A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We have Sarah Winchester with us today! Sarah is a Boston based photographer specializing in interiors and fine art photography. Social media has really raised the bar for photographers over the last few years, and as a result, the world of interiors photography has been getting a lot of recognition. So investing in an excellent professional photographer has become a valuable way for new interior designers to become known. In today's episode, Sarah talks to us about styling, copyright, what it takes to be a great interiors photographer, and she also explains what you, as an interior designer, need to look for when hiring a photographer. Listen in today, to get Sarah's practical tips and advice for showing yourself in the way that you want to be seen. Raised in Atlanta, GA Sarah brings her southern sensibility and style to her work. After years in the corporate world as a creative director, brand manager, and in-house photographer, Sarah opened her own studio in 2009. Sarah’s strengths lie in blending the needs of the client with her own unique and artistic approach, to create beautiful and effective images. Sarah graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor’s in Art and Art History and received her Masters in Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She was also able to spend time studying art in Florence, Italy. Tune in now for more! Show Highlights: Sarah believes that you have to have a script, or a shot list to know where you're going, where to start and to keep things organized. Amazing photographs are essential for interior designers. Social media has raised the bar for photographers. Finding the right photographer. Photographic shoots are creative and fun, and also exhausting! What to look out for when choosing a photographer who will be the right fit. Getting as much out of a photo shoot as you possibly can. Copyright versus usage right... it can all be very confusing. Paying for usage rights for the images you've shared. Having the conversation about who owns the rights to the images on social media. There's safety in integrity so it's important to be clear right from the beginning. Partnering with local brands in order to style a project. Developing relationships with local businesses and highlighting their products in your photo shoots. Using images to sell a feeling. Bio: Sarah is a Boston based photographer specializing in interiors and fine art photography. Raised in Atlanta, GA she brings her southern sensibility and style to her work. After years in the corporate world as a creative director, brand manager, and in-house photographer, Sarah opened her own studio in 2009. Sarah’s strengths lie in blending the needs of the client with her own unique and artistic approach, to create beautiful and effective images. Sarah graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor’s in Art and Art History and received her Masters in Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She was also able to spend time studying art in Florence, Italy–one of her favorite cities in the world. Sarah has worked with clients, which span the creative and professional world, from magazines and fashion houses to advertising campaigns and construction companies. Sarah feels photography is about creating, not just capturing and brings that emotion to her work. Links: Website: Sarah Winchester Studios Instagram: Sarah_W_Studios Austin Mill PR Previous episodes mentioned in the show: Stephen Karlisch # 369 David Livingstone # 51 Raquel Langworthy # 343 Sarah Winchester Studios - Pitch for LuAnne Nigara Podcast About Sarah Winchester Sarah is a Boston based photographer who shoots all over the country, specializing in interiors and fine art photography. Raised in Atlanta, GA she brings her southern sensibility and style to her work. After years in the corporate world as a creative director, brand manager, and in-house photographer, Sarah opened her own studio in 2009. Sarah’s strengths lie in blending the needs of the client with her own unique and artistic approach, to create beautiful and effective images. Sarah graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor’s in Art and Art History and received her Masters in Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She was also able to spend time studying art in Florence, Italy–one of her favorite cities in the world. Sarah has worked with clients, which span the creative and professional world, from magazines and fashion houses to advertising campaigns and construction companies. She also creates a series of fine art photography stemming from a passion for art and travel; creating beautiful images to live with and love. Sarah feels photography is about creating, not just capturing and brings that emotion to her work. OVERVIEW: PHOTOGRAPHERS - How to choose one? What sets me apart? In an increasingly growing field, how should a designer choose? In turn, how can a photographer set him or herself apart? (I know lots of i

Welcome to the show! Today, we have the charming Jared Hughes, an interior designer from Atlanta, joining us. Jared's Instagram and his website are well worth paying attention to because they are unusual, warm, and beautiful, and the authentic way that he has remained true to himself and his own, personal style really shines through both. In today's episode, Jared talks to us about his solid interior design business and he explains how he has built a reputation and gained recognition as a talented designer within the interior design industry, even though his firm is still under three years old. Tune in now, to find out more! Jared opened his firm after ten years of experience working for others in residential design and event and floral design. The experience that he gained from doing this has allowed him to hit the ground running and as a result, he's been producing projects that are timeless, classic, and with an unexpected twist. Listen in to find out what Jared has to share today. You're really going to enjoy this episode! Show Highlights: Jared talks about his confidence in presenting his work in his own, unique way in his Instagram and on his website. There are some key elements that are evident in all of Jared's designs. Jared explains why hints of his personal life appear regularly in his Instagram feed. Jared's biggest client is from Switzerland. What people are looking for in Atlanta, in terms of interior design. Jared talks about his incredible number of accomplishments over the last two years. Networking has really been key to Jared's success. As a new designer, it's really important to present yourself in a humble and respectful manner when getting to know more experienced designers. Jared advises you, as baby designers, to take the advice of more seasoned designers and let them help you. We never stop learning, so Jared likes to test out processes that have worked for other people. Jared is extroverted and better around other people, however, he has no problem with being alone. Jared gives some unique and useful advice to help introverted designers with networking. Jared explains where he gained the grounding for his specific design aesthetic. Bio: Jared Hughes is a globally inspired Atlanta designer with deep roots in the South. His penchant for antiques and architecture are at the heart of his work, and his fascination with fabrics is the starting point for nearly all of his design projects. He gleans inspiration from his obsession with color to rethink the past and create livable, layered spaces. With 10 years of experience in residential, event and floral design, Hughes’ breadth of experience allows him to produce projects that feel timeless and classic with an unexpected twist. Links and Resources: Website: Jared Hughes Design Instagram: Jared Hughes Design Will you be joining LuAnn in Las Vegas for her one-day Power Talk Friday Tour? LuAnn is repeating her Power Talk Friday Tour this year in Las Vegas. It is a one-day coaching event and it will be held on Saturday, July 27th, and it will run from 8.00am to 11.00pm. It will include breakfast, lunch, and dinner, discussions with LuAnn's PTF experts, and four hours of round table discussions, in groups of three or less, with each expert individually. Go to Power Talk Friday to reserve your seat. This event is sponsored by Revel Woods and MyDoma Studio. To get onto LuAnn's email list to get the info, text the word DESIGNBIZ to the number 444999.

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We are very happy to have Kimberly Merlitti, one of our favorite Power Talk Experts, back on the show today. Many people are really in the dark about how much money is actually going in and out of their businesses. Kimberly, who first appeared in episode #361, loves teaching people to understand accounting in a way that makes them an active partner in their finances. Talking in really simple language, she helps people figure out the really important financial side of their businesses. In today's episode, you will learn about the billable hours, rates between the principal designer and junior designers, how to know your cash on hand, how to know your 'cost to be open' number, how to budget to hire a junior designer, and how to prepare for a recession. Listen in, to find out how to get to know your numbers. Kimberly Merlitti owns KMM Consulting based out of Washington, D.C. She has 20 years of experience working in accounting for companies such as Swinerton Builders, WRNS Studio, and Martin Group. She has her Masters in Accounting from Golden Gate University. Located in Washington D.C. Kimberly's clientele includes a diverse group of service-based companies, with the main focus on small interior design, construction, and architectural firms. The goal of her firm is to make the businesses she works for as profitable as they can be by educating them on accounting, cash flow management, tax deductions, project reporting, and business management. Tune in now, for more! Show Highlights: Kimberly shares a really simple calculation for you to get to know how much of the money in your business account is actually yours. Using the best software to calculate your vendor liability. Keeping an eye on your cash flow. How to know your cash on hand. It only takes five minutes a month to know your cash on hand. Budgeting to hire a junior designer. Working out your time-billing rates and budgets. Being upfront and straightforward with your clients. Telling your clients what to expect with every stage of the design process. Things to consider when working out your 'cost to be open' number. How to prepare for a recession. Building cash reserves for difficult times. Other episodes mentioned in today's show: Alinda Morris: #429 Michele Williams #180 and #395 Peter Lang #349 Links: A Well Designed Business Kimberly's website: KMM Consulting Kimberly's email: [email protected] Need to schedule time with KMM? KMM Consulting

Welcome to today's show! We're excited to be interviewing Laura and Cliff Muller today. Laura and Cliff are the husband and wife team behind Four Point Design Build, an award-winning full-service multi-disciplinary residential and commercial high-level interior and architectural design, project management, and construction firm, based in Los Angeles. The landscape of interior design is changing, so design-build has become an incredible opportunity for interior designers to have control over their projects and to enjoy the fruits of a multi-dimensional process. In today's episode, Cliff and Laura share some of their winning design-build processes, and Laura gives some great advice about mentorship and collaborating with build professionals. Tune in now, to find out more. Four Point Design Build is owned and led by interior designer and general contractor, Laura and Cliff Muller, and with over sixty years of combined experience, FOUR POINT’s boutique hands-on style of design and project management from concept to turnkey, specializes in highly customized client-centered projects with an experienced and immaculate focus on whole home remodels, kitchens, baths, and office spaces. Cliff and Laura’s work has been seen Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Better Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Metropolis, Hospitality Design, and CA Home & Design to name a few. Listen in today, to find out about what it takes to run a successful design-build business. Show Highlights: There's a fine line between professionalism and personal expression in the world of business today. Why Laura and Cliff make such an excellent husband and wife team. Celebrating all the different people involved in a project at the end. How they developed the name of their business. Cliff and Laura's four-step business-process. Understanding what goes into a design-build project. The best way for a new designer to start out in the design-build world. Laura suggests that new designers find a design-build mentor to oversee their first small design-build project. The best way for a young designer to approach someone they would like to become their mentor. Laura explains how to make the right kind of connections. What has to happen at the beginning of a successful design-build project. The investigation and analysis that is necessary before the start of a design-build project. Knowing your self-worth and value, and the essence of the truth of your business is really empowering. Some websites that provide good information for designers and consumers to understand what to expect from a design-build project. Laura discusses the really well-received presentation that they did at the Las Vegas market, around the changing landscape of interior design. Short Company Bio: FOUR POINT DESIGN BUILD INC LAURA MULLER – CEO, OWNER + PRINCIPAL CLIFF MULLER – SENIOR CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANT June 20, 2019 For Immediate Release FOUR POINT DESIGN BUILD INC is an award-winning full service multi-disciplinary residential and commercial high-level interior and architectural design, project management, and construction firm based in Los Angeles, serving clients nationwide. Owned and led by Interior Designer and General Contractor, Laura and Cliff Muller, and with over sixty years of combined experience, FOUR POINT’s boutique hands-on style of design and project management from concept to turnkey specializes in highly customized client-centered projects with an experienced and immaculate focus on whole home remodels, kitchens, baths, and office spaces. From high-rise and mixed-use design-build to executive offices and luxury custom homes, Cliff and Laura guide and oversee every detail and project process with systems and teams in place that allow their Clients to relax and enjoy the blessings of designing and building a custom luxury #CleanFreshModernTM space. [137] Cliff and Laura’s work has been seen Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Better Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Metropolis, Hospitality Design, and CA Home & Design to name a few. Laura is the former President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID/2016) and has the distinct honor of being selected to the prestigious 2018 DXV Design Panel and the elite 2019 Designer Council for Monogram Appliances. Cliff has collaborated on award-winning and highly celebrated projects with such renown architects as Patrick Tighe and Morphosis. [90] Link to HIGH RES IMAGES: A WELL DESIGNED BUSINESS_PODCAST ASSETS SERVICES INCLUDE > Full Service Interior Design > Architecture and Detailing > Custom Furniture Design and Fabrication > Construction Documents and Permit Acquisition > Full Service Project and Construction Management and Administration PROJECT TYPES > Residential > Commercial > Tenant Improvement > Retail > Restaurant > Multi-Family and Mixed Use TO LEARN MORE about us, our team, and our work, visit Four Point Design Build and SUBSCRIBE to

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! Today's show is sponsored by our guest, Tobi Fairley, who previously appeared in episode #419. Tobi has been one of our industry leaders for many years, mentoring interior designers and helping them become better business persons. She is an accomplished luxury interior designer with her business based in Arkansas. She's a fabric designer, a business coach, a life coach, and she has her own podcast called Design You. Tobi has also created a unique and really effective coaching course called Tobi Fairley's DesignYou Coaching Program and in today's episode, she explains how her coaching program differs from all the rest. Tobi loves nothing more than helping people really thrive and love their business so listen in today, to learn from Tobi how to cast a wider net and start making money while you sleep. Tobi Fairley is known for her bold use of color in interior design, but she’s also one of the nation’s most progressive-thinking entrepreneurs. She is passionate about her full-service interior design company and her consulting firm which are focused on helping clients design their homes, their businesses, and their lives, with a special interest in promoting wellness and balance for entrepreneurs, CEOs, and creatives. Tune in now, to find out more! Show Highlights: Tobi explains what's different about her coaching. Getting out of your own head and out of your own way. Unlocking your old mindsets. Why the course is a yearly program. Tobi explains what the coaching course covers. Finances can be scary for creatives. The kind of real-time support that you will get from Tobi. The benefits of abundant thinking. The three different courses that Tobi will be re-doing, live, that are also included in her yearly course. Tobi is very straightforward with her coaching clients. Tobi explains why it's in her best interest to pour all her support into you. Why you need to be doing business differently now to how you did it in the past. Digital marketing for interior designers. Understanding the value ladder in a digital marketing system. Opening your mind to working differently. Creating a system from your design process. Becoming niche-specific. Meeting your clients right where they are. How coaching, content, and community can help you reach your goals. Bio: Traditional Home predicts “Tobi will be like Cher or Oprah, one of those women for whom one name says it all.” Tobi Fairley is known for her bold use of color in interior design, but she’s also one of the nation’s most progressive-thinking entrepreneurs. Tobi is passionate about her full-service interior design company and her consulting firm which are focused on helping clients design their homes, their businesses, and their lives, with a special interest in promoting wellness and balance for entrepreneurs, CEOs, and creatives. Tobi established her firm more than 19 years ago and her projects have spanned the nation and beyond. Her award-winning interior design, product design and ideas have been featured on television and in publications worldwide including House Beautiful, Veranda, Traditional Home, Huffington Post, HGTV, The Wall Street Journal, Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Real Simple, Coastal Living, Southern Cottages, Creative Live, the Chicago Tribune, and MSNBC. In 2017, Tobi was a columnist for Traditional Home magazine with a feature in each issue chronicling her own home renovation and reveal. Tobi’s design goal is to create interiors that will assist her clients in reaching their big, personal, and entrepreneurial dreams, while supporting their health and wellness. She designs functional homes and beautiful environments that will foster personal growth, balance, and connection for all who use them. Tobi was at the forefront of the design blog movement when she launched her blog over 10 years ago, and it’s currently read in more than 125 countries worldwide. She has been a trusted coach for over 10 years for interior designers and creatives through her live events, design and business courses, and online programs. Among Tobi’s latest ventures is Design You, a monthly coaching program, where interior designers and creatives can get all of Tobi’s best course content, along with live coaching from Tobi in the areas of business, health and wellness, and mindset for a monthly or yearly subscription. In April 2018 Tobi launched her new podcast, The Design You Podcast, where she helps Interior Designers and Creatives say no to busy and say yes to more health, wealth and joy. In her podcast episodes, Tobi shares best business practices, her personal journey as a working mom and her beliefs about personal development for creating your best life, business, and home. For the last 3 years, Tobi has had great success in product design with her licensed collections from Soicher Marin (art), Duralee (fabrics), CR Laine (upholstered furniture), Woodbridge Furniture (case goods and outdoor furniture), New River Artisans (rugs),

Welcome! Today, Beth Smith, the owner and principal designer of Beth Diana Smith Interior Design, based in New Jersey, joins me on the show. For Beth, the interior design came years after pursuing her degrees in business and accounting to fulfill her love of processes and business strategy. In today's episode, Beth talks to us about budgets, managing situations, and expectations, and also about sexual harassment and she explains to us why she now has a clause in her contract to cover it. They also discuss the power and benefits, to both your business and your self-development, of attending industry events. Tune in now, for more! After completing her M.B.A., Beth spent more than ten years in corporate finance, with companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Viacom, honing her skills in understanding clients, analytics, and budgeting, and sharpening her attention to detail. Beth's work and her design advice have been featured on television and also in various print and online publications including NBC, HGTV, Vogue, EBONY, Design*Sponge, and the New York Times. Listen in today, to hear Beth's story. Show Highlights: Leaning into your skills and expressing them to your potential clients. The skills that Beth moved over from her corporate life to her design business. Working strategically around budget issues with clients. Keeping the client's expectations realistic. What 'don't save your client's money' really means. Dealing with clients who have unreasonably low budgets. Listening to your gut and having your client trust that you know what is best for them. Coping with situations where a client does not go along with your advice. Beth takes her contracts very seriously. After signing, she sends the client a letter highlighting the important points. What Beth outlines in her welcome letter. Being responsive while still sticking to business hours. Beth explains why she does not feel the need to present her contract to her clients in person. How Beth protects herself and the team she works with. Dealing with sexual harassment. Beth talks about the great press that she has had in her design career. Beth shares some suggestions for running a design firm in a way to prepare yourself to get lucky and be noticed by Open House NYC. Most of Beth's press has come from relationships and networking. Networking from a place of giving. About Kavet's past Blogfests and how they have really helped Beth to grow her business. Bio: Beth Diana Smith is the Owner and Principal Designer of Beth Diana Smith Interior Design, a New Jersey-based interior design company. Beth, her work, and her design advice have been featured on television and in various print and online publications including NBC, HGTV, Vogue.com, EBONY, Design*Sponge, and The New York Times. But know that interior design came years after pursuing degrees in business and accounting to satiate her love of processes and business strategy. After completing her M.B.A., she spent more than a decade in corporate finance in companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Viacom honing her skills in understanding clients, analytics, budgeting, and keen attention to detail. Links and resources: Beth's Website: Beth Diana Smith Beth's Instagram: Beth Diana Smith Beth's Facebook: Beth Diana Smith Beth's Pinterest: Beth Diana Smith Beth's LinkedIn: Beth Diana Smith Luann Nigara Luann Nigara Book2 Well Designed Article Window Fashion Vision Previous episodes mentioned in the show: Nate Berkus #433 Erika Ward #6 and #278 LuAnn is repeating her Power Talk Friday Tour this year in Las Vegas. It is a one-day coaching event and it will be held on Saturday, July 27th, and it will run from 8.00am to 11.00pm. It will include breakfast, lunch, and dinner, discussions with LuAnn's PTF experts, and four hours of round table discussions, in groups of three or less, with each expert individually. To get onto LuAnn's email list to get the info, text the word DESIGNBIZ to the number 444999.

