A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

If you are facing new challenges in your interior design business or are just starting out with the podcast, then you might be a bit overwhelmed by all the information the Well Designed Business Podcast has accumulated over the past two years. If you are in need of a jumping off point, then look no further than this episode! It’s a solo show today as I organize and highlight the episodes that have made a real impact on me and the audience. The show is nearing 300 episodes, and that means if you are just now joining the party that you have quite a bit of info to sift through. Luckily, I am giving you a jumping off point so that the party can begin right away. I have gathered together the best of the best into 5 different categories. You’ll hear my recommendations for practical business advice, building up a pipeline, understanding your YOU and your ideal client, creative inspiration, and the quick starter designers that have inspired me. If you are listening to the podcast, you are the kind of person who will work hard and be successful in your design business. I am celebrating the success of the show by helping you on that road to success. Consider this episode the fast track! If you are just now joining us, welcome! If you are a longtime listener, I sincerely hope you enjoy re-listening to these episodes. You are on the path to success just by showing up for your business today. More in this episode: Hear my vision for the Well Designed Business Archives. For practical business advice, listen to episodes 2, 36, 45, 68, 180, 233*. Need help building your pipeline? Check out episodes 40, 245, 266 To understand your YOU, your ideal client, head over to episodes 15, 256, 22, 26, 125. Several of you have listened to episode 192 multiple times! It’s so full of good info. Time to dig into episodes for creative inspiration! Try episodes 21, 18, 165, 169, 184. These designers really blew me out of the water. Here are your best places for Quick Starts episodes—167, 179, 211, 203. I want you at the podcast birthday party! Resources: info@luannnigara luannnigara.com/party Iwce-vision.com Your Business in Words

Today we have Jana Platina Phipps, affectionately known as the “Trim Queen” by her clients, as our guest on the show. Jana and LuAnn met each other in person last year at the IWCE in Charlotte, where they were both speaking, and this year Jana will be speaking again at the IWCE in Tampa Florida. Jana is an embellishment expert, a designer and she's also an agent for Classical Elements. She develops custom trimmings for NYC-based fashion companies and she also designs made-to-order home and fashion accessories, using trimmings and vintage jewelry. Jana teaches other people her technique of Trim Alchemy, which involves turning something ordinary into something really extraordinary, using trimmings to express their personal creativity. Listen in to find out more about what Jana will be doing at the IWCE this year. Jana started a blog in 2013 and she uses her social media channels to keep an account of how the design community uses trimmings creatively. She lectures at The New York School of Interior Design, Continuing Education Seminars and on Webinars to the interior design community, drawing on her knowledge of the history of passementerie and also on her hands-on experience with fabrication. She is a regular contributor to WF Vision and Designers Today Magazines, and Universal Furniture’s Smartstuff Social Station blog. She also conducts DIY workshops and stages a Trim Alchemy Show at the Country Living Fairs across the country. Jana is planning a Trim Queen Maker Tour of Venice Italy for Spring 2018. Listen in now to find out what she has to share with you on today's show. Show highlights: Jana talks about what she has going on at the IWCE this year. How Jana's college education has come into play for her in her career. The details of what's happening with Jana's workshops in the Construction Zone at the IWCE this year. Why Jana really loves going to the IWCE! What you, as an interior designer, can gain from the community on the Construction Zone floor at the IWCE. About Jana's work with Classical Elements. How the blog post- Trim Queen came about, and the mission behind it. The new avenue of creativity and business that Jana has created with Trim Queen. The power of getting great feedback. The fine line between giving people advice and being taken advantage of. About Jana's really helpful peer mentoring group. How Jana moved Trim Queen into becoming a really viable business. Jana's really intentional way of starting out with doing video. The magic of developing your business through the creative process. Something that has really helped Jana with her creative process this year. All about Jana's Trim Queen Maker Tour in Venice Italy next year. What Jana's awesome concept of maker tourism is all about. What's coming up with Jana and the WCAA, out of Connecticut. All the info will be on the events page of Jana's website. (trimqueen.com) Resources: Trim Queen Instagram Facebook Twitter Youtube Pinterest Linkedin

