A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

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

Welcome! Today we have a very smart lady, Lori Paranjape, of Mrs. Paranjape Design and Interiors with us. As well as being a really talented designer, Lori, affectionately known as Mrs. Paranjape, is also an excellent businesswoman and on the show today she's going to be offering lots of really practical advice for designers. She has had her work featured in People, HGTV Magazine, and Domino, as well as in many other publications. Listen in today to find out what Lori has to share with you. Mrs. Paranjape Design and Interiors, which specializes in luxury residential and new construction projects, was started in 2008. Lori is a self-taught and extremely motivated designer. She started out helping friends and acquaintances with their homes. As time went by, referrals continued to pour in and Lori began working as the in-house designer for Redo Home and Design, the well-loved home retailer to generations of families based in Nashville. Listen in today as Lori discusses the really innovative relationship she has with Redo Home and Design, and she also encourages designers and retailers to build awesome partnerships, just as she has done with Redo. Show highlights: Lori's explains the details of her 'Design Collective' business model that she has set up in Nashville. The wonderful, symbiotic relationship that Lori has with her business partner. The clear distinctions between the different aspects of her partnership. What constitutes a 'commissionable' sale within her partnership. How Lori's commission is paid to her. The intentional way that Lori sources everything that she needs. How Lori's retailer provides everything that she needs. The awesome and mutually beneficial kind of partnership that can be formed between a designer and a retailer. The way that Lori and her partner work to utilize a relatively small showroom space to their best advantage. Lori's unique, practical and real-life approach to designing a home for her clients. The way that Lori really takes care of her clients. Why you, as designers, really need to cultivate the skill of asking, listening, and then going a little deeper. Lori's special way of discovering the personal details about her clients, without making them feel uncomfortable. Lori's innovative ways of encouraging clients to spend more money on a project, if it's necessary. Some tips for overcoming difficulties with clients around the cost of a project in a comfortable way. The conversations that Lori has with her clients right at the beginning of their relationship. When to simply say 'no' to a client. Using candles and music to transform a room and create the right atmosphere. Ways of gaining a client's cooperation in using their home for a photo shoot. How to Find Lori: Website - Mrs. Paranjape Instagram - @mrsparanjape Pinterest - Mrs. Paranjape

Welcome to this week's Power Talk Friday! We have Raquel Langworthy, a lifestyle, and interiors photographer, with us. Rachel's philosophy is one of partnering very closely with her clients, so today we are going to be talking to her about how she does that with her designer clients, by creating with them a thorough and detailed relationship, working with them side by side and supporting them all the way. Listen in to find out more. Raquel is a Lifestyle and Interiors photographer based in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. She services mainly the east coast but she's traveled the country for various photography assignments for both documentary storytelling and interiors. Raquel has recently been published in NY Cottage & Garden, for their cover story, as well as in many other online publications such as Domino.com and Architectural Digest online. Raquel moved to New Jersey two years ago, and although she still feels new to the NJ market she has had the pleasure of working with a host of talented interior designers and architects to capture their work and portraits. Her focus in photography is naturally lit bright spaces. Her goal when photographing interiors is not only to capture the overall space but captivate an audience through visual storytelling and well-styled compositions. Listen in to find out what Raquel has to share on the show today. Show highlights: How Raquel starts her relationship with a new client. The importance of using the right styling to create the perfect composition. Why Raquel does not email her clients. How Raquel prepares for a shoot. Raquel also assists with the styling at times. Photographing a full house really takes a whole lot of styling! Raquel and Charlotte's work was featured recently on the cover of NY Cottage and Garden, and also in a ten-page article. How to tell if it's really worth investing in a talented stylist for a photo shoot, or not. What Raquel has learned from previous episodes of the podcast. Why you really have to be ready, to work nationally. The different specialties and skill sets of photographers. Some things to look out for when taking photos with your iPhone. Some tips for working with a photographer. Some tips for designers, when thinking about hiring a photographer for a project. Previous episodes mentioned on the show. Charlotte #138 Ashley Hotham Cox #321 Amy Flurry #108 and #323 Links: Website - Raquel Langworthy Instagram - Raquel Langworthy Photography Facebook - Raquel Langworthy Photography

Welcome to today's episode! We have Laurel Bern, of Laurel Bern Interiors on the show with us today. Laurel Bern is an award-winning New York Interior Designer, blogger, brand ambassador and speaker. Her design work has been featured in national as well as Westchester County shelter magazines. She is known for a having a young-traditional aesthetic and is one to buck many of the current trends unless they happen to be classic favorites. However, after 21 years as the principle designer in her firm Laurel Bern Interiors, she has turned her focus to blogging as a full-time occupation. Her award-winning blog, Laurel Home has drawn a large following – and by large- I mean with page views in the multiple hundreds of thousands every month- due to her candid style of writing, useful information and warm community of readers. You can see for yourself right on her website, laurelberninteriors.com she earns over $33,000 per month from her blog. Laurel's Rolodex is a comprehensive shopping guide for home furnishings with links to the vendor/manufacturers and features a list of some 180 designer-friendly vendors for interior designers. No professional confidences are divulged. Laurel's goal is to help you make your home more beautiful, personal and a really comfortable place in which to live. You will want to savor every moment of today’s show, so join us today to discover more about Laurel ’s incredible, entrepreneurial journey. Show highlights: How to blog effectively, in order to attract your ideal client. Steps you should take right from the start in order to create a successful blog. Your blog needs to live on a really well-built website. What your 'about' page is truly all about. The nuts and bolts of creating a successful website. Why you need to have a navigation menu on every page of your website. Selecting the most appropriate font for your website. How to avoid overwhelming your readers. How to use primary keywords People want a lot of knowledge, but they also want to be entertained. Figuring out your special secret sauce, and your own, unique voice. Your content has to be rich with relevant information. The importance of having your blog posts indexed. Some things that will help you to create magic in your blog. You can even take your own photos with your phone. Some tips to enhance your photos. Awesome ideas for free gifts for your readers of your blog. Why Laurel loves using Wordpress.com. Selecting information to place in your sidebar. Ways to keep your readers on your website for as long as possible. Learn about the $250 000 that Laurel left on the table for five years of her blogging career. Why you should get yourself onto an advertising network. The importance of blogging consistently. Ways to encourage people to take your surveys. Laurel has written a document called Six-figure Income Blogger, and it's really simple and full of the strategies that she's used, and lessons that she learned the hard way. Go to her website laurelberninteriors.com to get your copy for $199. It's in the first link in the main menu on the left-hand side. Previous episodes mentioned on this show. Claire Jefford #325 Linda Holt #97 Carla Aston #242 Stephan Spence #238 Recommendations: For really awesome geek help, go to Eileen Lonergan Laurel Bern Interiors Instagram: Laurel Bern Free Blogger Guide: Six Figure Income Blogger Guide

