A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

Welcome to today's episode of A Well-Designed Business! We're really happy to have Carole Marcotte, from Form and Function, in Raleigh NC, join us on the show today. Carole followed a number of different paths while raising her three children, prior to officially starting her design business a little more than ten years ago in 2008. In 2013 she had the genius idea to expand her business to include a storefront with classic and funky vintage pieces alongside new Made-In-America and up-cycled gift selections. On today's show, Carole talks to us about her niche, and she also explains how she was honored as one of Midtown Magazine's "Thirty People You Need To Know" for the fantastic work she's done in her community. Listen in today to find out about Carole and how she guides people, and gives them a fresh, modern spin, with things they already have. Carole was raised in Canada and her career began in marketing and special events for a private women’s club in Toronto. After that, she worked at a radio station and she then moved to North Carolina in 1987. An old house renovation fueled her interest in architecture and design and she “unofficially” began to help friends and family with design work for many years, while also operating a catering and special events business and acting on local stages for more than twenty years. She also sat on many non-profit boards, most notably conceiving of and planning Raleigh’s largest public art project (The Raleigh Red Wolf Ramble) while Co-Chair of the City of Raleigh Arts Commission. Listen in to find out more. Show Highlights: Carole talks about her niche, what it means to her, and how she arrived at the clarity of it. The way that Carole's firm leads with her really meaningful process. Finding and reusing items from all over the house is part of Carole's process. Adding the final layer and stylizing the house to completion, and then taking photographs, is important to Carole. The kind of look that Carole uses in her design really varies a lot. Carole guides people and gives them a fresh, modern spin on what they already have. Carole always honors people's 'non-negotiable' items, and figures out a way to place them, no matter how absurd they are. Reusing items is more sustainable for the planet. Carol talks about her retail store. The store is about sixty percent vintage and forty percent new products- and it has a really funky vibe! The store is a great marketing tool for Carole's design services. Talking about different kinds of design business models. Shifting her business slowly towards a more sustainable model. Carole talks to us about The Design District, in Raleigh, that she pro-actively put together. Carole has really brought people together with her Design District map. Links: Website: Form And Functionraleigh Facebook: Form And Functionraleigh Instagram: Form And Functionraleigh Pinterest: F And Fraleigh The website for the Design District map: Design District Raleigh Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Kate Ahl #331 Fred Berns #174 Laurel Bern #342 Nancy Ganzekaufer #15 Claire Jefford #237 Nicole Heymer #125 and #317 Pulp Design Studios #176 and #310 LuAnn’s Upcoming Events: Philly Jan 30 Lucas Alexander showroom February 8th CEU Summit 2019 run by ASID NY Metro Feb 12 in the Boston Design Center at Waterworks And of course, the birthday party at Kravet.

Welcome to another Power Talk Friday! Today we are really happy to have the inimitable Fred Berns back on the show with us once again! Fred has been our guest on the podcast more often than anyone else in all of the almost three years that the show has been on the air! He has previously appeared on episodes #22, #48, #96, #174, #226, #289, and #337 and he is one of our favorite returning guests because his advice is always so intentional and actionable. Observation is one of Fred's superpowers and he always adds an extra layer by noticing the things that are done well and could be done even better, in any business process. Fred has discovered that success leaves clues, but mistakes multiply, so today he will be talking to us about The Dirty Dozen, the twelve most common things that interior designers tend to do to sabotage their own success, that they really need to avoid. Listen in today and learn about the habits that cause harm to professionals. Fred Berns is the only interior design industry business coach and speaker who creates personal bios and other promotional materials for design professionals worldwide. Fred has more than 25 years experience training design professionals from Dallas to Dubai and creating their online profiles, website and social media copy, blogs, and marketing forms. In addition, he offers a wide range of business coaching services, ranging from his High-Performance Coaching Program to his Bio Briefing and Website Onceover. As one of the biggest names in the business of interior design, he speaks at design conferences and other events throughout the U.S. and around the world. He also develops sales and marketing programs for international franchise organizations and companies within the interior design industry, and trains manufacturers, retailers, and others on how to increase sales to design professionals. Fred focuses on his keynote speeches and seminars on how designers, kitchen and bath specialists, window fashion experts and other professionals can dramatically increase sales, and market themselves more effectively. He has appeared at the International Window Coverings Expo; Neocon events; the High Point Market; Surfaces; design symposiums; home and design expos; furniture, gift and accessory shows; and national conferences of such groups as ASID, NKBA, IDS, and IFDA. Fred’s blog is read by design professionals the world over, and he regularly writes guest blog posts and articles for online and print media. He also is a frequent guest on design industry podcasts. His Interior Design Business Library includes a vast collection of books, audio and video programs and other business-building resources that he has developed for the design industry. His learning tools cover topics ranging from setting and getting higher fees and overcoming price objections to branding and million dollars marketing on a shoestring budget. Fred’s clients today benefit from the communication and copywriting skills that he acquired during his highly-successful earlier career as a broadcast and print journalist. In that career, he founded one of Washington, D.C.’s largest and longest-established independent news bureaus. Show highlights: We're so busy looking for success steps, strategies, and shortcuts that we tend to overlook the fact that there are obstacles, roadblocks, and silly mistakes that derail too many design professionals too often. Be careful of following the followers and not the leaders in the design industry. Remember that you make a great you, but a lousy somebody else! Fishing for marlins, not minnows. Too many designers sell themselves short by thinking too small, too often, and they're aiming too low. They under-value and under-promote themselves, and they charge too little for their services. You're an expert, so know your value. Many designers fall into the trap of giving away their time and Fred believes that really diminishes your value, as a design professional. The most financially successful designer's charge for all of their time, all of the time. You cannot be taken advantage of if you don't allow it, so manage your relationships and take charge of them. Majoring in minors. Stop wasting your time and becoming distracted. What you will gain from including Fred's Daily Dozen Activity and his Five O'clock Focus in your daily routine. Plan your next day ahead with Fred's MVP List (Most Valuable and Productive use of your time activities). You need to be cross-selling, up-selling and doing add-on selling all the time by educating your clients about all you can do. Your work does not sell itself- it's way too competitive out there. Thinking your work sells itself is old-school thinking. It's the kind of thinking that could kill your career. Bogus Bios and Wimpy Websites- Bios that block you rather than boost you and disqualify you from the kinds of clients and projects you want and deserve. And websites that don't promote all that you do and how well you do it. (Check out Websi

Welcome to today's episode of A Well-Designed Business! Dala Al Fuwaires, the Principal of FJI Design in Scottsdale, Arizona, will be joining us on the show today. Dala is a dreamer, designer, and doer, and she has begun to niche and focus her firm, FJI Design, in the food and beverage industry. Dala runs her business with very clear strategies for building her client base, for managing and motivating her employees, and also for making a name for herself and for her firm in her community. Listen in today to find out what she has to say about getting yourself into the driver's seat, in order to create a really successful business. Dala Al-Fuwaires, Principal of FJI, a hospitality design firm with a sweet spot for food and beverage interiors, is a dreamer, designer, and doer. With over a decade of experience in the interior design field, Dala has worked on hospitality, retail, and residential design projects ranging in size from boutique to national rollouts. Dala graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Arizona State University and a Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design from Purdue University. Outside of design, Dala can be found exploring the world, hosting dinner parties for friends and family, remodeling her home, and photographing all of the above. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: About sixty percent of Dala's business is food and beverage related and Dala really wants each of her projects to be it's own thing, in terms of style. The importance of having good design and lighting in restaurants. Dala really creates an experience for restauranteurs, and she even has a specific playlist of music that she plays when doing a presentation, to set the right tone. The intentional plan that Dala had in place for making money, when she first opened her business. Dala spent eight hours per day, for a whole week, reaching out to the people that she already knew. Dala talks about the High Stakes Mastermind Group she joined in her first year in business. Why Dala offered her services, pro bono, to one new (or growing), local food and beverage business per year. Dala gives the details of the Design It Forward competition she's been running for two years. How Dala informed her community about the pro bono design services she was offering. The applications for Dala's competition open in June of each year. How the book Profit First, by Mike Mikalowitz, really helped Dala to strategize effectively, and to keep her business expenses low, in her first year in business. Setting herself up on Payroll, so that Dala is actually an employee of her business, in order to maximize her profit. The importance of having enough money put away to keep your business running for at least three months, in case of an emergency. Dala's really awesome way of motivating her team to reach their quarterly goals. Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Candy Scott #279 Claire Jefford #237 Michele Williams #180 Chris Kofitsas #152 Links: Website: FJI Design Instagram: FJI Design Facebook: FJI Design Pinterest: FJI Design LinkedIn: FJI Design About our birthday party: Sponsor, Kravet Inc, is hosting the 3rd birthday party for the podcast! So, if you are coming into New York for NY Now in the 1st week of February, or you want to come just for the party, please join us on Feb 5th at the Kravet showroom, in New York, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Go to Luann Nigara and look for the event rsvp—the party is free and the more the merrier so please plan to join us!

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! Today we have the first of our brand new on-air coaching shows and Stephanie Castillo, of Rumble Interiors in Washington State, will be joining us. Stephanie is a new designer and although she is still finishing her degree, she does have business experience. On the show today Stephanie will be asking LuAnn some really interesting questions about how to set up vendor accounts and setting up accounts with the trades. They talk about whether or not Stephanie should niche her firm, and if she needs a receivership for the products she sells to clients. They also have a discussion about a collaboration that Stephanie is developing with two other interior designers. Listen in to LuAnn's excellent coaching session with Stephanie on the show today. Stephanie has been a hairstylist for 27 years and she's worn many hats in that industry, Stylist, Educator, Manager, and Recruiter. She has two kids in grade school and she volunteers as the Board President for the Ellensburg Downtown Association in Washington state. As her body was beginning to get tired from her work, Stephanie began thinking about what else she could do. As interior design has always been a love of hers, she enrolled at the New York School of Art and Design and started taking classes online. Now that she's close to finishing up with her studies, Stephanie has gone ahead with the process of starting her own business, Rumble Interiors. She has done some practice work of what has become re-styles which involves taking someone's house and using what they already have and reworking it. And this really brings her so much joy! To set herself up for success, she has been reaching out to mentors, like LuAnn, because she is ready to learn about all the details of running an interior design business. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: Stephanie has her license and she has her social media sites set up, but she does not yet have her website set up. Stephanie has a blog that you can find via Instagram. The collaboration that Stephanie is developing with two other interior designers. Stephanie is into re-styles and would like to get into feng shui. The design styles of Stephanie and her partners are very different. Things to bear in mind when leasing a design space in partnership with someone else. Finding the best vendors and tradespeople. How to establish great relationships with sales reps. The need for having a receivership for your shipped goods. Finding a good and reputable receivership. Running your business like a big-girl one, even if you're still a baby designer. Do you really need licenses and accreditations? How to work out how much to charge when you're starting out as a designer. Is having a niche the best way to go? Deciding whether to go to design school or not. Why you really need to have a website for your business. Creating content for your website. Other episodes mentioned on the show: Nicole Heymer, Ep 125 - Curio Electric, Ep 387 Links: Facebook: Rumble Interiors Instagram: Rumble Interiors, mangossalon, @Stephanieatmangossalon on Instagram

I have another fun show for you today! Taylor Spellman is with us today. Taylor is a New York-based interior designer and staging expert. She is also the host of Bravo’s new TV show “Yours Mine or Ours”. No matter what she is designing- whether it be a 10-million-dollar penthouse, the lobby of a high-rise or the showroom for a fashion client-- her super down to earth personality combined with her bold style makes her a stand out in our interior design community. Taylor has the unique and unteachable talent using high end one of a kind pieces to an afternoon spent at the Goodwill. Today you will learn how she came from humble beginnings and now has a million dollar clientele in New York City. Show Notes: Did Taylor go to school for interior design? What are some pros for an interior designer that was not classically trained in the interior design field? What do Taylor’s clients have in common? How did she decide she wanted to work with men for her niche? How long did she research her idea for her niche before launching the idea? What did Taylor go to school for? What were Taylor’s intentions for her career? What is Taylor’s competitive edge? Nothing just happens! How did she discover staging as another niche? How did she find events to attend in real estate and build relationships? Why is it a good idea to have a lawyer? What opportunities came about before “Yours Mine or Ours”? What is the show “Yours Mine or Ours” about? Is it all just about real estate when helping clients with their homes? How does she execute her design on the show? Where do her girls from her business fit in while Taylor is working on set? Is there any other advice she would give to her colleagues? The rest of the show notes are in our resource center: Window Works

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We have Nancy Ganzekaufer, one of the co-authors of Luann's soon-to-be-launched new book, The Things I Learned From A Well-Designed Business, with us today. Nancy is a really smart lady and she has appeared on the podcast number of times before to share her spot-on, expert advice. (#377, #256, #159, and #15) Today, Nancy is going to be talking to us about her new product, The Interior Design Profit Formula, an online course that she has really poured her heart and soul into creating. This is really the most affordable way to add a huge amount of value to your interior design business, so listen in to find out more! Nancy Ganzekaufer partners with creative entrepreneurs to help them grow their businesses, get more sales, get over their fears and go for what they want in work and in life. Through a series of coaching calls, emails, and exercises, she helps entrepreneurs reframe their doubts and indecisions, work through challenges with more confidence, and ultimately to grow their sales. Listen in today, to find out about the incredible kind of impact that Nancy's new course, The Interior Design Profit Formula, could have on your business. Show highlights: There are many different things that an interior designer needs to manage and it's one of the most difficult service industries that Nancy's coached. Running an interior design business takes balance and really knowing what to do. Nancy explains her motivation for putting this course together. You will need to have stickability, and the right kind of personality to go the distance with Nancy's course. Nancy explains what you will find in her course. Describing your business in words is the beginning of your branding process. The way that Nancy presents her information, and the examples that she gives, will really open up your mind and give you clarity. The benefits of having lifetime-access to Nancy's course. Nancy talks about growing your business. The importance of getting creative. Designers often come to Nancy for her help when they're feeling overwhelmed. Nancy gives the simplest tip that really makes the biggest difference! Becoming the leader in your relationship, and in charge of the process with your clients right from the outset. Being alert to the subtle messages that a potential client is giving out during the consultation. Ways to introduce your services in order to protect yourself. Nancy explains the benefits of her Ladder of Services model. Make sure that the people that you hire are dedicated to the growth of your company. The goal of Nancy's course is to make everyone feel confident in extending their reach, gaining more clients, and doubling or tripling their income. Nancy talks about the guest coaches in her course. Nancy's course costs $997 at this point in time and she is offering a free, one-on-one, half an hour coaching consultation to everyone who purchases her course, through this link Luann Nigara, from now until 30th June 2019. Other episodes mentioned on this show: Eileen Hahn # 363 Resources: To get Nancy's Interior Design Profit Formula, go to Luann Nigara Links: Nancy's website: Nancy Ganzekaufer You can also reach Nancy through her forum, or through her Facebook group, The Interior Design Business Forum at Interior Design Business Forum

