About Us
Every year, Save A Sample! creates a second life for unused brochures, fabrics and finish cards. Over the years, thousands of pounds of materials have been donated by some of the country's busiest design firms. Materials are delivered to local design schools with the help of local furniture dealers. As a result, talented students have richer resources to choose from during the year.
"Save A Sample! offers students access to the newest architectural materials and finish products available," says Linda Oshea, Design Chair at Kean University in New York. "I have seen great improvement in terms of creativity, innovation, and imagination on student material and finish boards since being involved in this wonderful program. It is like Christmas morning in the design studios when Save A Sample! boxes arrive at our school!"
Save A Sample! has helped students in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Haven, New York City/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC, and Wilmington!
Save A Sample! was started in 1999 by SpecSimple. A natural outgrowth of Spec Simple, Inc. a resource company which manages libraries and Virtual Libraries for design firms and furniture professionals across the country, Spec Simple brings together design firms, furniture dealers and manufacturers each year to benefit design schools and their students.
To learn more about SpecSimple, Inc. or Virtual Library please contact VLTours@specsimple.com to set up a Virtual Tour.
"Save A Sample! offers students access to the newest architectural materials and finish products available," says Linda Oshea, Design Chair at Kean University in New York. "I have seen great improvement in terms of creativity, innovation, and imagination on student material and finish boards since being involved in this wonderful program. It is like Christmas morning in the design studios when Save A Sample! boxes arrive at our school!"
Save A Sample! has helped students in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Haven, New York City/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC, and Wilmington!
Save A Sample! was started in 1999 by SpecSimple. A natural outgrowth of Spec Simple, Inc. a resource company which manages libraries and Virtual Libraries for design firms and furniture professionals across the country, Spec Simple brings together design firms, furniture dealers and manufacturers each year to benefit design schools and their students.
To learn more about SpecSimple, Inc. or Virtual Library please contact VLTours@specsimple.com to set up a Virtual Tour.
our history
our team
Suzanne Swift - Founder
suzanne@specsimple.com
Suzanne sought to create an organization that gave a 'second life' to architectural and design samples. In 1999 she did just that by creating Save A Sample!, the nation wide recycling program whose mission is to divert architectural and design samples from landfill. To date, Suzanne's efforts have saved thousands of pounds of samples from landfills from coast to coast.
suzanne@specsimple.com
Suzanne sought to create an organization that gave a 'second life' to architectural and design samples. In 1999 she did just that by creating Save A Sample!, the nation wide recycling program whose mission is to divert architectural and design samples from landfill. To date, Suzanne's efforts have saved thousands of pounds of samples from landfills from coast to coast.
Amanda Quade
amandaq@specsimple.com
Amanda started working with Save A Sample! October 2017. Her duties include: working with sponsors, coordinating sign ups, writing press releases, broadcasting, scheduling pick ups and drop offs, social media, and updating both websites. Amanda loves Save A Sample! because, "the program is not only one of a kind, it is completely sustainable. It connects each facet of our industry with future innovators - design students." Amanda lives in Minnesota and has a Ph. D in Forensic Psychology.
amandaq@specsimple.com
Amanda started working with Save A Sample! October 2017. Her duties include: working with sponsors, coordinating sign ups, writing press releases, broadcasting, scheduling pick ups and drop offs, social media, and updating both websites. Amanda loves Save A Sample! because, "the program is not only one of a kind, it is completely sustainable. It connects each facet of our industry with future innovators - design students." Amanda lives in Minnesota and has a Ph. D in Forensic Psychology.
Denise Morano
denisem@specsimple.com
Denise started working with Save A Sample! in 2019. She works as a Marketing Assistant and Program Co-Coordinator for the Save A Sample! recycling events. Denise loves working with Save A Sample! because she is passionate about being Earth friendly and helping students learn and grow. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Fashion Marketing and a Masters Degree in Business Management. In her spare time, Denise enjoys hiking, meditating, and traveling.
denisem@specsimple.com
Denise started working with Save A Sample! in 2019. She works as a Marketing Assistant and Program Co-Coordinator for the Save A Sample! recycling events. Denise loves working with Save A Sample! because she is passionate about being Earth friendly and helping students learn and grow. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Fashion Marketing and a Masters Degree in Business Management. In her spare time, Denise enjoys hiking, meditating, and traveling.
Wendy Penny
wendy@specsimple.com
Wendy has been working for Save A Sample! for three years. Her primary focus is fundraising, and she is great at it. Wendy's fundraising efforts have led Save A Sample! to raise $50,000 in scholarship funds! Wendy enjoys working with Save A Sample! because it's sustainable and helps design students. Wendy lives in Wisconsin and uses her fundraising skills for her sons baseball team breaking records there too!
wendy@specsimple.com
Wendy has been working for Save A Sample! for three years. Her primary focus is fundraising, and she is great at it. Wendy's fundraising efforts have led Save A Sample! to raise $50,000 in scholarship funds! Wendy enjoys working with Save A Sample! because it's sustainable and helps design students. Wendy lives in Wisconsin and uses her fundraising skills for her sons baseball team breaking records there too!
Julie Albrecht
juliea@specsimple.com
"I love to hear the enthusiasm and joy from artisans and schools when they receive their boxes of recycled goods from Save A Sample!" Julie shares, "Recycling materials from design firms around the Country gives each student the opportunity to work with media that is used in the design field. They would not have this abundance of material without Save A Sample!" Julie joined the Save A Sample! team to help facilitate design firm sign up and other administrative duties.
juliea@specsimple.com
"I love to hear the enthusiasm and joy from artisans and schools when they receive their boxes of recycled goods from Save A Sample!" Julie shares, "Recycling materials from design firms around the Country gives each student the opportunity to work with media that is used in the design field. They would not have this abundance of material without Save A Sample!" Julie joined the Save A Sample! team to help facilitate design firm sign up and other administrative duties.