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We are really happy to introduce you to Esther (Pinky) Kiss today. Pinky is the founder of Born To Influence, a boutique publicity firm that specializes in helping experts and personal brands to get more publicity, leads, and sales. We will be talking to Pinky about how to get your ducks in a row, and understanding what you need to do, in order to be properly prepared for the marketing and PR process, and to gain credibility as an expert in your field. Today's show is geared for the interior designer who is in their own market, with a successful business, who would like to access PR and media opportunities specifically to create more business for their firm. Listen in to find out what she has to share on the show today. Pinky has worked on campaigns in a variety of industries, including software as a service, mobile apps, and digital information. She also has a podcast called Born To Influence, The Marketing Show, where although she does not air new interviews at this point, there is still a library available, on iTunes, containing tons of information. Pinky has also been involved in bringing several book launches to national bestseller and New York Times status. Listen in to find out more! Show highlights: The importance of having certain foundations in place, in order to be seen as an expert in your field. Why you need to be really clear about your goals. What you need to do to cover all the necessary bases, in order to get more clients. Positioning yourself to gain more credibility through publicity. The steps involved in creating an awesome bio to suit your specific needs. An example of a bio containing really compelling information. Creating a bio that will really earn you credibility The next step towards getting some publicity, once you have your bio and website locked down. How to really set yourself apart from the rest. Learning to understand the problems that your potential clients would be facing, and to think the way that your potential clients would be thinking. Creating your Intentional Media Message Content. Creating different pitches to suit different situations. Connecting your expertise to what the media is already interested in. Choosing the right talking points to suit specific media situations. Ways to connect with the right people in the right spaces. Why you should get some local TV experience before attempting to get onto national TV. Examining your underlying skill sets. Looking at big, current news items and connecting to that, to get publicity. All about Pinky's online study course, Publicity Empire. The right time to hire a publicist. Pinky has a free giveaway of her Media Positioning Checklist. Go to borntoinfluence.com/checklist to get it! Links: For the free training segment of Pinky's Publicity Empire online study course go to www.borntoinfluence.com/free-publicity-training Previous episodes mentioned on this show: Amy Flurry episodes #108 and #323 Pulp Design Studio episodes #176 and #310 Christy Leu episode #182 Ren Miller episode #12

Welcome to today's episode. We have Judith Taylor, of Judith Taylor Designs, with us on the show and today we talk to her about navigating the murky waters of working with friends and family. She also talks about the new furniture line that she is launching and her multi-generational heritage of furniture design and manufacture. In addition to studying interior design, Judith also studied at Toronto School of Art, she has a bachelor's degree in psychology and business administration and a past career in IT. These added areas of understanding have provided her with the unique ability to combine practicality, psychology, and aesthetics into her interior design projects. Listen in today to get her really spot-on advice and tips for working with family and friends in a way that won't drive you crazy! Judith is the founder and principal designer of her award-winning firm which specializes in residential design. She did her formal training in interior design in Toronto, where she received high honors for her work, which is inspired by broadly reaching disciplines. Judith started her career in IT, where she honed her skills in project management and developed a deep understanding of the process and an orientation to details. Today she lives in Toronto's Beaches neighborhood with her family. Listen in to find out more! Show highlights: All designers have a friend that they don't want to say 'no' to, or that they wish they hadn't said 'yes' to. What to do when you're approached by someone at a dinner party and they ask for some free advice about interior design. How to gently lead friends to the front door of your business. Using the right language to make it very clear that you are dealing with a business transaction. Sometimes there could be a fair payoff from working with friends or family. Establishing firm boundaries can be really tricky with friends. How a small favor can quickly snowball. Giving yourself a chance to reflect on the reality of the workload of a personal favor. Dealing with friends and family members who push your boundaries. Being clear about what you will and won't do. Explaining to friends and family the amount of work that goes into what you do. Handling discounts appropriately with friends and family. Why you have to be willing to have the hard conversation with friends and family. About the soon-to-be-launched furniture line that Judith has developed. Links: Judith's furniture line can be found at Silver 4 Home Blog "Point of View": Judith Taylor Designs Instagram Pinterest: Judith Taylor Designs Facebook: Judith Taylor Designs Houzz: Judith Taylor Designs To find out more about LuAnn's in-person coaching seminar on 28 July in Las Vegas go to Luann Nigara Previous episodes mentioned on this show: Lee Cockerell #222