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! I’m excited to introduce you to Summer Tannhauser, and I’m eager to hear what she can teach us about using Pinterest to grow an interior design business. She’s a Pinterest expert, a business coach, Mastermind leader, and a business/marketing mentor to female entrepreneurs who want to create an impact online through their personal brand and business. She has some really cool things going on now, like her Live More, Work Less business model, and blog series. We have touched on the world of Pinterest in earlier episodes: Ep. 209 with Leslie Carothers and Sam Henderson of Savour Partnership, and Ep. 223 with Allison Fannin. Today’s episode focuses on the ins and outs of this important platform and pulls back the curtain on Pinterest to show how web designers can use it to build our brand. Show highlights: Why Pinterest is a vehicle for growing your business locally Summer’s advice about using keywords about your location to draw people in and showcase your brand Setting up your Pinterest account and profile---Do’s and Don’t’s How to set up “rich pins” and validate them How rich pins bring people back to your website Start off with your business name in your profile, use keywords, location, your website, and a description of your business Have a minimum of 15 boards to show that your profile is complete Creating board titles using important keywords Going from a personal to business account: how to clean up or delete existing boards that don’t fit or promote your business How to fill your boards with a combination of other people’s boards and your own content Why some pins should be on multiple boards See what people are looking for to get great ideas for blog topics Change your perspective and think of Pinterest as a search engine and NOT a social media platform Summer’s advice for pinning people’s pins and following accounts to increase your engagement, if you have less than 100 followers “The first step is to make sure your website is updated and presents your brand well. There is no sense spending hours on Pinterest driving people to a website that’s a hot mess.” Focus more on your state name than city name, but include local town names on your profile and on boards Your Pinterest content will have people engaging long-term over time, so don’t focus on short-term events and happenings Getting consistent and active on Pinterest: Consider investing in a scheduling program so it can pin for you on a consistent basis Which platform is best for interior designers if you have limited time? Summer’s Live More, Work Less blog series, highlighting entrepreneurs who are making it work Resources: Her website: Summer Tannhauser Her free course: Free Pin Course Summer’s social media: Twitter - @summerktann Facebook Pinterest Instagram Tail Wind App (To use for Pinterest and social media scheduling)

Cheryl Luckett is the principal of Dwell by Cheryl, her interior design company. She has two areas of expertise that I’m interested in sharing with you today. She has taken her side hustle into a full-time profession, leaving the security of her corporate job. She actively engages in the business mentor/mentee relationship. Loyal listeners might remember a few weeks back, in Episode 267, with Rasheeda Gray of Gray Space Interiors. She described then how her mentor has helped her through the challenges of having a corporate job while working hard on the side in interior design. Cheryl is that mentor that Rasheeda spoke about. Southern Home describes Dwell by Cheryl as “opulence in reach, with vintage treasures and ingenious restyles.” Cheryl believes her clients should dwell in a home they love. She describes her design as “sophisticated but approachable.” She launched in 2012 and continues to grow, with clients raving about her ability to transform a space on a realistic budget. It’s also her professionalism and attention to detail that earns her high praise. She shares with us about her 15-year career at a Fortune 500 company, along with her beginnings as a registered dietician and human resources professional. It was here that she developed her service skills and business acumen. I’ll remind you of Episode 6, where Erika Ward told us to “make sure that you think about and utilize your transferable skills when you open your interior design firm.” Cheryl will tell us how she has accomplished that. Cheryl’s work has been published in Charlotte Home and Garden, Southern Home, The Charlotte Observer, Queen City Exclusive, and Hoffman Media’s Southern Spaces, to name just a few. She is a five-time recipient of Best of Houzz Award for Design and Customer Satisfaction, and in 2015, she was named one of the 15 best designers in Charlotte by Build Direct. Cheryl also believes in giving back, and she has partnered locally with agencies such as Goodwill of the Southern Piedmont and Metrolina Habitat Restores to promote non-profit retailers and their missions. Join me for this conversation with Cheryl! What you’ll hear in the episode: How I met Cheryl at the Design Bloggers Conference in Los Angeles in 2017 Insights on running an interior design firm while working a full-time corporate job Cheryl’s path as a registered dietician, then in school foodservice, then human resources Following her love of design and décor to start a blog and take design classes at the local community college “I never treated this design business as merely a side hustle. I wanted to be ALL IN.” How a Design Bloggers Conference in 2012 changed everything for Cheryl: “I felt like I was finally with MY PEOPLE.” Planning an exit strategy from the corporate world How Cheryl’s blog grew and spread to become an effective marketing tool Looking for one YES Juggling a full-time job while designing for clients and taking design classes Why Cheryl had a “waiting list” Finding interns through a design program for students The criteria for leaving her corporate job, making the decision, and setting a time frame The 36-month plan and Cheryl’s financial advisor “Preparing for D-day”---building a website and putting systems in place Cheryl’s relationship with Rasheeda and why she wanted to be a mentor The guidelines and boundaries to the mentor/mentee relationship Cheryl’s mentor and friend, Ruthie Staalsen, a designer in Dallas Cheryl’s plans for this year’s Design Bloggers Conference “Social media: the best money you’ll never spend on marketing.” Resources: Curated Kravet (Use code “ck podcast” for 10% off your first order!) Her website and social: Her website: Dwell by Cheryl Her Blog: Dwell by Cheryl Blog Her Instagram: Dwell by Cheryl/ Her Facebook: Dwell by Cheryl/ Her Twitter: Dwell By Cheryl Her Pinterest: Dwell By Cheryl/ Her Linkedin: Cheryl Luckett/