I have another outstanding show for you today! Corey Damen Jenkins is with me today and he is no exception to the amazing people I have been meeting. What you will learn from is that he is one of the good guys. He is the kind of person that everyone would agree is very open, sincere, humble and giving. What you may or may not know about Corey is that he is the principal of Corey Damen Jenkins Associates which is located in Birmingham, Michigan. In 2011 the television audiences voted him the winning design star of HGTV’s Show House Showdown. Since then it has been a whirlwind of accomplishments! Today we are going to talk about how his lifelong dream came true in 2016 with his launch of his first couture collection of furniture, Corey Damen Jenkins exclusively for leathercraft. This collection was nominated for the prestigious 2017 arts award for the best product design. Once you start to listen to this episode it will be no surprise to you that Corey Damen believes in giving back to the design community. His firm generously donates to several charities. Show Notes: What was the process like to get Corey to decide to get on HGTV’s Show House Showdown? What were the reasons that Corey was cast for HGTV’s Show House Showdown? How has Corey learned to deal with his past insecurities and reconstruct the way he deals with things? How does he get the most out of his projects? Does he use PR firms? When working with a PR firm how should a design firm behave and be organized? How did Corey decide to design his furniture through Leathercraft? What is Leathercraft? How did Corey decide what fabrics to use on his furniture collection? Who did Corey name a piece of his furniture in his new collection after? How does he come up with his designs for his furniture? Resources: Leather Craft Furniture Corey Damen Jenkins

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! LuAnn has a special announcement to make on the show today. As most of you know, her second book, The Things I Learned From A Well-Designed Business, is coming out soon. It was initially going to be released in February next year, but this has changed. On the show today LuAnn explains why the plans have changed and she talks about the big event, LuAnn Nigara Live, It's About The Conversation, that has been planned instead, for the launch of the book on the 30th of March. She also explains what the book will be like, and the kind of information you can expect to find in it. Listen in to find out all about the really remarkable event that LuAnn has planned. LuAnn invited twelve of the Power Talk Friday experts to collaborate with her in creating a go-to book to run your interior design business. She invited each of them to write a chapter for the book about their specific zone of genius. The book is full of really useful information for interior designers about attracting luxury clientele, creating a design process, charging what you're worth, building an exceptional team, defining your brand, and much, much more. Listen in to find out more! Show highlights: The kind of information that you will find in the book. At the beginning and end of every chapter, LuAnn will do an intro and outro, just like she does on the show. The twelve experts, that LuAnn invited to write a chapter each, for the book. Our birthday party will be happening at the Kravet showroom, at the D and D Building in New York City, on the 5th of February 2019. About the Power Talk Friday Tour. Doing a thorough analysis of every project, after completion. LuAnn talks about the planned launch for her book in March. Thinking about ways to make the Power Talk Friday Tours a really amazing experience. On March 30th, 31st, and April 1st, 2019, at the Hilton in Short Hills, New Jersey, LuAnn will be gathering all twelve of her co-authors to do live discussions. In addition to the twelve experts, LuAnn has also invited twelve savvy interior design principals that have appeared on the podcast. The insane, intense, invigorating, and absolutely amazing book launch event that has been planned. The ticket price, and what the VIP experience is all about. Why the third day will be limited to only 50 or 75 designers. LuAnn is bringing the exact podcast format to her live event. Some of the incredible designers that have already committed to being at the event. You can get onto LuAnn's email list by texting 444999 and putting design biz into the field. You can get early bird tickets for the event for only $395 from today until January 8th. After that, the price will go up to $595. (The VIP ticket is $200 extra.) If you sign up between December 21st and January 8th, your name will go into a draw to win a one-on-one coaching session with LuAnn, her husband, Vince, or one of the co-authors of the book. About the VIP experience. (Go back and listen to episode #14 with Malene B) Why LuAnn invites the sponsors to be part of the VIP experience. The twelve experts who each wrote a chapter for the book: Fred Berns, Sarah Danielle, Nancy Ganzekaufer, Eileen Hahn, Nicole Heymer, Claire Jefford, Peter Lang, Marc McDonough, Stacy Brown Randall, Shawna Lynne Simon, Kaye Whittaker, and Michelle Williams Some of the sponsors that are supporting the event are: Designer Inc. Kravet MyDoma Studio Wingnut Social Schwartz Design Showroom Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Malene B #14 Links: Luann's website, to sign up for the event: Luann Live

Welcome! We are really happy to have Wendy Glaister, of Wendy Glaister Interiors, here with us today! Wendy is a really sweet, kind, and cheerful lady with a million-dollar smile, and it's very clear that being involved with philanthropic organizations, and giving back to her community are a big feature of Wendy's design firm. On the show today we have a really wonderful and very inspiring conversation with Wendy where she shares some things that may surprise you and will certainly make you appreciate her. You're in for a very different episode today! Listen in now to find out more! Wendy Glaister Interiors is located in Modesto, California. And Wendy is an interior designer who has mastered the art of listening. She listens to her clients, to understand the things that will make their homes feel uniquely special, she listens to architects, to help make their vision come to fruition, and she listens to contractors, collaborating with their craftspeople and artisans to bring out the very best in every member of the team. Wendy is a delightful speaker, whether to an audience of design students or a seasoned group of interior design professionals. She is engaging, using self-deprecating humor to immediately disarm and warm her audience. She is currently serving as president of the Central Californian Nevada chapter of the ASID. Listen in to find out what Wendy has to share with you on the show today. Show highlights: Growing up, Wendy always really wanted to be a member of the ASID- and now she's the ASID president! Being involved with philanthropic organizations, and giving back to her community is a big feature of Wendy's design firm. Wendy talks about the three organizations that she patronizes and some of the things she does for them. What the Genesis 50/20 Foundation is all about. Wendy shares, for the very first time, about a profound challenge that she had to deal with in her life. Talking about difficult things really can really help people to get their power back. What it took for Wendy to realize that she wasn't 'the problem'. Wendy talks about her compulsion to do well and to help people. Why Wendy doesn't think it's fair to quit. Wendy's business has grown a hundred percent, year over year, for three years! Ensuring that her son has a good life has been a huge motivator for Wendy. The help that she got from her gutsy pastor. How Wendy developed so much compassion for other people. From living in 'survival mode' to learning to trust again. That positive change she's experienced in her business since talking on a partner. Wendy does boxing to release her pent-up tension. God has always shown up for Wendy and that has allowed her to remain optimistic. It's really okay to be kind and helpful. How Wendy has managed to grow her business by a hundred percent a year, for three years in a row. Some business lessons that Wendy has learned along the way. It takes a lot of work to remain brave, take full responsibility, and be accountable for your business. Links: Website: Wendy Glaister Interiors Facebook: Wendy Glaister Interiors Instagram: Wendy Design Pinterest: WKG Design Twitter: WKG Designer To support Wendy in her mission to provide mothers who are victims of domestic violence with the funds to obtain the therapy necessary to heal, you can do it through The Haven Women's Center, Crickets Hope and Arts Therapy Program for children, and the Genesis 50/20 Foundation, which raises and distributes funds for trauma therapy. You can reach these organizations through Wendy's website Wendy Glaister Interiors.

Welcome to another episode of Power Talk Friday! We're really excited to have Amber De La Garza, The Productivity Specialist, here with us today! We all know that things, like being productive and efficient, getting our systems in order, and managing our time, are crucial to running a successful business. Although these things may seem simple, they are often a lot more difficult than they need to be. Amber's goal is to simplify everything and make it easier for entrepreneurs. One of the things that she loves to teach people about is time-blocking. If you have tried it before, and it didn't seem to work for you, you will really gain a lot from today's show. Because Amber's goal for today is to get you to to the place where you love time-blocking and you see that it's the best thing that has ever happened to your business. Listen in to find out more! Amber De La Garza is The Productivity Specialist! Amber is a sought-after coach, trainer, speaker, writer, host of the Productivity Straight Talk podcast, and creator of S.T.O.P.! The Entrepreneur’s Success Solution. She helps driven entrepreneurs execute actionable solutions to maximize profits, reduce stress, and make time for what matters most! Listen in to find out what Amber has to share with you on the show today! Show highlights: Amber is going to teach you how to love time-blocking! There are two different types of time-blocking- task-based and project-based. Amber gives her definition of what time-blocking is: It's investing your best time into your best activities. Getting really clear about the few activities that will have the biggest impact on you achieving your goals, if done consistently. Once you've created a schedule you will need to keep showing up consistently for the things that have to be done. Busting the myth that some people are designed to be more structure than others. Using your goals as a motivating factor to learn new skills. Some excellent tips for effective time-blocking. Amber shares her seven-step process of creating your ideal block schedule. Creating boundaries for your ideal schedule. Creating purposeful routines to set yourself up for success. It's often the smaller things that will get you to where you want to go. Finding what really works for you helps when creating routines that are sustainable. We all have different priorities for our daily schedules. The benefits of having weekly power lunches. Another way to do time-blocking. Reclaiming money by creating high-value activity blocks. You don't have to be available all the time! There's never enough time to do everything, so your job is to create the time and carve it down on your schedule for the things that matter most. Amber talks about the free template download that she has for you, to help you create your ideal schedule. Go to The Productivity Specialist to download it now! Other episodes mentioned on the show: Monique Holmes #365 Links: Website: The Productivity Specialist Podcast: Productivity Straight Talk Facebook Page: The Productivity Specialist Facebook Group: Productivity Straight Talk Instagram: Amber De La Garza For your free template download: The Productivity Specialist

Welcome to today's episode! We're really glad to have Sarah Magness, of Magness Design, with us today. Eight years ago, Sarah hatched as a 'baby designer' and launched right into the luxury market. Today she talks to us about the real-life experience she gained during this time, before opening her own firm. She also talks about the "New Heights" program at Marymount that she came to spearhead through her involvement with the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art. And today we also have an excellent conversation with Sarah about the best way to talk budget with clients. This is often a really tricky area of business, so listen in to get Sarah's very straightforward and clear advice. Magness Design began in 2010 with a focus on residential design. It is located in New York City and its current focus is on the preservation of historic properties, by saving them and making them livable. Their major projects are in New York City, the Hudson Valley area, and on Long Island. Sarah received her undergraduate degree in Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin and her graduate degree in Interior Design from Pratt Institute. She is a House Beautiful "Next Wave" designer and she's also been featured in Architectural Digest for a very large townhouse project that she saved and renovated. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: Working for three or four different design firms is a great way to learn the business aspect of running your own design business. The different people that Sarah first worked for, to gain real-life experience. The type of apprenticeship that architecture undergraduates are required to do. Sarah's recommendations for getting to work for the best firms, after graduating from school. New York has a really supportive and talented design community. Budget is always an issue with clients. How Sarah approaches budget conversations with her clients. How to estimate a budget for your client on the spot. The importance of having really clear communication with your clients. It is often the clients' choices that cause a project to go over budget. Giving the client an itemized list with the cost of each item on it. How to talk to your client about going over the budget for certain items. When and how to discuss fees with a high-end client. The language to use in order to get the best response from clients when dealing with multi-faceted projects. Sarah discusses the passion-projects that she's involved with. Sarah has created a twelve-minute documentary called The Town Home, about a seven-story 1911 New York townhouse renovation project that she did. Other episodes mentioned on the show: Andrew Suvalsky #28 Christie Leu # 182 Dr. Ellen Fisher #71 Links: Website Instagram Facebook Twitter Reference: Click the ICAA organization link find your local chapter.

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We are really delighted have Jeff Tippett, aka Mr. Persuasion, with us today. Jeff is a subject matter expert in persuasive communications. And on the show today he will explain some of the principals that lie right at the heart of persuasion. This is really an important and valuable skill to learn for any business. And there's so much you can accomplish after acquiring this skillset! So grab the opportunity now, and listen in to hear Jeff's message. Jeff helps people increase their effectiveness, gives them powerful tools for attaining goals and dreams, and helps them positively impact their organization—all as they learn techniques for communicating persuasively with others. When results mattered most, renowned brands like Airbnb, The National Restaurant Association, The League of Women Voters, The League of Conservation have trusted Jeff to develop and implement communications plans to persuade elected officials, the media, and the general public. And as an expert on persuasive communications, Jeff continues to deliver results for influential clients. Other industry experts have validated Jeff’s work through numerous awards including the prestigious The American Advertising Awards. Jeff has impacted thousands of lives through over 500 presentations including keynotes and seminars. Others feature Jeff’s expertise in persuasive communications through articles, podcasts, and blogs. Jeff’s highly anticipated second book, Unleashing Your Superpower: Why Persuasive Communications is the Only Force You Will Ever Need is scheduled for completion in January 2019. Listen in to find out what Jeff has to share with you on the show today. Show highlights: Jeff shares the story of how he adopted his baby daughter in Haiti. The really valuable lesson Jeff learned from his experience in Haiti. Changing your mindset from one of manipulation to one of persuasion. The two words that indicate that you've successfully persuaded somebody. Showing someone a new vision of how things could be. Getting what you want by helping others to get what they want. Three ways to get to know what someone really wants. Some tools to use when making a real connection with a potential client, and getting them to like you. People will remember how you made them feel, so make them feel heard and understood, and valuable. Placing yourself firmly in the shoes of a potential client. Putting a lot of thought into what you say and the language you use. Jeff shares 3 strategies to create better online influence. Helping people to trust you. Figuring out your only-ness, to really stand out and set yourself apart. Staying consistent with who you are and what you do. Three tips to help you to position your message so that people will say "yes". Other episodes mentioned on the show: Nancy Ganzekaufer #15, #159 and #256 Fred Berns #22, #48, #96, #174, #226, #289, and #337 Sponsored episodes by Article.Com #301 and #367 Links: Website: Jeff Tippett Twitter: Jeff Tippett Facebook: Jeff Tippett Speaker LinkedIn: Jeff Tippett YouTube: Jeff In Cary Book: Pixels Are the New Ink: 3 Steps to Digital Domination In Your Industry To look into Article.com: Well Designed Article Text the word PERSUADE to 66866, to be informed when Jeff's new book, Why Persuasive Communications is the Only Force You Will Ever Need, becomes available. You will also get a free chapter of the book right away.