Welcome to Power talk Friday! Today we're talking taxes and we're really happy to introduce you to our guest, Craig Cody. Craig is a certified tax coach, a certified public accountant, a business owner and he is also a former New York City police officer with seventeen years on the force! Pretty impressive, right! Listen in to find out more! In addition to being a public accountant for the last fifteen years, Craig is also a certified tax coach to a select group of tax practitioners throughout the country. They undergo extensive training and education on various tax-planning techniques and strategies to become (or remain) certified. With this organization, Craig has co-authored an Amazon best-seller, Secrets of a Tax-free Life. On the show today, Craig discusses the services that he offers his clients, and how he saves them money, tax-wise. He also explains how to develop the right relationship with your accountant, and how to ensure that he's the right fit for your business. Listen in today to hear Craig's awesome advice! Show highlights: Craig and his organization have a really pro-active approach to taxation. Why good relationships between business owners and their accountants are really all about great communication. Some questions that designers who have recently started out in business should be asking their accountants. How proper communication with your accountant can significantly affect the amount of taxes that you will have to pay. How to know if an accountant will be the right fit for yourself and your business. Craig explains the way that he works with his clients. Knowing if your business is healthy enough to hire an employee. How Craig's services help his clients make informed decisions. Craig's kind of pro-activity. Some typical tax-mistakes that Craig comes across. Some awesome tax-rebates for home-office designers. Crazy tax-deductions for working kids! How Craig's services differ from those of other accountants. Craig talks about his book, The Ten Most Expensive Tax Mistakes That Cost Business Owners Thousands. To get your free copy of Craig's book, The Ten Most Expensive Tax Mistakes That Cost Business Owners Thousands Links: Website - Craig Cody and Company Facebook - Craig Cody and Company Twitter - Craig Cody & Company Book - Secrets of a Tax Free Life

Welcome! Today we have Orlando Soria, the founder of the blog Hommemaker, with us on the show. Orlando is a really charming and thoughtful interior designer, writer, and visual artist, from Los Angeles, California, with an unpretentious attitude towards the world, and his place in it. Listen in to our conversation today and find out what he has to say about the way that design, art, and writing can influence the world and the way that people think. Orlando got his start on HGTV as Emily Henderson‘s on-camera assistant on the home makeover series Secrets From A Stylist. A graduate of Cornell’s University’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning and The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design, Orlando has been a staple of the design industry for years. His first book, Get It Together!, was released in Spring 2018 and in May of this year, Domino named him as one of the top twenty-nine designers to follow on Instagram. Listen in today to find out more! Show highlights: All about Orlando's zany brand new book, Get It Together! An Interior Designers Guide to Creating Your Best Life. The creative process that Orlando went through, writing his book. Why Orlando's book really stands out from all other design books. Orlando's humble and unpretentious upbringing. What influenced Orlando's creativity, growing up. Why Orlando really likes to make things. Why Orlando loves Martha Stewart so much! What it was like, being on TV, and what Orlando has learned from the whole experience. Orlando's really lucky break! Orlando's humble attitude towards his strokes of luck. Learning to appreciate the good things that come your way, in life. The struggles that Orlando has gone through, since graduating. Orlando discusses his blog, Hommemaker. Orlando's plans, going forward. Links: Hommemaker website: Homme Maker Orlando on Instagram: Orlando Soria Orlando on Pinterest: Orlando Soria Orlando on Facebook: Homme Maker Orlando on Twitter: Orlando Soria To buy a copy of Orlando's book: Get It Together!: An Interior Designer's Guide to Creating Your Best Life

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We are very happy to have Fred Berns back on the show today! Fred has been our guest many, many times before and he continues to bring value every time, getting right to the point with his really actionable topics. If you're new to the show, Fred has been on episodes #22, #48, #96, #174, #226, and #289 of the podcast. He is the only interior design industry business coach and speaker who creates personal bios and promotional material for design professionals all over the world, so listen in to find out what he has to share today, about how to set and get higher fees for the work you do. 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. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: Why Fred really loves what he does so much. Why so many designers, who work so hard, just aren't realizing the abundance and the prosperity that they deserve. It's been Fred's passion over the years to convince designers to increase their fees dramatically. The number one obstacle that's preventing designers from charging higher fees. What Fred has discovered about some of the most financially successful, high-end designers in the world. High-end clients are used to paying designers high-end fees. Making the decision to make more money- and then focusing on that. Why earning more is all about your mindset. Having the guts to appreciate your value and raise your fees accordingly. Create a list of twenty reasons why you can actually double your fees. You can raise the standard of the whole design industry by charging higher fees. Learning to run your own business by your own rules. Explaining your value to your clients. People with money always have money, regardless of the current financial climate. Focusing on the pain points of your high-end clients, then painting yourself as a caregiver. Positioning yourself as a partner to your high-end clients. What you have to do to double your fees. How to deal with any objections to your price. Small thinking brings about small results. Give yourself permission to earn what you really deserve, and to enjoy financial prosperity! All about Fred's new Platinum Package. Links and contacts: Fred's website: Interior Design Business.net Bio Briefing Website Onceover Fred's email: [email protected] Fred's phone number: 3035893013