Today we are very happy to have Warren Pearl, the president of Lefroy Brooks, as our guest on the show. If you are a regular listener you may already know that Mr. Pearl has invited us to celebrate our second year birthday of the podcast on 21st of February, at his New York City showroom! Listen in today to get the details. Lefroy Brooks has been in business for the last twenty-five years and they have showrooms in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. They are known as the Rolls Royce of bathroom and plumbing fixtures and on the show today you will hear how and why they got this name. Lefroy Brooks create plumbing fixtures who's design would compliment any decor, from any era, from early 20th century all the way to the end. Cooper and Graham take it from there, with their elegant and forward-thinking designs for the 21st century. In addition to having a really outstanding line of plumbing fixtures which are renown for their superior quality, Lefroy Brooks are a company who really believe in and support interior designers with their education and customer service. Listen in today to find out what Mr. Pearl has to share with you. Show highlights: What earned Lefroy Brooks their reputation as the Rolls Royce of the plumbing fixtures industry. The philosophy behind the Lefroy Brooks product. How Lefroy Brooks became known as the Rolls Royce of bathroom and plumbing fixtures. The selection of 21stcentury designs that can be accessed through Cooper & Graham. Some really awesome and interesting background info about Warren Pearl and the really famous people that he has dealt with. The special kind of customer service that Lefroy Brooks provides to the trade. The role of interior designers in Mr. Pearl's vision for Cooper & Graham. Why interior designers who haven't yet broken into the high end, luxury market should not be intimidated by the Cooper & Graham product line. The CEU's that Lefroy Brooks provide for interior designers. The fantastic new plumbing technology that's coming up in the future for Cooper & Graham. The classic elegance and authenticity of the Lefroy Brooks fixtures. The unique way that Lefroy Brooks approach their marketing. About the different Lefroy Brooks classic collections, many of which were designed in the 1940's. The Lefroy Brooks presence, outside of the USA. Go to My Doma Studio to find out about your special offer, as a listener of the podcast. Link to RSVP for Birthday Party: www.luannnigara.com/party Resources: Lefroy Brooks Cooper And Graham Instagram Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

We have some really happy news today! We have Fred Berns back on the show! Since the beginning of this podcast he has appeared on episodes #22, #48, #96, #174 and #226 and if you are a new listener, Fred is one of our favorite returning guests because his advice is really so actionable. Today Fred will be talking to us about the seven habits of highly effective luxury interior designers. Listen in now to find out more! Fred is the only interior design business coach and speaker who creates personal bios and other promo materials for design professionals worldwide. He has more than twenty-five years of experience training design professionals, from Dallas to Dubai. He helps to create their online profiles, their websites, their social media copy, blogs, and marketing forums. In addition, he also offers a wide range of coaching services which include his High-Performance Coaching Program, his Bio Briefing, and his Website Once Over. Listen in to find out what he has to share with you on the show today. Show highlights: What Fred is currently up to and how got to the information about how the really successful, top designers and architects got to where they are today. The kinds of projects these really top designers and architects work on, and the famous people that they work for. Some of the characteristics that these top designers and architects have in common. Strangely enough, the top designers are not always the best designers- Fred discusses what actually makes them so successful. The mindset of a lot of the high end, really successful design professionals. How the really successful design professionals managed to tap into the high-end market. Fred discusses some of the onlys of the top design professionals. Optimising your Pinpointing the pain points, problems and challenges of the high-end market. Ways of creating really relevant blog posts, or videos for great marketing. Positioning yourself in order to break into the luxury, high-end market. What you really want to emphasize in your bio. The seven common habits that the really top, successful designers seem to share. Why it's important to get some price objections. The real value of being stubborn and not quitting. Fred's awesome Website Once Over- to help position you in a higher place. Fred's Bio Briefing coaching program- for you to really come across as someone who is highly qualified and an expert in your field. Links: For Fred's Website Once Over go to Website Onceover For Fred's Bio Briefing go to Bio Briefing

