TODL Celebrates 9 Years of Devoted Service
2006-09-13 08:00:00 -0400

Nine years ago the idea of doing online product research and specification for the interior designer was unheard of. Then there was the emergence of the Trade Only Design Library - todl.com - a company out of Florida daring to step out of the box — or rather into the box. The box being a computer.

The internet has proven to be the perfect tool for the job of product research. It’s been a huge challenge to usher the industry from paper-based catalogs to accessible, electronic files but TODL was up to that challenge. And never was it a more efficient and correct transition. As a result, TODL now has tens of thousands of design products - with full specifications - available on the desktops of architects and designer world wide.

Projects in Residential, Contract/Commercial, Hospitality and Healthcare are a daily activity on TODL. The more manufacturers decide to include TODL in their marketing strategies and get their products listed, the more buyers use the site. The last 3 or 4 years have really been the turning point for the Internet becoming a major tool of the trade. Most manufacturers now have websites and most designers now use computers in their daily routine.

As of this month the TODL membership — comprised of Architects, Interior Designers and Facility Managers — is more than 28,300. There are 900+ manufacturers representing over 250,000 design products. We require members to qualify as trade professionals and manufacturers to keep their listings current.

As a result , the TODL site becomes more valuable as a resource tool. Especially since we started ahead of the industry and knew that online product research and specification was the future. With that future upon us our focus is to continue to build the site with more products and implement more advance features for our users.

The recent launch of Generation IV — featured at this year's NeoCon — is just the beginning of the next level for TODL. 2007 promises to bring services on TODL that will complete it as a full-service site for designers and manufacturers. Our 10-Year Anniversary will be a milestone in the industry.