Swatchbox, the premier sample fulfillment service, has launched Swatchbox Pro, a new AEC platform for researching and requesting samples of building products. With increased shipping delays and lack of access to resources due to the pandemic, Swatchbox Pro allows architects, designers, and contractors to order samples from leading manufacturers and have them delivered with minimal wait time.
With an ever-growing roster of sourcing services available to specifiers, Swatchbox Pro is unique because it is founded and operated by architects. This is a selling point for professionals looking to simplify an often-frustrating process. “I’m the fourth generation of my family to be in the building industry. I was a practicing architect for a number of years, and I noticed the friction between manufacturers and designers when it came to sampling,” said Benjamin Glunz, CEO of Swatchbox.
Indeed, it’s the firsthand knowledge of the Swatchbox Pro team that has allowed them to create a platform that streamlines the process, and ensures that the requested samples will arrive on time. “As architects, we understand the roles that our clients have, and the impact that the delivery of samples has on projects. Every feature is added with that end-user in mind,” Glunz noted.
With Swatchbox Pro, users can source from the office or home, without extra tools or in-person visits required. “Our primary goal with all of this was to make it as easy to order a sample as it is to download a PDF from an online source. This API is already integrated all over the place. Making that available to other web properties, and then being able to bring it all together wherever the designer or architect is actually working is a key thing,” Glunz added.
Glunz said it’s a time-saver that is unmatched, especially for young designers just starting out in the industry. Swatchbox Pro saves users time, allowing them to focus on critical details and phases of a project, rather than worry about boxes arriving. “We were really thinking about those younger professionals, wasting hour after hour making phone calls to find all this stuff that they might not even use. We want those menial tasks to go by the wayside, so that people can really bring value to what they are working on.”
Time is of the essence when it comes to receiving samples, and even slight delays can be costly. With two-day or next-day shipping available, a specifier can get a box quickly and with minimum hassle. “We live in a world today where Amazon has set the standard with shipping. Our clients have come to expect that same level of service. The shipping options offer greater flexibility for our manufacturers and the designers,” Glunz said.
Glunz also noted that most users are willing to wait just a bit, and want to make a responsible choice that has less negative impact on the environment. “For most purposes, two-day shipping is more than adequate. We’ve pushed back on the notion that everything has to be done the next morning. We can be good stewards of our resources and still get what we need.”
We’ve all complained about the glut of Zoom calls we’ve had to endure, and for designers, it’s been especially difficult to select samples and match hues via computer screen. Nothing can replace seeing a vibrant tint in-person or touching a plush fabric. Showcasing every unique detail clearly is an essential part of the Swatchbox Pro experience.
“It was really important that Swatchbox Pro be intensely visual for our users. It was designed so that someone is able to look at all of the different products in a really crisp, clean interface. You can look at a lot of little swatches at once, or you can zoom in and make a few of them much larger. You can filter by color group. These are all of the types of visual elements that really cater to the architecture and design audience,” Glunz explained.
Yet, Swatchbox Pro is not just about what a person can see on the screen, but the complete package. Each shipment arrives in an elegant box featuring the company logo along with the signature navy and red logo colors. The box is a branding tool that makes as much of a statement as the website does. “The site is just an appetizer,” said Glunz. “The real experience begins when that box comes through the mail and you actually receive it, presented so professionally. We wanted the initial online connection to set the tone for the moment the samples are in hand. That’s the most important part.”
The packaging looks good, but for Glunz, the true beauty lies in the sustainability. “We chose all of our materials carefully. Not only can you recycle the box after you are done with it, but you also have the option to send back the samples that you aren’t going to use. We then put those back into inventory or they get recycled sustainably through a partner that we’re working with. You won’t have boxes and things piling up in your office. We were mindful of the waste, and have to minimize our footprint.”
Several manufacturers, including PPG Paints and Armstrong Ceiling and Wall Solutions, are already on board, with more being added each month. Glunz estimates that by the end of the summer season they’ll have about 50 companies in the system. He said there is a broad spectrum of pieces on offer, from traditional paint and tile samples, to specialty structural items. “We have everything that you might expect, but we also have a paper manufacturer. There are underlayments and studs in different shapes.”
Providing the specialized pieces industry professionals want is vital—and so is the personal connection, which Swatchbox Pro facilitates. “The manufacturers and the pros are really looking for the same thing, an easier way to interact with one another that’s fresh and exciting. We are that meeting point, so that they can work together to achieve their goals,” Glunz added.