Today we have Jason Oliver Nixon, one of the dynamic partners of Madcap Cottage, with us on the show. LuAnn has really been looking forward to this interview because she and Jason Oliver are both going to be at the IWCE (International Window Coverings Expo) Conference in Tampa Florida in March, where Jason and his partner John Loecke are going be giving a keynote address. On the show today Jason will be talking about the IWCE and also about his business, Madcap Cottage, so listen in to find out more. There are so many parts of Madcap Cottage that have intrigued LuAnn and she really admires that way that Jason Oliver and John stand so firmly in the space of their design aesthetic. These Madcap gents are well known for their whimsical use of color and pattern, really bringing their client's story-lines to life and their out-of-the-box website really says it all! Listen in today to find out about Madcap Cottage's really unusual and fascinating approach to interior design. Show highlights: How Madcap Cottage came about. The way that Madcap Cottage approaches the needs of their clients. Jason Oliver explains how both his and John's former experience as magazine editors and television producers assists them with bringing their client's stories uniquely to life. The way that they challenge and push their clients to bring prints and patterns into their lives. Prints Charming- the really awesome book that Jason Oliver and John have written as a primer to give people permission to bring prints and patterns into their lives. Why people come to Jason Oliver and John. The reason why it's never a head-to-toe look from Madcap Cottage. The intuitive and thoughtful way that Jason Oliver and John work with their clients. How constant traveling really helps them to keep their eyes tuned and their clients well informed. The evolution of the Madcap brand. How Jason Oliver and John trained themselves as interior designers. Where Jason Oliver finds the time to rest with his hectic schedule. What luxury really means. What to expect from Jason Oliver's keynote address. Resources: Book: Prints Charming- Create Absolutely Beautiful Interiors With Prints And Patterns by Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Prints Charming- Create Absolutely Beautiful Interiors With Prints And Patterns by Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke Robert Allen fabric collection Jason Oliver and John will be giving their keynote address at 8 am on 27th March the IWCE.

Big news! We are nearing February and the 2nd birthday for the podcast! Our 300th episode is coming on February 21; there’s a BIG party in NYC---and you’re invited! Listen to today’s show for details! Today’s guest is Sandra Espinet, a luxury interior designer and the principal of SE Designs, based in Los Cabos, Mexico. Sandra is warm, genuine, intelligent, and a very smart businesswoman. She knows the nuances of catering to the luxury design market, and how it carries its own code and way of doing things. As a lifelong traveler, she embraces the concepts of relaxed luxury and casual international style in her designs. Her experience and extensive travel have given her a unique perspective on her design style. Her work has been published in several international publications, and she has received numerous awards and distinctions, in addition to appearing on several HGTV shows and radio shows. Her first book is The Well-Traveled Home and her newest book is Barefoot Luxury: Mexican Resort Living, due for release in a few weeks. What you’ll hear in this episode: How I met Sandra through Andrew Joseph PR: the similar focus on how they work with clients Getting real with yourself about the client you want to work with and what you want to do Why you can’t be an expert on everything, but you CAN be an expert in your field Knowing what calls to you and attracts you What it means to design for luxury clients Understanding the client in THEIR world and in THEIR space Locking down the intangibles to move to the next level Finding the balance between “staying in your lane” and branching out How to decline the projects that aren’t aligned with your focus and having the power to say NO “If you know that you can’t lead, then be a follower, but follow the best person you can find.” The other legs of SE Designs and the business positives that come from them Staying conscious of your core clients, especially about social media exposure How Sandra gets clients with NO advertising Sandra’s recent award from AD Mexico as a Top Ten Designer in Latin America How Sandra manifests her strengths in each job Why Sandra works now with a smaller team and with fewer simultaneous jobs The unique focus of each of Sandra’s books: one eclectic book about travel and one about casual lifestyle trends in the luxury market Why Sandra LOVES to shop with her clients Plan and focus: How Sandra’s shopping trips begin with a budget and a floor plan Becoming fully immersed in the total experience with a client in the psychology of design “I’m designing a stage for fabulous people to lead fabulous lives.” The power and responsibility in spending other people’s money Resources: Website: Sandra Espinet Find Sandra’s monthly blog: 7 Things I Cannot Live Without The Well-Traveled Home by Sandra Espinet Barefoot Luxury: Mexican Resort Living by Sandra Espinet Facebook: Sandra Espinet Instagram: Sandra Espinet Pinterest: Sandra Espinet

