Protect Your Business With DSAinsure
By Lindsay Field Penticuff
Imagine, if you will, that the warehouse where you store all of your design inventory catches fire and a majority of the contents are damaged—with very little being salvaged.
What would you do? What should you do? Who should you call first?
This is where the team at VillaNOVA Insurance Partners, which manages DSAinsure Insurance and Risk Management for the Designer Society of America (DSA) members under the program name PenEx. DSAInsure provides insurance for interior designers, stagers, and kitchen designers. To learn more, visit https://www.pen-ex.com/dsainsure-insurance-and-risk-management/ and complete a DSAinsure application, or contact Leah Check at (877) 438-7369, ext. 226, or email Leah lcheck@novainsurancepartners.com.
“We have a whole risk management team that is staffed with lawyers, risk managers and claims adjusters who do risk management,” says Victor D’Angelo, COO of VillaNOVA. “This means we create tools like service agreements and subcontractor agreements specifically for interior designers to keep them out of trouble and to make sure that they don’t get into situations where claims arise.”
Part of the risk management piece is educating creative professionals and making them understand the steps involved when going to a job. The first step should be using a service contract when engaging with a new client. Secondly, using subcontractor agreements when bringing anyone else on the job who will do work for you is paramount. Lastly, ensure that the subcontractor has adequate insurance in place, holds harmless, and indemnifies you and your business.
“Another part of being a part of our program: If you think you have a claim coming down the
With the nearly 20 years of experience supporting interior designers, stagers and kitchen 
designers that, DSAinsure is ready to step and support your business. Visit https://www.pen-ex.com/dsainsure-insurance-and-risk-management/ and complete a DSAinsure application, or contact Leah Check at (877) 438-7369, ext. 226, or email Leah lcheck@novainsurancepartners.com.
designers that, DSAinsure is ready to step and support your business. Visit https://www.pen-ex.com/dsainsure-insurance-and-risk-management/ and complete a DSAinsure application, or contact Leah Check at (877) 438-7369, ext. 226, or email Leah lcheck@novainsurancepartners.com.