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! Today, Sarah Santacroce, an internationally recognized LinkedIn Specialist & Online Presence Mentor, joins us on the show. Sarah helps convert your presence online into paying customers, and she is also the creative brain behind the LinkedIn Challenge, an event that has already helped more than 1900 people to improve their knowledge about using LinkedIn for business. Tune in now, to find out more. Sarah, who lives in Switzerland, is known for her simple, no-nonsense Swiss efficiency mixed with a dose of Californian 'yes we can' attitude. She uses her ability to focus to help you to come up with a strategy to achieve your goals. And with her experience, her skill, her empathy, and her passion, she encourages you and helps you grow your business. She has assisted hundreds of clients from all over the world by generating leads for them via LinkedIn and social serving strategies. In today's episode, Sarah will open your eyes to the untapped potential of Linkedin. Listen in, to learn from Sarah how to breathe life into your LinkedIn profile. Show highlights: Why LinkedIn is actually a great platform for introverts. How LinkedIn has changed since the millennials started showing up and changing things about two years ago. Sarah suggests some strategies for successfully using LinkedIn as a platform. How a great LinkedIn profile can really benefit introverts. Where the power of LinkedIn really lies. On LinkedIn, everything is organized by job titles so you need to figure out who you're going to be working with. Adding more experiences to your LinkedIn profile. Creating a special landing page and linking it to your LinkedIn profile. The biggest mistake Sarah's seen people make. Sarah explains where to start. Your past experience counts for a lot. Building relationships and networking effectively through social serving. LinkedIn is about creating a human connection. Posting visual content to demonstrate that you're an expert in your field. LinkedIn's mission is to be the number one platform for professional content. The amount of time it takes to create a meaningful presence on LinkedIn. Sarah talks about her podcast, Introvert Biz Growth Podcast. Extract from Sarah's website: My clients like to work with me because I’m structured, focused, result oriented, ‘the real thing’. I’m known for my simple, no-nonsense Swiss efficiency, mixed with a good dose of Californian ‘yes we can’ attitude! (we lived in California from 2006 - 2010) And she goes on to say: There are a few things I’m good at: My ability to focus on the essentials & come up with the strategy for you to achieve your goals My experience(based on many failures) of getting clients online & what it takes to grow your business My skill to quickly put myself into your client’s shoes & create an offer that he/she can’t resist My empathy, passion& encouragement to use your uniqueness to grow your business Oh, and I'm an Introvert. Links and resources: Sarah's website: Sarah Santacroce Sarah's podcast Sarah's LinkedIn: Sarah Santacroce Sarah's facebook: Sarah Santacroce Sarah's lead magnet: Sarah's Templates LuAnn's Webinar: Join me on Tuesday, June 25th at 1:00 pm est for an exclusive Mydoma Studio webinar on Sales Strategies for Interior Designers! The roles will be reversed and I will be in the hot seat talking about the strategies I have learned. Come prepared with your questions! You can ask me questions about your business, about tricky conversations with clients, about how to sell more to the same people, about anything you want really. You know me, I just love hanging out with you! Webinar: My Doma Studio

Welcome to today's episode! It's time to start thinking about the High Point Market again. If you're wondering why you need to be thinking about it now, you may be surprised to find out that the hotels are already filling up. Also, now is the right time to start mapping out your trip and go to the website at High Point Market to see who the brands are, make your appointments, and get onto the email list so you can be notified of the new product launches, the panels, and the keynote series in the theater, because you really won't want to miss a thing! Listen in today, to find out more. On the show today, we have Ashley Grigg, the Director of Marketing and Communications for the High Point Market Authority, Lisa Mende, the founder and principal of Lisa Mende Design, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Jeanne Chung, a luxury interior designer and retailer based in Southern California. These three ladies will explain why you need to attend the High Point Market and they will give some great tips for making the most of the experience. They will also discuss the logistics of going to High Point, explain how to make your trip really productive, and share some really useful information about the various tours that are available. You really have to know what to do before you get to High Point, so tune in now, to get all the details. Show Highlights: Why it's really important for interior designers to invest the time and money in going to High Point Market. How half the business is conducted after the market is over. The brand cocktail parties are awesome opportunities to meet and connect with important people. The way that High Point has really impacted on Jeanne's business. Making great connections at High Point Market. How High Point Market stands out from all the rest. Having the opportunity to talk to the showroom owners. Ways for new designers to establish themselves with the various showrooms. Some things to think about when pre-planning your trip to High Point Market. Why it's a good idea to do a tour for your first trip to High Point. High Point Market covers 11 500 000 square feet! Jeanne talks about her Insider's Tour, which is geared towards designers seeking to offer customization and one-of-a-kind. Ashley talks about all the other tours that are also available for buyers at High Point. The relevant information about all the tours is available on the High Point Market authority website. High Point Market Some tips for making sure that you are able to connect with the right people at High Point. There is an incredible Market Advisor Team available for you to call to answer any questions you may have prior to arriving at HP. They will also be available during the market. Lisa's great tips and suggestions for getting ready for market. Bios: Ashley Grigg is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the High Point Market Authority. High Point Market is the largest home furnishings trade show in the world and Ashley manages many of their projects, including media relations, educational programming, social media, and digital promotions. Ashley has over 13 years of experience in marketing and event management Lisa Mende is the founder and principal of Lisa Mende Design based in Charlotte, NC which opened in 1998. She has built a reputation as one of the South’s Leading Luxury Designers and her work has been featured in many well-known national shelter and lifestyle magazines. As a designer and tastemaker, Lisa works with Brands and has served as a #Authlux Design Guild Member for House of Rohl for 2018, The Thermador Design Council and the Design Council for DSV Luxury in 2016. Lisa is an Allied Member of ASID and NKBA. She also pens the popular blog “The Design Connector” where she is currently kicking off a new series which will chronicle the renovation of her own home sharing all her favorite kitchen and bath products and as well as the renovation process with her readers. Jeanne Chung is a luxury interior designer and retailer based in Southern California. In addition to heading up her own interior design firm, Jeanne owns a retail and to the trade showroom in Pasadena, CA which has become a favorite go-to destination for both designers and design enthusiasts who seek a unique and artfully edited selection of new and vintage home furnishings and accessories. Through her design blog Cozy Stylish Chic, Jeanne has become recognized as an influencer in the industry and frequently collaborates with brands and manufacturers. She is a regular speaker on trade show designer panels and has served as a High Point Market Style Spotter. Jeanne participated in the Pasadena Showcase House of Design in 2017 and in 2018, served on the Board of the ASID Pasadena Chapter. About the High Point Market: In October and April each year, the High Point Market attracts more than 75 000 retailers, interior designers, and service providers from more than 100 countries. There are nearly 2000 exhibitor showrooms across 180 bu

Welcome to today's show! We're turning things around a bit and sharing a replay of LuAnn being interviewed by Amber De La Garza, aka the Productivity Specialist, a while back, when LuAnn was a guest on Amber's show, Productivity Straight Talk. Listen in today, to hear their conversation. In today's episode, LuAnn talks to Amber about the way that she's blended structure, systems, and processes into her business, Window Works, to help it grow to become a two-million dollar company. She talks about her success and her challenges, she shares ways to create structure in your business, and she also gives some questions to ask yourself before making any big decisions. Tune in now to find out what LuAnn has to say about her business which has been thriving in the interior design space since 1982. Show highlights: LuAnn describes what her business and her support structure look like. Luann discusses the roles that she, her husband, and their partner each play in their business, and the synergistic way they work together. How the Window Works team came together. LuAnn describes her life before structure. How structure equals freedom and success. How LuAnn woke up to the value of structure. Why you must embrace systems in order to scale. LuAnn and Amber discuss the perils of disorganization. How organization ties into productivity. How time-blocking has really worked for LuAnn. The administrative system that has had the biggest impact on LuAnn's business. Links: A Well-Designed Business Podcast Window Works Original Episode Amber’s Website: Amber Delagarza Amber's Facebook Amber's Instagram Email: [email protected] Book mentioned: The E-Myth by Michael Gerber

Welcome! Today, we have Juan Carlos Rodriguez-Artigas on the show with us. Juan Carlos is an accomplished architect and interior designer with extensive experience in high-end hospitality, restaurant, commercial, and residential design. He is currently the design director of the London Studio of the global interior architecture firm, Wilson Associates. Juan Carlos's position is multi-faceted, and in today's episode, he discusses his role and responsibilities, as the firm's design director, where he oversees the day-to-day operations and projects of the London studio. In addition to creating beautiful projects, he has been in charge of the hiring and building of a cohesive and talented team, which he has then had to lead and guide. Also, a large part of his job involves finding, meeting, and creating opportunities for new business for the firm, and he explains that this all starts with relationships and with connecting to people. Tune in now to find out more. Wilson Associates is a collection of 10 design firms around the world whose work encompasses interior architectural design, architecture, art consultancy, concept development, branding, and food and beverage design. Their portfolio includes some of the most prestigious hospitality projects in the world. Listen in today, to hear what Juan Carlos has to share. Show Highlights: Juan Carlos shares some of his experiences from the past year while building the London studio. The pros and cons of first working for a small firm, and then jumping to a big firm. Juan Carlos shares what he was looking for when hiring his team members. Starting out with a small team and growing organically. When building his team, he was looking for flexibility and team players. That's his secret to creating a small, winning team. Running a small office has involved wearing a number of different hats. Juan describes the difference between his last position and his current one, with Wilson Associates. Creating a strong foundation with the team he built. The kind of skill set that Juan Carlos required his team members to have. Why Juan Carlos prefers working in hospitality, rather than in residential. Having to take into account what the operations team is telling you when designing for hospitality. Juan Carlos describes his superpower and the superpower of Wilson Associates. The way that all the offices of Wilson Associates collaborate and support each other. Even though Wilson Associates is a global team, each studio has its own identity. How Juan Carlos, personally, cultivates a pipeline of hospitality projects. The event that Juan Carlos would recommend for everyone to go to. The biggest challenge that Juan Carlos has faced, that has also been a great lesson for him. Some advice for keeping a pressured team happy and moving. Bio: Role & Responsibility: Juan is an architect and interior designer with an extensive and holistic international experience in high-end hospitality, restaurant, commercial and residential design. Combining strengths in architecture and interior design, Juan worked eight years as an independent designer and creative consultant on different high end commercial and residential projects in Spain and abroad. He was Designer Director at Rockwell Group Europe, managing a variety of projects in Asia and the Middle East for some of the most prestigious hospitality brands. He currently leads the recently open Wilson associates London office. In charge of this edition sleep & eat theater. Juan Carlos says: “People ignore design that ignores people” Education: College Degree in Architecture at Universidad Anahuac Mexico City, Mexico Interior design degree/ Instituto Europeo di Design Madrid, Spain Master degree in project management & design Universidad San Pablo Ceu Madrid, Spain Links and resources: Wilson Associates website: Wilson Associates’ Designer Questionnaire Basics Title: Design Director London Office Languages spoken: English / Spanish and a bit of Italian Education: College Degree in Architecture/ Universidad Anahuac Mexico City Professional accreditations and/or memberships:- Interior design degree/ Istituto Europeo di Design Madrid, Spain –Master degree in project management & design Universidad San Pablo Ceu Madrid, Spain. Tenure at Wilson: March 2018 Quote you live by or your design mantra: “People ignore design that ignores people” Beyond the Basics: What attracted you to Wilson Associates? What do you enjoy most about working here? I’ve always loved a challenge; opening an office for such as important and reputable firm like Wilson Associates in a city like London has been one of the most exciting and rewarding challenges in my career to date. When did you know you wanted to be a designer? I don’t think we ever really know what we want to be, but we do begin doing things we love, and by finding our passion you realize it is something you want to do and be forever. Where do you find your design inspiration? Everything is inspiring if

Welcome to another solo Power Talk Friday! We hope you're ready for a really out-of-the-box episode today! This morning, as on most weekday mornings, LuAnn was reading the Dear Abby column. She's often thought about it and wondered why she reads it because it's such a crazy, mindless column. People write in with very real and heartbreaking problems and yet they are willing to wait for months to get an answer. That really boggles LuAnn's mind! So, this morning, she was talking out loud and ranting about it, in the very same way she did at the LuAnn Nigara Live event last month when she got really upset about designers not charging their worth. Then she had an idea! Tune in now, to find out what she came up with. Sometimes, in our businesses, when we know that things aren't quite right, we pretend that it's just not that big of a deal. So we avoid having the hard conversation or doing the hard thing. Today, LuAnn has come up with some of the top things she has found that we, as business owners, tend to convince ourselves are okay when they really are not. She has listed all the shows that go with these difficulties, so listen in today, to find out which action to take to correct each these problems. Show Highlights: LuAnn reads this morning's Dear Abby column. People tend to forget that they have a choice. LuAnn has no idea what it costs to run her business and she has no idea of the minimum billable hours that she must log each week. Should she be worried? Listen to Alinda Morris’ episode #429. Month after month I let my bookkeeper do everything, with no accountability, with no oversight on my part. Should I be worried? Listen to Andrea Schumacher’s lesson in episode #86. I don’t know how to talk to my CPA. Should I be worried? Listen to Peter Lang in episode #349. I really want to be an interior designer but I can’t get out of my day job. Should I be worried? If you want a plan to get out and do what you’re meant to do, listen to Cheryl Luckett of Dwell by Cheryl in episodes #291 and #397. I’m not really making any money in my design firm, but it’s only been a few years in business. Should I be worried? Listen to Kimberley Kay in episode #234, Cat French in episode #376, and Alyce Lopez, in episode #382. I don’t know anything about home staging but I’m a designer so should I be worried? Listen to Shauna Lynn Simon in episode # 84. Also, Taylor will be back at the end of the summer. They don't talk much about home staging but if you missed her first show, listen to episode #106. Everybody says I should be doing video for my business but I hate it. Should I be worried? Listen to Arianne Bellizaire, in episode #20, talk about how she uses video in her firm and then listen to Claire Jefford teach you how to do it in episode #237. I don’t know my gross sales for 2018? I don’t know how to figure it out. Should I be worried? Listen to the shows with Michele Williams #180 #395. And her own podcast: Profit is a Choice. I run a business but I don’t take a salary, should I be worried? Listen to Kimberley Merlitti’s episode on what you really are earning with your hourly fee, in episode #361. I don’t have an email list. Should I be worried? Listen to Kae Whitakers show, episodes #’s 259 and #274. I know in my gut I need to re-brand and I want to but I’m afraid? Should I be worried? Listen to Kristen Thomas, episode #314 and Sandra Funk #145. I have a big dream for my business but I’m not sure it’ll work, so I do nothing. Should I be worried? Listen to Lori Weitzner’s episode #308 and Caitlyn Waite’s episode #284. I have an employee that I know is not a good fit but I’m afraid to have the hard conversation? Should I be worried? Listen to episode #101 with Joni Vanderslice, episode #364 with Janelle Photopoulos, and Eileen Hahn, episode #363. I’m a horrible salesperson. Should I be worried? Listen to Madeleine MacRae #315 and last Friday solo’s show #432 Previous episodes mentioned in this show: Alinda Morris #429 Andrea Schumacher #86 Peter Lang #349 Cheryl Luckett of Dwell by Cheryl # 291 and #397 Kimberley Kay #234 Cat French #376 Alyce Lopez #382 Shauna Lynn Simon #84 Taylor #106 Arianne Bellizaire #20 Claire Jefford #237 Michele Williams # 180 and # 395. Her Podcast, Profit is a Choice Listen Notes: Profit Is A Choice Michele Williams Kimberley Merlitti #361 Kae Whitaker #259 and 274 Kristen Thomas #314 Sandra Funk #145 Lori Weitzner #308 Caitlyn Waite #284 Joni Vanderslice #101 Janelle Photopoulos #364 Eileen Hahn #363 Madeleine MacRae #315 Last Friday's Solo Show #432 Links: LuAnn's sales course: Sales For Creatives LuAnn's new book: LuAnn Nigara: Book2