Welcome to the show! Today we have Alyce Lopez with us. She is one of LuAnn's real-life friends, and also the principal of The True House in Tula Vista, California. Although Alyce is still a 'baby designer', she's a really smart lady! She knows that being an interior designer is her business and not a hobby. She is also very clear on what she does and how she does it. On the show today Alyce talks to us about the way she runs her business and how she's built it up to profiting six-figures in under three years. There is so much you can learn from Alyce on today's show! Listen in to find out more! Alyce Lopez owns and operates The True House, a full-service interior design firm that specializes in residential design for busy, young families. She began her career in interior design after purchasing a fixer-upper with her husband. The two navigated through renovations on a 1950's rambler maximizing their creativity and pocket change. The True House came about organically after documenting their home renovations on social media. Alyce grew up in southern California in Aliso Viejo, CA. Growing up near some of the most beautiful beaches, she was always inspired by natural textures and elements. Alyce graduated with a degree in education. In 2006, she married her husband who teaches kindergarten locally in Chula Vista. Today, Alyce is mother to two young children (ages 5 & 7) and her pug, Mochi. TTH focuses on bringing a transitional aesthetic to the common builder grade home in south San Diego. Alyce prides herself in making each home more functional and livable for young families while respecting her clients' budgets. She believes your home should be a reflection of your personal style and provide customized features that make life more enjoyable. The True House recognizes that your home is your largest financial investment and it should be treated with the proper care and attention. The True House is the top reviewed interior designer in south San Diego. Alyce has been featured as a style spotter for industry shows and is a brand ambassador for Revolution Performance fabrics. You can find her work published by SD Voyager and Furniture Today. Listen in to find out what Alyce has to share about her interior design business. Show highlights: Some of the things Alyce has established as important parameters in her business. Establishing a really good relationship with a limited number of selected vendors. Tula Vista has organically become Alyce's niche area. Alyce's family-based approach to running her business. The importance of having a good work/life balance. Some tips for having a debt-free life and business. The type of design that Alyce focuses on and the services she provides. The benefits of offering clients blocks of time. The kind of value that Alyce provides for her clients. Alyce uses Acuity Scheduling to keep things organized. Where Alyce sources her furniture and accessories. Providing limited options when too many options could be confusing. How Alyce shares her trade-show experiences with her clients. The step-by-step process that Alyce uses with her clients. The way that Alyce structures her charges. The importance of planning ahead for your business. Resources: Books by Dave Ramsey Links: Website: The True House Facebook: The True House Instagram: @thetruehouse

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! As most of you know, on Fridays LuAnn talks to people, from any industry, who can share something with us that will enhance, grow, or make our business or personal lives make sense. Today we are very happy to have Julie Broad, an Amazon Overall Number 1 Best-Selling Author, join us on the show. Julie has a background in real estate and in branding. Having generated over six figures in revenue from her book sales alone, she now teaches authors how to build their brand and boost their business through her new company, Book Launchers.Com. Listen in today to find out how Julie could help you make a bigger impact with your interior design business by writing, publishing, and selling a top-quality book. Julie was born in Canada. She grew up in rural Alberta in a house attached to a 20 room Motel. Collecting the pop cans and beer bottles from the motel rooms, she used the money to invest in gold stocks which she used to pay for her first year of undergraduate education. When it was time to do her MBA, she used her savings to buy investment properties instead of fund her education. Student loans paid for school, and then the seven properties she owned by the end of her MBA paid off her student loans. Julie continued to apply the entrepreneurial lessons she learned from her parents (not her MBA, because that degree was pointless) as she grew her real estate portfolio, launched a real estate training and education company, and began to write books. She became an Amazon Overall Number 1 Best Selling Author, an International Book Award Winner, and recipient of the Beverly Hills Book Award for Best Sales book. Listen in to find out how Julie helps people achieve their goals. Show highlights: The benefits of self-publishing. Producing a book to give clients will really benefit small business owners or designers. Producing a book really demonstrates that you're an expert in your field and it can earn you tons of media as well! How much content has to be in your book for Amazon to sell it and provide you with printed copies of it. You can increase the content of your book by spacing it out and filling it in with pictures. How getting some assistance with structure, from someone like Julie, can really help to bring out of you what you already know. Friends and family probably won't tell you if your ideas really suck. The ways that Julie helps people position their book to appeal to their ideal reader. Putting your own flair into ordinary things. Some things to help you get to the heart of your brand. Some mistakes people make in communication that deludes their message. A tip about body language to help you become more confident. With self-publishing, it's 100% your book. Links: Website: Book Launchers YouTube: Julie Broad Facebook: Book Launchers Instagram: @juliebroad @booklaunchers Twitter: Book Launchers

Welcome to today's show! We are really happy to have John and Theresa Dorlini, the dynamic duo behind Circle Design Studio, with us today. The idea of CIRCLE was born in 2001 when, on their first official date at a sushi restaurant in downtown Tempe, John and Theresa made a pinky promise to build a design empire. On the show today we have a really great conversation with them about how they built their business and the way that they run it. Listen in today, to find out what they have to share with you. Circle Design Studio is located in Roanoke VA. Since its inception in 2005, John and Theresa have expanded the CIRCLE family to encompass full-service design, including architecture and general contracting. John is the principal architect and he holds professional licenses as a Certified Interior Designer, Class A Contractor, and Architect in the states of Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia. Those qualifications, combined with his background in design and construction administration for large-scale public projects, ensure a thorough drawing set that leads to accurate bidding and execution. Theresa is the principal interior designer and creative director. Her strength is seeing the “big picture”. She has 20 years of interior design experience practicing in Arizona, Florida, and Virginia, and she works closely with all their clients, both residential and commercial, to develop a cohesive design concept that reflects their personal style or branding. Theresa is passionate about design education and she's taught at James Madison University, and also at her alma mater, Arizona State University. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: Their way of explaining to a client why they would do well to make use of a designer, as well as a builder and an architect. Why they invest so much in their 3D visualizations. The programs that they prefer to use for their 3D visualizations, and why. How 3D modeling can help prevent disconnect with the various players working on projects. How it really helps to have an architect on board with their projects. The benefits of having a large body of work to show their clients. Words are just words, so images really help! They are busy creating a coffee table book. What they do to make projects easier to understand for their clients. Following the steps of a tried-and-true-process. Explaining to their clients, when discussing fees, that they're paying for John and Theresa's expertise. Everything about design comes really easily to Theresa. Designing seems really easy for some people, so it's easy for them to underestimate what actually goes into it. A book that John recommends is The Business of Design by Keith Granet. All about the vision statement they are busy creating. Being at the glorious point of being able to recognize the really valuable clients and let the others go. Realizing that it's all about serving the client. You have to be really good at what you do to work with the luxury market. Learning to be honest enough to just say 'no'. Putting things in writing can save your butt! Setting boundaries with clients. Creating a dual-purpose welcome-packet for clients. Ways to protect yourself from customers who tend to take advantage. Previous episodes mentioned in the show: Darla Powell #330 Jason Byrne #311 Charles Pavarini #113 Resources: Book mentioned: The Business of Design by Keith Granet Links: Website: Circle Design Studio Facebook: Circle Design Studio Pinterest: Circle Design Studio Instagram: Circle Design Studio Blog: Curata Home

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We have Samantha Parker and Kathy Rasmussen, the partners in the Badassery Community, with us on the show today. Samantha and Kathy are the co-founders of Badassery Magazine, the co-hosts of the Badassery Podcast, and they also have a book out, called Badassery Styled Community. These ladies are very real. They are trailblazers and they are on a mission. Together, they are creating an ultra-engaged community of women entrepreneurs who are fully committed to living bold and passion-filled lives. On the show today they share some great guiding principals on being authentic and doing things your way. Listen in to find out about the very significant work that these two dynamic ladies are doing. Badassery Magazine is a resource for female business owners to navigate and embody the Badassery Lifestyle. The magazine features articles written by their community of contributors on topics including Entrepreneurship, Branding, Marketing, Mindset, Self Care, Health & Beauty, Home, Family, Travel, Food & Drink Recipes, Entertainment, Music, and lots more. Samantha is ridiculously passionate about living a life of true Badassery. She believes that we all rise together and she puts community over competition. She has been featured on NowThis, The Daily Vee, Bold TV, and numerous interviews and podcasts. Kathy is an idea cultivating machine and can strategically birth your idea to life. When she’s not busy connecting other entrepreneurs with fabulous experiences, you can find her being featured on NowThis, Bold TV, numerous interviews and podcasts. Kathy is passionate about owning who you are and stepping into the spotlight. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: The backstory of how the Badass Community was started. How Samantha and Kathy first met. Kathy explains what she does, as an implementation strategist. Knowing your where your passion lies and what fulfills you. About the brand pillars of the Badass Community. Some pillars that would benefit designers. Embracing who you are and letting your authentic personality shine through. Thinking about what you want to be known for. Creating consistency throughout all your messaging. Determining what your brand pillars should be. The process of welcoming people to a community. Growing your design business through a Facebook community. Cultivating conversations within a Facebook community. Giving value and sharing your expertise within a Facebook community will get people to hire you. Getting loyalty from the personality brand you're creating. Things that are necessary, but not obvious about the backend of running a community. Some of the things they do that really make the members feel special and want to stay in the community. To restrict your community or not? Previous episodes mentioned on the show: Nancy Holla #377 Colleen Prim #359 Nicole Heymer #125 and #137 Claire Jefford #237 and 325 Rachel Moriarty #55 and #214 Dixie Willard #273 Links: Website: Badassery Magazine Facebook: Badassery Magazine Instagram: Badassery Magazine Badassery Mag: Badassery Magazine Badassery Podcast: Badassery Podcast

Welcome to the show! You're really in for a royal treat today! We're very excited to share LuAnn's interview with Charles, the 9th Earl Spencer, as he unveils the Royal Funiture line for Theodore Alexander. LuAnn did this interview live, in person, at the Theodore Alexander Showroom in High Point, North Carolina. Lord Spencer is the younger brother of Diana, Princess of Wales. He is also a British nobleman, peer, author, journalist, and broadcaster. The Althorp Living History furniture collection was designed in partnership with Theodore Alexander. And it encompasses replications of furniture found in the 500-year-old Althorp Estate where Lord Spencer and Diana grew up. Listen in today to find out what Lord Spencer has to share about the Althorp Living History furniture collection. For five centuries, Althorp - a sprawling English estate in bucolic Northamptonshire - has served as the primary residence of the Spencers, one of the most distinguished, aristocratic families in England with ties to Winston Spencer Churchill and the ancestors of George Washington. It was this combination of rich legacy and the home’s warm, beautiful interiors that drew fine furniture maker Theodore Alexander to Althorp. The resulting collection of furniture and upholstery pieces in Althorp Living History draws inspiration from treasures gathered during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries by Althorp’s famous inhabitants. Theodore Alexander is renowned for unmatched craftsmanship, exquisite finishes, and extraordinary design. Covering a diversity of periods and styles, their collections encompass thousands of unique lighting, home accents, case goods, and upholstered furnishings. Theodore Alexander and its licensed collections (Althorp Living History, Keno Bros. for Theodore Alexander, Jamie Drake for Theodore Alexander, Michael Berman for Theodore Alexander, and Steve Leung for Theodore Alexander) are available throughout the world at fine furniture galleries and design centers. Listen in today to find out more! Show highlights: The “Spencer heritage” — 500 years of history in the Althorp Estate and how that history is captured in the furniture. The wonderful responsibility of being heir to the Althorp Estate. Retaining Althorp as a place of entertainment. For Lord Spencer, history is about people- not about dusty, dry facts. How the relationship between Lord Spencer and Theodore Alexander began. Lord Spencer enjoys the passion that Theodore Alexander has for the heritage of the furniture collection. Lord Spencer is able to provide the backstory of every single piece of furniture in the Althorp Living History line. How Theodore Alexander has helped to preserve the Althorp history and heritage through the furniture line. Lord Spencer talks about his favorite pieces in the collection. What buyers can expect when purchasing an Althorp/Theodore Alexander piece. Owning a cherished piece of history with the opportunity to create your own heritage with pieces with a rich history. What designers should know about the value of the Althorp Living History furniture collection, and also of Theodore Alexander, as a company, when considering introducing the furniture line into their projects. Links: Theodore Alexander's website: Theodore Alexander. Furniture Collection: Email: [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected] The video of this interview is available on LuAnn's Youtube channel: Youtube

Welcome to today's show! We are very happy to introduce you to Nancy Hala today. Nancy is a branding expert and she's also co-host of the podcast This Is Fifty With Sheri and Nancy. LuAnn truly loves and enjoys what Nancy and her co-host Sheri Salata are doing! Nancy and Sheri joined forces when they were both in their mid-fifties, to launch their company, start their podcast, and begin living The Pillar Life. They decided at the time that it's never too late to make the rest of their dreams come true. And both still had a ton of dreams left that they really wanted to come true! On the show today, apart from picking Nancy's expert brain, as a brand strategist, we will be talking to her about The Pillar Life, and leaning into starting a new life with career changes. Because sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and trust that the universe will support you. So listen in today to find out what Nancy has to share with you. Nancy is a chief visionary of The Pillar Life. And This Is Fifty with Sheri + Nancy is a popular podcast about redefining and rebranding the middle of life. Sheri Salata and Nancy are lifelong soul-sister friends. And on their podcast they’re having conversations with experts, teachers and uplifters about fueling their imaginations and igniting the eight most important pillars of their lives: Health + Wellness, Spirituality + Happiness, Romance + Sex, Friends + Family, Creativity + Innovation, Adventure + Discovery, Sanctuary + Beauty, and Money + Abundance. Nancy is also the innovator behind BrandStory, a trademark combination of brand strategy, storytelling and audience building, helping organizations articulate who they are, what they stand for, and where their brand’s spirit meets its mission. Nancy extends her business brand practice into personal brand development, working with individuals and groups in bespoke workshops designed to help participants understand and express their own personal brands. Listen in to find out more! Show highlights: Nancy shares her (and Sheri's) core beliefs. Nancy believes that taking the risk and trusting in the support of the universe will open doors for you. Learning to dream without limitations. Most people really love their brand, or their organzation, as an extension of themselves. Their first mantra, when Sheri and Nancy started their company, was 'dream big'. Shedding old beliefs about safety and security creates fun and excitement! Starting your own company or creating your own brand is one of the most creative things you can do as a business owner. Having a business is all about connecting with people- so you have to speak to them in a way that they can hear and understand you. The stories we tell ourselves make our dreams come true. Creating a really great narrative for your brand. Nancy's four v's: vision, values, virtues and voice. A vision is the foundational component of a brand story. Your virtues set you apart from your competitors or your peers. Your voice is the energy behind your brand. You need to be interested in something in order to be successful at it. Getting to the core of what really sets you apart from the rest. Getting into the virtue of what you do with authenticity and fearlessness. The Pillar Life consists of eight areas of life (or pillars) that we need to focus on, expand our energy over, and elevate our experience around. Nancy discusses her and Sheri's reckoning moment. Content has to have a framework. And The Pillar Life has become the framework for Nancy and Sheri's narrative. Finding your own, unique point of view on each pillar. Previous episodes mentioned on the show: Amber Lewis #169 and #184 Nicole Heymer (Curio Electro) #125 and #317 Links: The Pillar Life 10 Easy Steps to Launch The Pillar Life

