Ep. 14: Everything’s Backordered — Now What? Handling Backorders & Lead-Time Chaos with Interior Designer Maggie Griffin

What do you do when the sofa is delayed, the fabric is backordered, the tariff surcharge shows up after the order is placed, and your client is staring at you like you personally disrupted the supply chain? 

In this episode of Stuff Interior Designers Need To Know, Rebecca sits down with Maggie Griffin, founder and principal designer of Maggie Griffin Design in Gainesville, Georgia, to talk about one of the least glamorous — but most business-critical — parts of running a residential interior design firm: backorders, lead times, substitutions, and client expectations.

With 18 years in business, Maggie has learned how to source smarter, lean on trade reps, communicate delays professionally, and decide when it’s worth waiting for the perfect showstopper versus when it’s time to reselect and move on with your life.

Rebecca asks:

1. How does Maggie source to reduce the risk of backorders?
2. How does she anticipate lead-time issues before they derail a project?
3. When should a designer accept a delay, and when should they proactively reselect?
4. How does Maggie deliver bad news to clients without creating unnecessary panic?
5. How can designers use reps, receivers, and local resources to manage logistics more professionally?
6. What should newer designers know about building real-world sourcing and product knowledge?
7. How do tariffs, gas surcharges, and changing costs affect the way Maggie communicates with clients?
8. How can setting expectations early help designers protect trust, timelines, and the client relationship?

If you’ve ever had to tell a client, “So… funny story… that thing we loved is now unavailable,” this conversation is for you.

Maggie reminds us that backorders may be part of the design industry now, but chaos does not have to be part of your client experience. With the right process, the right questions, and the courage to communicate clearly, designers can handle delays like professionals instead of hiding under the desk with a no-longer-available fabric memo.

Enjoy!

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About Maggie:

Maggie Griffin is the founder and principal designer of Maggie Griffin Design, a high-end residential interior design firm based in Gainesville, Georgia.

Maggie discovered her love for interior design early, often visiting Atlanta showhouses with her mother and grandmothers. She went on to study Furnishings & Interiors at the University of Georgia, with time abroad in Florence studying the History of Fabrics and Retail Design. She also double-majored in psychology, which has proven especially helpful in a client-centered industry full of big decisions, big emotions, and lots of different personalities.

Since founding her firm in 2008, Maggie has become known for her distinctive Southern design style, blending playful patterns, colorful fabrics, comfortable upholstery, and a pinch of chinoiserie. Her work reflects her belief in “using your best stuff every day” and creating homes that feel classic, stylish, comfortable, and deeply personal.

To connect with Maggie and Maggie Griffin Design:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiegriffindesign/
Website: https://maggiegriffindesign.com/

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