Welcome to today's episode of Power Talk Friday. We are really very happy to introduce Jeff Bullas, an expert social media marketing blogger, strategist and speaker from Sydney Australia, as our guest for today's show. LuAnn has been a great fan of his work for years and she has also been on his email list and following him for a really long time. Despite all the conversations that we've had on the show about blogging, there are still some things about it that continue to plague us, as designers. So today Jeff will be talking about why blogging really works and he will also be sharing some of his expertise about ways to get your audience to find you on social media and how to write killer headlines. Listen in to find out more! Jeff is the author of the book Blogging The Smart Way- How To Create And Market A Killer Blog With Social Media. He is listed in Forbes as one of the Top Twenty Influencers of CMO's in 2017, he has been ranked by Apollo Research as the Top Twenty Influencers of Digital Marketing in the USA and he is also number one in Global Digital Marketing Influencer 2016. He has been named as one of the Top 100 Social Media Influencers in 2015 and he was featured in Inc.Com as one of the twenty digital marketing experts to follow on Twitter. Forbes ranked Jeff as number eight on The World's Top 40 Social Marketing Talent, and he gets over four million visitors to his site each year, so listen in to find out what Jeff has to share with you today about blogging and getting yourself known on social media. Show highlights: Jeff discusses his passion and philosophy and talks about how blogging can really become a positive force in your business. Attracting an audience that really loves what you do. Overcoming problems and challenges through writing blog posts about your pain points. Why Jeff believes that content and blogging is so important. Are you wanting to become an industry leader or a celebrity designer, or are you just looking for a stepping stone to creating more business for your business? Jeff explains the different tactics for the different goals. Email is still the business tool of choice for communication, so Jeff explains some ways to inspire people to hand over their email addresses. Creating really effective lead magnets. Some awesome advice about titles and headlines. What you need in order to build your distribution on the more visual platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. Looking at what the top performers are doing in order to get some great ideas. Developing the kinds of habits that will really work for you. What deep work looks like and why you really need to do it! Creating content of consequence. A success habit that many smart people seem to ignore. Some strategies to help your audience to find you. Links: Connect with Jeff: Blogger at JeffBullas.com - more than 4 million people visit every year Author of the Amazon Best Seller - "Blogging the Smart Way - How to Create and Market a Killer Blog with Social Media" Forbes "Top 50 Social Media Power Influencers - 2014" - Ranked #8 Huffington Post - "Top 100 Business, Leadership and Technology Twitter Accounts You Must Follow" Follow me on Twitter and join the community of more than 320,000 of your peers Join us on Facebook Hangout with us on Google+ Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn

Welcome to today's show! Today we have another show featuring a husband and wife team and we're really excited to have Morgan and Ryan Motsinger, the owners of Lot 35 Homes as our guests. Ryan is a contractor and Morgan is a designer and until recently they each used to do their individual jobs. During the summer of 2017 however, they combined their skills and opened a business together and now they have a really cool thing going on! Listen in today as we take apart the way that Morgan and Ryan work together as a husband and wife team. Lot 35 Homes is a full-service residential construction and interior design company, specializing in creating spaces that are relaxing, comfortable, functional and also beautiful. Ryan and Morgan really love their local community in Tillamook, on the Oregon coast and so they align their business values as closely as possible with those of their community. Listen in now to find out more about the really awesome way that they go about their business. Show highlights: The really awesome website that Morgan created for their business. (lot35homes.com ) How they came up with the name of their business. What lead them to the decision to combine their businesses. How the great dynamic between Morgan and Ryan really works for them as a professional team. The major contract that they have recently signed. Where and how their new major client managed to find them. Their intentions for the marketing of their business in the future. The kinds of projects that Morgan undertook for her three guinea pig clients. The merits of using iPhone photos on Instagram versus using professional ones. Morgan's rationale behind the recent adjustment of her fees for consultations. How Morgan developed the confidence to present herself as a professional designer. The great features on their website. How Morgan highlights other people's creativity through the services that she offers. How Lot 35 Connect can really help make the lives of parents with special needs kids more comfortable. Their goal with Lot 35 Connect. Their game plan for engagement on Facebook Live. Links: Morgan and Ryan's website: Lot 35 Homes Go to Curated Kravet, select the items that you want and use the code CK Podcast at the checkout to get 10% off your entire first order.