Welcome to today's show! We have Catherine French, the founder of Catherine French Design, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with us today. Cat has been listening to this podcast since it first started, about two-and-a-half years ago. This was around the same time that she started her design business. Recently, Cat sent LuAnn a really nice email, telling her about the things she had learned from A Well-Designed Business. In the letter, she listed the things that she has really taken seriously from the podcast and implemented in her business. And right from the start, she has really been tremendously successful! Cat's firm is currently approaching half-a-million dollars in gross revenue per year- in under two-and-a-half years! So listen in today, as Cat talks to LuAnn about her business, and gives some context to the way that it all began for her. Cat loves color, pattern, texture, form, and has a passion for working with people. She focuses on color and balance to make rooms more warm, inviting and habitable. Her design is a unique blend of psychology, culture, color, and function with an emphasis on the principals of design and art taken from her formal Arts education and training. Embracing full collaboration in creating a harmonious space, she spends time in the spaces with her clients developing their vision and then guiding them through the full process of a turn-key installation. After obtaining her Bachelors in Psychology from Wake Forest University, Cat later went on to pursue her Master of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. While teaching the Environmental Design Studio at UNCG, she presented her work at several State and National conventions as an expert on Interior Design and Historic Preservation. Now Cat leads a passionate and enthusiastic team of design professionals that guide inspirations into reality at Catherine French Design. Listen in to find out what Cat has to share with you on the show today. Show highlights: Cat talks about the beginning of her business, two-and-a-half years ago, and everything that happened at the time. Enlisting the help of a stylist for the first time. Taking advice from this podcast turned out to be one of the best things she ever did. Cat enlisted some help from a neighbor, Jamie, and he's still with her business now, almost two years later. Now, Cat's team is really diverse and wonderful! How Cat came up with how much to charge her first clients. Cat explains why she mostly still charges an hourly rate. All about how Cat managed to have the hard conversation with one of her very first clients and hire someone to get the project finished on time. Cat had to make time to be with her family, or her business would have been pointless for her, so her whole firm does not work in the evenings or over weekends. Cat's way of dealing with unforeseen problems. Hiring the right person at the right time. What happened when Cat realized that she couldn't make payroll one month. How Cat learned that you have to always have to show up and put your team first. How Cat first started marketing her firm with blog posts to get SEO exposure. Showing her team that she wasn't giving up! Dealing with accounting problems in her business. Working out how much needs to be brought into the business, in order to keep things running smoothly. Talking to Caroline Hipple, co-author of Pathway To Profit. Making everyone in the team feel important. Maintaining boundaries and being brave enough to only work with clients that are the right fit. Untangling from projects that aren't the right fit. The importance of maintaining an attitude of professionalism and respect. LuAnn's second book, co-authored by Michele Willaims of The Scarlet Thread, will be launched at the next birthday celebration in February, next year. Other episodes mentioned on the show: Dina Holland #354 Michele Williams #137 and #180 Resources: Book: A Pathway to Profit by Caroline Hipple, Anita Pugh, Chris Matthies, and Dixon Bartlett Links: Website - Catherine French Design Instagram - Catherine French Design Pinterest - Cat French Design Facebook - Catherine French Design

Welcome to today's Power Talk Friday! We have Bonnie Fahy with us on the show. Bonnie is the creator of Source It!, which Forbes once called "the world’s premier education in online hiring and outsourcing for entrepreneurs". Although outsourcing is the obvious thing for a number of businesses to do, LuAnn wasn't a hundred percent sure that it would be transferable to the design industry. After having a conversation with Bonnie, however, she decided that it was viable for us. Because there are so many things that go into running a business and you really don't have to do it all yourself. So you could consider employing a virtual assistant. And Bonnie specializes in helping people understand the best process for hiring VAs. Listen in today to find out what Bonnie has to share with you. From her humble beginnings as a balloon artist, Bonnie Fahy has grown to become the ultimate hiring guru, helping hundreds of overwhelmed business owners balance their dreams with a work lifestyle that suits them best. She stumbled on outsourcing early in her internet marketing career and she was amazed to see her profits quadruple in only three short months! This really inspired her, so she began consulting with, and helping other entrepreneurs to grow their businesses to six and seven figures using the same strategies and methods. Bonnie has helped a roster of prominent entrepreneurs take back their time by leveraging high-quality virtual assistants, web developers and graphic designers for a fraction of the cost. Her business insights are based on the foundations of personal development and human psychology, and the shortcuts she teaches her mentees have helped them spectacularly transformed their lives. Listen in to hear about Bonnie's powerful strategies. Show highlights: Why Bonnie thinks that a VA is such a viable resource for a small business owner. You can hire a much higher level person from the Philippines at a fraction of the cost. Hiring the right person for the task. Taking responsibility for clear communication. Systematizing things is vital. Your VA can actually help you to create and document systems. Where hybrid sourcing comes into the picture. People are often unsure about which tasks to delegate. Bonnie has loads of free content on her website. The kind of tasks an online assistant could do for you, as an interior designer. Mastering the art of communication through conflict. Tools for protecting passwords while allowing someone else to use them. Freeing yourself up to do the things you do best. The kind of person to look for as a VA. Where to go, find the best VA. Writing a really compelling job ad. Testing for agreeableness. Finding the perfect person for the perfect price. Doing 'get to know you' calls. Resources for finding online assistance outside the US. Remember that it's always about the process. Other episodes mentioned on the show: Madeleine MacRae # 315 Resources for finding online assistance in the US: Craig's List Indeed.com Facebook Recommended resources for finding online assistance outside the US: International Facebook groups for VAs. OnlineJobs.ph VirtualStaff.ph Links: Bonnie Fahy Bonnie Fahy Get Source It Bonnie's Free Training For the automated webinar go to The Live More Formula

Welcome! Today you're in for a treat! We have Ellie Mroz joining us, and she's a really talented designer and also an astute businesswoman. We're very fortunate here at Window Works to be doing the window treatments for all Ellie's projects. Today, Ellie discusses her niche with us. And get this- her niche isn't a particular style of design or even an ideal client. It's it's the town where she and her husband grew up, fell in love, and started their family! On the show today we also take a look at the hard conversations that you will need to have with vendors and clients when unforeseen things happen. Listen in to find out more. Ellie’s passion for interiors began in the world of fashion. After she graduated from Cornell University, she enjoyed several years of internships in ready-to-wear and jewelry design, merchandising, and public relations. Finally, her love of beautiful things brought her into interior design. This transition was natural for Ellie because her husband’s residential home remodeling business, Michael Robert Construction, started growing. And his clients started asking Ellie for her help in choosing all the finishes. From there, the husband and wife design/build team grew and a boutique interior design firm was born. Since 2015, Ellie has been asked to appear in several episodes of George Oliphant's show, George to the Rescue NBC, as the on-air talent who helps families in need create beautiful spaces. And these beautiful spaces really improve the quality of the lives of these families, as well as the quality of their homes. Listen in to hear what Ellie has to share with you today! Show highlights: Ellie talks about her involvement with George To The Rescue. Why it's really worth investing in a receiving warehouse where they hold all your goods until you're ready for the majority install. Designers really need to be there when the delivery for an installation happens. Setting expectations with a new client right in the beginning. Ellie and her husband, Mike, have two separate companies and they don't always work together. Ellie talks about her really unique niche. Ellie prefers to take on few jobs and really make them profitable. Ellie has recently added a new service called Design Therapy. Ellie tailor's her style to each client. Some really great advice that Ellie received from a photographer. The joy of owning your niche fully. How to deal with it when things go wrong working on a project with contractors, subcontractors, and vendors. Some tools and tactics for avoiding dramas. Why you should never ditch old emails. The value of spending real time on site with your contractors. Developing the skill set to have the hard conversation with clients. What's coming up for Ellie in the future. Previous episodes mentioned on this show: Raquel Langworthy #343 Links: Website - Ellie Mroz Design Instagram - Ellie Mroz Design Pinterest - Ellie Mroz Design The custom home-building project that Ellie is documenting on Instagram: #Shadowlawndrive Michael, Ellie's husband's website: Michael Robert Construction

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We are very happy to introduce you to two very interesting women today. We have Susan Whalen, the president of Pollack, and Rachel Doriss, Pollack's design director, with us on the show. These women have both been in the design industry for decades and on the show today they talk to us about the types of opportunities that are available in the industry, other than doing interior design. They also talk about the leadership at Pollack and their company culture of encouraging creativity, loyalty, and longevity in their entire team. Listen in today to find out what it takes to create and lead a really exceptional business. Susan earned a BA from The University of Arizona in 1996. She was appointed as president of Pollack/Weitzner in 2017 due to her forward-thinking vision. She began her career at Polack in 1999 as studio manager, working alongside the founding creative director, Mark Pollack. There she learned every aspect of design and product development for contract and residential textiles. In 2004 she shifted to the business side to work under Rick Sullivan, the founding president. Then, in 2006, she was appointed as vice president and chief operating officer. In the position of COO, Susan took the led role in Pollack's merger with Weitzner in 2011. She is currently spearheading the implementation of a new operating system and the development of improved digital platforms to support the future growth and adaptability of Pollack/Weitzner. Susan now resides in Brooklyn, NY. In her free time, she enjoys traveling internationally and renovating her weekend home in rural Pennsylvania. Rachel has textile design in her DNA. She studied printmaking and painting and even taught batik workshops when she first entered college. But it was in the Textile Design department at the Rhode Island School of Design that she realized, for the first time, the practical application of her beloved woven and printed textile techniques. She graduated with a BFA from RISD in 1999 and designed printed silk scarves at Echo before joining the Pollack Studio in 2000. In 2007, Rachel was appointed Vice President, Associate Design Director. She took the helm as Pollack’s Design Director in 2012, overseeing the Studio and guiding the creative vision for each textile collection. In the Studio, she and her team always begin a pattern by first creating artwork by hand. Rachel’s designs for Pollack have been featured in national magazines, including Architectural Digest, Interior Design and Elle Décor, and she has been profiled on such sites as Apartment Therapy and House and Home TV. Two of her creations, “Mod” and “Curlycue,” are in the permanent collection of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. Join us today and get the inspiration do things in your firm to make it the kind of place people really want to be engaged with! Show highlights: Other kinds of career opportunities within the design industry. What really goes into textile manufacture. What it takes to become a textile designer. You get involved in the textile industry for the love of what you do, not for the money! The partnership between Pollack and Lori Weitzner. How having a collaboration, or a licensed collection works. Working with Gary Graham, a New York-based fashion designer. The need for inspiration when creating a collection. A quick run through the development of a fabric. The whole chain of love and pain that goes into the design and development of a beautiful fabric. About the really terrific "Pollack culture". Some great tips for cultivating a really successful team. Inspiring employees towards longevity with longer vacations. Really creative "First Fridays" at Pollack. An "Ugly Sweater" contest at the office! Supporting employees through difficult times. Pollack has their product in showrooms in most of the major territories. Pollack has worldwide distribution- in Asia, the UK, and France. Links: Website: Pollack Associates Instagram: @pollacktextiles Facebook: Pollack Textiles Previous episodes mentioned on this show: Lori Weitzner #308 Eileen Hahn # 363 Janelle Photopoulos # 364 Candace Olsen #74 Amber Lewis #184 Shea McGee #236 and 270 with Syd Corey Damen Jenkins #127

Welcome to today's episode! We know that you're really going to love it! We have Laura Michaels with us today and she is an experienced and insightful designer who knows how to tell it like it is. On the show, we have a very straightforward conversation with her about talking budget with clients. Laura is very confident in her process and in the service she offers, and she really knows how to hold her ground in these conversations. Listen in today, become inspired, and learn from Laura's expertise, and her really confident way of dealing with clients. Laura Michaels Design is a full-service design firm specializing in residential and commercial interiors out of Greenwich CT. Having started her career as a fashion designer, Laura Michaels is no stranger to developing complete collections filled with layers of textures, patterns, and colors. Laura thrives on the challenge of finding the perfect combination of textiles and other materials, then integrating them in unique and unexpected ways. Laura spends much of her time sourcing fabric, carpet, lighting and more...from all over the world and prides herself on her thorough knowledge of the market. Laura is also proud of her ability to source the "right" item at the ''right'' price. If cost, size or availability become an issue, her design skills allow her to create the perfect piece in one of her many custom factories. Her extensive knowledge of the market makes the design process quick and easy, but never routine. Her artistic vision transforms the space into warm and inviting interiors and it is Laura’s goal to provide a warm, inviting environment that is enjoyed by her homeowners and will last the test of time. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: Developing the skill set to really understand your ideal client. Some red flags to look out for with a client. The kind of client that Laura works with. Looking at a potential client's expectations before their budget. There are millions of different supplier websites for all budgets. Laura's way of dealing with clients who are not clear about their budget. Managing your client's expectations. Laura loves the challenge of fulfilling a client's expectations on a limited budget. Things that people don't understand about hiring an interior designer. Hiring a designer can really be price effective. Establishing the ground rules around the budget upfront. Laura's way of obtaining art for her clients. Having the budget conversation with clients. Referrals are really important. You need to be confident and know your value to avoid being taken advantage of. Links: Website: Laura Michaels Design Instagram: The Laura Michaels Design Pinterest: Pinterest e-mail: [email protected] Find Luann on Instagram