Welcome to a very special episode of A Well-Designed Business! Today Nate Berkus joins us on the show! We really have lots to talk to him about, and at the top of the list is his first collection with Kravet Inc. This collection, called Well-Traveled, launching in June 2019 is a luxurious mix of chenille’s, statement cotton and linen prints as well as intricate embroideries, and velvet. In today's show, Nate describes how his love of organic, rich, earth-tones is incorporated in the color palette he designed for this collection. Nate's travels have been the inspiration for this collection. Each of his exclusive fabrics possesses a global point of view and the fabric collection, as a whole, represents his distinctly individual perspective, which blends history, architecture, and artwork from all around the world. Listen in to find out about Nate's approach to his business, his perspective on color and design, and how he came to work with Oprah. Show Highlights: Nate talks about his new venture, in collaboration with Kravet Inc, which launches in June 2019. Nate has really enjoyed working with the passionate, creative team at Kravet Inc! LuAnn is looking forward to featuring some of Nate's collection in her newly-renovated showroom at Window Works. Nate explains what inspired him to start his own interior design firm at the age of twenty-four. Nate talks about what he set out to do when he first started out on his own. The impact that social media has had on the interior design industry. Running his business like a Fortune 500 company with systems, procedures and cross checks. Nate explains why creating an exceptional client experience has always been as important to him as the creativity their team produces. Why you can't separate who you are professionally from who you are personally. The importance of being honest and transparent- and owning your mistakes. Always remember that you can't change your reputation. It follows you wherever you go. Nate talks about his creative director, Lauren Buxbaum Gordon, the team she leads, the way that they support one another and their process for managing interior design projects. Nate explains why he decided not to close his design firm in 2006. The magical way that Nate got to meet and work with Oprah. Even when faced with a one of a kind opportunity, Nate made decisions based on sound business principles, exemplifying true professional leadership as an interior design firm owner. The moment when Oprah told America to remember Nate's name. Nate personal work ethic is to work as hard or harder than anyone he collaborates with. He feels it shows respect and creates an environment for more collaboration. His dear friend, former Co-President of Oprah Winfrey Network and President of Harp Productions, Sheri Salata, married Nick and Jeremiah Brent. Nancy Hala, Sheri’s business partner, and co-host on their podcast, Sheri and Nancy, is a previous guest on A Well-Designed Business, episode #377 Sheri Salata, Nancy Hala, Nate and Jeremiah partner in a media company called Story. Nate discusses how he and Jeremiah work together on interior design projects and how important it is when you are in business with your spouse to respect each other's opinions. Nate gives his best advice for growing a profitable design firm. Bio: Since designer Nate Berkus established his award-winning interior design firm at the age of 24, his approachable and elevated philosophy has transformed countless homes around the world through his design work, home collections, books, television shows, and media appearances. Ever since Berkus’ first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2002, he has become one of the world’s most recognizable interior designers. His work has been featured in publications including Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, VOGUE, InStyle, O Magazine and People. He is included on the ELLE DÉCOR “A-List” of the world’s top designers and was named to the AD100 list in 2018. Links: Website: Nate Berkus Instagram: Nate Berkus Facebook: Nate Berkus Pinterest: Nate Berkus Nate And Jeremiah By Design is on TLC on Saturday nights. Nate’s fabric collection with Kravet Inc. is called Well-Traveled. In spring 2019 Nate and Jeremiah launched a new line of furniture, with over 300 pieces, for Living Spaces, a retailer on the west coast of the US. Recommended book: The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! Today, we're talking about what to do when you know the client is wrong. For the health and success of your business, it's really critical that you know how to handle conflicts successfully. In episode #430, we talked about what to do when you are wrong. In today's episode, you will learn what to do when you do everything right but the client doesn't like it. Listen in, to get LuAnn's expert advice. Do you want to be right or do you want to get what you want? Over the years, this little phrase has really helped LuAnn navigate conflicts with clients, vendors, employees, and even with the people closest to her. And Window Works is also very clear about their core values and their commitment to 110% customer service. The team doesn't always know how each of them will handle a given situation, but they all know that they will do whatever it takes to make the client happy. Tune in now, to find out what to do when the client just isn't happy with what you've done. Show highlights: LuAnn gives an example of something that happened at Window Works this past winter. In a conflict situation with a client, be calm, non-confrontational, and let them know that you will do whatever it takes to make them happy. It's important to know what you're striving for and what your goals are. LuAnn explains why she, as the owner of the company, decided not to make the first phone call in the situation that happened with Window Works. There are subtle nuances to successfully handling difficult situations. Why Luann called the client only on the second day. LuAnn explains how she read the situation. It's very important to remain real, and not play any games. It's another thing if the client decides not to play by the rules. Setting up reminders and putting all the previous agreements in front of the client in a conversational way. Sometimes, it's best to honestly agree with the client. LuAnn shares the solution she proposed to the client. Carefully placing the message of excellent customer service in between the lines. Applying pressure in a very nice and subtle way. LuAnn explains her clear reason for creating an opportunity for a phone call the next day. Why it was so important for LuAnn to have the first order paid for right away. Selling is about listening, being on your feet, and being willing to get to the bottom of whatever is upsetting the client. Using your rationale to get the client to buy into the solution that you want to happen. Why you need to be very clear about how the payments for each section of the project must happen after agreeing to a solution. Remember that you are the leader of the transaction, so be the leader! The ultimate goal is not to win. It is to leave the client 100% satisfied. You need to know what the net cost of the project is. Paying close attention to what your client is saying is really very important. Links: To find out about LuAnn's group sales coaching course, Sales For Creatives, head over to Sales For Creatives To get onto LuAnn's email list, text the word designbiz to 444999.

Welcome to today's show! We have Debbe Daley, an interior designer in the New England area, on the show with us. Debbe is also an installed designer in the Boston Design Center’s Designer On Call program, now called Design Services program. In today's episode, Debbe talks to us about the way she handles her initial consult, about the items that she puts in a folder for her clients, and how she provides suggestions for her clients. She also talks about the book she is writing, Monetizing Your Passion- Turning Your Hobby into A Business, which is due to be launched in the fall of 2019 and she discusses the two-day seminar that she will be running in Portsmouth, in June, for interior designers. Listen in, to find out what Debbe has to share on the show today. After obtaining a business degree, Debbe took a slight detour and taught herself how to sew custom window treatments. She also spent some time doing hands-on work in the paint, wallpaper, and furniture industry. In doing this, she gained valuable knowledge and she also expanded her industry network of friends and colleagues. Now, some thirty years later, Debbe is well-respected in the industry and she is often invited to speak at industry conferences. She also writes a weekly lifestyle column for the Lowell Sun, where she covers topics about design, travel, DIY, and cooking, for the Merrimack Valley audience. Tune in now for more. Show Highlights: The five-day course in decoration and interior design that Debbe teaches to the non-design professional who is hoping to become a design professional. Debbe gives an overview of the two-day course she teaches, called Design For Today, that is geared towards professionals in the design industry. The next course will be in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on June the 27th and 28th. Debbe's two-day workshop was developed at the request of some of Debbe's seasoned colleagues from the Association of Design Education. Debbe's clients are looking for software platforms that they can use to enhance their businesses, to make their lives a bit easier. Debbe uses Design Files, a platform that is designed to do e-design. The thing that really got Debbe going in the right direction and gave her the motivation for the book she's writing. Why sharing her knowledge is so important to Debbe right now. Some of the lessons that Debbe learned from Fred Berns. Debbe's take on whether or not to put your packages on your website. How Debbe handles her initial client consultation. The mechanism that Debbe uses to stay on time. What the folder that Debbe gives her clients initially contains. Why Debbe always has her clients sign a photo release form. Debbe talks about her initial consultation rate and her hourly rate. About Debbe's Pick Your Brain segment. How Fred Berns helped Debbe to increase her rates. Debbe has set things up so that there's a package for everyone. Attracting the client that is right for you. The importance of putting yourself out there, introducing yourself to your local reps, and setting up your vendor accounts. Debbe talks about her new book, Monetizing Your Passion- Turning Your Hobby into A Business, and she explains who it is geared towards. It takes a lot of hard work to be an interior designer. As a new designer, any kind of store experience is valuable. People notice it if you're driven and you really know what you're doing, as a designer. Bio: Debbe Daley, an award-winning interior designer with more than 30 years’ experience, is known for the extraordinary service she provides prominent homeowners in New England and around the country. She supplies a complete range of design services for new and existing homes nationwide, but she focuses on working with clients in the Boston Back Bay, the North Shore of Massachusetts, Cape Cod, coastal Maine, and the New Hampshire seacoast as well as the Merrimack Valley. In addition, she is a gifted professional speaker who delivers programs to both interior design and general audiences nationwide. She presents keynotes, seminars, and workshops on topics ranging from design business success practices to the Power of Positive Energy. Debbe is the winner of numerous Houzz customer service awards and gets 80% of her business from referrals. She designs multiple homes for the same clients and works with different generations of the same family. Clients use words like “fantastic,” fabulous,” “exceptional,” “impeccable,” “outstanding,” and “a pleasure to work with” to describe her. Debbe has designed new homes and remodeled existing residences for more than 700 clients, including Fortune 500 executives, CEOs, high tech leaders, medical specialists, business owners, and other successful professionals. Her commercial design projects include funeral homes and professional offices. Debbe Daley Designs is based in an elegant design studio in the historic Abraham Shaw House in Portsmouth, NH. The firm is backed by a team of some of the region’s premier contractors, carpenters, painters, f

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! Today, we're talking about when things go wrong and how to fix them. If you'd like your business to be really successful, with loyal, long-term clients who keep coming back year after year, you have to differentiate yourself from the rest. There are two kinds of situations where you can make this happen if you're willing to conduct yourself in the way that LuAnn advises and if you're willing to spend the time perfecting the necessary skills to do so. Listen in today, to learn what LuAnn has to teach you about what to do when you've made a mistake. Sometimes, your client isn't happy with an outcome. You see their point and you agree, however, you can also see that the solution is going to be expensive for you, either in terms of time or money. So you might feel that you can't afford to fix it. The truth is, however, that you cannot afford not to fix it. Because good news travels fast and bad news travels even faster- and further. Tune in now to find out what LuAnn has to share about what to do when something goes wrong. Show Highlights: LuAnn describes a typical scenario of something going wrong. Often, we worry that if we tell a client that we've made a mistake we will be at a disadvantage with them because it could cost us money or our expertise could be questioned. Why you're not fooling anybody by pretending. When you price your projects properly you will have the money to clean things up if you need to. If it really is your mistake, just say so. It's important to acknowledge what your client is feeling. Mistakes are going to happen. So at the start of a project, explain to your client how you take care of mistakes. The first thing is to acknowledge your mistake, and the second thing is to own it. Then you tell your client what the solution is. When it's okay, and when it's not, to charge your client for the mistake. Listen to your inner voice. Listen carefully and be real with your client. Don't ignore a problem. Don't be afraid to ask your client what will make them happy. You will know when your client isn't happy, so ask them about it. It will be okay. Next week, we will talk about what to do when there's a problem, but there isn't really a problem. But you still have a problem because you have to fix it. LuAnn talks about the group sales coaching course that she has decided to run. LuAnn gives some details about the group sales coaching course and she talks about the topics that she will be covering. Links: To find out about LuAnn's group sales coaching course, head over to Sales for Creatives - (If the link is not working Friday when this airs, it will be working by Tuesday, 5/21.) To get onto LuAnn's email list, text the word designbiz to 444999.

Welcome! Today we have Alinda Morris, of Alinda Morris Interior Design, located in Gig Harbor, Washington, with us. Although her firm is small, with Alinda and just one other employee, she's running it like a bigger firm. She has her systems down, she has her practices binder, and she's tracking her hours. In today's episode, Alinda explains how she has become very clear and focused, in the last couple of years. This has really made a big difference for her in terms of peace of mind, profitability, project management, and the experience her clients have when working with her firm. Listen in today, to find out what Alinda has to share about the way that she's set herself up for success with builders and other trades, and how she ensures the success of anyone that works for her. Alinda Morris is a nationally published, award-winning interior design professional, habitual remodeler, adventurous creative, specializing in full service, luxury residential interior design. These include custom furnishings, unique kitchens & artfully designed bathrooms, attention to details, and clean, updated spaces are her specialties. She is committed to her clients having a wonderful experience. She is widely admired for her ability to create, invent, explore, and innovate. In addition to Alinda's impressive versatility, ranging from minimalist restraint to traditional chic, client’s find Alinda's passion for design infectious so that collaborating with her is a thrilling process as she works her creative magic in both visual appeal and functionality. Tune in now, for more. Show highlights: Alinda has her systems down pat, and her portfolio is really amazing! Some of the habits that Alinda has instituted in her firm. The challenges that Alinda faces. Great communication has always been very important for Alinda. The trail and error process that Alinda went through, for a few years, to find the best systems for her business. How Alinda helps her clients get a grasp on their design budget. Starting the design process with Alinda, through her questionnaire. Alinda's firm is very client-based. The way that Alinda communicates with the builders she works with. Alinda talks about her detailed special best practices binder, for her interns, with examples of how she likes things to be done. Choosing the right font for your brand. About the check-lists Alinda uses. The things she brings in for photo shoots. Alinda shares her thoughts on the way she tracks her billable hours. Alinda knows exactly how many hours she needs to bill in order to cover her costs each month. Alinda describes her magnificent small boutique studio on the waterfront at Gig Harbour, Washington. Reinvesting profits back into her business. How Alinda creates the very best experiences for her employees. Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Charlotte Safavi #138 Raquel Langworthy #343 Stephen Karlisch #369 Links: Alinda Morris Interior Design Houzz Instagram Facebook

Welcome to another episode of Power Talk Friday. Today, we're having a solo show because LuAnn has some things to share about her event, LuAnn Nigara Live, which was held in New Jersey a month ago. She would also like to talk about some of the things you can do to take action in your business, in order to do better and become more profitable. Luann's event was a really special experience and an outstanding success! Almost 200 designers, speakers, panelists, sponsors, as well as LuAnn's team, attended the event and for two-and-a-half days, the room was filled with an electric atmosphere and they all really rocked it! Listen in today, to find out more. LuAnn had a vision for the event, and she really knew what she had to do. And she did it! The conversations after the panel discussions were so interactive that it felt as if there were only twenty people in the room, even though there were almost 200 people there! It was really intense in the very best way possible so we're working on doing it again, probably in eight months to a year's time. In the meantime, there's a lot of stuff coming up, like the smaller one-day events and the Power Talk Friday tours. Tune in now, to find out how to turn your inspiration into action. Show highlights: LuAnn thanks everyone and gives a quick recap of her event, LuAnn Nigara Live, It's About The Conversation. You can go to the blog post on LuAnn's website LuAnn Nigara to see the pictures and get an overview of everything that happened at the event. LuAnn talks about her new book, A Well-Designed Business- The Power Talk Friday Experts. It can really help you to up your game in business. LuAnn shares some of the keys to upping your business game. Watch your mindset, and be careful not to be closed to new ideas for success. Look at the stories you tell yourself about money. Examine your own mindset about numbers. Michele Williams, in LuAnn's new book, says not to play the song in your head: I’m creative so I’m not good at numbers. Examine your mindset about your fees and don't pretend your rates are about the area you live in. Your rates are related only to your confidence as a designer and business person. What it means to not save your client's money. It is your job to make your clients aware of the best solution for their challenge or problem. They don’t have to do as you suggest but, as the expert, you must make them aware of it. Not saving your client's money also means that when they can’t afford something, they don’t get it. You don’t lower the price to meet their budget. Customer service is critical in creating a successful business. Satisfied clients return. Dissatisfied don’t always tell you, they just don’t return. Own your mistakes. Clients know when you are lying and lying is worse than making a mistake. Take action! With so much information from the live event and the podcast, overwhelm becomes a real possibility, so you have to break things down and work on your business, to get better and to become more profitable. Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Fred Berns #289 Vincere #356 Chris Ramey #345 Sandra Espinet #287 Links and resources: Kravet is having a sale at their outlet. And on any regular Kravet fabric, wallpaper or trim order get 10% off with the code AWDB10 at checkout. Mydoma Studio for project management, time tracking, invoices, communication and saving time: A Well Designed Business A Well-Designed Business, The Power Talk Friday Experts

Welcome to the show! We have Christina Samatas and Renee DiSanto, the founders of Park and Oak Interior Design Studio, located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, with us today. These ladies work on new construction, renovation, and furnishing projects across the US, and you may even know them from their Instagram, with 130 000 followers. The way that they handle themselves and speak about their firm really conveys the confidence that they have in what they're doing. And the success they've had in their first three years in business is not at all typical. In today's episode, Renee and Christina pull back the curtain and boldly share with us their experiences and the lessons they have learned over the last three years. Listen in today, to find out what they have to share. Christina Samatas and Renee DiSanto founded the Park & Oak interior design studio in 2015. They are known for creating homes that are visually stunning, yet functional and comfortable. Their work, rooted in the art of timeless style, is driven by the belief that design can be used to create feelings of comfort and happiness. It combines the best of their individual aesthetics for a unique look. Christina and Renee have a creative energy that is engaging to work with. Using beautiful and unexpected sources of inspiration, they work collaboratively with clients to create spaces that thoughtfully honor the spirit and traditions of their owner. Tune in now for more! Show Highlights: Renee and Christina talk about what each of them brought to the table when they started out, and about what attracted them to each other, as business partners. Some of the one-year and five-year goals that they established when first starting out. Renee and Christina's approach to the individual roles that they have in the business. Renee describes the really special way that she and Christina work together. From a park bench to a studio. The first person that they hired was a bookkeeper. What kept them powering through in the beginning, when they were sacrificing a lot and there were many challenges to face. Struggling with balancing family life and business. It took some time to bring their really awesome team together. In year two, they experienced a turning point in the business. They use a finite system to prevent problems and execute their projects efficiently. Learning from their mistakes and gaining the courage to stand up for themselves. Creating the right systems, in order to protect themselves. There's really a lot going on behind the scenes too. How they find the time to keep their systems in order and their projects running smoothly. Renee is behind their really impressive Instagram following. Links: Park And Oak Facebook: Park And Oak Design Twitter: Park And Oak Instagram: Park And Oak Design Pinterest: Park And Oak

