofa

Diameter (round)

About half to two-thirds of the sofa length; larger for a sectional's corner

Distance from seating

14 to 18 inches, close enough to reach a cup

Height

Level with the seat cushion or 1 to 2 inches lower

Walkways around the table

30 to 36 inches where people pass

When a room is between sizes, a round or oval table usually gives back more circulation space than a rectangle of the same surface area.

Pairing shape and material with your sofa

Contrast is the simplest rule: pair a heavy, square-armed sofa with a softer shape, and a curved sofa with cleaner lines.

With a dark brown or leather sofa, avoid matching the tone exactly. White marble, light wood or a metal base adds the contrast that keeps a dark sofa from feeling heavy. The Rumer and Lucas coffee tables both bring white marble into that palette.

Is marble still in style? Yes. Natural stone continues to anchor both modern and transitional rooms, and veining means no two tops are alike. Look for surface-tested finishes if the table will see daily cups and glasses.

With a light or curved sofa, a darker table in wood or blackened metal grounds the room, and an oval or rectangle adds structure.

Explore the collection

Browse Mercana coffee tables in round, oval, square and rectangular shapes, across Modern, Mid-Century Modern, Transitional, Industrial and Farmhouse styles. Each piece is designed in-house and specified with full dimensions, materials and clearance details.

For interior designers, stagers and retailers: register for a trade account to view wholesale pricing and availability. Shopping for your own home? Find a Mercana retailer near you.

Is it better to have a round or rectangular coffee table?

Round is better for sectionals, compact rooms and high-traffic homes. Rectangular is better for a long sofa, narrow rooms and when you need more surface or storage.

Does a round coffee table work with an L-shaped sectional?

Yes. A round table reaches every seat in an L-shaped layout and leaves an open path around the corner.

What size coffee table do I need?

Aim for about two-thirds the length of your sofa, 14 to 18 inches from the seat, and level with or slightly below the cushion height.

What coffee table goes with a dark brown sofa?

Choose contrast: white marble, light wood or a metal base keeps a dark sofa from feeling heavy.

Is an oval coffee table a good compromise?

Yes. An oval offers the reach of a rectangle along a long sofa without hard corners.

BROWSE ALL COFFEE TABLES