Welcome to another Power Talk Friday! Everything is happening online these days, so we are really very happy to introduce you to Jason Berkowitz, of Break The Web Inc., a company that specializes in digital marketing and PR for businesses. Jason's business is an inbound marketing agency and their goal is to generate traffic which could ultimately turn into leads, sales, and customers. On the show today, Jason talks about the services that his company provides, that may be of interest to interior designers. He also explains what you, as interior designers, need to have in place, in order to come to the table. Listen in to hear what Jason has to say about digital marketing and public relations. Jason started out as a business owner at the age of nineteen. He quickly came to recognize the importance of marketing and brand security. And he also realized that he had to take matters into his own hands because the available information was all so contradictory. Jason's digital journey started in 2010 and his mission that year was to learn the ins-and-outs of digital marketing and more specifically, of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Through extensive networking, he had the opportunity to surround himself with some of the greatest and brightest minds in the industry. So he began utilizing and designing frameworks that led to a successful search-engine presence, spending hours analyzing algorithms and reading patent documents in an attempt to understand metrics for online visibility. Jason launched his first SEO agency out of New York City in mid-2010. They launched SEO campaigns for more than 300 businesses, secured over 50 000 Page 1 rankings and worked with some of the largest brands in the world. Then, in 2016, they launched their parent company, Break The Web, Inc., with a focus on Digital Marketing services and business acquisitions. Since then, they have acquired 2 successful digital marketing agencies out of San Diego, California, and New York City. Listen in to find out more. Show Highlights: Jason explains what his company does. The value in targeting your local area for marketing your business. Where and how digital marketing and PR is taking place. Jason's approach to digital marketing. Paid advertising campaigns can be a little budget heavy. Spending money on a digital marketing campaign pays off. Teaching in-house teams to make the whole marketing process seamless. How Jason structures his pricing. A typical management fee that Jason charges for an ads campaign. The SEO myths that Jason thinks really ought to be busted. Using click-bait with the best intent. Working with SEO really effectively. Creating search tags for Youtube videos. Google algorithms have become very smart- they can understand what's semantically relevant and what's not. Keeping things natural within an SEO campaign. Previous episodes mentioned in this show: Andrew Joseph #39 Links: Websites - Break The Web SEO Services New York Jason Berkowitz LinkedIn: Jason Berkowitz SEO Facebook: Jason Berkowitz NYC Twitter: J Berkowitz SEO YouTube: Jason Berkowitz SEO

Welcome! Today's show was recorded live from the High Point Market on Friday, October 12th, 2018, as part of the Designer Viewpoint Series. We are very happy to introduce you to Kesha Franklin today, the principal of Halden Interiors, based in Greenbrook, New Jersey. Kesha has a background in the fashion world. And as a designer, she started out on a path that initially appeared to be destined for failure, which really rocked her world, but then things took an interesting turn for her. Listen in today as Kesha candidly shares her story, offers valuable insights, discusses the growth of her firm and explains her really intentional way of framing her conversations with potential clients. Kesha's intuitive sense of style, creativity, and harmony goes back to her formative years, where luxurious interiors and fine men's wear captivated her creativity, through her father's vast collection of Architectural Digest and the renowned GQ Magazine. Kesha continued expressing the artist within her through various creative means, but only after an encounter with a New York City architect, who recognized her eye for interior design and complimented her on it, did she take the leap and start The Beautiful Experience, a boutique design firm specializing in residential and special events design and planning, in 2006. Kesha spent years immersed in the exclusive world of couture fashion as a backstage production manager and wardrobe stylist for the iconic Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Surrounded by the work of well-known designers such as Vera Wang, Jason Wu, Michael Kors, Donna Karen, and Lanvin…Kesha sharpened her attention to detail, distinct eye for exquisite styling and sensibility to craftsmanship. The spaces Kesha reinvents today are impeccable. However, her striking aesthetic as an interior designer is not only shaped by her ability to curate color palettes, balanced textures, and distinct furnishings but is also influenced by her ability to understand and connect with people. Every single design project begins with a heart-to-heart. Listen in today to hear what Kesha has to share about how she supplies her clients with a full experience, from the ground up, that goes way beyond just beautiful things. Show highlights: Kesha shares the great story of how she started out with design in 2003. She began with very small projects. Moving from doing jobs for free to starting a business and attracting clients from the luxury market. Kesha learned a lot- the hard way. She had to learn to understand her true worth. Reading books really helped Kesha to understand the processes and the business side of the world of interior design. When things started to pick up in 2011, Kesha realized she really needed to figure out what her niche was. Kesha's process of rebranding to become Holden Interiors took three years. In 2013 Kesha was really fortunate to be a part of the Goldman Sachs 10 000 Small Businesses Program. And that really set her rebranding in motion! It really is okay to charge a higher price that truly reflects the level of service that you're giving. Not all consumers really understand interior design. Kesha gets excited about the kind of job that makes her nervous. Kesha explains the rates she charges her clients. Some things that need to be highlighted in the service agreement with a client. Kesha's approach to clients about her contract. Kesha explains her weekly project update. Teaching her clients to trust the process. Be careful of becoming a 'client pleaser'. Time management is still a challenge. Presentation is everything, so it's very important to invest in really good, high-quality pictures. Kesha's work will continue to change as time goes on. Previous episodes mentioned on this show: Adam Urbanski #192 and #280 Links: Kesha's website: Halden Interiors

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! Today we are really very happy to introduce you to photographer Stephen Karlish, from Dallas, Texas. Stephen began his career pre-internet, so he has seen the rise of social media and online sharing either make or break the careers of numerous designers. He has learned that the key to any creative environment is collaboration. We live in an image-based society today and designers really need to create a strong online presence. So they need to collaborate with experienced photographers to get the kind images that will be sure to drive traffic their way. Listen in today to find out what Stephen has to say about how a great photographer can really help you, as a designer, to build your brand identity and your online presence. Stephen started out in the world of photography assisting commercial photographers in the late 90's. In the early 2000's he started photographing interiors for both local and national publications like Southern Accents, Veranda, Elle Decor, and AD, mainly focusing on documenting local Texas designers' work for their portfolios and ads. Based on his experience, Stephen really wants to help designers to take the photography aspect of their projects seriously. Listen in today to get some really helpful advice and tips from Stephen. Show highlights: The really awesome business partnership that Stephen has with his wife. Pulp Design Studios really inspires Stephen! It really takes a lot of practice to get your personality to really come through on a video. What it takes to create a really great a photo shoot on location. Working seamlessly as a team for incredible outcomes. Really great shots can be used for years. As a young designer, it's really worth investing in your brand imagery right now. Doing it right! Some tips for getting the best shots on a regular budget. Working with stylists and floral designers. The importance of doing pre-shoot scout shots. The benefits of working with a stylist for your photos. How to find the right stylist to work with. Designing projects to completion. Creating portfolio shots on a studio wall. Some tricks that a photographer can do to create incredible shots. The best business advice that Stephen has ever been given. Links: Stephen's Website - Stephen Karlisch Studio Website: Karlisch Studio Instagram: @stephen_karlisch_photo Facebook: Karlisch Studio Twitter: Stephen Karlisch Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Pulp Design Studios #176 and #310 Charlotte Safavi #138

Welcome to the show! Today we are excited to introduce you to Jessica Duce, the principal of J Duce Design in Colorado. With a lot of hard work, and a little good luck, Jessica discovered her ideal client and so today she specializes in VRBO and Air BnB Design. On the show today, Jessica tells the story of how she saw an opportunity to follow a completely new path in her business and jumped right in. Listen in today to learn about the joys and the challenges of designing for VRBO properties. J Duce Design has won multiple best of Houzz awards and has been featured in Parker Lifestyle Magazine, Highlands Ranch Lifestyle Magazine, and Omaha Family Magazine. Jessica was honored as Volunteer of the Year for her work for Habitat for Humanity. In 2018, J Duce Design is launching the Denver chapter of Savvy Giving by Design launched by Susan Wintersteen of Savvy Design. The goal of the non-profit chapter is to help families in crisis improve their current living environment for health and wellbeing at no charge to them. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: The story of what has happened to Jessica's company in the last three years. How Jessica launched into the world of designing for VRBO properties. The scheduling challenges that come with VRBO designing. Jessica's awesome team. The one home that Jessica worked on has led to her working on five other homes in the last three years. Jessica discusses her connection in property management. Times are changing with vacation homes and Air BnB. Being creative when spending money to create the 'wow' factor. Jessica's goals when meeting with the housekeeping staff. Dealing with the 'flips'. Some important things that Jessica has learned about designing for VRBO homes. Some things that need to be considered when designing for the VRBO market. The story of the really successful Captain Arnold's house. Designing to appeal to the holiday market. Experimenting with the best ways to invest money in VRBO properties. Creating a photo spot in every house. Learning lots of new ideas from the BDNY. The biggest lesson that Jessica has learned in the last three years. Links: JDuce Design Instagram: JDuce Design Facebook: JDuce Design

Welcome! It's Power Talk Friday and we have a special show today, sponsored by Article.com! We are very happy to have Jillian Cross, their trade program manager, joining us on the show. The passionate team at Article.com has a very strong understanding of the world of interior design and their trade program is run entirely by committed people from the design industry. Today Jill explains what it is about Article.com that really makes interior designers want to work with them. Listen in to find out more. Jillian has had an amazing ride in the industry! She was born and raised in a construction and development family, so it's in her blood. She has a degree in project management as well as a background in interior design. Jill has been with Article for about one-and-a-half-years and she came to them with nine years of industry experience behind her. Prior to joining Article, she worked at several different firms in the industry, and also with some big-box retailers- helping them to build out their trade and their pro programs. She spent a number of years doing millwork design and also working in her family's business, where she got to experience residential and multi-unit design. Listen in to find out what Jillian has to share with you on the show today. Show highlights: The people on the team at Article have a strong understanding of the world of interior design. The importance of really understanding who you're talking to. Article really understands the pain points of interior designers. The team at Article takes a strong stand when something goes wrong and they get onto resolving it as quickly and effectively as possible. The benefits of having a small team. Following up with genuine care and concern. Relationship building. Striving to create a personal service for online trade partners. The positives and negatives to working in the online space. The discount structure at Article.com. The great value that Article.com is offering their customers. com is very competitive in its market. Understanding transparency. Article will send you swatches of fabric and samples with no shipping costs. Jill walks you through Article's fantastic return/exchange policy. Article will deliver anywhere in America. Links: Apply for the Article Trade Program: Article Trade Article: Article Linkedin Article Houzz: Article Modern Instagram: Article Facebook: Article

Welcome to today's episode! We have a really smart lady joining us on the show today! She is Nicole White, the president, and principal designer at the award-winning design firm, Nichole White Designs Interiors, based in Sunrise, Florida. On the show today we talk to Nicole about how she came to learn her particular skill set in the renovation process, and what her intentions are with that going forward. We talk to her about her experience as a journalist, in her previous career, and how she leverages that to earn press for her projects. And we also discuss confidence, how it develops mostly through the mistakes we make over time in our businesses, and how very important that is, when being an entrepreneur. Listen in to find out more. Nicole, known for her renovation prowess, has had her design work featured in various magazines including, Better Homes and Gardens, Ocean Drive, Modern Luxury Interiors; Huffington Post, HGTV and Domino online magazines. She’s twice been noted as an emerging designer to watch by the Black Interior Designers Network and is a brand ambassador/influencer for The Home Depot, Purple Drywall, and City Furniture. An award-winning writer, Nicole writes about the behind the scenes process of her projects on her popular blog LiveLaughDecorate. Nicole, lover of red wine and travel, is also mom to a busy 6-year-old, Xavier - a budding artist and self-proclaimed VP of NWD Interiors. Listen in to hear what Nicole has to share on today's show. Show highlights: Nicole talks her decision to direct her business towards working with the renovation process. Nicole has learned to get her hands dirty- working hands-on with the renovation process. Nicole really enjoys the whole process of renovation. What makes Nicole so successful with what she does. Nicole is getting ready to do her GC license in the next year or so. What obtaining a GC license involves. Nicole talks about her game-changing questionnaire, what it deals with, and how it came about. The questionnaire has literally transformed Nicole's business. Working realistically with a budget with clients. Nicole has the confidence to know that clients will be better off working with her. Fifteen years in, Nicole still clearly remembers not knowing how she was going to pay her bills. Standing in your experience and fully understanding what your needs are. Nicole has made some deliberate changes in her life since having her son. Nicole makes the amount of time that she has available very clear to her clients. It can take some time to develop the confidence, as a new designer, to charge a consultation fee. As a former journalist, Nicole really understands publications and how they work- so she knows how to build and grow press. Start building press by pitching the smaller publications first. Nicole has learned to build relationships- they really matter! It's really important to stay in touch- you cannot treat your clients and relationships as a one-night-stand. You have to enter the contests to win the awards. Go after companies and brands that fit your strengths. The goals that Nicole is stretching herself towards right now. Links: Nicole's website: NWD Interiors Nicole's blog: Live Laugh Decorate To sign up for your trade account with Article.Com: Well Designed Article