Welcome! Stacey Brown Randall joins us on the show today. Stacey, a three-times repeat guest on the podcast, is one of the co-authors of LuAnn's new book, A Well-Designed Business, the Power Talk Friday Experts. Stacey really has a lot to share, to teach, and to give that is of genuine value, and she does some wonderful work with entrepreneurs. In her first and second episodes, she talked to us about Employee Management (#69), and the Client Experience (#93). In today's episode, she will explain How To Get Referrals Without Asking. Tune in now, to find out more. Stacey, who has a Master’s in Organizational Communication, provides a roadmap for small business owners and solopreneurs to generate referrals without asking through her Growth By Referrals program. She is the author of the book, Generating Business Referral- Without Asking, and she also hosts her own podcast, Roadmap to Grow your Business. Stacey lives in Charlotte NC with her husband and three kids. Listen in today, to find out what Stacey has to share about building relationships and planting the seeds of referral. Show highlights: Janelle Photopoulos changed certain things in her business, to up the client experience, based on her working with Stacey. Stacey talks about her work with Janelle. Stacey explains how she got to understand interior designers so well. Why Stacey hated asking for referrals. Stacey is debunking the advice that we've all been given, that we have to ask everyone for referrals at the end of a project. Asking for referrals generally makes people feel really uncomfortable. Changing the way we think about referrals. Looking for ways to fill a funnel after failing in her business. Stacey started unpacking the psychology and the human dynamic behind why referrals happen. Referrals actually happen because they are triggered. Why manufactured triggers are not successful. Making yourself look like a hero by offering a solution to a problem is the best way to get referrals. Stacey shares the trigger for making a referral happen. How to trigger always being top of mind in a referral source. What constitutes a great referral. Taking great care of the relationships with your referral sub-set. Identifying your referral sources. These are gold! How baby designers can start building relationships with referral sources. Using the right language. Taking care of your referral sources year after year. It all comes down to authentic relationships. Stacey's bio: Stacey Brown Randall is a member of the business failure club, a contrarian on how to generate referrals and a supporter of the entrepreneurial dream. Through her programs, she provides a roadmap to take control of your business. Stacey’s quest to crack the code on how to generate referrals without asking began after her first business failed. When she started her second business – a business and productivity coaching practice – she knew keeping her pipeline full of new clients would be one of the biggest differentiators from her business failure. She honed-in on referrals as the main source of prospects for her second business but wasn’t satisfied with the conventional advice which is to receive referrals you must ask. Stacey has taught her “no asking” referral generation strategy to hundreds of companies including Bank of America, Carroll Financial, International Minute Press, Dogtopia, O’Connor Insurance Associates, ACC Associates (Mortgage Advisor), Slater Interiors, Real Living Real Estate, Milazzo Webb Law Firm, Wells Fargo Advisors, Success Institute, HM Properties, Ameriprise, Farris Cooke CPA, Keller Williams, LearningRX and more small businesses and solopreneurs. She is a three-time entrepreneur, author of Generating Business Referrals...Without Asking, and host of the Roadmap to Grow your Business podcast. Stacey received her Master’s in Organizational Communication and is married with three kids, a 10-year- old son, 8-year-old daughter and she and her husband are raising their 11-year-old nephew. Links: Stacey Brown Randall Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Twitter Instagram Previous episodes Stacey has been on: #69 Employee Management #93 The Client Experience Other episode mentioned in today's show: Janelle Photopoulos, Blakely Interior Design #364 Stacey is a co-author in LuAnn's new book: LuAnn Nigara

Welcome to today's episode! We have Misty Maxey, the Bachelor Pad Designer, on the show with us today. Misty has decided to fully niche her business into designing strictly for bachelors. After spending some time doing hobby designing, she finally made the decision to get serious and look for the help she needed to learn the difference between a hobby and a business. On the show today, she explains how she knew that she had to reach out to coaches and other accomplished designers, in order to be successful. Misty really understands that by pushing through fear and doing things that scare you, you level up and make things happen. She really has her eyes wide open, and her website, (Misty Maxey) with its clear and authentic copy, describes very distinctly what she does, how she does it, and who she does it for. Listen in today, to hear what Misty has to share about the really intentional way she set up her business. Misty Maxey has always loved interior design. With two artistic parents, her creative path was written in the stars. Always seeking to grow in her knowledge and understanding of the interior design field, she regularly sought out the experience from successful designers. With knowledge and life experiences forming her understanding of the importance of interior design, she opened her business with the goal of inspiring bachelors to live their best life ever by co-creating their home that reflects who they are and to become. As a survivor of domestic violence, Misty regularly gives back by providing complimentary design services to survivors and their families. This restores dignity and gives back to her community. Tune in now, for more! Show highlights: Misty's website is really clear and specific about what she does. Tapping into the metrosexual market in Portland. Misty explains why she likes to work with bachelors. The underlying message in Misty's approach to interior design. Guys like to have their outdoor hobbies reflected in their home. Misty honors the way the guys she designs for like to live. Letting her clients know in a really fun way that they will be making an investment. How Misty learned that guys are comfortable talking about money and business. Transparency and communication are the two main things for Misty. What transparency means for Misty. Where Misty sources her products. The retail markup that Misty adds to her products. Misty explains where her money is coming from. The different packages that Misty offers. Misty's way of dealing with damaged deliveries. Misty hired the services of a market research company in Portland. Misty talks about the business coaches she has worked with. The book, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, really helped Misty push past her fear. Links: Website: Misty Maxey Instagram: Misty Maxey Designs Pinterest: Misty Maxey Twitter: Misty Maxey Books mentioned: Do the Work: Overcome Resistance and Get Out of Your Own Way by Steven Pressfield The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield

Today on the show I have yet another fabulous business coach who specializes in our industry! Michele Williams is with me! Michele is the founder of Scarlet Thread and Consulting in Atlanta, Georgia. Today we will learn about Michele’s background which includes the financial software industry as well as a business in soft window treatment fabricator. She also has a BS in business administration, a diploma in Christian life coaching and she is one of the few certified profit first coaches in the United States. Michele was also the communication director and editor in chief of the Drapery and Designs Professional Magazine from 2009 to 2012. She is a member of The Design Collective in Atlanta, the Designers Work Club Council and the Window Covering Association of America. After talking to Michele I realized that there are so many things I could talk with her about but after we talk about her background a little bit we are going to pull apart work scheduling and chunking our day to have more productivity. Show Notes: What is her background in the financial software industry? When did she decide to start her window treatment business? Did she start with a business plan? How did she start to make her business bigger? What is the Design Collective in Atlanta? What is a round table discussion and how is it helpful? How is the Window Coverings Association helpful to Michele and her business? What are some of things that you can expect Michele to talk about the expo IWCE in Charlotte? Why is it important to listen to different people say the same things? Why is important to be able to chunk your time for productivity? Is it better to be proactive or reactive? How should you plan your calendar? Resources: Website: Scarlet Thread Consulting Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: Scarlet Thread LinkedIn: Michele Williams Twitter: Michele Williams Financial Health Checklist PDF: Scarlet Thread Consulting Previous shows mentioned: #104 Kate the Socialite #94 Debi Pinelli (A& J Interiors) #69, #93 Stacey Brown Randall #128 Grace McNamara #125, #317 Nicole Heymer #141 Jim Riviello Links: WCAA IWCE Vision Window Fashion Vision Luann Nigara Book 2

Welcome to today's show! We're talking to Tiffannie White today, the creator of The Nappy Bohemian, located in Oakland, California. Tiffannie is a blogger, an interior stylist, and an e-designer and she also has a full-time position as a design consultant at Fireclay Tile. After spending many years as a career sales professional, The Nappy Bohemian was born in 2017 because Tiffannie wanted to merge her architecture education, her love for tile and ceramics, and her desire to showcase the real black experience in the world of interior design. Tune in today, to hear about Tiffannie's business, what she's doing, and the lessons she's learned from running her business. Tiffannie's job with Fireclay Tile has allowed her an inside look on the world of artisan makers, and it has also connected her with terrific designers in her East Coast territory. In today's episode, she describes how much she loves her job, she talks openly about the lessons and challenges she experienced in her first year in business, and she shares her goals for the year to come. Listen in now, to find out more. Show highlights: Tiffannie talks about her traumatic experience of taking her daughter to the hospital and how her daughter really loved the decor there. This showed Tiffannie just how important interior design really is in people's lives. Creating a holistic space is really important for Tiffannie. About Tiffannie's personal and unique 'only'. Tiffannie is proud of the lessons she's learned. Tiffannie talks about her first eighteen months in business. Being focused and clear in her vision. All about Tiffannie's e-design packages. Tiffannie's e-design is driven mainly through her Instagram and word-of-mouth. Settling on a name. Going with the flow and trusting. Some of the challenges she's faced. You have to value what you do to have a thriving business. Being careful not to compromise in too many areas when starting out in a business. Work for free only if it's worth your while. Some tips about blogging. Tiffannie's business goals for the next year. Links: Instagram: The Nappy Bohemian The Nappy Bohemian The Nappy Bohemian Previous shows mentioned: Albie Buabeng #348 Chaney Widmer #260, #327 Cheryl Janice #41 Sue Firestone #404

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We are really thrilled to have Jean Brownhill, founder, and CEO of Sweeten, on the show with us today. Jean, who has almost 500 000 followers on Instagram, is onto something that you, as designers, really need to know about. She has a designer trade VIP program where she connects interior designers with the really well-screened, well-vetted general contractors that her company has worked with over the years. Right now, Sweeten has thousands of these contractors on their books. This means that whatever kind of project an interior designer brings to them, they can match it. Listen in today, to find out all about Jean's really awesome designer trade VIP program and how it can really benefit you, as a designer. After earning an Architecture degree at The Cooper Union, Jean spent a decade in design and construction, including in Global Architecture at Coach, where she won the Chairman’s Award for designing web platforms to streamline retail construction worldwide. After a challenging renovation of her own home, she saw the need for a free service to match people to vetted general contractors, providing support throughout the process. So Sweeten was launched in 2011. The concept earned Jean a prestigious Loeb Fellowship from Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. Tune in to find out what Jean has to share about the really unique platform that she's created. Show highlights: Jean explains how Sweeten assists interior designers. Finding the right general contractor to suit the design project. Jean talks about where she started with Sweeten. Jean wanted to figure out how to get high-quality construction and design resources to regular people. How Designers get matched a contractor through Jean's website. What's included in the service that Jean offers. Sweeten has a vetted group of contractors that have all committed to working transparently. The kind of data that they re able to collect as a result of staying with all their projects to completion. They do an original content piece on their blog every single day. Sweeten can hold their contractors accountable based on the fact that their communications, signed contracts, and estimates are all on the Sweeten platform. Sweeten is always working on ways to get everybody on the path to completion. How the contractor's ratings on the Sweeten platform affect the number of projects Sweeten will send their way. The way that the contractors are incentivized to stay with Sweeten and deliver great service. Treading lightly in the process of learning what works best for everybody. Jean shares her contractor vetting process. Jean gives some tips for interior designers to work successfully with contractors. Sweeten charges interior designers no fee at all. Jean offers an awesome incentive of $500 for a referral. Bio: Jean Brownhill, Founder, and CEO of Sweeten After earning an Architecture degree at The Cooper Union, Jean Brownhill spent a decade in design and construction, including in Global Architecture at Coach, where she won the Chairman’s Award for designing web platforms to streamline retail construction worldwide. After a challenging renovation of her own home, she saw the need for a free service to match people to vetted general contractors, providing support throughout the process. Sweeten (as in “home, sweet home”) launched in 2011; the concept earned Jean a prestigious Loeb Fellowship from Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. Today, Sweeten has more than $1B of construction projects in the pipeline. The service has been called a “Renovation Game-Changer,” with Jean hailed as “The Contractor Whisperer” by New York Magazine as well as one of Inc. Magazine’s “Most Innovative Women Founders in America.” Sweeten brings trust, technology, and transparency to the $340B+ residential renovation industry, allowing consumers to renovate fearlessly. The company expanded to commercial projects—restaurants, retail, offices, etc.—in 2017. Just as Sweeten sets new standards for contractors, Jean is taking on traditional barriers for diversity and women in tech. She's a female founder disrupting a male-dominated industry. She’s co-founder of the African American Student Union (AASU) at Harvard's Graduate School of Design, an organization supporting African Americans in architecture, real estate, and urban planning. She’s a member of the 2018 Class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute. And she’s one of few black female entrepreneurs to raise $1M+ in venture capital, as featured in Vanity Fair. For more info, please contact Randi MacColl at [email protected] or 212-671-1713. Links: Sweeten Blog Sweeten Design Trade VIP Program: Sweeten Architects Designers Instagram: @sweeten_home Facebook: @theSweeten Pinterest: Sweeten Twitter: @sweeten home

Welcome! Today we have Melissa Hryszko, the award-winning design brain behind Veranda Estate Homes Inc., join us on the show. For the past eighteen years, Melissa and her husband, Rob, have owned and operated one of Calgary's most successful and versatile luxury home building companies. Today, Melissa shares some of her best tips for growing her firm's Instagram following to an incredible 80 000 followers, and she also explains that she and Rob are crystal clear about who they will work with, and about the kinds of projects that they will do and will not do. Listen in today, to find out what it takes to consistently build between seven and ten custom homes per year, from the ground up. Melissa's formal education is in graphic design and advertising and yet it's really clear that she belongs in the world of interior design. She brings a meticulous level of detail to each and every project that Veranda is involved in, and she does all her designs by hand. Melissa also tackles each project on an individual basis to ensure that each one is unique and representing the Veranda brand. Tune in today to find out more. Show highlights: Melissa talks about Veranda's unique business model. Melissa is involved with every single home. How Veranda has the edge. Learning from past mistakes. Working with the best architect. Veranda only works from word-of-mouth advertising. Talking budget with clients. Working out ball-park prices. How Melissa's firm works with the different trades on each project. What it takes for a project to get off the ground. They have only five people on their team! About the weekly site meetings that happen every Tuesday morning. They use a program called Buildertrend to coordinate projects. Melissa shares some good practices for growing your Instagram following. Melissa spends more than two hours per day on Instagram. Instagram is about building relationships. Melissa tells us all about her podcast, Modern Design Minds. Links and resources: Melissa's Podcast: Modern Design Minds with her co-host Amy Kearns (from the Boston area). Amy Lynn Interiors Veranda Estate Homes Instagram: Veranda Interior Facebook: Veranda Estate Homes Modern Design Minds on Instagram: modern design minds Buildertrend: Builder Trend Modern Craftsman Podcast amylynn_interiors Visual Comfort Currey & Co Wingnut Social Podcast Modern Design Minds Podcast Previous guests mentioned in this episode: Circle Design #380 Judith Neary - Design Biz Live #170, #264, #326, #399, #410 Shea McGee #236, #270 Additional episodes about building your IG: Amber Lewis #184 Shea McGee #236, 270 Mr. Inkredible# 417 Mark McDonough #110 Darla Powell #203 and #330 More episodes about doing full design and build: Circle Design Studio with husband and wife team John and Theresa Dorlini #380 Angela Rasmussen of H2H Design+Build #181

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We are really delighted to introduce you to Amanda Berlin today. Amanda is a communications consultant specifically for entrepreneurs. She teaches visibility strategy, to help people to be seen and appreciated for their uniqueness. She tells us that what she does daily, in her PR niche, is much the same as every one of us, as entrepreneurs, has to do when marketing our businesses. It's about creating a story around a business or a product that really connects it with an audience. On the show today, she and LuAnn talk about the kinds of pitches that designers need to write, the types of media that are the right fit for designers, and how to create relationships with writers and reporters to get yourself and your projects featured more easily and more often. Tune in today, to find out how to be seen and appreciated! Amanda studied journalism at George Washington University. She interned at CNN, wrote for a local paper, and spent a decade writing media pitches for companies like Disney, Dove, Brawny, Baskin Robbins, Colgate, and Campbell’s. The pitches Amanda wrote resulted in appearances on almost every level of local television outlet in the country and on every national cable and network morning show at one time or another. Amanda has been featured on Carol Cox's Speaking Your Brand and she also has a podcast, The Empowered Publicity Podcast. Listen in today, to hear what Amanda has to share! Show highlights: Amanda has a really awesome 'about me' page. Starting with goals. Thinking about goals when considering media and visibility. Amanda explains what a PR opportunity looks like. Working out what's most important. Unearthing the evergreen and newsworthy opportunities. The two kinds of pitches that every designer needs to write. Why you need to be really specific about what you have to teach. Different pitches for different kinds of media. Looking at mainstream consumer media. Twitter is an excellent source of information about the media. The Profile Pitch. To get you deeper in with your niche audience. Telling your own story. Why you need to be willing to own your story. Going back to who you were before you became who you are. Pitching for podcasts. Making it as easy as possible for media to say 'yes'. The services that Amanda offers. Go to her website Amanda Berlin Bio: I’m a New Yorker by way of New Jersey with stints in Washington, DC and Madrid, Spain. I’m told my Jersey often shows through, whatever that means. I’m a mama of an only. I’m obsessed with my family as well as finding the exact right word to complete my thought in every conversation (it can get annoying). And peanut butter. I’m also obsessed with peanut butter. I was born to make sure we are all heard and seen and appreciated for our unique genius. I about died when I got a poem published in my high school literary magazine. I studied journalism at The George Washington University, interned at CNN, wrote for a local paper, and then came back to New York City. For a decade, I wrote media pitches for companies like Disney, Dove, Brawny, Baskin Robbins, Colgate, and Campbell’s. Clients would come to me with a spokesperson and some message points and I’d package it up and create a story that would get pitched to news outlets across the country. The pitches I wrote resulted in appearances on nearly every local television outlet in the country and every national cable and network morning show at one time or another. My day-to-day in this niche of PR is exactly what every last entrepreneur is tasked with doing when marketing their business. Take a spokesperson (themselves) and a message (their business or product) and create a story that connects with an audience. Amanda Berlin was referred to LuAnn by Amber De La Garza #385. Shows that correlate with this one: Amy Flurry #108 and #323 Ren Millar #12 Ashley Hotham-Cox #321 Jane Dagney #351 Andrew Joseph #39 Jenny Madden #332 Links: Amanda's website: Amanda Berlin Amanda's podcast: Amanda Berlin Find Amanda on Facebook: Amanda Berlin Coaching Follow Amanda on Twitter: Amanda Berlin Valerie Fund Designer Showhouse April 23- May 19, 2019 Previous guests participating in the showhouse: Gail Davis Tina Ramchandani Blanche Garcia Marina Umali WindowWorks is supporting several designers in the Valerie Fund Showhouse by providing window treatments for their rooms. Kips Bay Showhouse May 2- May 30, 2019 Previous guest participating in Kips Bay: Corey Damen Jenkins Links to LuAnn's books: Book 1: Luann Nigara Book 2: Luann Nigara

