IDS IDSDEL | White-Glove Installation, Delivery & Storage Partner Website

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By Sarah Ericson

Every design project — no matter how large or small — has many steps to get from inception to completion. When it’s done well with expert planning and execution, no one notices the complicated project management that is required. And in a remote part of the country like Montana’s Flathead Valley, elaborate logistics are vital for the shipping, receiving, storage, and installation of high-end furniture. IDSDEL (IDS) has been streamlining this process for residents and businesses in the Flathead Valley since 2021, and their white-glove service has set a new standard for excellence.

“Other firms offer white-glove service as an addon. We’ve never even considered that— we’ve simply been doing it since day one.”

–Nilda Ruiz, Founder, IDS

Nilda Ruiz, founder of IDS, launched her business in Dallas, Texas, in 2008. After years of wearing many hats at a design firm, she’d seen enough of the workflow between designers and clients to know that the process could improve. Her insight allowed her to establish a whole new concept: a concierge service specializing in estate and fine furniture installation, delivery, and storage. Her business simplified the headaches that designers were experiencing when they had to coordinate transportation, assembly, and billing, not to mention handling any and all derailments along the way. Immediately, IDS filled a void in the industry, and with the help of Nilda’s husband Ian, the family business became a trusted solution for high-end clients.

After 13 years in business, IDS opened a Kalispell, Montana, location and expanded their services to Big Sky Country. New opportunities in the Flathead Valley include both residential and commercial projects, as growth is booming in all sectors. With so many years of experience, Nilda sees possibilities attached to every challenge. “Resort communities in the West are booming, but there are often trucking bottlenecks in such remote areas,” she says. “Right away, I focused a lot of time and energy into freight solutions here, and we’ve made a lot of progress.” She formed a close working relationship with Ideal Trucking, a firm that has since merged with SunBelt Xpress, and the trucking company is now delivering three times a week to IDS’ Kalispell warehouse. “We have solidified this transit channel, and now SunBelt has opened a hub in Utah to better serve all of their western markets,” Nilda adds. Her ability to see the big picture and streamline processes benefits her clients, her company, and the intricate network of operators who make the design industry function.

The island transportation coordination required meticulous planning, as the barge was instrumental in transporting our eight-member team to the island. We successfully compressed our installation timeframe to a single day, thereby mitigating the clients’ expenses associated with the barge rental.

As IDS has gained traction in the valley over the past five years, Nilda and her team have remained true to their roots by providing premier white-glove service to their residential clients. Their projects in the Flathead Valley have grown organically, as high-end interior design firms trust their ability to deliver. “We’re able to demonstrate to designers that they can have total confidence and everything’s going to be ok. Regardless of the item or whole collection’s size, value, intricacy, or complicated supply chain, we are 100% focused on receiving, inspecting, assembling, and installing to the exact specifications agreed upon,” she says. IDS is certainly not the only option in certain markets across the country, but one thing that sets them apart is that white-glove service is a given. “Other firms offer white-glove service as an add-on. We’ve never even considered that — we’ve simply been doing it since day one,” Nilda adds.

“We are here to simplify the process for our clients… The preliminary work takes a long time, and I love it”

–Nilda Ruiz, Founder, IDS

In addition to the premier services the company provides to luxury homeowners, IDS has been tackling large-scale commercial projects in the Flathead Valley as well. Their expertise has wide-ranging applications for both historic landmarks like the Izaak Walton Inn as well as massive public transit spaces like Glacier Park International Airport. Both of these projects demonstrate the broad scope of work that IDS is capable of. The Izaak Walton was built in 1939, and its new owners renovated in a style that preserved its proud railroad heritage. Nilda says with a smile.

The 100-acre resort includes a main lodge building and several antique rail cars converted into guest cabins. The project at GPIA, on the other hand, was a state-of-the-art terminal expansion that included a redesign of the TSA checkpoint, new jet bridges and waiting areas, new retail and dining areas, and expanded administrative offices. “For the Izaak Walton project, we served as the project manager and were heavily involved in the design phases. The install was a major undertaking considering the remoteness of the property and the large number of outbuildings on site. And the airport was a new experience altogether. Because of the high level of security involved in airport operations, our entire team had to undergo background checks, complete online testing, and pass in-depth TSA screenings. That project was so exciting and it gave us the opportunity for a lot of new firsts,”

Whether IDS is transporting a single family heirloom or installing furniture in an entire airport terminal, the crew has the same level of dedication and focus. “We are here to simplify the process for our clients,” says Nilda. The current team has 15 employees, and they are able to offer a range of services. Aside from furniture installation, delivery, and storage, IDS also offers packing, crating and shipping services, pick-up and delivery transport, climate-controlled warehouse storage, furniture repair and refinishing, and on-site lining and organizing services. Each of these operations requires an immense amount of planning, a behind-the-scenes skillset where Nilda excels. “The preliminary work takes a long time, and I love it,” says Nilda. From initial contact to total completion, projects can range from three months to three years. IDS is currently in the planning-logistics phase with a hotel in Glacier National Park that is slated to begin construction in 2027.

“For the Izaak Walton project, we served as the project manager and were heavily involved in the design phases. The install was a major undertaking considering the remoteness of the property and the large number of outbuildings on site. And the airport was a new experience altogether. Because of the high level of security involved in airport operations, our entire team had to undergo background checks, complete online testing, and pass in-depth TSA screenings . That project was so exciting and it gave us the opportunity for a lot of new firsts.”

–Nilda Ruiz, Founder, IDS

After five successful years of operating in the Flathead Valley, IDS has solidified relationships with freight carriers, premier design firms, and countless clients. Their reputation is largely spread by word of mouth, and Nilda beams with pride when the glowing reviews come back to her. “We work with a lot of different personalities, and no matter what, I hear people say, ‘I wouldn’t be in business without you,’ and ‘You and your team make us look so good.’ It means a lot to know that we are recognized as part of the essential design team. Premier designers know they can count on us,” she says. Nilda’s energy is fueled by that feedback and she seizes every opportunity to mentor local operators in the design industry.

“We’ve relocated completely and this new adventure shows no signs of stopping. I’m confident that the next five years will be full of more success for us and our clients.”

–Nilda Ruiz, Founder, IDS

Today, the Flathead Valley is more than just a second location for IDS; it’s home. “We’ve relocated completely and this new adventure shows no signs of stopping. I’m confident that the next five years will be full of more success for us and our clients,” Nilda says. IDS continues to be an essential part of the steady growth in northwest Montana. And the process of designing and installing high-end furnishings in residential and commercial spaces is streamlined with IDS as an essential part of the team.

“We work with a lot of different personalities, and no matter what, I hear people say, ‘I wouldn’t be in business without you,’ and ‘You and your team make us look so good.’ It means a lot to know that we are recognized as part of the essential design team. Premier designers know they can count on us.”

–Nilda Ruiz, Founder, IDS

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