Welcome to today's show. Our guest for today is Caitlyn Waite, an interior designer from Mobile Alabama. Caitlyn has been chosen to head up the very first affiliate chapter of Savvy Giving By Design, a really wonderful organization started by Susan Wintersteen (#164) with a mission to provide comfort, healing, and support to families with a child facing a medical crisis. This is done by transforming the interior space of the bedrooms of the child and their siblings, at no cost to the family. Listen in to find out more. Also, through her interior design business, Caitlyn has developed a relationship with a builder and she already has twelve confirmed projects lined up with him for 2018. Today she talks in detail about how this relationship came about and also about the kind of things that you, as designers, really need to know if you would like to duplicate in your design firm what Caitlyn has done in hers. Listen in today to find out more about Caitlyn's approach to cultivating valuable relationships with builders in order to create a really successful design form. Show highlights: How Caitlyn initially came to hear about Savvy Giving By Design through this podcast. The whole legal process that Caitlyn went through in order to become set up with Savvy Giving By Design. Caitlyn talks about her very first Savvy Giving project. The story of Caitlyn's daughter's Angel's Kiss. How Caitlyn found Georgia, the first child who's room she will be transforming. The unforeseen difficulties that Caitlyn experienced in finding nominees for the Savvy Giving project and what Susan Wintersteen has done to help overcome this. The kind of fund-raising that Caitlyn has done for the project- and how you can also get involved by making a donation. There are even some tradespeople who are willing to donate their time to this project. The way that Caitlyn works with the children to create a space for them that they will really love. How this project differs from a standard design project. The way that Savvy Giving is working as a cohesive unit towards attracting national fund-raising. Caitlyn explains how she developed her relationship with a local builder and she discusses her business model for 2018. Caitlyn's dream solution to the general difficulty that many designers experience in finding sub-contractors to execute their work. Some tips from Caitlyn about the way that her finances are handled with Joe, the builder that she works with. The freedom that Caitlyn experiences through the kind of work that she does with Joe. Caitlyn discusses some of the challenges that she deals within her 'spec' design projects. Some awesome advice about having a successful initial conversation with a builder who you may want to build a relationship with. Resources: If you would like to donate towards the awesome Savvy Giving By Design project, you can go to their donate page on Savvy Giving By Design.org Go to My Doma Studio to sign up for a 30 Day Free Trial with My Doma Studio. Upon signing up for the trial, you will receive 20% off your subscription, as a listener of the podcast.

Welcome to today's Power Talk Friday. We are really happy to introduce you to today's guest, Madeleine Macrae. Madeleine and LuAnn are going to be co-presenters at the International Window Coverings Expo in Tampa Florida this March. Listen in today to find out more about Madeleine, why she's here on the show and why she's been invited to present at the Window Coverings Expo. Madeleine is the highly motivated CEO, founder and chief innovator for M MacRae, a national learning, coaching and consulting firm which focuses on the development and growth of pros and companies in the home professionals industry. More than thirteen years ago Madeleine developed a time-tested process and also a language for bridging the gap between the needs and expectations of the corporate world and the needs and expectations of their greatest asset- the pros out in the field. In Madeleine's bio she says that she is connected and responsive, she has a three hundred and sixty-degree view and understanding of objectives, goals, and stakes and that she derives her energy from educating, inspiring and leading her clients. Listen in today, to find out what Madeleine has to share with you about creating really effective and manageable goals, both for your business and for yourself personally. Show highlights: The joint goal setting seminar that LuAnn and Madeleine will be doing. The Five Days To Goals training that Madeleine does and offers to her clients. Madeleine explains her philosophy around goal setting and she discusses how she arrived at her Five Days To Goals training. Madeleine explains the steps that are involved in the goals training that she offers her clients. Stop beating yourself up with the stick of blame. How to do the Data Dump. The value in keeping notes about the things you intend to do. What you could gain by doing things as tasks, rather than as projects. A sophisticated neuro-trick to use when making your lists. The amount of information that comes at us, compared with what we can actually focus on. Getting really clear about what you want in your life. A smart way to work out what your priorities really are. The hardest step for people to accept. Daring to dream about what you really want! The difference between a goal and a task. Breaking your goal down into achievable milestones. You really know so much more than you think you know! Madeleine's Daily Blueprint- a really fantastic tool for attaining your goals. Links: To find out more information about the International Window Coverings Expo, go to: IWCE Vision To get access to some of Madeleine's goals training absolutely free go to: Fast Track Sales Systems

