Companies in this industry plan and design interior spaces such as hotels, hospitals, residences, commercial businesses, and offices. Although no major companies dominate the industry, a number of large architecture and design firms offer interior design services, such as AECOM, Gensler, HOK, and Perkins&Will (all based in the US), as well as DB&B (Singapore), M Moser Associates (Hong Kong), and Stantec (Canada).
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Construction and renovation of residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings drive demand for interior design services. The profitability of individual companies depends on accurate bidding, timely delivery, and a steady volume of projects. Large companies have advantages in marketing, developing partnerships, building a large client referral list, and getting priority service from suppliers. Small companies can compete effectively by providing better service, specializing, and using unique or custom product sources. The US industry is highly fragmented: the 50 largest US firms account for about 15% of revenue.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Full-service interior design accounts for about 90% of US industry revenue; interior decorating services account for more than 5%, while retail sales are about 1%. Other services include full-service interior design for restoration of old buildings.