Welcome to today's episode! We are delighted to have the one and only Tobi Fairley join us today! Tobi is a progressive-thinking entrepreneur, known for her interior design and she is focused on helping her clients design their homes, their businesses, and their lives through her full-service interior design company and her consulting firm. Tobi has a special interest in promoting wellness and balance for entrepreneurs, CEO's, and creatives. She also has a podcast, called The Design You Podcast, which was launched in April 2018. (LuAnn was her guest on episode #37). Today, Tobi talks to LuAnn about tuning in to what you really like to do and how you really want your business to be, making more money, and getting to grips with digital services in the ever-changing online world. Tune in for more! Tobi has been a trusted coach for interior designers and creatives, through her live events, business courses, and online programs for over ten years. More than ten years ago, when Tobi launched her blog, she was at the forefront of the design blog movement. Her blog is currently read in more than 125 countries across the globe. In 2017, Tobi was a columnist for Traditional Home magazine with a feature in each issue chronicling her own home renovation and reveal. Her award-winning interior design, product design, and ideas have been featured on television and in worldwide publications including House Beautiful, Veranda, Traditional Home, Huffington Post, HGTV, The Wall Street Journal, Southern Living, Better Homes and Gardens, Real Simple, Coastal Living, Southern Cottages, Creative Live, the Chicago Tribune, and MSNBC. Listen in today, to find out from Tobi how to create a business that is right for you. Show highlights: Tobi really enjoys learning about personal development and self-help and melding that with interior design. The blessing of growing up with unconditional support. The kind of support that Tobi really loves giving to others. Tobi discusses her philosophy on the use of digital tools for interior designers. Why digital doesn't have to be associated with poor quality. Tobi's take on creating revenue streams. There are so many ways for designers to make really good money and still give value to the consumer. Thinking creatively to create different models to suit different customers. The beauty of creating a design business that is accessible online. Why it gets easier to make money in other ways. Creating different models to solve different problems for clients. A practical strategy for design professionals looking to tap different markets. How designers are creating their own competition. Tobi's suggestion for maximizing your profits with what you already have. Knowing what you can and cannot do successfully on the phone. Using the right language to assist clients with digital products and services. The industry is changing, so you need to figure out how to change and grow with it. You get to decide the services that your business provides. Tuning in to what you like doing, and how you really want your business to be. The importance of being profitable. Thinking outside the box. Bio: Traditional Home predicts “Tobi will be like Cher or Oprah, one of those women for whom one name says it all.” Tobi Fairley is known for her bold use of color in interior design, but she’s also one of the nation’s most progressive-thinking entrepreneurs. Tobi is passionate about her full-service interior design company and her consulting firm which are focused on helping clients design their homes, their businesses and their lives, with a special interest in promoting wellness and balance for entrepreneurs, CEO’s and creatives. Tobi established her firm more than 19 years ago and her projects have spanned the nation and beyond. Her award-winning interior design, product design and ideas have been featured on television and in publications worldwide including House Beautiful, Veranda, Traditional Home, Huffington Post, HGTV, The Wall Street Journal, Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Real Simple, Coastal Living, Southern Cottages, Creative Live, the Chicago Tribune, and MSNBC. In 2017, Tobi was a columnist for Traditional Home magazine with a feature in each issue chronicling her own home renovation and reveal. Tobi’s design goal is to create interiors that will assist her clients in reaching their big, personal, and entrepreneurial dreams, while supporting their health and wellness. She designs functional homes and beautiful environments that will foster personal growth, balance, and connection for all who use them. Tobi was on the forefront of the design blog movement when she launched her blog over 10 years ago, and it’s currently read in more than 125 countries worldwide. She has been a trusted coach for over 10 years for interior designers and creatives through her live events, design and business courses, and online programs. Among Tobi’s latest ventures is Design You, a monthly coaching program, where interi

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! Today's show is about working with a professional Virtual Assistant, who works specifically in the field of interior design. Sarah Durnez is the founder of Loft Design in Walla Walla Washington, and she joins us today. For Sarah, it really doesn't matter where she is, or where you are for that matter because she works remotely to help designers, like you, with their design businesses. She's worked with designers all over the US and she's only ever met one of them once, in the flesh. Sarah's specialty is providing designers with drawings and renderings. Most of her clients have been with her since she started her business, which really says a lot about Sarah and her work, right? Listen in today, to find out more about Sarah and the high-quality Virtual Design Assistant services that she gives her clients. Sarah graduated from MIU with a BFA in Interior Design. At school, she gravitated to honing her rendering skills and creating the best presentations. Competing to showcase design boards during Miami's Art Basil each year, really drove home the importance that the way that a project is presented is just as important as the design of the project. Sarah has been working remotely with designers for over six years, providing them with detailed construction documents, renderings, and presentation materials to sell their designs. With Sarah handling the technical side of a project, her designers have more time to focus on other aspects of design, grow their business, and be out of the office to spend more time with their families. Tune in for more! Show highlights: We all strive to be organized in the way we run our business. Sarah started out by just winging it. Sarah explains how she keeps her clients on their toes with their projects. The kind of service and support that Sarah provides for her clients. The quality of Sarah's SketchUp renderings is really remarkable. Sarah discusses the information she requires from designers in order to provide them with high-quality renderings. The kind of responsibility that Sarah takes on. Why some people call Sarah 'The killer of dreams'. How designers really benefit from Sarah's expertise. Sarah will always provide a solution for every issue that she points out. The way that small design firms really benefit from hiring Sarah. Listen to your tradespeople. They really know what they are talking about. Use your own talents for what you're really good at and hiring out for the rest. The excitement that comes with the renderings. When and why designers lean towards watercolor drawings. Taking the time to work through the specific process of your trade. About Sarah's training for designers on SketchUp and Podium. The design industry is a very personal one and hiring a Virtual Assistant is really like having someone on your side. Links: Press Kit Password: tacos Loft Design Website: Loft Design Instagram: SarahatLoftDesign Facebook: SarahatLoftDesign Pinterest: SarahatLoftDesign Mydoma Studio Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Darla Powell #330 Elizabeth Scruggs #305 Revelwoods #329 Mydoma Studio #91 and #171 Madeleine MacRae #283 and #315 Episodes that go with this one: On VA’s #375 Bonnie Fahy #149 My Design Assistant #346 Do Not Let Us Design For You

Welcome! Today we have Mr. Inkredible on the show with us. Don Ricardo Massenburg, Jr, known for his use of bright and bold patterns and colors in home decor, is the principal of Design Inkredible in Durham, North Carolina. Don believes that interior design should be and could be attainable by everyone, even though it's considered a luxury service. In today's episode, he talks to us about his design business and about his work in early childhood education. He also explains how he runs his design firm in conjunction with his full-time position in the education field. Listen in to find out more. For a long time, it has been Don's dream to do something that he loves so much that it doesn't feel like he's working. Interior design has been his answer to this. Don's firm has grown so fast and has become so successful that it's hard to believe that technically, it's his side-hustle. He really understands what it takes to maintain a successful interior design business, and he's always adding to his education in interior design. Tune in to find out about Don and how his love for art, music, furniture, and anything bold and creative really fuels his passion for interior design. Show highlights: How Don started his design firm while doing his career in education. How he runs his design business around his full-time job. Don is so passionate about interior design that it doesn't feel like work. How he uses social media to get clients. Posting on social media at peak times for maximum engagement. Don's strategies for attracting followers on social media. Joining Instagram pods, or groups are still effective as a strategy for marketing a business. Don's use of bold and bright colors and patterns. The importance of engaging, on social media. A lot of Don's current clientele comes from luxury new construction. Don's focus is on textiles. Maintaining a following on social media really takes a lot of work. The importance of your first six photos on Instagram. The value of hiring a really good photographer. Converting Instagram admirers into clients. Weeding out the tire-kickers. How to obtain the help of a mentor. How MyDoma Studio has really changed Don's life. Don used to create his own custom designs. Don's Bio: Recognized for his use of bright, bold patterns and colors in home décor, Don Ricardo Massenburg Jr. seeks to show that although interior design is considered a luxury service, it can be attainable to everyone. His love for art, music, furniture, and anything bold and creative fuels his passion for interior design. It has been a lasting dream of Ricardo’s to do something that he loves and enjoys so much that it doesn’t feel like he’s working, and Ricardo believes that he has experienced that dream with interior design. Ricardo received a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from North Carolina Central University and started his first interior design venture while he served as a teacher. Some of his earliest and favorite projects were children’s spaces where he enjoyed pulling bright, vibrant colors together, along with fun patterns. Ricardo continues to work in the field of education by day and acknowledges the value of the transferable skills gained through his experiences. The growth of DESiGN iNKREDiBLE LLC has been so exciting and through his, work Ricardo has developed other gifts and talents such as sewing, upholstery, and creating abstract art. Ricardo recognizes that although style and a good design eye are important, it takes much more to maintain a successful interior design business and he is currently continuing education in interior design. For more episodes on how to grow your Instagram following: #184 Amber Lewis #110 Mark McDonough #203 and #330 Darla Powell / Wingnut Social For more episodes on mentorship: #267 Rasheeda Gray #291 Cheryl Luckett #296 Ruthie Staalsen #272 Laura Thurman #91 and #177 Sarah Daniele- Mydoma Studio Links: Design Inkredible Instagram: Design Inkredible Facebook: Design Inkredible Join LuAnn at High Point Market Facebook Groups: Mark McDonough: Interior Design Marketing Darla Powell: The Wingnut Social Media Lab LuAnn: LuAnn Nigara and Friends

Welcome to another episode of Power Talk Friday! Today’s episode is a conversation with the founder of Digital Everything, Susana Yee. Susana is a marketing expert in social media and influencer marketing who has cultivated major engagement for companies through her innovative work, such as her Guess “color me inspired” campaign. Within her company, Susana helps individuals with their own social media campaigns, twitter and facebook ad management, influencer marketing, rebranding, content creation, retargeting campaigns, and so much more. Digital Media is a company that helps others build and market their own personal brands in order to reach out and work with top-notch influencers, or become an influencer themselves. This episode includes techniques and strategies that will help you create and promote yourself on any social media platform. Tune into today's episode of A Well-Designed Business to learn more about Digital Everything and how its program can help you build your social media empire. Show Highlights: Reaching out and working with influencers Making sure your brand is cohesive and looks promotable Tagging and promoting other brands that are relevant to you Strategies to grow your business through social media How affiliate and brand deals work Being selective about what you advertise Redirecting people to other platforms to avoid exposing secrets Building an email list Being easily contactable and accessible Posting consistently and strategically Putting a value on your services Using people’s needs to your benefit Paying people fairly for their expertise Playing the role of the brand and the influencer A roadmap for how to target and work with influencers Creating campaigns that include and reach a big audience Apps that easily regulate marketing Establishing your personal niche Properly labeling and hashtagging posts About Digital Everything: Digital Everything is a Los Angeles based digital marketing firm that works with brands directly and teaches them how to build and make the most out of relationships with influencers. Founded over 20 years ago Services include: social media campaign management, influencer marketing, twitter and facebook ads management, social media strategy, content creation, retargeting campaigns Links: Sign Up for Susana's Course: The Influencer Marketing Roadmap Web and social: Digital Everything Facebook: Digital Everything Twitter: Shopping And Info Previous Shows Mentioned: Shea McGee of Studio McGee #236 Shea and Syd McGee #270 Natalie Hurst # 172

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! We have Tina Ramchandani, a really smart lady and the founder of Tina Ramchandani Creatives, with us on the show today. Tina is another interior designer who started her career by training at a well-established and well-run New York design firm and we know that it really makes a difference when young designers cut their teeth this way. Tina started her own design business in 2014 and in four short years, she has managed to establish herself as an interior designer on the rise. She was recently named one of House Beautiful Magazine's 2018 Next Way Designers and she has been featured in Elle Decor, The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Cottage and Gardens, and more. Listen in today, to find out about Tina and her really successful design firm. In today's episode, Tina talks to us about her experience of working for the top-tier New York firm, Vicente Wolf and Associates, prior to opening her own design business. She discusses some of the practices that she has instituted in her firm, like her strategy for establishing monthly tasks in her business, to ensure that she's paying attention to the experience she's giving her clients. Today, Tina and LuAnn also talk about their involvement in the upcoming Designer Showhouse, Grace's House, by the Valerie Fund. LuAnn is on the committee, and Tina is one of the designers. Many of the designers selected to participate in bringing this really special home back to its former glory have been featured on this show, so we're giving all of them a special shout-out today, in appreciation for all that they are doing for our children! Tune in now to find out more! Show highlights: Window Works will be working with Tina and the other designers, doing window treatments and pillows for the Valerie Fund showhouse, Grace's House. Tina talks about her amazing experience and the confidence she gained from working for Vincente Wolf for five years. What Tina learned from working for Vincente Wolf, that she's brought to the way she runs her own firm, Tina Ramchandani Creative. The way that Vincente Wolf managed to inspire Tina's confidence. The natural way that Tina empowers her junior designer, Kay, in the same way, that she was inspired by Vincente. Learning to trust the people you have hired. How Tina knew that it was the right time for her to leave her mentor, Vincente. How interior design principals gain from giving their all to their junior designers. The systems that Tina initially took away from Vincente's firm. The way that Tina tweaked and changed some of Vincente's business systems, to work with the way she works. Tina and Kay sit down at the beginning of each year and assess the things that are not working and the things that need to change in the business. Tina discusses the goals that she and Kay set for each month. Tina and Kay meet each week to discuss what needs to be done in the business. Having outside help has really assisted Tina in running her own business. Tina has built in specific times of the month to address her business operations. The pressure that comes with being driven in business. Tina talks about the awesome Valerie Fund. All about the showhouse, Grace's House which is going to open on April 25th, 2019. There are many special events which will be happening at the opening of Grace's House. Tina talks about the colorful room that she is is designing in Grace's house. Benjamin Moore has kindly sponsored all the paint for Grace's House. Getting things to run smoothly when the pressure is on. Tina discusses the event that she is going to be doing with a women's group on the 15th of May, to raise money for the Valerie Fund. LuAnn is having a book signing for her new book, on the 30th of April, at 6 pm, at Grace's House. Tina's bio: Tina Ramchandani Creative (TRC) is a full-service design firm that creates modern, sophisticated and relaxed interiors. TRC's turn-key service makes it easy for clients to move into a completed home with minimal stress. Tina Ramchandani incorporates her vast experience and global perspective into her signature style that delivers a warm layered aesthetic, enhancing your lifestyle and inviting you to truly “live” in your bespoken space. Tina places a strong emphasis on artwork, couture pieces, and custom elements, within the client's budget. While creating a unique, livable environment for clients, Tina incorporates local artists and artisans to bring spaces to life, and showcase clients' personalities in their homes. TRC has developed a complete and individual onboarding process, which allows Tina to get to know clients and their needs in depth. Clients will share their inspirations with Tina, while also sharing details of how they live in their space, what they are looking to improve or change, as well as what they are interested in aesthetically. Tina and her team then create two complete design presentations for clients. First, the team offers a preliminary meeting, with floor plans

