Dunbar Stewart · B2B Relationship Strategist
Where the Right
Businesses Find
Each Other.
I build the relationships that drive the interior design industry — connecting product vendors, designers, architects, and builders through trust, strategy, and deep trade knowledge.
About Dunbar
The person in the room who knows everyone.
The interior design industry runs on relationships — but building the right ones takes years. I've spent my career at the intersection of product, design, and construction, learning who the best players are and what they need to succeed.
Dunbar Connects is a B2B relationship-building firm. I work with product vendors who want to get their brand in front of the right designers, and with interior designers, architects, and builders who need trusted trade partners to deliver exceptional projects.
I don't just make introductions — I build the context, establish the trust, and create the conditions for long-term business relationships to thrive.
Who I Serve
Three worlds. One trusted guide.
01 — Product Vendors
Get your brand specified by the designers who matter.
You have an exceptional product. I make sure the right designers, architects, and builders know it — and trust it. I brand your story, build your credibility in the trade, and open doors that cold outreach never could.
02 — Interior Designers
Build a vendor network that elevates every project.
Your reputation is only as strong as the partners behind you. I connect designers with vetted, high-quality vendors whose products and values align with your work — so every specification is one you're proud to make.
03 — Architects & Builders
Find the trade partners your projects demand.
Complex projects require reliable, specification-ready vendors. I connect architects and builders with product partners who understand the demands of commercial and high-end residential work — and can deliver at scale.
PR & Marketing
Your brand, seen by the right people — in print.
Relationships open doors. But the right ad in the right publication keeps them open. I don't just connect businesses — I help you build the brand presence that makes those connections stick.
I produce and place ads that get attention. Not generic placements — fully conceived, designed, and executed campaigns built around your product and your audience. I have a proven track record creating ads that have appeared in some of the most respected design publications in the country.
Featured In
Ad Concept & Design
Full creative development — from concept through final production-ready artwork. Built to stop the page and communicate your brand in seconds.
Publication Placement
I know the publications that reach designers, architects, and builders in the DC market. I handle placement so your ad lands in front of the audience that matters.
Brand Narrative
Before any ad runs, your story has to be right. I help vendors and trade businesses define their positioning so every piece of marketing reinforces the same message.
Campaign Strategy
One great ad is a moment. A campaign is a relationship. I build multi-touch strategies that keep your brand visible across the full design trade ecosystem.
The Process
Strategic. Intentional. Built to last.
We Talk Business
Every engagement starts with a real conversation about your business goals — not a form. I want to understand your product, your positioning, your ideal partners, and what a successful relationship looks like for you.
I Brand and Position You
Before I make any introduction, I make sure your story is sharp. I help vendors articulate their value to the trade, and help designers and builders define exactly what they need in a product partner. The right framing changes everything.
I Build the Relationship
When the match is right, I make the introduction — with full context on both sides. I don't just connect names. I build the foundation for a long-term business relationship, then step back and let it grow.
Portfolio
Connections that became something beautiful.
Every project starts with the right introduction. Here are a few stories of what happened next.
Case Study 01
The Kitchen That Took Three Years — Until It Didn’t
A DC-area custom cabinetry vendor had an exceptional product but couldn’t get traction with the design community. Their sales approach wasn’t landing, and their brand story wasn’t connecting with how designers think.
I repositioned their trade narrative, then introduced them to a Bethesda-based designer whose project pipeline was a natural fit. Both sides were fully briefed before the first meeting.
Outcome
The designer specified the vendor on three projects within one quarter. The relationship became an ongoing trade account.
Case Study 02
A Designer’s Network, Built in a Season
A talented interior designer relocating from New York to the DC area had the portfolio but not the local trade relationships. She needed vetted vendors — fast — to take on her first regional projects.
Over three months, I made eight introductions across tile, lighting, upholstery, and custom millwork. Each vendor was pre-qualified against her aesthetic standards and project scale.
Outcome
She launched her first two DC-area projects with a full vendor bench and has since referred two colleagues to Dunbar Connects.
Case Study 03
From Showroom to Specification in 90 Days
A boutique textile vendor with an exceptional product line had been struggling to get in front of architects and designers specifying for commercial projects. Their brand wasn’t positioned for the trade.
I rebuilt their trade pitch, then introduced them to four architects and designers whose project types and price points were a natural fit. I prepared both sides before each meeting.
Outcome
Three of the four specified the vendor’s product within 90 days. One became an ongoing trade account worth six figures annually.
What People Say
Relationships that drive real business results.
Dunbar didn't just make an introduction — he made sure both sides were ready for it. The vendor he connected us with became one of our most-specified partners within a single season.
Celeste R.
Principal Interior Designer
Georgetown, DC
We'd been trying to break into the DC design market for two years. Dunbar understood our product, positioned us correctly, and opened three accounts in 90 days. That's not luck — that's strategy.
James K.
VP Sales, Product Vendor
Bethesda, MD
I've worked with a lot of reps and consultants. Dunbar is different — he actually understands both sides of the relationship. Every introduction he's made has been the right one.
Marcus T.
Principal Architect
McLean, VA
Let's Talk
Every great business relationship starts with one conversation.
Whether you're a vendor looking to grow your presence in the design trade, a designer building your product network, or an architect seeking reliable specification partners — I'd like to hear about your business.
Email directly
[email protected]