Welcome to the show! We have a special episode today, with Kim Hoegger, the award-winning owner, and designer of Kim Hoegger Home. On the show today Kim talks to us about her passion for antiques, retail store ownership, her days as a restaurateur, and also about her thirty plus years of experience in residential and hospitality design. Listen in to find out more. Kim's business sense, her Southern charm, and her hospitality have all helped her create a design firm that delivers sophisticated, yet livable interiors to clients that return project after project. She is a designer with an eye for fresh, personally curated interiors and she brings a sense of warmth to each and every interior project she creates. With her classic, yet eclectic style, she easily mixes the old with the new in a refreshing way. From coastal to cottage, rustic to chic sophisticated, Kim creates interiors where her clients feel at home in spaces that enhance the lives they lead. Listen in to find out what she has to share on today's show! Show highlights: About the exciting launch of Kim's new textile designs! What to expect when you dive right in and go after your dreams. Where to go after working out your initial design concept. Some things to think about that may not have occurred to you before. Having to wear many different hats, as a designer. The awesome advice that Kim received, that really took her to the next level. How Kim managed to align with just the right person! What it really takes to build a platform with your brand- and recognition too. What Kim has accomplished in a really short time, by hiring a publicist. Finding the right balance with a new endeavor. Why you should really get your work professionally photographed. Going after your dreams with your eyes wide open. How Kim handles the sale of her fabrics. Having a licensed product is no sideline- it's another whole business! All about Kim's new retail showroom. Kim really knows her clients well, so her buying process is very streamlined. What's coming up for Kim in the future? Kim's way of re-branding her products. Kim has also started coaching new designers and business owners. Other episodes mentioned on this show: Amy Flurry #108 and #323 Andrew Joseph #39 Steve and Jill McKenzie #304

Welcome to Power talk Friday! Today we're talking organization and we're really happy to introduce you to our guest, Jane Stolly. Jane is a Lifebizz Organizer, author and university Instructor who found her passion in decluttering spaces, business processes, and closets. The Structure Strategist loves to help companies and individuals getting more organized. Pretty impressive, right! Listen to today’s episode to find out more! Where Jane's organizing knack comes from? She believes it must be her Swiss roots. Jane's love for organizing began when she was six years old: As a young girl she was often found happily lining up her cats by size, her stuffed animals by color, her books by publication date. What makes Jane's organizing approach unique is her holistic method. She starts redefining your office and continues at your home - or vice versa. The end results of her seminars, coaching and/or consultations? Reduced stress, increased happiness and productivity. "Organizing is a lifestyle, that will help you conquering anything."Jane strongly believes that custom-tailored organizing systems and routines will massively enhance your work and life. By now, she did not only convince numerous friends and her family but also various clients of this mantra. Listen to today’s show to hear Jane’s awesome advice! Show highlights: Learn how to makeover your home or business! Declutter your home and your life to reduce stress. Make your system work for your lifestyle. Learn how to set things up so that you make the most of your time. Learn how Jane’s passion of organizing evolved to a different level of helping clients organizing their businesses with sustainable systems. Reaching out for help with organization is crucial for individual and personal growth. Learn how valuable “outside eyes” looking at your business can be. Re-organizing your business systems or marketing can save you time and money. Jane shares how to look at physical things from a different perspective. Organizing your priorities can save you time. Learn the importance of starting small when organizing. Jane shares how she markets her business outside her circle of influence. Jane shares how she overcomes fear in her own business. Jane shares how she has time to help others pursue their dream businesses. LuAnn encourages designers who are thinking of starting their own businesses to realize they have a lot to offer others and to get started. Links: Order your copy of Organizing for Your Lifestyle: Adaptable Inspirations from Socks to Suitcases is Jane’s book. Website: Organizing for Your Lifestyle Instagram: Organized Jane Stoller Facebook: Organizing Jane Twitter: Organizing Jane Linkedin: Jane Stoller

Welcome to the show! Today we have a great opportunity to showcase another career you might consider if you're looking for a slightly different angle within the design industry. We have Debbie Pegher, a long-time listener who is also an all-around amazing cheerleader of this podcast as our guest! Debbie is the showroom manager of Century Furniture, in the Washington Design Center and she has more than thirty years of experience as a designer working in retail, a design studio, and having her own design firm before she became the manager at Century. Listen in to find out more. Debbie serves as the board of directors of The Washington Design Center and she regularly hosts events for the design community in the 5000 square foot Century showroom. She served as membership director of the ASID Washington Metro Chapter from 2014 to 2016. Century Furniture was awarded Best Made in America, in 2012, by Made, a non-profit which honors excellence in American design, with Debbie's expertise. Furniture from Century was featured at the National Reagan Airport, and this honor culminated in an invitation to the US Capital, to watch the fireworks show, on 4th July. Debbie's leadership has earned her and the DC team at Century Showroom of the Year twice, most recently in 2017, with the best sales record recorded, for their showroom! Debbie credits and shares this with her co-worker, Gloria Domingez, a seasoned and talented design-oriented member of this two-person team. Listen in to find out what Debbie has to say today! Show highlights: Debbie gives a detailed explanation of how being an interior designer for so many years has informed her ideas and decisions at Century Furniture. The wonderfully welcoming approach of the staff at the Century Furniture showroom towards designers. About the fantastic team at Century- including those based at the factory in North Carolina. The real human kind of client experience that's to be found at the Century Furniture showroom. The willingness of Century to customize items, if required. The importance of treating all designers, including the young and junior ones, really well. Some of the things that Debbie has instituted at the showroom to welcome, and also to teach designers. Although it's a trade-only showroom, they still encourage the public in to come in and browse. How it really pays off for designers to create great relationships with design showrooms. The awesome events that Debbie hosts at the showroom at the Washington Center. The new and exciting events that Debbie has coming up for the Summer season. It's all about who you know- and who knows you! How Century services work 'the Century way', to avoid any problems. Previous episodes mentioned on this show: Kristen McLaughlin #319 Links: Century Furniture Instagram: Century Furniture Facebook: Century Furniture Linkedin: Debbie Pegher Instagram: Wash Design Ctr Facebook: The Washington Design Center Twitter: Wash Design Ctr Pinterest: The Washington Design Center Twitter: Century Furniture Pinterest: Century Furniture