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! Today's show is sponsored by Bellacor, and we have Sara Saferstein, the director of the Bellacor Pro Division, with us on the show. Bellacor is an online company, established in 2000. They have all the top brands in lighting, decor, and furniture, and they have commercial products as well as residential. In today's episode, Sara will be talking to us about the Bellacor Pro Division, which is their resource for you, as an interior design professional. Listen in today, to find out how Bellacor Pro can make your life easier and your next project a little less of a project. The Bellacor Pro Division is there to help you with your projects, whether you're working on single, one-client projects or on the commercial side, with multi-unit projects. Bellacor Pro has a team specifically dedicated to helping you with your orders and there are also ALA certified personal account managers, available to help you with all your questions around specifying and sourcing their products. Bellacor Pro has a special trade-pricing program with free shipping, and right now they are welcoming new interior design accounts, and other trade professional accounts to join them. Tune in today, to get all the details about the awesome Bellacor Pro Program. Show highlights: Sara talks about the Bellacor dedicated trade team, specifically for interior designers. The kind of partnerships that Bellacor builds with the interior design and the builder communities. It really helps to not have to worry about all the little details of a project. Sara talks about her experience in the industry. The wide range of lighting and furniture items and products that Bellacor has for interior designers. Sara explains the advantages of using Bellacor Pro as your resource for lighting and furniture products. You will get Bellacor's trade pricing with any of their manufacturers. Why you really need to be part of Bellacor's trade program. About Bellacor's free shipping, and their flexible 30-day return policy. Bellacor is willing to think outside the box in order to help make your purchase successful. The advantages of having a dedicated team on tap to help you. The way that Bellacor Pro helps designers, day-to-day, with their projects. Bellacor Pro offers interior designers continuing education. There is a lot of complexity and detail involved in lighting. Bellacor Pro really adds value for designers. Bellacor Pro brings you the look you want at the price point you can afford. Get the best product at the best price from Bellacor Pro. Experience the Bellacor Pro Advantage of a high value, high touch relationship with their community. About Bellacor Pro: Unique clients require unique solutions. As designers, you need to delight your clients, deliver on time and on budget and we understand that. We are Bellacor Pro — A trade-program designed to meet the unique requests of interior designers, architects, builders, and other trade professionals. We deliver exceptional product selection and service including: Guaranteed low pricing every day: Get our best trade pricing Brands you love: Select from more than 500 designer- and builder-preferred brands in lighting, furniture, and home décor. Dedicated account team: Your dedicated account team of industry veterans and ALA-certified professionals will help you find the perfect products for every project in your portfolio. Free shipping: Everyday free shipping, with no minimums for trade professionals. Sara Saferstein, the Director of Bellacor Professional, has more than 20 years of industry experience working with manufacturers, designers, and retailers in lighting and home décor. Her team will make your next project a little less of a project while making your life as a designer easier. Links: BellacorPro: Bellacor LinkedIn: Bellacor Instagram: Bellacor Lighting Facebook: Bellacor Lighting Twitter: Bellacor Pinterest: Bellacor Telephone the Bellacor Accounts Management Team: 1877 688 7039

Welcome! Today we have Leslie Price, the principal of Price Style and Design, with us on the show. Leslie's superpower is sourcing and selling art for her projects and in today's episode, she explains why this is so important and personal to her. We also have a really nice conversation with her about her career and the turns it has taken, starting out in the home staging industry and then pivoting into strictly interior design. Leslie also talks to us about her studio and the wonderful setup she has in collaboration with her upholsterer, and about the pros and cons of charging for an initial consultation. Listen in now to find out more. Price Style and Design is a San Francisco Bay Area-based design and style firm, specializing in creating colorful, comfortable, and welcoming interiors. Award-winning designer and owner, Leslie Price, has a passion for creating light-filled, open, and uncluttered spaces influenced by an appreciation for the fresh colors of nature- an instintive artistic awareness which she developed growing up in Honolulu, Hawaii. Leslie's impeccable attention to every detail will help you create comfortable and beautiful spaces that speak to your heart. Working from the belief that you must love where you live, Leslie and her team focus on designing spaces that inspire joy and happiness. With expertise from a thirty-year visual merchandising and design career, Leslie is uniquely positioned to help you understand and refine your own style, so you can enjoy the 'art of living' in your home. Tune in to find out what Leslie has to share. Show highlights: Leslie talks about the mid-life epiphany she had about her business. Leslie goes with the flow because she knows it will all work out in the end. How Leslie's interior design career began with home-staging. Her transition from home-staging to interior design. Why Leslie moved from home-staging to interior design. Some of the realtors that Leslie used to work for, doing home-staging, still send her client referrals. Leslie talks about her retail space, it's a purpose, and what it means to her business. The win-win situation Leslie has with the people she splits the rental for her retail space with. Why Leslie doesn't charge for her initial consultation. The struggle that Leslie's having with not charging for her initial consultation. Leslie believes that art is a legacy that talks about your soul. Leslie talks about her passion for helping clients to source their works of art. Art is an asset that continues to gain value. How Leslie helps her clients to make the most of their art. The way that Leslie sources works of art for her clients. How Leslie charges her clients for finding their art. Leslie bridges that gap between artists and buyers who may be intimidated to speak to the artists. Leslie talks about her mother's art and her art collection. Links: New podcast by Marianne Cherico launched Jan 25, 2019: Home Stagers and Designers on Fire Leslie's website: Price Style And Design Leslie's Instagram: @pricestyleanddesign Facebook: Price Style And Design Pinterest: Price Styling Previous episodes, with more info on home staging: Shauna Lynn Simon #76 Yohan May Interiors #396 Marianne Cherico #123 Taylor Spellman #106 Previous episodes, for more info on selecting, selling and framing art: Katharine Earnhardt #239 Paul Thomas & Daniel Beauchemin #291 Previous episodes, for more info on creating a lead magnet: Savour Partnership #209

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We have a really terrific guest, Ashley Uhl, the founder and principal of Ashley Uhl Consulting, with us on the show today. Ashley consults and teaches interior designers, just like you, how to deliver a high-end service experience. If done correctly, this will lead to more efficiency in your business, greater profit, and most importantly, client loyalty. Ashley is one smart lady and she knows the incredible impact that delivering a spectacular experience can have on a business. In today's episode, she explains how to keep things simple in your business to uplevel it and create the kind of experience that makes clients come back. Tune in now! You're going to love it! Ashley has a background in client relations, sales, and communications at the top leadership development company, Dale Carnegie. She's also had a number years of working with, and getting to understand the expectations of high net worth clients at the wealth management firm, Morgan Stanley. In addition, Ashley also pursued her certificate in interior design. Listen in today, to find out from Ashley how to improve the process and client experience of your business and to attract luxury, high-end clients. Show highlights: Ashley shares the three E's of high-end service experience. It's the small things that count. Showing your clients that you're ready to take their project on. Ashley has created a pyramid to explain the levels of need of the client experience. Dealing with grey areas with clients. Making it easy for your clients to understand, and be part of your design process. Manage the clients' expectations. They want you to lead them and they feel safer when they see that you are in control. Make it easy for the client to hire you. Creating loyalty that will last a lifetime. The way you handle your mistakes will have an impact on your success. A handwritten thank you note really makes a great impression. The benefits of developing a great relationship with a restaurant. A million tiny things can add up to a really incredible experience. Giving high-end clients unique and awesome experiences. How designers can work with Ashley and Ashley Uhl Consulting. Ashley teaches systems and processes, with a touch of luxury. Bio: Ashley Uhl, owner, and founder of Ashley Uhl Consulting know the incredible impact that delivering a spectacular experience can have on a business. That’s why her mission is to help designers learn how to deliver the type of high-end service experience that allows them to increase their profits, efficiency, and client loyalty. Ashley’s been cultivating a love for service her entire lifetime. Traveling extensively throughout the world early on in life, she developed incredible respect, understanding, and interest in the five-star service and hospitality she encountered. She furthered her interest in service with formal training and work in human relations, sales, and presentations for top professional development company, Dale Carnegie. This allowed her to expand her abilities to both create memorable experiences for customers, and prevent conflicts and frustrations from happening between a business and their clients. While later serving high net worth clients at wealth management firm, Morgan Stanley, and simultaneously decorating her first home, Ashley found her other passion, interior design. But after working on projects with family and friends, she realized that design itself wasn’t her calling. So with a nudge from her husband, she decided to combine her love for both service and design. Thus, allowing her to become the first and only service consultant exclusively focused on interior designers. Links and Resources: Ashley's website: Ashley Uhl Consulting You can sign up here for a free download of Ashley's The Essentials of a High End Designer Experience. And Ashley is offering you, the listener, 20% off of any of her services. Please use the code WELLDESIGNED. Ashley's blog: Ashley Uhl Consulting Ashley on Instagram: Ashley Uhl Consulting Ashley on Facebook: Ashley Uhl Consulting LuAnn on Instagram: Luann Nigara Ashley Uhl’s company, Ashley Uhl Consulting is one of the sponsors of LuAnn Nigara Live. To register, go to https://luannnigara.com/luann-live/

Welcome to today's episode! We have Nicole Gibbons on the show with us today and she's an entrepreneur, interior designer, blogger, and on-air personality. Nicole spent more than a decade in the fashion industry, serving as the Global Director of PR and Events at a major woman's retailer, prior to starting her work in the interior design industry. She has appeared on the Emmy Award-winning Home Made Simple, as well as on the Oprah Winfrey Network, for three seasons as a designer helping deserving families to re-imagine their living spaces. Listen in today, to find out more about Nicole. Almost every interior design client that Nicole worked with complained to her about the overwhelming process of selecting and buying paint and also about the lack of transparency with the paint ingredients. So now Nicole has turned her attention to the paint industry, as the founder and CEO of an innovative new resource in paint called Clare. Clare takes the pain out of paint shopping because all the paint is Premium Zero VOC and Greenguard Gold Certified. Clare is also the first ever direct-to-consumer paint brand and Nicole has a to the trade program available, just for you! On the show today, she talks to us about her journey and she shares her observations about her diverse career and explains how Clare is reinventing the way that people shop for paint. Tune in for more! Show highlights: Nicole talks about her how she created her career by design. Transferring your skills from one career to the next. Nicole would love to be the next Martha Stewart. How Nicole's career has evolved. Strategically creating a parallel path is not an easy thing to do. Some tips for establishing yourself in the design industry as a recognized expert. What it takes for an opportunity to get on TV. TV really doesn't pay as much as you would expect. How to be comfortable in front of the camera. About Nicole's exciting new endeavor that came to fruition in 2018. Nicole really wanted to disrupt an industry and do something that could help people solve a problem. Nicole's 'aha' moment. How Nicole has done to simplify the color palette. The way that Nicole helps people with their color choice. Nicole's product descriptions really help you to understand what the color will feel like. About the features of Clare's seamless to the trade program. Nicole wants people to feel as safe as possible when using her paint products. Previous shows mentioned in this episode: High Point Market Spring 2019: Ashley Grigg, Lisa Mende and Jeanne Chung #406 Century Furniture with Carrier & Co #407 Visual Comfort with Lauren Rottet #408 Links: Nicole's website: Clare Article If you are going to HP Spring 2019, please join LuAnn on Saturday, April 6th at 12 noon at the HPMKT Theater. She will be giving a keynote presentation followed by a book signing of her new book, The Things I Learned From A Well-Designed Business, The Power Talk Friday Experts. This book is actually launching the week before at LuAnn's big event, LuAnn Nigara Live, It’s About the Conversation. To learn more, go to Luann Nigara and click on live events.

Welcome to another episode of Design Biz Live! Corey Klassen and Judith Neary join us once again on the show today. During the summer of 2018, Corey and Judith both experienced shifts in their businesses which really tested them as business owners, entrepreneurs, and as interior designers. In the previous episode of Design Biz Live, we spoke about what Judith went through last summer and today, we're going to be talking about Corey's experience. Listen in to find out more! Things seemed to be going really well business-wise for Corey at the beginning of 2018. Then he experienced an unexpected shift in his business and he hit the ditch. Corey understands, however, that although change can be daunting, we still need to take responsibility for keeping a positive attitude. He knows that there are some really big problems out there in the world and it's important to recognize that our own problems are usually quite small in comparison. Tune in today to find out how Corey managed to take control, shift his mindset, lean into the change, and become the project manager of his life. Show highlights: Corey had a team of three, then, almost overnight, he was left with just himself. Corey views the shift in his business as an unexpected gift. The way that Corey adjusted his business to his best advantage. What Corey discovered about himself. Corey moved his home and his office in just two months. The major life-events that Corey experienced recently. The importance of staying on an even keel. Getting clear about his goals. Corey realized that he had to become the project manager of his life. You've got to dig in and own your stuff. Having the confidence to shift gears in his business. Making choices based on the quality of life that you want for yourself. It's hard to be a leader when you hit the ditch. The clarity that Corey gained from his difficult experience. You don't need a crisis to have a revelation about yourself. Finding the next level. Mistakes are your education. And owning your mistakes is vital. Listen to your inner voice. Links: Corey Klassen Interior Design Judith Neary - Roadside Attraction Studio Previous episode of Design Biz Live Luann Nigara

Welcome to today's show! We are really happy today to have Candy Scott and Rachel Cannon join us on the show! In today's episode, these two smart ladies will be talking to LuAnn about the changing landscape in the business side of interior design. Candy and Rachel are both highly organized, with finite systems in place for running their businesses and they truly understand that you really need to know and sell your own value, as a designer, rather than the value of the products that you specify. Listen in, to find out what they have to share with you on the show today. Candy is the principal of Mood Design and Build, which is located in Chicago. She has won multiple awards during her seventeen-year career in designer and she's worked with large developers and corporate clients, outfitting high-rise condominium lobbies, club rooms, and model showrooms. Rachel is based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She has clients from Palm Springs to Palm Beach, with over fifteen years of experience in residential and commercial interior design. She opened her own firm, Rachel Cannon Interiors nine years ago and her work has been featured in Traditional Home, The Wall Street Journal, HGTV, My Domain.Com, and Southern Home. Tune in now! Both Rachel and Candy are going to be at LuAnn Nigara Live, It's About The Conversation. Show highlights: Business disruptions are not a new thing. The future of the interior designer with the disruptive emergence of products being available online to the consumer. Being a designer is not just about selling merchandise- it's so much more about the relationship. As designers, you need to be the innovators! Why you have to start charging for your services. If you make your money on a flat fee, you don't have to focus on selling furniture. Creating tracking documents for orders. Surviving the changes in the industry. The layer of service that Candy has added to her business, to really set it apart. The value of having the designer run the project. Rachel's ideas for designers to make money, going into the future. The middle end of the market is going to go away. Rachel's approach to design consult packages. The importance of branding. As an entrepreneur, you just have to be open to change. Some things to consider when creating your brand. Rachel Cannon is an interior designer from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with clients ranging the nation from Palm Springs to Palm Beach. She has over 15 years of experience in residential and commercial interior design, nine of which are at her namesake interior design firm, Rachel Cannon Limited. Armed with a degree in interior design and a background in art history, Rachel joins together classic principles with a decidedly contemporary tone. She provides her clients with sophisticated interiors that exude an effortless combination of subtle color, rich architectural detail, and a beguiling mix of livable, tailored and luxe details. With a clientele of professionals and families with demanding schedules, Rachel is most praised for her ability to simplify the interior design process while paying meticulous attention to planning and detail. The finished product: a livable yet polished space the entire family can enjoy. Rachel's work has been featured in Traditional Home, The Wall Street Journal, HGTV.com, MyDomain.com and Southern Home. Her captivating wit and knowledge of art, design, and architecture have made her a favorite on television, radio, and podcasts. While always on the go, the Rachel Cannon Limited team is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 2014, Candy Scott founded MOOD Design and Build where she continues to work with residential clients, business owners, and development partners on their homes, offices, and commercial interiors. As a designer, Candy is most inspired and intrigued by the transformation process. Both for the people who inhabit the spaces and the physical spaces themselves. She believes bringing consciousness to our spaces greatly impacts the way we think, feel, and behave. Candy graduated from Meredith College in Raleigh, NC with a Bachelor's of Science in Interior Design. Through the years, she has won multiple awards and has worked with large developers and corporate clients outfitting the high rise condominium lobbies, clubrooms, and model showrooms. She has worked with small to medium-sized businesses as well, transforming their lobbies and offices to places employees love to work. Previous shows mentioned on this episode: Candy #227 Rachel #306 Wendy Woluschuk #316 Links: Rachel Cannon - Rachel Cannon Limited Instagram: RCL Interiors Facebook: RCL Interiors Candy Scott Mood Design Build Instagram: Mood Design Build Facebook: Candy Scott LuAnn Nigara Live- It's About The Conversation - At the event, on the 30th and 31st March, in New Jersey, Candy will be paired with Fred Berns and they will be talking about How to Find Clients and Build Your Pipeline. Rachel will be paired with Sarah Daniele and they will be talking about Why

Welcome to our third sponsored show for High Point Market April 2019, brought to you by Visual Comfort and Co., and featuring the new product launch designed by today's guest, Lauren Rottet. Lauren is one of the most-celebrated interior architects in the world today, with an extraordinary record of awards, publications, lectures, juries, and honors. We are really delighted to have this dynamic, innovative entrepreneur on the show with us! In today's episode, she will be talking about her career, her lessons learned, and about her latest endeavor, the stunning lighting line she has designed for Visual Comfort and Co. Tune in now! Visual Comfort and Company is located in Houston Texas, and they have been the premier source for signature designer lighting since 1997. For more than 30 years, Visual Comfort and Company has collaborated with some of the most influential and iconic designers in the industry to produce lighting using natural materials of exceptional quality and distinctive hand-applied living finishes. Visual Comfort is proud to offer the industry’s widest range of incomparable lighting choices of extraordinary quality at a remarkable value. Previous collections have been designed by design greats including Alexa Hampton, Thomas O’Brien, Kelly Wearstler, and John Roselli among others. Lauren is the only woman in history to be elevated to Fellow status by both the American Institute of Architects and International Interior Design Association. She also holds the coveted titles of Interior Design Hall of Fame and Interiors (now Contract) Designer of the Year and she is a Lifetime Appointee to the U.S. General Services Administration’s National Register of Peer Professionals for Design Excellence. In 2006, she was inducted as an Inaugural Member of the Women in Design Hall of Fame. In 2012, she was named Boutique Design Designer of the Year. In 2014, Lauren was inducted into Hospitality Design magazine’s legendary Platinum Circle, the magazine’s highest honor for design professionals. Her furniture and product designs have earned her four gold medals for Best of NeoCon as well as a Chicago Athenaeum Award. Listen in to hear what she has to share on the show today. Show highlights: Lauren talks about her firm, how they started out, and how they got to where they are now. Hotels specifically budget for regular renovations. The way that Lauren practices diversification in her business. Designing for ocean and river cruisers. The way that Lauren's team was educated about designing for ships and cruise liners. Everyone in Lauren's office works on all the different kinds of projects. It takes a lot of homework to make a project successful. Creating the brochure for Viking. Breaking into a new market with hospitality. Lauren talks about her new venture with Visual Comfort. Lauren has always been fascinated by glass. She has been designing product for about thirty years. So much has opened up recently with new technology in lighting. Visual Comfort doesn't skimp on quality! How Lauren's relationship with Visual Comfort came about. The creation of a light, from design to manufacture. Lauren tells us where and when we're going to get to see her at High Point Market. Previous episodes mentioned on the show: Sue Firestone #404 Links: Website: Rottet Studio Twitter: Rottet Studio Instagram: Rottet Studio Visual Comfort: Visual Comfort