Today's guest is Blanche Garcia, a certified interior designer with more than eighteen years of experience in commercial and residential design. Blanche is one of the principal designers featured in the Travel Channel reality series Hotel Impossible and she was also a contestant in season six of HGTV Design Star. Blanche owns a design business and she also does a lot of speaking at design industry events, where she shares her proven methods for 'surviving' her interior design business. On the show today she will be discussing how she runs the business side of things, so listen in to find out more. Blanche is the owner of B. Garcia Designs which is based in Montclair New Jersey. She is a member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and she's also a 'Green Design' LEED Accredited Professional through the United States Green Building Commission. Listen in today as Blanche discusses her really focused approach to running a successful design business. Show highlights: How Blanche ended up doing so much public speaking for the design industry. Where Blanche finds the time to do everything that she does. What helped her to learn to figure everything out really quickly. A simple way to teach people how to treat you. Putting up parameters in order to maintain professional control. Taking the pain out of the whole billing structure. Having the right kind of agreement with your client. Giving yourself the time to be creative. How Blanche assesses what the budget of a project should be. The importance of clear communication. The insane amount of purchases that are going through Blanche's office. Blanche's remarkable time management. Her disciplined and focused approach to her work. Resources: Her website: B Garcia Designs Her Book Link: Empowered Design Instagram Link: Instagram Twitter Link: Twitter Facebook Link: Facebook Photo Credit: Ciara Perrone

We have Anita Dawson with us on the show today. She is the president and owner of the Dawson Design Group, a full-service interior design firm based in San Diego Southern California. DDG specializes in all things modern, and since 2007 they have completed more than a hundred projects in Southern California, Chicago, and Atlanta. They have been awarded The Design Impact Award and Design Excellence Award by the American Society of Interior Designers; multiple Home of the Year awards from San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles and also an Award of Excellence- Architectural Rehabilitation award from the City of San Diego Historical Resources Board. Anita has a really unique and interesting story to tell, so listen in today, to find out what she has to share with you. Anita founded Dawson Design Group to fulfill her true calling in a creative and hands-on environment after her previous successful careers in the performing and visual arts. Anita's clients gravitate towards the relaxed style and clean-lined approach that she has perfected in her design over the last decade. She and her team at DDG provide homeowners with sophisticated and interesting spaces which are unique to each client. Anita has been featured in HGTV's Professional Network and she is a Houzz.com influencer and a member of Design Trust Ltd, which is an exclusive group of leading interior designers across the country. Listen in today as Anita shares some actionable ways for you to make yourself really valuable as a member of a full-service design team. Show highlights: How Anita's firm got to be the type of firm that does the bigger projects. The way that Anita's maturity has contributed towards her level of comfort around high net worth clients. The importance of being able to give really clear direction to your contractor to communicate what you want to have built. Developing the kind confidence that's necessary in order to get to the next level. The value of not being afraid to say that you don't know something. Developing collaborative relationships with experts in certain fields, so that you can give up your control in those areas in order to make for a better overall project. Some lessons that Anita learned while she was leasing a workspace within the space of an architect, who ended up becoming an informal mentor to her. Some of the really helpful people that Anita hired, in the beginning, to help her set her business systems up. The kind of marketing that Anita did in the first three to four years of her business. The value of using 'printed marketing' in conjunction with Instagram. Anita's way of fast-tracking herself, while still maintaining her niche market. How Anita managed to start attracting the kind of clients who are aligned with her values, through her whimsical and humorous style of advertising when she started out. Some of the ways that Anita gave some value back to the architect who became her informal mentor in the beginning. Some tips on how you as a designer can really bring value to the builders that you work with. The importance of having a really great team for high-quality projects. It's okay to boost your photo shoots with some accessories that you bring along yourself- the client may even want to buy them if they really enhance the space! Why you really need to be physically present at all your photo shoots. Building great relationships with your vendors is really very important for your business! Links: Things I learned from Anita Dawson: https://luannnigara.com/anita/ Her website: http://dawsondesigngroup.com Anita's Social: Instagram Facebook Twitter.com Linkedin Linkedin