Welcome to today's show! Do you ever feel overwhelmed with all the zillions of ideas running through your head about how to improve your business? If so, you are not alone! We have heard so many of you saying in coaching, mastermind or one-on-one sessions that as much as you love the podcast, it can sometimes be the at the root of that feeling of panic. Running your own business is crazy and when you come to the podcast for help, you get it and then you land up with a notebook full of everything that you should be doing in your business. But, this can really be daunting if you don't have someone to help you prioritize and execute those ideas, so listen in today, to find out how we've been inspired to help you with this. The Power Talk Friday Tour is one of the solutions that LuAnn has come up with. She is inviting you to spend the day with her and with four selected experts from the Power Talk Friday shows and they will all deliver their very best to you. As long as you have a genuine desire to do the work, we promise to help you figure out the plan that is best for you. And it really doesn't matter if you're six months, six years, or even thirty-six years into your business! If you're interested in working hard and working smart, we're interested in working alongside you and we want to give you the tools to make it possible. Listen in now to find out more about the Power Talk Friday Tour -Las Vegas! Show highlights: For the Power Talk Friday Tour- Las Vegas you will spend time with Vince Nigara, Sarah Daniele, Nancy Ganzekaupher and Mark McDonough. What you can expect at the Power Talk Friday Tour. A great opportunity for you to access real-time advice and create relationships of quality and merit. Why we have included small breakout groups. An added bonus that you can expect from the sponsors. In addition to Sarah Daniele, Grace McNamara and John Dupra will be joining us too! What you can learn from Grace McNamara. How Revel Woods can help you be more profitable and serve your clients better. The awesome kind of connections that you will make with your fellow attendees. Re-listen to some of the shows to get to know your Las Vegas team of experts a little better: #78 Vin Nigara, #91 Sarah Daniele, #15, #159 and #256 Nancy Ganzekaupher, #110 Mark McDonough. LuAnn will be doing what she always does- break it all down, summarize it and give you ways to think about the new information. About the four books that LuAnn had in mind to support this endeavor. How the Power Talk Friday experts can really help you. The real beauty of the Power Talk Friday Tour!

Welcome to today's show! We have another in the series of husband and wife teams today and our guests are Jenny and Greg Madden, of Jenny Madden Design in Hoboken New Jersey. Today's interview is packed with valuable insights about knowing when it's the right time to employ an operations manager, how to work out if you can actually afford it, and the results that you could expect to get after placing someone in that role. Jenny and Greg truly are the real deal and they really have it together, so listen in today to find out what they have to share today. In the interview, LuAnn makes a point of complimenting Jenny and Greg on their About Us page, so we have decided to give you their company bio here, so that you can have an opportunity to see for yourselves just how deftly it conveys Jenny's skill and expertise, how it calls to their ideal client and expresses the way that they handle their projects with respect to budget, time, and the overall client experience. Listen in to find out more! Jenny Madden Design Bio At Jenny Madden Design, we take great pride in our client focus. We will not push a cookie cutter, signature-style onto your home. Instead, we’ll listen to your unique needs, dreams, and goals to create spaces that align with your design style and enhance your lifestyle. We also understand the importance of sticking to a budget. We specialize in mid-to-high-end furnishings, which will be of lasting quality and uncommon design. To that end, we’ve built relationships with a wide range of trade-only vendors, allowing us to bring you those sources at an exceptional value, making the most of each client’s budget. Jenny Madden Design has been in business designing beautiful spaces since 2011. Prior to founding Jenny Madden Design, Jenny acquired formal training from top-tier programs in both Architecture (BA, Columbia University) and Interior Design (MS, Drexel University). She then gained invaluable professional experience across multiple facets of the industry, including construction management, architecture, furniture sales and interior design. The years she spent working for a general contractor, managing large-scale construction projects, are particularly unique within the interior design industry. This breadth of experience places Jenny Madden Design in the distinctive position to not only design beautiful interiors but to successfully manage projects through to completion. Jenny is able to speak the language of the broader industry and build successful partnerships with architects, builders, and vendors. She understands that a smooth, professional project experience is as important to her busy clients as an excellent aesthetic design. Jenny built out her team to ensure she has the right mix of talent to enhance and support your project. Stefania and Maggie support the design and drafting phases, while Greg keeps operations and budgets tightly controlled. Our goal as a firm is to maintain boutique customization while providing the systems and support typically reserved for firms with a larger headcount. At the end of the day, we believe our portfolio speaks for itself. We love that our work has been recognized in local and national publications, both in print and online. But we take the most pride in our ever-growing list of happy clients. Jenny Madden Design offers luxury interior design services in the greater New York City area, based out of our Hoboken, NJ office. Whether you are embarking on a new construction project, a gut renovation or looking to furnish your existing space, our interior design team will guide you through the design process and into your dream home. Show highlights: The really awesome About Us page at Jenny Madden Design. Some tips from Jenny and Greg's experience of working together. Making the decision to put all their eggs in one basket. Why it was really necessary to have someone in an operations role. Greg as a pioneer in the work/family role. Greg and Jenny's really supportive relationship. The evaluation process they used for crunching the numbers. Their plan for dealing with their downward change financially. The benefits of having a fixed agreement for the business. How they've managed to keep on track with their projections. The way that their relationship has developed in the business. The importance of having great communication when working together. Other episodes mentioned on the show: Andrea Schumacher #86 and then a replay on #275 Links: Contact details for Jenny Madden Design: website: Jenny Madden Design email: [email protected] phone: 908-273-1634 office: 50 Harrison Street, Suite 202B Hoboken, NJ 07030 showroom: W Hoboken Living Room, 225 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030