This show is sponsored by my friends at Century Furniture and features the design team from Carrier and Company Interiors located here in NYC. Century Furniture is one of the world's largest privately-owned manufacturers of high-end residential furniture. Founded in Hickory, North Carolina in 1947 by Harley F. Shuford, Sr., Century is now in the third generation of family ownership and operation and remains committed to their founder’s ideal, to create furniture of such impeccable quality that it brings joy not only to the people who own it, but also to the craftspeople who build it. Show Highlights: Craftsmanship is their expertise They have furniture for all rooms The company is located in Hickory, NC Century has state-of-the-art woodworking facilities They met at FIT 10 years ago They've been inside the homes of society's most elite Their best-selling book, Carrier and Company: Positively Chic Interiors The inspirations for their designs Their thoughts on success in this industry Links: Website - www.carrierandcompany.com Book - https://amzn.to/2IBQBOO Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carrierandco/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/carrierandco Century Furniture - https://www.centuryfurniture.com/century-furniture-designers.aspx?d=carrier

Welcome to this week's special sponsored series! Today we're featuring High Point Market, Spring 2019. LuAnn often gets emails from designers asking about High Point- whether or not it's a good idea to go, and what to do when you get there if you've never been before. Her answer is always 'go, but not without a plan'. Going to High Point without first establishing an objective for going there can really be a waste of your time and money. On the show today we have Ashley Grigg, Lisa Mende, and Jeanne Chung and they will be talking about the logistics of going to High Point. They will also be giving us some really useful information about the various tours available and they will also explain how to become a prestigious High Point Style Spotter. Tune in today, to get the best tips for making your trip to High Point really productive. In today's episode, you will hear High Point Market referred to as Disneyland for Designers. It really is an awesome experience! The market is comprised of 11,500,000 square feet of building after building of gorgeous furniture, rugs, art, lighting, accessories, with the added opportunity for you to meet many of the owners and execs of the brands you work with. Top it all off with a chance to meet some colleagues you may have only known before through Facebook or Instagram and you will have truly energizing experience that will really benefit your business! Listen in to find out more! Ashley Grigg is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the High Point Market Authority. High Point Market is the largest home furnishings trade show in the world and Ashley manages many of their projects, including media relations, educational programming, social media, and digital promotions. Ashly has over 13 years of experience in marketing and event management Lisa Mende is the founder and principal of Lisa Mende Design based in Charlotte, NC which opened in 1998. She has built a reputation as one of the South's Leading Luxury Designers and her work has been featured in many well-known national shelter and lifestyle magazines. As a designer and tastemaker, Lisa works with Brands and has served as a #Authlux Design Guild Member for House of Rohl for 2018, The Thermador Design Council and the Design Council for DSV Luxury in 2016. Lisa is an Allied Member of ASID and NKBA. She also pens the popular blog "The Design Connector" where she is currently kicking off a new series which will chronicle the renovation of her own home sharing all her favorite kitchen and bath products and as well as the renovation process with her readers. Jeanne Chung is a luxury interior designer and retailer based in Southern California. In addition to heading up her own interior design firm, Jeanne owns a retail and to the trade showroom in Pasadena, CA which has become a favorite go-to destination for both designers and design enthusiasts who seek a unique and artfully edited selection of new and vintage home furnishings and accessories. Through her design blog Cozy Stylish Chic, Jeanne has become recognized as an influencer in the industry and frequently collaborates with brands and manufacturers. She is a regular speaker on trade show designer panels and has served as a High Point Market Style Spotter. Jeanne participated in the Pasadena Showcase House of Design in 2017 and in 2018, served on the Board of the ASID Pasadena Chapter. Show highlights: Why interior designers should really invest the time and money in going to High Point Market. High Point is a really energizing experience! Half the business is conducted after the market is over! The brand cocktail parties are awesome opportunities to meet and connect with important people. The way that High Point has impacted on Jeanne's business. What it took for Jeanne to become an official Style Spotter for High Point Market. Keeping abreast with current trends at High Point. It's really worthwhile making your application to become a Style Spotter. The criteria for becoming a Style Spotter. How being a Style Spotter really helped Lisa make connections with brands and PR people. It really takes a lot of work to be a High Point Style Spotter. How High Point Market stands out from all the rest. Having the opportunity to talk to the showroom owners. Ways for new designers to establish themselves with the various showrooms. The larger showrooms require you to make an appointment. Some things to think about when pre-planning your trip to High Point Market. Why it's a good idea to do a tour for your first trip to High Point. High Point Market covers 11 500 000 square feet! Jeanne talks about her Insider's Tour, which is geared towards designers seeking to offer customization and one-of-a-kind. Ashley talks about all the other tours that are also available for buyers at High Point. The relevant information about all the tours is available on the High Point Market authority website. High Point Market Some tips for making sure that you are able to connect with the righ

Welcome to another episode of Power Talk Friday! Today we're going tease you by sharing all the details that are coming together for LuAnn Nigara Live, It's About the Conversation. In today's episode, you will hear about LuAnn's co-authors, the awesome emcees for the event, the incredible line-up of sponsors of the show, and also the designer panelists who will be there with us for the entire weekend, for you to meet, talk to and connect with. Tune in now for all the details! LuAnn will be leading the rock star team of experts in twelve live discussions, just the way she does right here, on the podcast. And they will be together with everyone for meals, for breaks and for fun, with music, laughter, and working harder than you ever thought was possible in two days. More than 120 designers have registered for the event so far, and we really hope that you will decide to be excellent, and choose to join us there too! Listen in to find out more! Show highlights: All LuAnn's co-authors have already finalized their travel arrangements for the event! LuAnn runs through all the amazing people that are coming to spend two-and-a-half days at the event in New Jersey. Fred Burns is the single most repeated guest on A Well-Designed Business. Nancy Ganzekaufer is the lady who brought us Your Business in Words. Nicole Heymer is the voice of figuring out your brand. Michele Williams is the finance lady who teaches us how to stand up and take charge of our money. Sarah Daniele knows all about systems and organization for a well-run interior design firm. She created MyDoma Studio. Stacey Brown Randall is all about building, filling, and maximizing your pipeline through intention and purpose. Eileen Hahn knows how to create a really exceptional team. Kae Whitaker has her thumb on the heartbeat of digital marketing. Shauna Lynn Simon, home staging business coach, tells us that home staging is designing for selling, not designing for living. Mark McDonough is the Instagram guru and he is always dying to tell you about his latest discoveries. Peter Lang is the Designer CPA and he will help you to keep more of the money you work so hard to make. Claire Jefford is an interior designer, vlogging queen extraordinaire and a master at setting up your consult, your client agreements so that you are purposefully managing both your projects and your client’s expectations. The emcees for the event are Darla Powell, the principle of Darla Powell Interiors, and Natalie Graff. They host the Wingnut Social podcast together and they also own and operate Wingnut Social. The sponsor lineup includes Kravet, MyDoma Studio, Schwartz Designs Showroom, Merrill Landis, DesignerInc, Ashley Uhl Consulting, The WCAA, East End Interiors, Exciting Windows and Comfortex. The designer panelists who will be there for you to meet and talk with are Sandra Funk- House of Funk, NJ NY, Corey Damen Jenkins, Taylor Spellman, Paula Grace, Rachel Cannon, Candy Scott, Dala Al Fuwaires, Courtney McLeod, Keisha Franklin, and also Corey Klassen and Judith Neary of the Design Biz Live series. LuAnn will be leading the team in 12 live discussions, just like here, on the podcast. LuAnn really hopes that you will be there to join her and all the other outstanding people at the event! Links: To register for the event go to Luann Nigara Live Until March 4th you can still grab yourself 10% off any furniture order from Kravet and Lee Jofa. Use the code W710 at checkout.

Welcome to another episode of A Well-Designed Business! We are really excited to have Sue Firestone join us on the show today. Sue has a body of work that is truly impressive and the really happy news for all of us is that she has just launched her brand new fabric line for Kravet. One of the things that really stood out for LuAnn in Sue's bio is that she rose from her position as a designer for the firm Design 1, to become president of the very same firm in a relatively short period of time. There's a lot of really useful information in the way that she achieved that, that can help us, as business owners. Listen in now to find out about Sue and the organic way that she rose to success in the design industry. Sue Firestone has spent more than 35 years cultivating her personal passion for design. With a client list that features the world’s premier five and six-star hotels as well as an A-list residential clientele, Sue has become a tastemaker for those seeking the ultimate luxury lifestyle. In 1996, after nearly two decades leading Design 1, Sue turned her focus toward creating a boutique design firm, large enough to execute projects of a grand scale, yet personal enough to provide devoted and intimate attention to each client. The result was SFA Design. Today, Sue is also a designer for Kravet and A.Rudin, creating 70’s-inspired, bohemian fabrics and natural furniture that embody true Californian style. Sue is the recipient of more than two dozen awards, including the prestigious Platinum Circle Award as well as a position on Robb’s Report’s “Top 40 Best Designers in the World.” Tune in to now find out more. Show highlights: How Sue inadvertently started out in the design industry. Sue talks about the things that she consciously did, as a hard-working designer, to become noticed in the industry. Because of the way that Sue was encouraged when she first started out in the design industry, she's always looking out for new talent to nurture in her company. Finding and honoring the proper place for each designer to really realize their full potential in a firm. Being attuned, listening, and reflecting has always been in Sue's blood. The importance of really listening carefully. Sue explains how visuals are a big part of her listening process and really helpful with getting to know her clients. Sue talks about her firm, Smith, Firestone and Associates Design, which started out in 1996. How Sue first started out with SFA Design. Sue's secret sauce for breaking into the luxury, high-end, exclusive residential market. About Sue's really effective organic method of marketing. Sue talks about The Malibu Collection, her recently launched new fabric line for Kravet, and how it came to be. Sue talks about her joyful experience of working with the Kravet team. Why you should always go beyond what is expected of you. Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Joni Vanderslice #101 Eileen Hahn #363 Janelle Photopolous #364 Mabley Handler #173 Links: Sue's websites: Sue Firestone & SFA Design Sue Firestone SF Cal Collection SFA Design Luann Nigara Live Kravet

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! Today's episode is sponsored by Morgan Tap and Basin and we have the founder, Nathan Davis, with us on the show. Morgan Tap and Basin is a family owned company who really understand the challenges that trades-people face when running a business. They are fully committed to offering quality, timely, and honest service to support you and your business. Listen in today as Nathan talks to LuAnn about the launch of Morgan Tap and Basin's new product, and their dedication, in both the quality of their product and the way that they are going for a strictly to the trade model. You're really going to enjoy this conversation! Morgan Tap and Basin offers unique sinks and faucets that you won't find anywhere else. Nathan, who is really passionate about what he is doing, comes from a background in stainless steel sheet metal fabrication and investment casting for the institutional plumbing industry. He saw an opportunity to make use of this knowledge and to bring a higher level of product quality and functionality to the residential market, by combining the best manufacturing processes and available materials with original designs. So, Morgan Tap and Basin was founded in 2017, with the goal of designing and crafting the most beautiful, functional, and durable residential sinks and faucets in the world. They strive- not to be the biggest manufacturer, nor offer the broadest selection, but to ensure that every product that they create is the very best of its kind. Nathan is the man to make this happen, so listen in to find out what he has to share on the show today. Show highlights: Nathan discusses the new products that he is bringing to be launched this month at KBIS trade show, in Las Vegas. What their new workstation sink comprises of. Nathan explains why he is so passionate about what he does. Nathan talks about growing up, studying law, and getting involved in their family's stainless steel business. Their company's goal is for everything that they produce to be the very best of its kind available. Nathan explains what goes into making the very best products. Design always comes first, then functionality, and finally durability. They use a very high grade, and a thicker than usual gauge of stainless steel to create sinks that really last long- even outdoors, or at the coast. The redesign of their website is to make sure that it's better tailored towards functionality for trade customers, who are all trade customers. Nathan walks us through their to the trade sales process. Their products can all be seen on their website and a sample of the finish of their products can be seen first-hand, prior to purchasing them. All their sinks have free shipping and also free return shipping, if necessary. Nathan talks about the hand-wrapped foam insulating material which is unique to their sinks. All their designs are original and they're all created in-house. They create products that could really help designers solve certain problems for their clients. Pictures really help to visually drive home the difference between quality products and inferior ones. Why it actually matters whereabout in the sink the drain is placed. For all the designers who are going to be at KBIS in Las Vegas, Nathan explains how to find where the Morgan Tap and Basin booth will be located. (It's booth # SL4725 in the South Hall, in the outer row, near to the KBIS Next Stage.) Nathan is always happy to get feedback on products and ideas and if you need something custom made, he will work that out with you. Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Revel woods #329 Announcements: Morgan Tap and Basin's product is launching at KBIS booth # SL4725 in the South Hall from the 19th to the 22nd of February. It's near to the KBIS Next Stage. LuAnn's panel discussion at KBIS is on Thursday, the 21st of February, at 9.30am. KBISNeXT Stage Speaker Landing Page-LuAnn Nigara

Welcome to today's episode of A Well-Designed Business! We have Christopher Grubb, the president of the Beverley Hills-based Arch-Interiors Design Group Inc., as our guest for today. Christopher has been called a style maker and expert design influencer by clients, editors, manufacturers, and producers alike and, for his entire career, he has been a sought-after speaker on what makes design compelling. He has also been a contributing writer to many media outlets as well as a guest judge for multiple design competitions. One of the things he will be talking to us about on the show today is how he began creating affordable, luxury products for the consumer market with the launch of the C.G. Collection in 2010. Although his business is more than twenty-years-old, and his projects are large and detailed, Christopher still maintains a steady eye and a firm hand on the way that his business is run. Listen in to find out what he has to share on the show today. The Arch-Interiors design group is recognized internationally for its interior and exterior high-end residential, commercial, medical, health and beauty, retail design projects. The firm has been featured in books, hundreds of magazines and newspapers, and Christopher has shared his design skills on multiple radio and television shows – including recurring appearances on LXTV/NBC and Martha Stewart Living Radio. In 2015 Christopher launched a new studio, Autograph by Christopher Grubb. This line is comprised of unique, beautifully constructed products with rich features and alluring details for the most discriminating consumer clientele. The Arch-Interiors design group has received dozens of awards and is honored to be named the best interior design firm in California by Build Magazine, in addition to being featured in an entire issue of World Architecture Magazine in Hong Kong with over 70 pages, exclusively covering the works of Arch-Interiors. Christopher has also been named one of the 50 Innovators in Kitchen and Bath Design in 2017. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: Working with high-end commercial projects, compared with working with residential projects. Christopher does resommercial- a blend of commercial and residential design. You really need education about business before going out on your own. And you need to know what makes you stand out from the rest. What makes Christopher's firm really stand out. Flat fee, or an hourly fee? Some of the things Christopher is comfortable with not billing for. Christopher is really onto all the aspects of his business. No matter how big, or how small your business, you cannot offload your responsibility around the financials. The incredibly high level of service that Christopher's firm is offering his clients. Christopher talks about his product development and his two different entities, the luxury Autograph by Christopher Grubb, and the affordable luxury C.G.Collection. Bathrooms can be some of the most detailed rooms to do. Know your specialty and target that for success. Some of the nuances of bringing a product to market. Why you need to look at your payables and receivables at least once every month. Christopher uses Studio Designer Accounting and Project Management software, as it prints out your profit and loss, your time billing reports and your accounts receivable. About Christopher's designs and creations. What Christopher looks at for inspiration. Christopher has devoted a whole chapter in his book to the development of a luxury product line. Christopher's design firm is known for quality, a high level of hands-on, and for attention to detail. Why, as a designer, you really need to like the product that you produce. Fighting for your vision is really important for product designers. Owning your mistakes will earn you the respect of your clients. Why you never really have competition. Links and Resources: Christopher's website: Arch-Interiors Studio Designer Accounting and Project Management Software: Studio Designer To find out more about LuAnn Nigara Live, It's About the Conversation or to sign up for the event, go to Luann Live. The sponsors who have made this event possible include: Kravet Inc, Mydoma Studio, Wingnut Social, Schwartz Design Showroom, DesignerInc, Pollack-Weitzner, Merrill Landis Drapery Workroom, the WCAA, East End Interiors in Long Island, and Exciting Windows. LuAnn will be at KBIS on the 20th and 21st of February. For all the info on where else she'll be, go to her website Luann Nigara, and be sure to also follow her on Instagram at LuAnnNigara.