Send me the Source Like a Pro Video! Welcome to another Power Talk Friday! We have Monique Holmes (Duarte) with us again today and she's bound to inspire you to re-think the way that you approach sourcing for your interior design firm. Monique started Duarte Decor, a global interior design firm, in 2012, after successfully working in the marketing and advertising world for more than ten years. Using her marketing experience, she managed to generate $50 000 in profit in her first year, working part-time while still holding down a full-time job. Monique saw that there was a huge gap in our industry and that design schools don't teach the business side of the industry. So, she came up with her 8 Steps To Profitability Program and launched her own, private coaching firm, Duarte Consulting, in 2016. Today's show is packed with tons of information and Monique generously shares some of her awesome resources! Listen in to today to learn about Monique's key strategies for sourcing like a pro. Monique Holmes is a Certified Interior Decorator, Business Coach, and an active member of the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW), International Interior Design Association (IIDA), Central NJ & Brooklyn, NY Chapter President of the distinguished Interior Design Society (IDS) as well as a Certified member of CID (Certified Interior Decorator Association). She also holds several degrees, including a career degree in Interior Decorating & AutoCAD Design, a Bachelor’s in International Business with a specialization in Economics & Marketing, and a Master’s Degree in Interactive & Direct Marketing. Monique Holmes was awarded "Woman of the Year for Interior Decorating for NJ" in 2013 by NAPW, in addition, her design work has been featured online & in print publications including "Your Decorating Resource" and Moxie Woman Magazine. Listen in to find out more! Show highlights: The first thing to think about, as interior designers, in order to source and sell products like a pro. Monique likes to focus on helping designers to figure out strategies to do things effectively and efficiently. Monique explains her 4 easy steps to sourcing like a pro. The benefits of sourcing through trade-only vendors. The key to shopping with online retailers. The great thing about the Article.com trade program. It's really important to be transparent with your clients. E-design or full-service? Monique has trade programs with all the retail stores that she shops with. The percentage of her discount that Monique shares with her clients. The way that Monique charges clients for her design services. Some things to consider, about sourcing. Doing your research about sourcing ahead of time really helps to prevent any unnecessary stress. Being aware and knowing your product is very important. Always have a price-point scale of the vendors that you deal with. It's important to bear the location of vendors and their rep support in mind when making a purchase. Knowing your product and your customer is a vital ingredient. The importance of building sourcing and selling into the foundation of your business ahead of time. A lot of Monique's coaching is strategy-based. Building your sourcing repertoire list of vendors- it takes time but it's really worth it in the end. Links: Website: www.8STP.com 8STP FB Group Master Class (Launching September 30th, 2018) Instagram: Monique Nicole Holmes Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Monique's 1st appearance on the show: #178 (note she has since married- she was Monique Duarte- she is now Monique Holmes) Deb Barrett #53 Gary Inman #154 Article.com #301 Dina Holland Honey & Fitz #354 Heather McManus #357

Welcome to the show! We have Janelle Blakely Photopoulos, the owner and principal of Blakely Interior Design, with us today for another episode in our series of The Things I Learned From A Well-Designed Business. Janelle recently sent us an awesome letter explaining all the lessons, improvements and systems that she's applied to her business since listening to the podcast. She is really a great example of a thoughtful business owner in that she listens, she learns, and she takes action. Join us today to find out what Janelle has to tell you about the way that she leads her team and runs her business. Janelle earned a bachelor's degree in business and marketing from Syracuse University. Then, after honing her management skills with the corporate giant, AT&T, she realized her true calling and attended the Rhode Island School of Design to learn the technical aspects of interior design. Janelle started her residential interior design business in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, in 2010. Since then she has grown the business and established a reputation for creating really beautiful, livable interiors. Janelle has built a support team that reflects her vision and commitment to their clients. Her success is deeply rooted in her ability to collaborate and communicate adeptly with her clients and industry partners. In addition to the exponential growth of her design business, Janelle was recently nominated for Rhode Island’s 2018 Small Business Woman of the Year. Listen in to find out more! Show highlights: Janelle talks about her passion for leading her team. The first time Janelle hired someone. The importance of tracking time. Shifting people into roles that are suited to their particular strengths. Taking the time to see your employees for what they're really good at. The team-wide assessment that Janelle had done to discover the specific strengths of each member of her team. You're only as good as the team that supports you. About the Client Concierge Experience. The small things that you do for the client really make all the difference. Some of the things she's learned along the way. The biggest takeaways that Janelle gained from the podcast. Janelle is a big believer in self improvement. The impact that Stacy Brown Randall has had on Janelle. Setting your client's expectations realistically in case something goes wrong. Links: Janelle's website: Blakely Interior Design Other episodes mentioned on the show: Susan Wintersteen- #164 Chad James - #68 Caitlyn Wait - #284 Eileen Hahn - #363 Candy Scott- #279

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! Today we're happy to introduce you to Luann's exceptional cousin, Eileen Hahn! Eileen's superpower is helping people to intentionally build outstanding and exceptional teams- whether they have a dozen employees, or only one! On the show today Eileen will explain some of the layers and deep processes and that are required for you to become a really good leader. Listen in to hear what Eileen has to tell you about building a really extraordinary interior design team! Eileen is a principal at Organization Effectiveness Consultants, a San Diego based management consulting firm. She partners with leaders of organizations to establish new levels of performance, financial results, teamwork, and employee work passion. Eileen achieves this by first examining current processes and systems, and then collaborating with the company leaders to apply changes which improve productivity and profitability. Eileen works extensively with organizations which are going through rapid growth, downsizing, mergers, acquisitions, restructuring, and cultural transitions. She facilitates succession planning, strategic planning, organizational change, joint problem solving, leadership development, and team building. In addition, Eileen also designs C suite selection and evaluation processes and she works with boards of directors to develop, implement, and facilitate these processes. Eileen is also a professional speaker and a university instructor. Some of her national and international clients include H.G. Fenton Company, The Wonderful Company, San Diego Padres, Ericsson Wireless Communications, Qualcomm, Pfizer Inc., General Atomics, Occidental College, Brooklynn Museum, General Motors, Anheuser Busch Corporation, The Venetian & Palazzo Hotels, Sea World Parks and Entertainment, and LEGOLAND. Listen in today to find out more! Show highlights: Eileen is part of Luann's second book, The Things I Learned From A Well-Designed Business- The Power Talk Friday Experts, which is coming out at the beginning of 2019. (Eileen's chapter is called The Care and Feeding of Exceptional Employees.) What Eileen means when she talks about exceptional employees. Hiring someone who has the specific skills you're looking for. Eileen explains the selection process that she used to help a certain company to hire exceptional employees. The special ingredient in every sales call. What makes someone exceptional. The type of kindness, care, and feeding that's necessary for exceptional employees. Employees really present a big challenge to employers. Placing people orientation before task orientation in a business. Establishing trust and care with your employees. Some of the key principals behind hiring (and keeping) exceptional employees. Determining for yourself, as a principal, what an exceptional performance really looks like. People are willing to pay for exceptional! Taking the time to learn to be an exceptional leader. The exceptional benefits of taking the time to care for, and feed your employees. The importance of thorough training for employees. Links: Website: Eileen Hahn LinkedIn: Eileen Hahn Email: [email protected]

Welcome to today's episode! We are very happy to introduce you to Breegan Jane, a unique and fun individual who is a super-high achiever! Thirty-three-year-old Breegan is an interior designer who also has a successful blog, a high following on Instagram, and she's a podcast/radio host. She previously worked as a creative director in the luxury yacht business and as a property manager for multi-international million-dollar homes. Listen in today to find out about Breegan's vast experience and how it informs her currently, as an entrepreneur and interior designer. Multifaceted entrepreneur Breegan Jane does it all. A full-time businesswoman, interior designer, blogger, and popular podcast host of Mom Life Yo, all in all, her spare time. Her most recent project is the design of the new, buzz-worthy Los Angeles restaurant, NATIVE, spearheaded by award-winning Chef Nyesha Arrington of Top Cheffame. A single mom from Southern California, Breegan Jane credits her boys for pushing her to break down walls and test boundaries. She uses her powerful voice to inspire others and bring joy to people’s lives. Listen in to find out what Breegan has to share on the show today. Show highlights: How Breegan's experience, managing international real estate projects with full staff and working as a creative director and marketing professional for a luxury yacht manufacturer, translates to her current interior design business. The importance of great leadership. Great lessons from great bosses along the way. Utilizing every opportunity to the best of your ability. Feeling more at home in Dubai than in Texas. The importance of visual representation. Being given the space to run with your ideas. Transitioning to the design world. How Breegan developed through her experience. The kind of project Breegan enjoys the most. Identifying 'no-win' situations with clients. What being a mom and entrepreneur mean to Breegan. The way that Breegan was raised to be empowered. The power of turning negatives into positives. Breegan's dreams and aspirations for the future. Links: Breegan Jane Facebook: Breegan Jane Breegan Jane Blog Instagram: Breegan Jane Twitter: Breegan Jane Other episodes mentioned on this show: Amber Lewis # 184 Vanessa DeLeon # 18

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! Today we have Kimberly Merlitti, the owner of KMM Consulting, with us. In her experience, Kim has found that accounting and finances seem to scare most interior designers. So she helps them by going into their businesses and taking on the role of CFO. From there she teaches them how to really understand what they need to do in order to become successful as entrepreneurs as well as interior designers. Kim's specialty is helping designers with what she calls Project Revenue Accounting, which is how to manage the revenue of a project that is already in process. Listen in today to find out how Kim helps interior designers to really get to grips with their finances and advance their businesses. KMM Consulting takes on clients from around the United States. Kimberly 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 San Francisco, CA. KMM Consulting’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. Listen in today to find out more. Show highlights: Kim explains the difference between accounting and projection. What Kim has learned the hard way, about the difference between general contracting and interior design. Creating a contract and coming up with the budget for a client. Unknown factors that need to be taken into account when working out a budget. Why you need to start tracking your time. How Kim uses a payroll calculator to help designers come up with budgets. Working out the billing for your client. Restructuring things when necessary, after tracking your hours. Taking the time, as a principal, to teach your staff about efficiency. The importance of understanding regulations. Working out the cost of employees. How to know if it's time to hire somebody. The process of doing the projections. Kimberly works with designers in all states. Other episodes mentioned on the show: krista Coupar # 150 Links: Website - KMM Consulting Facebook - KMM Consulting LinkedIn - Kimberly Merlitti

Welcome to today's show! We're really excited to have the celebrated and influential David Phoenix, of David Phoenix Interior Design in Los Angeles, with us on the show! David is a self-taught designer and today we're looking forward to talking to him about how he found his way, his passion and his point of view, as a designer. And we also talk to him about the new fabric line he recently developed and launched with Kravet Inc. Listen in to find out more! David Phoenix Interior Design gives each project a singular ambiance that wholeheartedly embraces, uplifts and celebrates its inhabitants. And David is known for thoughtful, modern luxury and livability. David finds inspiration from a myriad of styles, looking back through history as he creates spaces for today. His work personifies his own approachable, self-assured manner—gracious and considerate. In juxtaposing modern and traditional elements, his aesthetic conveys an easy welcoming sensibility, rich with classic haberdashery details and nuance. David draws from his experience and instinct in the all-important matters of style and function. David enjoys an international clientele of celebrities, royalty, business magnates and discerning homeowners, including Maria Shriver, former Los Angeles Mayor, Richard Riordan and actor Rob Lowe, whose home was featured on the cover of Architectural Digest. He believes in living each day to the fullest, delivering personal, sophisticated and thoughtful environments. Join us today and find out what he has to share. Show highlights: David explains how he sees a quintessential American point of view It all started for David with really great architectural designs in America David's day at design school David's journey to becoming an interior designer How David ended up in Los Angeles, California David's first job in Los Angeles How the loss of a friend led David to start out as an interior designer David's remarkable shopping encounter with Maria Shriver Doing worthy things to become worthy What it's really all about for David David's tagline is "Think big and you'll be big" A description of the fabric line that David's recently developed The labor-of-love process of David developing his handsome fabric line David's appreciation of the Kravet family and their 'culture of Kravet' Links: Website: David Phoenix Link to his collection with Kravet: Kravet Fabric Designer Link to his furnishings collection with Hickory Chair: Hickory Chair Furniture Instagram: David Phoenix Pinterest: David Phoenix Facebook: David Phoenix Come and meet Luann and David in person, on Wednesday, October 3rd, at the Kravet Showroom in Chicago, for Chicago Design Week. Go to Luann Nigara for more information. Previous episodes mentioned on the show: 345: Chris Ramey

Welcome to today's show! We are really happy to have a new designer, Colleen Primm, joining us today. Recently Colleen decided to start a client-facing Facebook group to share her expertise, to get her name out there, and also to get some clients into her pipeline. Although she only started the group at the beginning of June this year, she already has more than 640 members, almost all of whom are potential clients! On the show today she will be talking to us about her Facebook group and she will also explain exactly what she puts in there. Listen in to find out how Colleen has managed to attract so many potential clients to her group in such a short space of time. Colleen, who has a bachelor’s degree in business administration (management) from The University of Toledo, an M.B.A. from Averett University and has also attended Cuyahoga Community College for Interior Design, has taken a pretty unconventional path to interior design. Before deciding to make the change, she worked in the banking industry for twelve years, where she first underwrote commercial loans, and then a little later, mortgage loans. After a few years, she became a trainer, teaching people how to write mortgage loans. While working on residential loans, Colleen got to see a lot of homes, because she was reviewing home appraisals. That's where her love of design, and wanting to help people achieve better-looking homes came from. She finally decided to turn her passion into reality and quit her banking job to go back to school for Interior Design. So Colleen is the rare interior designer who can not only decorate your home but also talk to you about your mortgage! Listen in to find out more! Show highlights: Why Colleen chose this particular method to market her firm. What it will take for you to join Colleen's facebook group. Colleen wants to have only members who will bring value to the group. What inspired Colleen to start her Facebook group. The importance of getting constructive feedback. The precise message that Colleen sent out when she started her Facebook group. Getting lots of engagement with Facebook groups. Colleen's strategic way of attracting mainly local clients to her group. All about Colleen's Facebook contests. The number of paid consultations that Colleen has done as a result of the group. Colleen explains and clarifies the amounts she charges. The amount of preparation that Facebook Live requires. The kind of questions that Colleen deals with. The events that she's created as a result of her Facebook group. Making connections- and making money at the same time! The kind of preparation that Colleen does and how she manages her time. The importance of being really well organized. How to learn more about lenders and the programs that they have to assist designers. Links: Facebook: Colleen Primm Instagram: Colleen Primm Design Website: Colleen Primm Design Private Facebook Group: Primm and Proper Design Talk with Colleen Primm

Welcome to today's episode! We are delighted to have Karen Mooney, Taryn Schwartz, and Caroline McDonald with us on the show today. They are the three women responsible for the designer program at Ballard Designs and they are also behind the Ballard Designs' podcast, How To Decorate. Today they will be sharing their experience of interviewing celebrity interior designers for the podcast and also some of what goes on behind the scenes with the celebrity designers. Listen in today to find out what it really takes, and what really happens, when you get the opportunity, and then make the commitment to being a celebrity designer for a company as large as Ballard Designs. Karen, Taryn, and Caroline are the hosts of the Ballard Designs' How To Decorate podcast. And their goal is to help you to unleash your 'inner decorator'. Outside of the podcast, they work in different departments at Ballard Designs. Karen has a background in graphic design and she's the senior vice-president of Brand management. Taryn is an industrial designer in the Product Design department. And Caroline manages content marketing, specifically the blog How To Decorate, and also art producing digital marketing photography. Listen in today to find out more. Show highlights: Why they prefer doing their interviews in-person. How the relationship between Ballard Designs and their celebrity designers works. Why Ballard Designs chose to work with Suzanne Kasler, Bunny Williams, and Miles Redd. Making their celebrity designs affordable to their customers. The level of creative involvement of the talented celebrity designers. What it really takes to become selected as a celebrity designer. Why it takes what it does to become selected as a celebrity designer. Why it really takes such a lot of work to be a celebrity designer! Finding the right kind of vendor. Why a long-term business relationship is actually a lot like a marriage. Bringing Suzanne onboard. Then bringing Bunny and Miles onboard. The way that the designers earn their money. The way that people respond to Miles' dramatic pieces. Using inspiration to grab the imagination of the customer. Ways of making tried-and-trusted products look fresh again. Some ways that designers could get to become the celebrity designers. Doors always open as a result of relationships- so be nice! Big name designers discussed on today's show: Bunny Williams, Miles Redd and Suzanne Kasler You can find the How To Decorate podcast on iTunes. Note: This show will also be on video on Luann's Youtube channel. Links: Ballard Designs How To Decorate Instagram: Ballard Designs Facebook: Ballard Designs