Welcome to today's episode! We're very happy to finally be doing our second show on Pinterest today and we have Kate Ahl, the owner of Simple Pin Media, on the show with us. Kate teaches Pinterest marketing and she is really passionate about helping bloggers, content creators, and small business owners to grow by using Pinterest for their business. If you don't really have your Pinterest locked down as yet, you can go back and listen in to episode #292 with Summer Tannhauser to get the basics, because today, Kate and LuAnn will take you onto the next step. You're really in for a treat, so listen in now to find out more! Kate does full-service management of people's Pinterest accounts and she also does consult calls with people who really need to get their Pinterest house in order. Kate originally started Simple Pin as a way to help her blogger friends to focus on creating content for their blogs and now, four years later, she has worked with more than four hundred accounts and she has one hundred management clients on her books. Simple Pin was started on a whim and a prayer that it could provide for a family financially when they were living off government assistance and only $1000 per month! Kate runs Simple Pin out of her She Shed in her garden, and she even has a Pinterest board devoted to her She Shed ideas. She finds working from home a peaceful way to balance her family life, as she has three kids and also a bonus foster baby to care for. Kate and her husband are passionate about running their businesses in a way that allows them the space to do great things that can really impact their community. Kate often gets asked to speak on Pinterest and she has spoken at Build Your Blog Conference, Indulge and Blended, SNAP, and Social Media Marketing World. This year, she will be speaking at Activate, Everything Food, and Fincon. She really loves speaking about Pinterest, so listen in to find out what she has to share with you on the show today! Show highlights: Pinterest is actually a search engine- it's like a visual Google! Some things that you really need to know, to make your Pinterest more effective and to drive more people to your website. The importance of having the right kind of images on Pinterest. Supplying the right information about your images on Pinterest. The two types of people to be found on Pinterest. Pinterest is a place where people go to dream and plan- and to save their ideas. How to specify where you are located on Pinterest. Telling your story with catchy phrases on your pins. Thinking about your clients' pain points when creating your posts. Earning people's trust with Pinterest. Thinking of your website as a central hub. Why you, as a designer, should encourage your clients to create a Pinterest board. Innovative ways of creating your various Pinterest boards. Why it's still really worth using Pinterest, even though it can take a while to build up steam. How Pinterest is actually designed to help people take action. Some tips for your best pinning practices. Why it's okay to use the same images over and over again! Why you really have to listen to the Simple Pin Podcast! All about Kate's Full Pinterest Planner- you can download it for free at Simple Pin Media! Other episodes mentioned on today's show: Summer Tannhauser #292 Allison Fannin #223 Leslie Carothers (Savour Partnership) #209 Links: Website: Simple Pin Media Pinterest: Simple Pin Media Facebook: Simple Pin Media Twitter: Simple Pin Media Podcast: Simple Pin Media Podcast

Welcome to today's Where Are They Now show, where we will be re-interviewing Darla Powell, from Darla Powell Interiors in Southern Florida. Darla originally appeared in episode #203, where she shared a lot of information about how she got her business off the ground and right out of the gate within the first seven months. On today's show, you will learn about everything that Darla has managed to accomplish over the last year- and she will also be announcing something brand-new, which will be making its debut on the podcast today! Listen in to find out more. Darla has a fun, genuine and down-to-earth approach to the designing of beautiful spaces. Since she launched her career in 2016, she has grown her business almost exclusively by word-of-mouth and her clients have really fallen in love with her work! In her past life, Darla spent almost twenty years as a Detective Sergeant in Miami Florida, so one might say that she is an expert on the importance of having complete tranquility at home after a stressful day at work! Also, her background has carried over many hidden perks- including a strong sense of integrity, accountability and a ready-for-anything-ness that is key for home renovation projects. Darla's career transformation was fueled by her need to express her boundless creativity. She spent her childhood summers rummaging through her grandmother's antique store where she developed an extensive knowledge of antiques, collectibles and of pieces that look perfect together, so Darla's refined eye definitely sees those diamonds hiding in the rough! Above all, Darla really loves creating rooms that are gorgeous, elegant and soothing, so listen in now to find out what she has to share with you on the show today. Show highlights: Darla talks about some of the things she's learned over the last year. The difference that the hiring of assistants has made to the growth of Darla's business. How Darla re-invented herself at the age of fifty. Why Darla has begun to delegate outside of her particular zone of genius. Why Darla's company has grown by leaps and bounds over the last year. Starting a business costs money, so you really need to have a plan. Some of the more challenging moments when Darla first started out as a designer. Darla's initial fears about raising her rates. The kind of clients that Darla attracted when she was charging lower rates. Finding your sweet spot in order to attract your ideal client. How Darla managed to attract the huge number of Instagram followers that she has! Keeping abreast with the latest Facebook algorithms. The importance of being authentic and engaging quality followers on social media. Using rich pins on Pinterest to drive traffic to your website. The awesome clients that Darla has attracted through social media. The benefits of sharing other people's work on social media. All about Darla's exciting, soon-to-be-launched new venture- Wingnutsocial.com. Other episodes mentioned in this show: Barbara Viteri (Designerlebrity) #155 Allison Fannin #223 Leslie Carothers #209 Summer Tannhauser #292 Resources mentioned on the show: Website: Darla Powell Interiors Website: Wingnut Social Instagram: @darlapowellinteriors Instagram: @wingnutsocial Facebook: Darla Powell Interiors Twitter: @wingnutsocial Book: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We have John Dupra of Revel Woods with us for an interview today and they are also the sponsor of today's show! Revel Woods' mission is to make the buying process of expert-curated, high-quality hardwood floors as easy as possible. Today, John explains the proprietary algorithm, and how it removes a large number of the technical barriers that one normally faces when sourcing a wooden floor. He also talks about the new website that they are launching, with a revamped pro-program, to help you, as designers, to make money on this sought-after, high-ticket item. Listen in today to find out about the really unique method that Revel Woods has developed specifically to enable interior designers to learn about and also to confidently specify hardwood floors on their projects. John's father, Craig, started out in the wood-flooring business, working as an installer and a re-finisher before John was even born. Craig did this work for twenty-four years before eventually opening his own wholesale wood-flooring distribution company in Rochester, New York. While John was growing up, he spent all his summer holidays helping his father in his business. He then took a job with Saint-Gobain, a large materials manufacturing company, where he traveled the country as a sales engineer, working with flooring contractors for a period of eight years, before deciding to return home to join the family business in wholesale distribution. When John returned to the business, he joined up with the operations manager and together they developed an idea to put the boutique flooring showroom experience online. Their inspiration came from high-end fashion sites, like Stitch Fix and Trunk Club, and this was how the idea for Revel Woods was born. John has been featured in a number of the publications in the industry, including being recognized in Hardwood Floor Magazine's first ever forty under forty. Listen in to find out more! Show highlights: John talks about the supply chain in the industry. Where interior designers can go to see what the Revel Woods product looks like. (Revel Woods) How Revel Woods make their product equally and fairly available to everybody at the distribution level so that they are able to control the end-user experience from beginning to end. Why the Revel Woods brand is really a brand of curated expertise from top to bottom. The high level of care that's provided by Revel Woods. What happens when you complete the Revel Woods Selector and how it works. How flooring really forms the center of every design space from an aesthetic standpoint. How the Revel Woods product is designed to technically empower and also to provide a financial incentive for interior designers. What Revel Woods are doing with their brand-new website. How the new Revel Woods website solves pain-points for designers. The discount plus a rebate structure that Revel Woods has settled on for pro accounts, as an incentive for interior designers. How every aspect of the way that Revel Woods operates is very well thought out. How Revel Woods have closed the loop to help find qualified installers for solo or small business owners who want to source their product. Getting to really understand professional installers and the way that they think. The way that Revel Woods will really work well for less experienced designers. The incredible kind of support that Revel Woods gives designers. The awesome features to be found on the new Revel Woods website! Links: Website: Revel Woods Facebook: Revel Woods Instagram: @revel_woods Twitter: @RevelWoods Pinterest: Revel Woods