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! Keeping things organized is often the Achilles heel of creatives, so today we are very happy to have Jennifer Burnham, an organization coach, join us on the show. Jen helps people by providing the space for them to be creative, de-clutter and get organized. She believes that organizing is about more than color-coordinated baskets and pretty labels. It's really about productivity, so she helps her clients to dive in and discover the specific experience they're looking for in the way that they want their home, office, and in their life to be organized. Listen in today to find out how you can increase productivity in your business by having an organized space. Jennifer has appeared on Charlotte today, spoken at IKEA, at community organizations, at high-end real estate events, and she's also run home estate sales. On the show today she talks about how important it is to have your workspace organized, and she explains how to go about getting that done. Listen in and find out how an organization translates into productivity, which then translates into more business. Show highlights: Jennifer's awesome relationship with Cheryl Luckett, of Dwell by Cheryl. The challenges of organizing a design studio. The first step is always de-cluttering. Organizing in the right way. Looking at the emotional reasons for de-cluttering. First, put things in a space in the middle of the room, then sort them into broad categories. (Eg. pens, paper clips, notepads, product samples) Evaluate what you need and what you can get rid of. After you have de-cluttered you organize what you have decided to keep, putting everything in its place. The kinds of push-backs that Jen has encountered. Organizing takes time, and it's never really done, so you want to get it finished as soon as possible. The way that organizing changes your energy and the energy of the space. Things to watch out for that can bring the de-cluttering process to a halt. Donating unused items to charity can make the decision to throw things away a bit easier. If necessary, get new containers, storage items, or cabinets. Keep it this way by picking up each week as you go and not letting things get out of control. Jennifer explains the basis of her philosophy of organizing. The connection between organization and productivity. The way that Jen thinks in terms of shapes. If your business is feeling stagnant it's a good time to start organizing things. Owning less is better than organizing more. Do you respect your space? Tips for working with your client's clutter. Closing the loop when you're de-cluttering is important, so you need a system. Keeping the balance and staying organized. Looking at the things that threaten an organized space. Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Cheryl Luckett: #291 and #397 Kim Kuhteubl #73 Links and resources: To see Cheryl Luckett's line of furniture: Sylvester Alexander Jennifer's website Jennifer is offering 20% off her services for all A Well Designed Business listeners Our friends at Kravet Inc. are having a big furniture sale. Starting January 14th, get 10% off Kravet Furniture, Lee Jofa Furniture and Holland MacRae furniture. Start shopping now- the deal runs until March 4th! Go to Kravet and make sure to use the code W7 at checkout to redeem the offer!

Big Day, Big Show, lots of news!! 400 hundred shows! I’d like to say I never believed this day would come but the truth is I did believe it. And more than that, I planned for it, I set goals around it, I tracked the milestones and the steps needed to reach it. Am I bragging? No, no, I am not. I am hoping to teach and inspire you by example. Just like you, I love what I do and as much as I love it and could do it for free for the fun and pleasure of connecting with you, meeting you in real life I understand all too well in order to be able to do those things I must intentionally run this podcast as the business it is. And you must do the same. In order to be able to create the fabulous, functional and unique spaces for your clients, you must run your firm profitably so you can continue to do it. What are some of the major lessons we have learned, together? What are some of the things we have learned from A Well-Designed Business Podcast? Welcome to our 400th episode! Today really is a big day for the show and we have lots of news! LuAnn loves what she does with this podcast so much that she could do it for free, yet she truly understands that, in order to be able to keep it going, she needs to run it intentionally, as the business that it is. Today she really hopes to inspire you, the listener, to do the same with your design business. Listen in to find out what you need to do, and the steps you need to take, in order to continue creating the fabulous, fun, and unique spaces that you do for your clients. Although LuAnn set a very intentional plan in action to make this day happen, it still feels almost unbelievable to her! On the show today, she will be discussing some of the major lessons that we've all learned together, from A Well-Designed Business Podcast. Listen in to find out more. Link to LuAnn’s New Book: Luann Nigara Book 2

Welcome to another Design Biz Live! We have the gang all together again to have a very candid conversation regarding a difficulty to which most of us can relate...how to handle a difficult client. Judith Neary and Corey Klassen join LuAnn once again and today, Judith shares a personal experience she had with a very difficult client last summer that rocked her confidence, made her life very horrible and the project was very challenging to get through. It shares the message that being self-employed is very hard and it takes a tremendous amount of grit and fortitude to power through the rough times. It is a significant message because Judith is a seasoned entrepreneur, showing how it can hit any of us at any time. You’re definitely going to want to catch this episode, so be sure to tune in. Show highlights: Designers are real people, too, and experience a myriad of emotions. Judith shares about a couple of episodes she experienced last summer that rocked her from her zone of genius. Judith shares that a difficult client crushed her confidence and made her question her own abilities and value. The client was satisfied with work being done one day, and unsatisfied the next, which was very challenging for Judith, the contractor, and other workers. Judith shares that the client’s demeanor drastically improved once the spouse came home. Corey shares that he and other people he knows have had similar experiences, and tried to understand why those types of behaviors were happening in order to avoid misunderstandings. LuAnn expresses that because a client had personal difficulties, doesn’t mean we should feel that we aren’t confident and capable, but should self-question in order to have better conversations with the client in the future. LuAnn says that even when we have difficult clients, we still need to remain professional and meet their needs in the best way possible. Judith says she is still affected by what happened last summer and felt like she was in a hostage situation. LuAnn and Judith discuss the importance of diffusing difficult situations in professional ways. Corey jumps in and says that sometimes a text or e-mail tone may differ from the in-person tone. Judith says through the experience, she knows she has to filter what is going on rather than absorbing it herself. LuAnn says it’s important to manage difficult situations so that we don’t become non-productive. Judith says that as a creative, you may perceive and sense the world differently and that when she has a client, it becomes a personal relationship. When Judith’s inner dialogue told her the client had personal issues and that she was not responsible for the negative behavior, it was still hard not to absorb the negativity. LuAnn says that each person has something within that makes them react in a particular way. LuAnn also points out that a designer’s relationship with a client may last weeks, months, or longer, which can be taxing when dealing with a client exhibiting erratic behavior. Regardless of the difficulties Judith experienced with her client, she had a positive result at the end of the job, and hopes her client is enjoying the home. Judith moves on and shares about another difficult client situation and how she had to fire a client. Judith terminated the relationship with her client because it was just not working for her. Judith shares how she terminated the relationship and about the follow-up phone call that confirmed she had made the right decision. Judith shares that the client crossed the line with her, and she respected herself enough to let him go. Judith shares how the two difficult clients made her bucket very full and she didn’t pay enough attention to it before it overflowed. LuAnn says before we reach the level of wanting to terminate a client, maybe we should remember that it is a business transaction, rather than a personal relationship. Also, LuAnn applauds the way Judith used two methods so it would leave no doubt about the situation. LuAnn also says Judith did a great thing by invoking some “wait time” before responding to the client’s request for a phone call. LuAnn suggests that we each need to figure out ways to keep our buckets from becoming too full. ie. a walk/run, dinner/conversation with family or friends, reading, etc. Corey says he has switched from having business hours to appointment hours so that he takes appointments when he can be productive and be his best. Judith suggests that designers may want to contribute time to a non-profit so that they can contribute to causes outside themselves. LuAnn says to watch for signals from clients which may indicate difficult behavior. Know you can’t change the person, but you can change how you react/respond to them. Have mechanisms in place to deal with this type of client because you will encounter them. Links: Corey Klassen Interior Design Judith Neary - Roadside Attraction Studio LuAnn's 3rd birthday party for the podcast is coming up and Kravet is hosting the

Welcome to today's episode of A Well Designed Business! We have Courtney McLeod, the principal of Right Meets Left Interior Design in New York City, with us on the show today. Courtney has come to interior design as a second career. So even though she has always been passionate about the decorative arts, she first obtained a business degree from the Warden School at the University of Pennsylvania, and then pursued a successful, fifteen-year career in the financial services industry, where she rose to the role of a leading portfolio manager in real estate private equity before exercising her true passion for designing beautiful interiors. Listen in today to find out how Courtney used both the skills she gained through her experience, and her transferable skills, enhanced with her design-related studies at Parsons Pratt and the New York School of Interior Design, to confidently embark on a new career course. An avid colorist at heart, Courtney draws from a kaleidoscopic toolbox of texture, pattern, and color to create rooms evocative of one emotion above all others - joy. Her designs express both her client's unique tastes and her vivid, collected aesthetic. Born and raised in New Orleans, Courtney brings a sophisticated view to her rooms, informed by her Creole background and extensive travels throughout Europe and Asia. She resides in the vibrant Harlem neighborhood, a wonderful source of inspiration. She has lived in New York City for two decades but remains a Southerner at heart. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: It takes time to figure out your specific process. Your confidence you will gain from having your system in place is really a huge benefit. The development of Courtney's process was not a straight line from A to B- it took trial and error to figure out what really worked. Working out what worked for her rather than for the client was like a magic moment for Courtney. Courtney shares a really important and effective way to gain the trust of your client. A softer touch works for Courtney, yet she also has to be firm. Courtney also developed a lot of confidence from embracing her style clearly and entirely. Happy, joyful color is really Courtney's thing. Having confidence in her process allowed Courtney to develop more creative confidence. The six steps of Courtney's process. Courtney explains her phase one, and how to implement it. About Courtney's 'Rules Of The Road' document. What's to be found in Courtney's welcome packet. The way that having a retainer protects Courtney. The way Courtney sets up her spreadsheet. It takes a lot of practice to get things right. The clear way that Courtney prices her projects. How to keep your clients informed and empowered. What the closure meeting means to Courtney. The goal of the closure meeting is to get a referral. Previous episodes mentioned in this episode: Erica Ward #6 Monique Holmes #365 Rachel Cannon #306 Nicole Heymer #317 Curio Electro #125 Links: Website: Right Meets Left Interior Design Instagram: Right Meets Left Interior Design Twitter: Right Meets Left LinkedIn: Right Meets Left Interior Design Facebook: Right Meets Left Interior Design LuAnn's 3rd birthday party for the podcast is coming up and Kravet is hosting the party! It will be on February the 5th at the Kravet Showroom at the D&D Building in New York City. Please RSVP through the Event-Brite link at Luann Nigara.

Todays’ guest is Cheryl Luckett, who is not only a tenacious and creative entrepreneur but has used her talents to build a flourishing business. Within the past two years, Cheryl has fully committed to growing her design business by using her creativity to incorporate unique designs into her projects. Her work has been published in Home and Garden, Southern Home, The Charlotte Observer, and her work has been featured on many other platforms. Not only is Cheryl making headway in her business but she’s using her platform to build relationships. Cheryl is all about establishing connections and giving back. In this episode, Cheryl talks about how to network, how to build beneficial relationships and the importance of self-promotion. If you want to learn how you can pursue your own dream and build an authentic business, join us in this episode of A Well-Designed Business, with your host, LuAnn Nigara. Show Highlights: What Cheryl has learned about the process of introducing new pieces. The new product line that is being launched on Cheryl’s website. Creating unique pieces and collaborating with local artists for the high-point market. How Cheryl fell into her current project and first show-house. Why you should keep going back and not always take no as a final answer. Being consistent with your business through your personality and professionalism. Cheryl shares how she uses her social media to uphold her brand. Cheryl talks about why she hired a coach and getting her license. How Cheryl built mutually beneficial relationships and set boundaries. Analyzing strengths and utilizing them to benefit your business. How Cheryl used her love for design and culture to tell a story. Weaving in friends’ goals and creativity into your work. The mechanics behind Cheryl’s design process. Identifying people who are going to be ambassadors for your business. Cheryl talks about how you build a business on self-promotion. Collaborating with smaller businesses in order to reach a bigger audience. Setting expectations upfront for projects as opposed to rushing for time deadlines. Being honest about your abilities with potential clients. How Cheryl prepares for upcoming showrooms. Previous Guests Mentioned: Denise McGaha #10 Kim Hoegger #336 Madcap Cottage #228 Ruthie Staalsen #296 Rasheeda Gray #267 Revolution Fabrics Sylvester Alexander Links: Website: Dwell By Cheryl Furniture: Dwell By Cheryl Blog: Dwell By Cheryl Blog Instagram: Dwell By Cheryl Facebook: Dwell By Cheryl Twitter: Dwell By Cheryl Pinterest: Dwell By Cheryl LinkedIn: Cheryl Luckett

Welcome! Today we have Amber Friederichs and Michele Atijas from the UK, a really dynamic duo and the principals of Yohan May Interiors, with us on the show. They specialize in very high-end, high-quality home staging, so Yohan May Interiors attracts clientele and projects at the very highest level of luxury real estate in London. The two primary goals with every project in this really high-pressure market are to sell the home fast and to obtain the highest possible price. On the show today, Michele and Amber discuss their turnaround times, how they cannot concern themselves with their clients' taste and design style, and also, how they position the home for sale. Listen in today to find out more about Michele and Amber's business model, and to discover their keys to be really successful with what they do. Founded in 2015, Yohan May Interiors emerged from the collaboration of two friends, Michele Atijas and Amber Friederichs. The company started out of necessity when Amber was unable to find a home staging agency that offered the personalization and curation she was looking for. The pair decided to work on the project on their own and spoke with a number of developers and estate agents. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. They decided to call the company Yohan May after Amber's late father, Johann, and Michele's late mother, Maj, whom they credit with their passion for interiors. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: Michele and Amber discuss the systems they use for their incredibly quick turnaround time. About their free site visits and what they entail. Their projects usually involve staging the entire house and they often deal with foreign investors. They always try to provide a flexible service. How they managed to attract so many high-end clients so early on in their business. The importance of networking to attract the ideal client. They talk about what went into their decision to invest in inventory. Providing a look that really embodies your brand. They have developed a relationship with several art agencies over the years. Dealing with the tricky business of insurance for the artworks in the house. The condition of all the items that they bring into a house is as new because nobody ever lives in their show-homes. At this point in their business, they don't stage homes that people are living in already. The number of projects they are able to deal with in one month. The cost of an average project that they do, and the kind of net profit margin that they work towards. They have included cancellation charges in their contract. Some of the differences between interior design and home staging. Home staging is a really new thing in the UK. Home staging has more to do with real estate than with interior design. About their go-to team for doing renovations. This particular line of work is all about relationships. How they manage their time, to fit it all in. A small business is all about prioritizing and delegating. Some of the suppliers that they work with, in the UK. The work is very hands-on and either Michele or Amber will always be present on site. Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Polly Williams #88 Jo Buckerfield #320 Rachel Laxer #42 Fred Berns #289 Links: Website: Yohan May IG: @yohanmayinteriors Pinterest: Yohan May Interiors For your 10% off your next purchase at Kravet, use the code W7 at the checkout. Go to Kravet.

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We are really excited to have Michele Williams back on the show for the third time today! (She previously appeared in episodes #137 and #180.) Michele is the owner of Scarlet Thread Consulting, she's a certified Profit First Coach, and she is also one of the co-authors in LuAnn's soon-to-be-launched new book, The Things I Learned From A Well-Designed Business. Michele was one of the guest-speakers at LuAnn's Power Talk Friday Tour in High Point last October. During her presentation Michele had everyone do a very eye-opening exercise, designed to help business owners dial in on what's really important with their finances so that their business can become more successful and profitable. We have decided to share this exercise with you on the show today. It's a really good thinking point and you're going to have to answer some questions. If you don't score too well with your answers, it is an indicator that you may need some help, so listen in carefully to find out how to increase the profitability and success of your business. Having worked in the interior design industry for more than 18 years, Michele is fiercely committed to helping each business owner attain and maintain profitability. She empowers her creative clients by not only building confidence to charge what they are worth but by sharing education and systems for money management and financial awareness. With a degree from the University of South Carolina in management information systems and ten years of product development on financial software at Dun & Bradstreet Software, Michele has the ability to mix the logical and creative aspects of a business with ease. She is a Profit First certified coach and hosts the popular podcast, Profit Is A Choice. Michele is a sought after speaker and coach known for her straight forward but grace-filled approach delivered with a healthy dose of love. Listen in today to find out what to do if you really need to change the trajectory of your business. Show highlights: Don't let this exercise scare you, because if you're capable of working as an interior designer, you will be capable of getting to grips with your finances. There are certain numbers and indicators in your business that will paint a very clear picture of where you are at. You can download this Financial Health Check-Up exercise, at no cost, from Michele's website at Scarlet Thread Consulting. It's really important to have only business transactions running through your business accounts. Know your total sales. Have you created a clear sales goal for the year? For the month? For the day? Why Michele is such a great fan of QuickBooks accounting system. Michele has a course called Understanding Your Financials. It's a tool to help you to understand where to place your focus. Where you can start- right now! Become the boss of your money. What is your gross profit margin? And how does it fit towards your goal? Michele gives the ideal gross profit goal. Are financial reports maintained and analyzed regularly? The goal in all of this is to allow you to make decisions and to find errors early. Defining where the money is coming in at the highest rate and allowing your company to be in alignment with that. We have defined our top two profit centers and have all company goals aligned to maintain them. Who are my top two clients and income? Spending your resources in a way that brings you top dollar. We have set aside funds for owner's pay. How does this fit in with your net profit goals? Why Michele writes herself a salary cheque every single month. We're aware of payroll expenses and have a plan to always have funds available. Just in case something unforeseen happens. We know our average monthly expenses and we watch them closely. Remember that cash doesn't flow in and out at the same rate every month, so you need to be saving every month and managing your expenses well. We have a bank and credit card reconciliation process that is followed monthly. Don't rely entirely on your bookkeeper. Look at every transaction, in and out of the bank and the credit card. We have a process for determining the need for non-budgeted purposes in our company. Setting company values, a structure, and a determination to reduce impulse buys. We have a yearly budget that we track back to regularly. We have an ideal client description and a betting process that we use before we agree to work with anyone. Working with the wrong client will cost you money (or a bit of who you are) every single time. We have implemented and used a cash management system. Making choices that put you in control of the money you spend. (A cash management system is something like a Profit First system and not like QuickBooks- that's a financial management system.) We regularly considered the tax implications of our company financials. Knowing what your taxes are based upon. Peter Lang is one of the co-authors of LuAnn's new book. He is a CPA who works ONLY with interior