Welcome to another Power Talk Friday! Today we're having a Where Are They Now episode, featuring Heather Mc Manus, our very first guest ever on the show! Heather is an award-winning designer from New Jersey and the principal of Artistry Interiors. She is also the author of the book Love Where You Live- Dream Homes Made Real, which is available on Amazon. On the show today Heather will be telling us all about her latest venture, Collaborate To Win, a buying group that she started for you, her designer colleagues, to become stronger together and make more profit through having access to products that may normally have been unavailable to you due to buy-in minimums and yearly volume quotas. Join us on the show today to hear Heather explain her really interesting idea! Heather started Artistry Interiors in 2012, after having worked in the design industry for a decade. Her first job, after graduating from the Pratt Institute, was at a high-end workroom where she gained really invaluable experience and learned everything about how quality window treatments and upholstery are made. From there she went on to further broaden her knowledge and expertise about furniture construction and quality through working at both Ethan Allen and Bograd's Fine Furniture. Listen in today to find out more! Show highlights: Heather's concept of a video tip per day that she discussed in her interview on our very first show. All about Heather's innovative concept, Collaborate To Win, and why it was born. Some of the growing pains that helped Heather grow. Collaborate To Win even works nationally. Dealing with breakages. How the concept actually works. The level of trust that is required for this unique concept. Keeping relationships intact is a key requirement for the group. How the payment for the orders works. Heather is constantly creating educational videos to explain the rules of the game. When an order actually becomes an order. The importance of working systematically. How Heather uses videos to explain her pricing. The constant teaching, mentoring and masterminds that Heather does to assist people with her concept. The cost for the membership of the group. How you will really save money by being a member of the group- one order through the group could cover your entire annual membership buy-in! Why you really need to be responsible to be a member of the group. To learn more about Collaborate To Win, there will be a website up and running by this fall. In the meantime, you can email Heather at [email protected] an email address dedicated specifically for this group. The details that you will need to send to Heather in order to apply to join her group. To meet Heather in person, she will be at Windowworks, in Livingstone New Jersey, for the October Lunch and Learn on October 29th. RSVP via Instagram (@windowworks) Raquel Langworthy will be at Windowworks on September 17th for the September Lunch and Learn. Other episodes mentioned on the show: Nicole Heymer (Curio Electro #235 #317) Links: Book - Love Where You Live: Dream Homes Made Real Collaborate to Win - Collaborate To Win Collaborate to Win Facebook page Facebook - Artistry Interiors LLC Instagram - Artistry Interiors Website - Artistry Interiors

Welcome to the show! Today we are very happy to introduce you to Vincere, an influential, Chicago-based, full-service interior design firm, founded in 2007 by Micheal Stornello and Tom Konopiots. Vincere is a business fully committed to the principals of precision, proportion, scale, and form. They have completed projects throughout the Midwest, California, and Europe and their wide range of enterprises include everything from the pre-construction stage, through the interior design phase, to the acquisition and placement of the art and accessories. The team at Vincere firmly believe that the key to success lies in careful listening and clear communication. Join us on the show today to find out what Michael and Tom have to share with you. Both Tom and Michael have very strong business backgrounds. Michael used to be in the television industry where he served as executive vice president, development, for King World Productions (now CBS Television Distribution). Tom was previously COO and CEO of two futures brokerage companies. Listen in today to find out how their previous business experience has informed the way that they run their full-luxury interior design business. Show highlights: Some background on Mike and Tom's previous careers. How their shared passion brought them to start an interior design business. How they learned their design skill set through their real-life experience. Some of the mistakes they made and lessons they learned through trial and error. Creating impact for their clients and closing deals with three-dimensional floor plans. The way that they work with their vendors and contractors using 3-D models. The importance of being well-prepared and paying close attention to detail. All their clients are really value-conscious, regardless of their wealth. Their approach to addressing budget-related issues with their clients. The way that technology helps them to overcome certain client issues. Managing a million-dollar budget so that it looks like a million-and-a-half-dollar budget. They are fully transparent with their clients, in terms of the cost of things. In certain circumstances, it's necessary to tell the client that they're not the right fit. Avoiding traps and pitfalls with clients and adding the appropriate markup. Creating the kind of contract that can be put away and not thought about again. Finding the right balance within a partnership. Links: Website - Vincere Facebook - Vincere Instagram - Vincere Interiors Previous episodes mentioned on the show: Sandra Espinet #287 Fred Berns #289 Chris Raney #345

Are you ready to crush the last quarter of 2018? And are you really ready to make this the very best quarter of this year? Well, if you're the rare designer who is deciding to act, rather than to stay with the status quo, and to do, rather than wish, today's show is just for you! We have two very specific opportunities for you, and two different ways that we're making it possible for you to be the best you can be. Listen in now to find out how to take your game to the next level. The first opportunity is the second stop on the Power Talk Friday Tour. (It's happening on Saturday 13th October 2018 in High Point, North Carolina.) For the High Point tour, Luann has gathered some of the new Power Talk Friday experts including Claire Jefford (#325 and #237), Stacey Brown Randall (#93) and Michele Williams (#137 and #180). The second opportunity is the two masterminds that Luann is offering, Foundation and Transition. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: On the tour, Claire will be talking about managing client expectations, something fundamental to running a successful project. Pinpointing the challenges that tend to come up with new projects. Most problems with new projects are rooted in something that wasn't clear in the initial agreement. Claire will walk you through the best practices for setting up your project to succeed. Stacey has proven techniques for building your pipeline through referrals- without asking your clients for them. Stacey is a business coach with a recently-launched podcast called Roadmap To Grow Your Business. Stacey will teach you methods to attract new clients into your pipeline- immediately. Michele Williams, principal of Scarlet Thread Consulting, will also be with Luann on the tour. Michele coaches designers and window-treatment professionals on the financial methods and systems for running a profitable business. Michele is about to launch her new podcast, Profit Is A Choice. Michele is also a certified Profit First coach. What you have to understand, in order to really be successful with your business. Why you really need to come to the High Point Tour. How Luann will use her superpower to help you. How the High Point Tour will be structured. What you will gain from attending the tour. The price for the tour and what it includes. Having the chance to get to know the awesome sponsors. About the Foundations and Transitions Masterminds. Foundations is group coaching for new designers. What you will learn in the Foundations Mastermind. The Transitions Mastermind is for the more seasoned designer. What you will get from the Transitions Mastermind. Links: Go to Luann's website Luann Nigara to get the early episodes. To find out more about the tour go to Luann Nigara and click on the 'coaching' tab. The landing page for the masterminds: Luann Nigara Sponsors: The Power Talk Friday Tour is sponsored by MyDoma Studios, Revel Woods, and Bijou Wall Coverings. Luann's second book, The Things I Learned From A Well-Designed Business, will be coming out in February of 2019. This book is for the designer who wants to be intentionally focused, efficient and profitable. Luann has gathered 12 of the Power talk Friday experts and together they have created the go-to book for you to get detailed explanations, advice, and clarity about the ideas and concepts that have been discussed on the podcast, over the past two-and-a-half years.

Welcome! We have Dina Holland with us on the show today. And she's someone you may already know from her Instagram stories, with her really down-to-earth, likable and engaging approach. On today's show, we talk to Dina about the importance of finding your personal voice and the value of being real and authentic in everything you do- with your blog, your social media, and your website. Listen in today to find out how this can really help you to find clients who are just the right fit for you. Dina is the founder and principal of Dina Holland Interiors, but you might know her through her blog and Instagram account name, Honey, and Fitz. It all started with a blog about eight years ago when Dina chronicled her own adventures in home decor and DIY projects. What started out as just a personal creative outlet quickly grew into a following of thousands with readers tuning in to see her own projects and those for neighbors and friends. Through word of mouth and the power of social media, Dina has grown her business far beyond the reaches of her blog and turned it into a successful full-service interior design firm with clients all over the country. Listen in today to find out what Dina has to share. Show highlights: How Dina's authentic voice on her website is a pre-qualifier to the clients that are reaching out to her. The importance of being true to yourself. The list of questions that Dina has on her website. How Dina's questions help potential clients to find just the kind of help that they're looking for. The really clever content to be found on Dina's website. Why Dina has put pricing on her website. The really great copy on Dina's website. How Dina learned all she knows about design. How Dina started out as an e-designer. Dina's shift towards Instagram. How, as a designer, to start charging friends and acquaintances. The importance of having really good photos. Charging appropriately for the managing, sourcing, ordering, and shipping of products. Why charging an hourly rate is simply not enough. How Dina managed to figure out the next level of trade sources. How Dina managed to do floor plans when she first started out without any training. How Dina dealt with her branding- from Honey and Fitz to Dina Holland Interiors. Dina is getting ready to launch a small online shop. Other episodes mentioned on the show: Gail Davis #47 Carly Waters #211 Links: Website - Dina Holland Interiors Shop (launching later this summer) - Dina Holland Interiors Instagram - @HoneyandFitz To become a trade member of Article.com go to Well Designed Article to register.

Welcome to another Power Talk Friday! You're in for a huge treat today! We have Virginia Muzquiz, the Referral Diva, on the show with us! Virginia is a connector with a real passion for teaching people how to cultivate referrals. And on the show today she explains how she teaches people to be referral-ready so that they can go out and get the referrals they need to grow their businesses. Listen in to find out more. Virginia is the owner and chief connection officer at Master Connectors Incorporated and she is the executive director of B & I in America. She has over thirty years of experience in teaching six-figure companies and solopreneurs how to build a sustainable and profitable business. Virginia believes that referrals are built out of relationships- and that requires people to like and trust you. This is why she really knows that learning how to create and leverage social capital is crucial in building businesses. Her numbers don't lie and Virginia's methods grew the contract service division of a nationally known education franchise from zero to 2.5 million dollars specifically, and only, by word-of-mouth. Today Virginia shows more than 1400 entrepreneurs how to redirect the time and money spent in non-productive networking into leveraged word-of-mouth strategies that produce measurable improvements in their ROI. Virginia is also the host of the Passion + Purpose = IMPACT podcast. Listen in to find out what she has to share with you on the show today. Show highlights: Virginia explains where she starts when teaching people how to be referral ready. Simply showing up with your skill-set, as a designer, is not enough. The key to creating really effective referrals. The gift that you need to bring along to your potential client. The importance of being really clear. Getting your clients to align with your core values. Knowing who you are and what you love. Giving to givers who give. How Virginia helps business owners to discover their own, unique core values. The importance of finding what you're really passionate about. Virginia's four-step plan to succeeding at networking events. What you need to read and listen to, in order to really be prepared for networking events. The right way to get someone's business card. Knowing what your niche is so that you can connect with your tribe. Other episodes mentioned on the show: Article.com #301 Links: LinkedIn: Virginia Muzquiz Website: Master Connectors Twitter: The Referral Diva Facebook: Master Connectors To become a trade member of Article.com go to Well Designed Article to register. To get the info about Luann's mastermind go to Luann Nigara and click on the coaching tab.

Welcome to today's show. We have Shannon Claire, a designer that Luann discovered on Instagram, with us on the show today. Shannon has a really beautiful Instagram feed and on the show today she will be talking about it and she will also share some tips from the perspective of someone whose career is not an Instagram marketer but has utilized the tool in a really effective way. Shannon Claire is an interior designer and stylist based in Washington, DC, specializing in creating beautiful spaces so that your home feels uniquely and comfortably you, but elevated. Shannon Claire offers many services that include full-service interior design by the hour, e-design projects for clients who do not live locally but still need design help, and event and space styling. She has been featured in HGTV Magazine, Domino, The Washington Post, Buzzfeed, The Everygirl, Glitter Guide, The Charlotte Observer, CNN, Forbes, Style Me Pretty, House Beautiful Magazine, and Style At Home Magazine. Listen in to find out what she has to share on the show today. Show highlights: The first thing to think about, as an interior designer, if you want to really start taking your Instagram seriously. It can be hard to switch from using Instagram as a personal, or social tool, to use it as something that can funnel back into your business. The importance of identifying what your particular brand looks like on paper, or in a photo. Shannon explains why she only shares things on Instagram that fit into the specific aesthetic that she has created there- like pink walls. The way that Shannon's before and after pictures really draw you in. Shannon discusses her 'wake-up point'. The benefits that she has seen from really dedicating herself to her particular style and aesthetic- and the kind of content that she was posting. All the pictures on Shannon's feed are from her own home or her own projects. The way that Luann's Instagram feed has changed recently. The things that will really make your Instagram feed uniquely yours. Choosing your Instagram photos intentionally. The way that Shannon uses visual landmarks to let people know that she is in DC. Some things that you can do to reach out to the people in your area, to let them know where you are. Some information about the way that Instagram's algorithms operate. The importance of having an engaged following on Instagram and building a community. Effectively using captions on your photos. Learning to be authentically yourself! Ways to get your work featured out there. What comment pods are-and how to use them. Links: Instagram - @shannonclaire Blog - Shannon Claire Interiors Pinterest - Shannon Claire Interiors Shannon's website: Shannon Claire Interiors