Welcome to today's show! We are very happy to introduce you to Catherine Hersacher, the founder of Bespoke Fine Interiors in Aiken, South Carolina. On the show today Catherine talks to us about how she translates and brings her worldly exposure and background to the small-horse community of Aiken. Running an interior design firm in a small, tight-knit community has some very specific challenges, but there are pro's to it as well. On today's show, Catherine also talks a bit about her consultation process. She is able to achieve a design for any project that is cogent with her client's tastes and context. Listen in today to find out more about working as an interior designer in a smaller market. Catherine, originally from Massachusetts, founded Bespoke Fine Interiors in Aiken South Carolina in 2012, with fourteen years of design experience behind her. She previously worked for some of the top firms in the country, in the high-end residential and ultra-exclusive hospitality sectors of the design industry. Catherine gained invaluable knowledge in the luxury residential design field while working in Palm Beach, Florida. Then, moving to the Northeast, Catherine joined an exclusive hospitality design firm as an interior designer and specifications manager. Many of the projects were five-star and boutique properties, including hotels, clubhouses, residential towers and conference centers. These projects were often located all around the globe. Catherine was part of the Asia team and was frequently sent to present and conduct site visits in China and Hong Kong. Listen in to find out what Catherine has to share on the show today. Show highlights: Catherine discusses her backward approach to her career. Catherine's return to school to get an undergraduate degree in architecture and a master's in product design. Giving in to her horse addiction and moving to Aiken South Carolina. The importance of setting your limits. How Catherine manages to find the right work-life balance. The type of design projects that Catherine works with, in Aiken. Saying 'yes' to repeat work. Catherine explains her superpower. What Catherine loves the most about the market that she works with. The awesome relationship that Catherine has with her current clients. Working with a mid-level market. All of Catherine's work comes from word-of-mouth and most of it comes from builders. Why Catherine does not specialize in any particular market. What Catherine finds the most challenging part of her work. About Catherine's relationships with her contractors. Why Catherine never thought that she would ever own her own business. The way that Catherine has grown since starting her own business. Catherine describes her initial consultation process. Having the budget conversation in the first fifteen minutes of the consultation. Other episodes mentioned in this show: Susan Yeley #208 Natalie Hurst #172 Blanche Garcia #282 Links: Website: Bespoke Instagram: Bespoke Fine Interiors @bespokefineinteriors Facebook: Bespoke Fine Interiors

