Meet Nicole Lee | Owner of Material Matters I Independant Manufacturer’s Representative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, other than deciding to work for yourself, what else do you think played a pivotal role in your story?
I think one of the single most important decisions I have made that has contributed to my success is surrounding myself with the right people. By surrounding myself with people who have different skill sets, viewpoints, and business experience, I have been able to adapt a broad understanding of what it takes to succeed in todays competitive and fast changing business environment.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
From the time I started Material Matters my sole mission has been to serve as a valuable resource to the South Florida design community. By curating an extensive array of distinctive material finishes, my aim is to empower my clients with an effortless specification process, saving them precious time and energy when sourcing the materials for their projects. I am extremely proud of the partnerships I have established with my manufacturer’s and our ability to continually bring great products and service to my clients.

I earned my Bachelor’s degree in interior design from Miami International University and worked in high-end residential before deciding to start my rep group in 2020. I have sat on the board of IIDASFC where I held the position of VP of Events and VP of Philanthropy. I remain very connected within the South Florida design community through the relationships I have established over the past several years as a rep.

I started Material Matters in a strange time in our history. I actually started it at the beginning stages of Covid and needless to say, it has been quite the journey. I feel one of the biggest challenges has been the way technology has changed the role of the rep. When Material Bank came along, which is a platform for designer’s to source their materials all in one place online, and receive samples within 24 hours, it eliminated the need for the rep to drop samples to the designer in person. Therfore, making it difficult to be able to communicate about projects and make that personal connection with the designers. It was especially hard during Covid because no one was going into the offices and trying to show materials over a Zoom call was virtually impossible. I will say, that it has gotten better now that people are returning to their offices and entertaining more physical interactions.

I believe what sets Material Matters apart from our competition is that I have worked as a designer and understand the process, I speak their language. I know how important the materials they are selecting for their projects are to the overall succsess of the design. I also think that the curated selection of products we offer are not only unique, but very specifiable.

Some of the lessons I have learned along the way are to trust your instincts, even when you are not sure, we have them for a reason, and I have found that most of the time they are right. Also, to be grateful and humble for each opportunity you are given because they are never guaranteed.

I am a lover of life, devoted to my family and passionate about design. I believe we are the creators of our lives. With passion, determination, and hard work, you can achieve your dream life, whatever that may look like to you. Don’t be afraid to dream big, be kind to others, and stay humble along the way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Miami is such an amazing and diverse city. One of my favorite restaurants in Miami is Versailles Cuban Restaurant. Their menu is filled with authentic cuban cuisine and the atmospher is as if you have stepped back in time and are sitting in Little Havana Cuba. I have actually been to Cuba.

I love art, so another great place to visit is the Perez Art Museum. They always have amazing interactive shows and wonderful artist works on display.

I would also reccommend the Superblue Miami Immersive experience. It will leave you mesmerized. It’s a super cool digital environment with mirrored rooms, cloud like atmospheric spaces and beautiful light shows.

There is a new restaurant called Sexy Fish and it is a design lovers dream. The over the top vegas style decor leaves you speechless, and the Asian fusion food and exotic drinks are delightful. A bit on the pricey side, so be sure to plan for that little extra.

For the lover of shopping, the Brickell City Center is a must. You can have a hard core day of shopping and then go to one of the cool restaurants like Tacology for some delicious margaritas to rest your weary feet.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have been blessed to have an amazing family and friends who have been super supportive along the way, but I must say, that without my wonderful manufactuer partners, clients, and the amazing South Florida design community, Material Matters would not exist. I am forever thankful for them for putting their trust in us to continue to provide great materials and service for their projects.

Website: www.materialmatters.guru

Instagram: nicolelee_materialmatters

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-lee-02a2717a

Image Credits
Littles Photography