Welcome to today's episode. We have Jane Dagni, the new editor-in-chief of Designers Today Magazine with us on the show today. Jane is a really well-regarded and true professional and today she will be talking to us about her new position as editor-in-chief, her take on the design industry, and also her future plans for the magazine. Listen in today to find out how Jane has really earned her respect in the design community. Jane Dagni became an assistant editor at Country Living Magazine, a B2B magazine for professional interior designers, decorators and related businesses twenty-six years ago. She spent fourteen years at Country Living, where she wrote and produced at least a hundred-and-fifty feature stories and wrote countless columns. For the next eight years, she worked on writing gigs, short projects, and substitute teaching to support her family. Her clients included Benjamin Moore, Bob Vila, the Cottage and Gardens Magazines and Fort Lauderdale Magazine. In 2014 her colleague, Amy Flurry, recommended Jane as a communications manager at a tech startup that was creating a project management sourcing software for small boutique interior design firms. When the company closed Jane was hired as the editorial director at Steel Yard. Then, in December of 2017, Jane became editor-in-chief of Designers Today Magazine. Jane also participates in industry panels and Listen in today to find out more. Show highlights: What makes Designers Today such an awesome magazine. Jane's mission for the magazine. Designers Today is becoming a subscription magazine. Go to Designers Today to sign up. Jane explains what's happening with her magazine at the moment. What makes Designers Today really stand out from other magazines. The thrust of the magazine. Some fun and unexpected things about Designers Today. Building trust is really a big thing for Jane. What Jane looks for in new designers. The way that Jane is changing the structure of the magazine. How Jane plans the issues of the magazine. How Jane would like designers to communicate their journeys with her. Why Jane really doesn't want people to feel intimidated. Bypassing the small talk. The kind of inspiration that Jane gets from vintage magazines. The way that Jane is bringing the magazine back to life. All about Jane's Designer Experience. Go to Designer Experience. Jane's blog is a great way for designers to find out what she's looking for. Other episodes mentioned on the show: Laurel Bern #342 Amy Flurry #323 and #108 Laura Thurman # 272 Judith Taylor #340 Links: Designers Today's website: Designers Today Instagram: Jane Dagmi LinkedIn: Jane Dagmi Twitter: Jane Dagmi Jane's email: [email protected] Books Mentioned on the Show: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert Recipe for Press: The Designer Edition by Amy Flurry Recipe for Press by Amy Flurry

Welcome to the show! We have the pleasure of introducing you to an Australian designer today, Belinda Nihill, the principal of Nest Design Studio. After the birth of her first child, and working as a qualified interior designer for more than fifteen years, Bel started a blog focused on children's spaces. On the show today she explains how her really small, niche blog, Nest, progressed to becoming a really successful boutique design firm with clients in Australia, USA, France, Ireland, Dubai, Canada and many more places around the world. Listen in today to discover how Bel managed to really set herself apart from other Australian designers. Nest Design Studio was founded in 2010 and is known for its classic and creative style. Recognised both nationally and internationally, Nest has been featured in more than 25 magazines worldwide and has also been profiled on a number of other media outlets. Nest was included in the House and Garden Top Fifty Rooms of 2015 and in 2016 Bel released her first book, Beautiful Babies Rooms. Building on her reputation for being a leader in the children's interior field, and due to demand from her clients, Bel has now extended Nest to include residential and commercial interiors as well. Bel is a member of the Design Institute of Australia. Listen in today to find out more. Show highlights: How Bel's blog was born, soon after the birth of her child. How Bel went about creating her blog. Bel has completed nearly 500 nursery and children's room projects in the eight years that she's been in business. What helped Bel's blog to grow and feed her business. What Project Nursery is all about and how it helped Bel to grow her business. Finding what you're really passionate about as a way to grow your business. It took about six months for Bel's blog to gain some traction. Some of the things that really helped Bel grow her blog. What prompted Bel to start doing e-designing. How Bel worked out how much to charge for e-design. What Bel has learned about systems in the eight years since she's been in business. What Bel learned from the episode with Chaney Widmer (#327). Bel explains how her business has grown. The kind of budget that Bel works with for children's rooms. What's to be found in Belinda's book. Belinda's plans for the future. The steps that Belinda is taking towards her future plans. How Belinda sources her products. Belinda's advice for new designers. Some tips for building community on Instagram. Some of the challenges Belinda has faced with running her business out of her home. Other episodes mentioned on the show: Cheryl Janis #41 Laurel Bern #342 Chaney Widmer #327 Christina Perry #05 Rachel Moriarty #55 #214 To register to become an Article trade member go to Well Designed Article. Well Designed Article If you would like to be in Luann's mastermind, email her assistant at [email protected] to set you up for a chat.

Welcome to today's episode of Power Talk Friday! We are very happy to introduce you to Peter Lang today. Peter is a really smart CPA who has niched his business around helping designers with their unique financial challenges, like unconventional sales tax situations and budgeting around the massive upfront payments from clients. Many designers and artistic professionals find that ordinary CPA's are simply not equipped to cope with their specific needs. Peter, however, is a proven expert in helping interior designers with the kinds of financial duties that they weren't taught in art school. On the show today Peter discusses the years he spent learning how to help our constantly under-served industry and he also explains why he chose to follow his dream of starting a firm of his own. Listen in find out more. Peter started out at a large firm in Boston, where he became aware of the kind of problems that artistic professionals, like interior designers, were facing. He moved to a smaller firm but soon became bored with being a traditional CPA. He noticed that interior designers were constantly being under-served by standard CPAs, so he followed his heart and started his own business in Rhode Island, where he now lives with his family. Listen in today to find out what Peter has to share with you. Show highlights: Peter's experience of being told that he helped people too much while working at a cut-throat firm in Boston. The importance of being comfortable enough with your accountant to ask him whatever you need to know. How it happened that Peter started helping interior designers. The difference between gross profit and net profit. Why you need to keep track of your expenses in order to set your goals. Financial mistakes that designers often tend to make. How Peter helps new designers to really understand their financial situation. The way that Peter helps designers to increase their profit margins. Situations and ideas that could get designers into financial trouble. Peter explains how putting your money into a number of different bank accounts can help you to better manage your finances. Why you really need to trust your accountant. How Peter helps designers navigate their way to success by finding the right software for their business. Choosing the legal entity that best fits your specific business. When it makes sense to change your business to become an S-Corporation. Understanding more about taxation. Other episodes mentioned on the show: Michelle Williams #180 Fresh Books #265 Links: Peter's website: The Designer CPA Peter's email: [email protected] Peter on Facebook: The Designer CPA Peter is also on Instagram

Welcome! We have Albie Buabeng with us on the show today and she's one smart lady! Albie will be sharing with us her journey into interior design, which has lead her to becoming exclusively an e-designer. She will also explain how the success she's enjoyed as an e-designer inspired her to produce a conference and a community called the E-Design Experience. The E-Design Experience was created specifically to help designers, just like you, on their journey to becoming a more efficient e-designer. Listen in today to find out more about Albie and her community. After creating a comfortable, stylish, and functional home for her family of three in her NYC Hell's Kitchen studio apartment, Albie made the transition from retail visual merchandising to interior styling and design. And she hasn't looked back! She helps creatives and influencers in their fields decode their spaces and create beautiful dreamscapes. Listen in to find out what she has to share on the show today. Show highlights: Why Albie has chosen to follow the e-design path. The importance of having well-structured systems in place in your business. The way that Albie has refined her processes. Albie uses an automated email platform to ensure a smooth process for her clients from start to finish. How Albie moved into teaching e-design to her colleagues. Where the biggest challenges that Albies students are facing lie. Albie's business model for the E-Design Experience. The kind of designers that Albie attracts to her E-Design Experience community. Where the different e-designers source their products. The way that e-designers market their businesses. How Albie managed to find her voice as an e-designer. The social media platforms that Albie dropped out of while figuring out her specific path. Albie describes her ideal client. Other shows mentioned in this episode: Article.com #301 Chaney Widmar #260 Nicole Hymar (Curio Electro) #125 #317 Links: To become an Article trade member go to Well Designed Article to register. http://welldesigned.article.com The E-Design Experience Website: Albie Knows Design YouTube: Albie Knows Design Instagram: Albie Knows Design

Welcome to another episode of Power talk Friday! Today we have Mikael Dia, a digital marketing expert and the founder of Funnelytics, with us on the show. Funnelytics is a software company that helps entrepreneurs and marketers to convert traffic into more profit. And Mikael is a really extraordinary entrepreneur and marketing expert who is really passionate about helping business owners, just like you, to get your message out in a way that is more impacting, more direct and way more focused. On the show, we talk with Mikael about his Growth Accelerator program with its nine phases towards success in growing your business online. Listen in today to get Mikael's really helpful advice. Mikael has two master's degrees- an MBA from the Hult International Business School, and a master's degree in civil engineering from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, with a specialization in project management. Mikael's first venture was a Mandarin language school that he started in London in 2012. It grew quickly and Mikael and his business partner were able to exit from it successfully within eight months. Mikael has since grown his marketing agency, White Coat Digital, to over a million dollars in just eighteen months. He is known for his expertise in scaling online businesses very quickly and this has allowed him to raise over a million dollars in angel and seed funding for his ventures. Mikael, originally from Montreal, now lives in Toronto with his wife and eighteen-month-old daughter. Listen in to find out what he has to share on the show today! Show highlights: The best way to look at sales funnels. Guiding the conversation with your potential clients. How to start the process. Finding the top of your mountain. Discovering your ideal client and appealing to them in the right way. Getting to understand your ideal client. Putting out the right message to attract the right person. The power of your marketing message. Finding the emotional reasons for people's motivations. Measuring what's working and what's not. Creative ways to work with the numbers. Mapping things out in a colorful, visual way. Ways of keeping track of your Facebook ads. All about Mikael's 16-week Growth Accelerator program. The awesome support that Mikael's program will be offering. Mikael's process is all about growth. Why you really need to simplify everything. Links: Other episodes mentioned on this show: Adam Urbanski #280 Nancy Ganzekaupher #256 Kae Whitaker #274 Kae Whitaker #259 Claire Jefford #325 To find out more about Mikael's Growth Accelerator program go to The Dia Project Mikael's other website is Funnelytics You can reach Mikael's PR representative, Ester (Pinky) Kiss, on (323)770 3530 or find her at Born To Influence To find out more about LuAnn's group coaching program or mastermind group starting on September 12, email Christie at [email protected] to make the necessary arrangements.

Welcome to today's show! We have Taylor Dietrich and Yashlie Negron with us and they are the co-founders a firm that works both in real locations and virtually, called Do Not Let Us Design. And that's a catchy name that really piques your interest, right? On the show today Taylor and Yashlie discuss their interesting journey in the industry, starting out as interns, being promoted and eventually graduating into project managers and junior designers. They have come up with a very interesting concept, so listen in today to find out more. DNLUD as a name comes from the misconception of misjudging someone who might look too young or easygoing. Taylor and Yashlie have embraced any negative connotations and turned these to their advantage while striving to produce really unique and stunning interiors. Yashlie grew up around construction zones and witnessing places transform before her eyes instilled in her a desire to create a similar kind of magic. She graduated with a BFA in Interior Design from the New York School of Interior Design. Since graduating, she has worked with various design firms. Taylor, inspired by travel and all things foreign, became inspired to contribute to the arts through interiors after spending a semester in Florence. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island in the Textile, Merchandising, and Design program, she quickly jumped into the trade. She specializes in project management. Listen in to find out what these two really savvy ladies have to share on the show today. Show highlights: How DNLUD concept came about and why they decided to do it. How they started their own company while still working part-time for another firm. The kind of confidence they had, starting out. Their process of legitimizing their brand. The kind of legal assistance they used for their business. Some of the things that Yashlie and Taylor do to assist designers. The close attention that they pay to the details. The way that they really have their systems locked down. How they go about managing their projects. Their way of being transparent with their processes, in real time. The really organized process that they use with their clients. The fees that they charge and the way that they get paid. How they create a visual package for their clients. How they understand the design holistically. The way that they protect their clients' confidentiality. Links: Yashie and Taylor's website: DNLUD Email Yashlie and Taylor at [email protected] Yashlie and Tayor on Instagram: dnlud Other episodes mentioned on the show: Brittany Ems #149 Danielle Liss #171

Welcome to today's episode! We have Chris Ramey, the president of The Home Trust International and Affluent Insights/Retail-Rescue, on the show with us today. Chris is a marketing professional who is very well versed in both our industry and the habits and traits of affluent people and he truly understands all there is to know about the client and the consumer base, particularly within the affluent consumer market. He's pointed out to us that research has shown that the biggest problem that interior designers are facing lately is finding clients. So today Chris, who really knows the kind of pain that many interior designers are experiencing right now, explains what luxury really means and how to interact with the extremely wealthy market. Listen in to find out more. The Home Trust is an aggressive marketing agency with hyper-focused marketing programs to help them really penetrate the market. It is best known for its rich consumer-facing website which is aimed at high net-worth families, where they find the world's best products and services for their homes. Chris is a consultant and a speaker, consulting and speaking to organizations with all luxury categories. He is the most quoted independent authority in the luxury segment and he has, in the past, been president of The Luxury Marketing Council Miami and The Luxury Marketing Council Palm Beach, as well as president and founder of Savvi Formalwear, and president of International Design Guild. Chris is a member of National Speakers Association, a columnist for Hearst Business Publications' Floor Covering Weekly, and he has earned the 'Top 5% appellation' from Gerson-Lehrman for his work with private equity firms investing in home and luxury segments. He also sits on the Retail Wire Brain Trust panel and he is a director for Domestic Estate Management Association Palm Beach. Chris, originally from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, now resides with his wife in Palm Beach County, Florida. Listen in to find out what he has to share with you on today's show. Show highlights: How Chris came to understand the affluent market so well. What you, as a designer, need to understand in order to be successful in reaching the affluent market. You don't sell to the affluent market- you fascinate them! What it takes to connect with the affluent market. Creating something that is uniquely yours. Why you need to constantly be honing who you are and what you do. Why it is really so important for you to have the courage to express your own, singular point of view. How Chris helps designers. Chris explains his 'Laws of Luxury'. Why you should not align your brand with fashion. The different kind of business model and sales strategy that is applied to the luxury market. Evoking desire for your brand. Having money doesn't necessarily make you a luxury consumer. How to market to the truly affluent. Scarcity is another pillar of luxury. How logos define you. Ways to get known within the really affluent market. Collaborating is always a pillar of luxury- but you really do need to have enough money to advertise. Why you really don't want to be perceived as isolated. Surprising and delighting your client in a way that will drive loyalty to your brand. Links: Chris Websites: The Home Trust Email Chris at: [email protected] [email protected] Other episodes mentioned on the show: Nicole Heymer #125 and #317 Studio Thomas #314 Nancy Ganzekaupher #9 Jo Buckerfield #320