Welcome! Today we're really excited to have Chaney Widmer, the founder of Mix and Match Design Company, back with us- and she is also the sponsor of today's show! (She was previously in episode #260.) We were really impressed when we first met Chaney because she was so well-spoken, so poised, and so directed and focused about her business. We were also really impressed with the way that Chaney's whole business is completely E-design and that she doesn't do any client-facing in-the-house work at all. Listen in today to find out more about Chaney's niche. Mix & Match Design Company was founded by Chaney Widmer in 2015 with the goal of making interior design services accessible and affordable for everyone. By harnessing the power of technology and using innovative online tools, Mix & Match has been able to help folks create homes that they love in a fun and efficient way - all online through "e-design" -while maintaining a personal touch. She wants to take the intimidation out of interior design - whether you are starting from scratch on a brand new home or redesigning a room that's ready for an update, she's ready to help! Over the past several years, Mix & Match has grown into a multi-faceted business that serves not only clients but other interior design businesses as well. On the client side, Chaney offers one-on-one e-design packages, and also shares inspiring and educational design content to a broad audience through twice-weekly blog posts and on social media. In February 2018, she expanded into the "B-to-B" world and released an online course for designers (or aspiring ones!) who want to launch their own online interior design businesses. This self-paced course is released a few times a year and provides a "quick start" guide to getting an e-design business up and running. Enabling others to pursue their goal of starting a design business is a passion of Chaney's, and she's very excited to help them succeed! Mix & Match Design Company is based in the great city of Philadelphia and serves clients locally and nationally. At the end of the last show with Chaney, we mentioned that she was in the process of coming up with a course for her interior design colleagues who are interested in learning about how to run a profitable and effective E-design business. She has subsequently come up with that course. It's called How To Launch An E-design Business, and it will launch on the 4th of June 2018. Today we will be talking to Chaney about exactly what is in her course and she will also explain how it works. Listen in to find out what Chaney has to share with you today. Show highlights: E-design is really flexible- it can either be your entire business or used as a side-hustle. The in-depth nature of Chaney's course. The way that Chaney has taken this aspect of design and systemized it. How Chaney's course will really save you time. How the principals in the course will be a good foundation for your design business. Chaney's course is recorded, so you can do it in your own time and at your own pace. The course can also be used to get the junior designers or design assistants who work for you up to speed. The major topics that are in the four videos in the course. Chaney really has her marketing well locked down! Chaney's belief is that designers should be providing everything that their clients need. Finding the right process for your clients. Most people accept that Chaney is an E-designer and so she won't go and do in-person consultations. The feedback that Chaney has had from designers who have purchased her course. Chaney's goals for the course that she created. Chaney is offering a free download from the course. What you will learn from the workbook of the course. Who the course is tailored for. Links: To get your free download of The start-up checklist for an E-design business go to E Design Biz Checklist You can find Chaney's course How To Launch An E-design Business at: E Design Course To get onto Chaney's email list go to the course landing-page at E Design Course. How To Launch An E-Design Business course: Mix & Match Design Company website: Mix And Match Design Instagram: @mixandmatchdesigncompany Facebook: Mix & Match Design Company

Download The Skills Assessment! Welcome to today's episode of Design Biz Live! As many of you know, this means that I have Judith Neary and Corey Klassen with me and that we're going to have an in-depth discussion about the intricacies of running your interior design business. Listen in to find out more! On the show today we are going to be talking about the important personality traits that you need to master in order to be really successful as an interior designer. Judith gives a fabulous description of what is and what isn't a successful interior designer and Corey discusses the specific questionnaire that he sends out to his clients before their first consultation, along with his specific eleven step 'What I will do and what I won't do' document that he attaches and goes over with them when they sign the contract. Listen in today to find out what it takes to create a smooth and easy process for your clients. Show Highlights: Some of the overarching traits that are really important for interior designers to have- or to develop. What adaptability means to Judith. Corey's take on adaptability. Why it's not okay to adapt your particular zone of genius to please a client. About Corey's detailed Self Assessment Check List of Skills. Working within your particular zone of genius. Learning how to manage both conflict and resolution. Corey's way of dealing with things that bother him. Becoming willing to do the hard thing- so that everything else can fall into place. Corey discusses his initial process with new clients. Corey's process of knowing what he will and won't do. The three things that Judith will not do. How Corey works out what he will charge for each project. Why Corey always presents his proposals to his clients in person. Why Corey does not take any digital communication from his clients outside of their project in the MyDoma Studio platform. What Corey charges to cover his initial consultation and operation costs. Being really clear with your clients about what you will and won't do. Other episodes mentioned in this show: Lee Cockerel #222 This show is also a video on our YouTube channel

Welcome to another Power Talk Friday! We have Claire Jefford back on the show with us today (she was previously on #237) and we will be talking to her about how to create products, courses, and the kinds of things that designers can sell to consumers on their websites. She will explain what this looks like, how to do it, why you should be doing it, and also, some steps that you can follow in the process. LuAnn really enjoys talking to Claire and she loves having her on the show because it means that it's going to be a seriously good one, so listen in today to find out what Claire has to share with you. Claire started her interior decorating business in 2011 and her firm specializes in 3D design as well as custom residential projects. Claire has a very keen eye for detail and she particularly loves to mix patterns and fabrics. Her company was named one of the top thirty interior design firms in Ontario in 2017 and she is very proud to be the highest reviewed design professional in the greater Toronto area on Howzz, with more than ninety reviews! Claire, not one to shy away from social media, has been creating videos on Facebook since 2013 and she started her own Youtube channel in January 2016. She also has a second business, where she coaches and helps other designers to run their interior design businesses. With her no-nonsense approach, she shares marketing ideas, proven processes and social media strategies, to help others in the field to build confidence in the way that they work. Claire also runs a free Facebook group called Interior Design Business Strategies, which is an amazing community focusing on the business of design. Listen in now to find out more. Show highlights: Claire explains the difference between a product that you create and an affiliate link. The right time to do affiliate links on your website. Getting to know your audience. Some steps to creating the kind of product that consumers can buy from your website. Finding and recognizing opportunities to create your products. Looking at your customers' pain points in order to create a valuable product. Layering some affiliate links into your website. The importance of building trust with your audience through your website. Saving both time and money are always really important. The benefits of having a Facebook group. How to do a really effective pre-sale for your product. The walk-through video that Claire created. Being really clear about what you're offering on your website. Knowing when you should throw in the towel. Sometimes you're going to need to invest in what you're creating. The time and effort that it took for Claire to create her 'Rock The Consult' course. Categorising your blog posts. The beauty of creating products that will retain their relevance over time. Why you really need to charge for all the time you're using. Remember to get testimonials from your customers! Claire was also in episode #237: Claire Jefford - How to Get More Clients with Video Content Other episodes mentioned on this show: Kae Whitaker #274 Carla Aston #242 Links: Claire on Instagram: @ClaireJeffordDesigns Claire's website: Claire Jefford Claire on Facebook Claire on Youtube