The guest for today's Power Talk Friday is Adam Urbanski, aka The Millionaire Marketing Mentor and he's a real headliner in Online Marketing and Podcast circles! There are so many ways that Adam could really help and influence all LuAnn's Designer friends to get that extra 'something' to tweak their businesses, so today, she's decided to go with Adam's Dream Business Design Process. Listen in to find out how this process helps Designers to identify what they want to sell the most and also how to sell to the most clients. Adam, who has been in business for seventeen years now, is really the 'go-to guy' for Coaches, Consultants and other Service Professionals who want to attract more clients, convert more high-value sales, build an authority brand, or grow a Lifestyle Business that has more impact and generates more income. Adam's clients have often doubled, tripled and even ten times-ed their businesses, some of them in as little as ninety days! All of this and Adam started out with only $194 and limited English and he still managed to turn his first business into a seven-figure business in less than ten years! LuAnn knows that she's in the presence of a true expert with Adam, so she's very grateful that he's on the show today! Listen in now, as Adam shares some really hot tips with you, to help you to become a way better business strategist! Today, Adam talks to LuAnn about: Becoming a master of, and being known for a very specific approach. What his six question worksheet allows you to zero in on. How he discovered his ideal clients. That 90% of his clients are women and this happened by design! That marketing is really all about listening. Adam talks you through his six questions and how to best approach working with them. Finding your specific magic, as a Designer. Thinking about your dream income, per client. Identifying your dream project. Identifying the characteristics of your dream client. What you'd need to do in order to execute your project in the best possible way. (i.e. identifying your Superpower) Really understanding the expectations that you have to meet with your project. Expressing what you're really good at to your client. Establishing systems for really clear processes in your business. Knowing that everything is changing all the time, so you need to maintain a constant process of evaluation with your clients. Asking yourself how much money you'd like to make from each project, per year. Examining which three to six marketing activities you really need to focus on- to avoid becoming overwhelmed. That you should really become a one track pony, in order to not lose sight of your core competencies. Links: Adam's websites: www.adamurbanski.com or www.themarketingmentors.com Adam Urbanski is also on Facebook

My guest for today’s amazing show is Candy Scott, the Principal of MOOD Design + Build, based in Chicago. She gives practical advice on launching, growing, and sustaining an interior design business. Candy has 15 years’ experience in both commercial and residential design. She graduated from Meredith College in Raleigh, NC, with a BS in Interior Design. You’ll hear her describe how her early experience working with a large developer and with large corporate clients, outfitting high-rise condominiums, lobbies, model homes, and showrooms all contributed to some of the principles and lessons she brings to her own business. She founded MOOD Design + Build in 2014, and continues to work with residential clients and small business owners with their homes, offices, and small-scale commercial interiors. Show highlights: Candy’s background and experience after design school Benefits to working at a furniture store, learning customer service and different segments of the business Making mistakes in the early years: “falling down and getting back up again” The consciousness it takes to “get out of the drama” Finding the place of relating to clients, vendors, and contractors with a sense of mutuality Meeting clients where they are: hearing their frustrations and fear The range of services offered by MOOD Design + Build How the design phase and the build phase differ Breaking down a project into smaller increments and tracking the data How to be the go-to for referrals for the business that larger firms don’t want Why you must attend networking events Weekly sales activity: why you can’t let this part of your business go Developing relationships with realtors Candy’s blog post with 7 Initial Questions for Developing a Beautiful Space and 5 Steps to Making a Beautiful Space (check out her website!) Resources: Candy’s website and blog: www.modddesignbuild.com Her Twitter: https://twitter.com/CandyScott_ Her Social: https://www.instagram.com/mooddesignbuild/ https://www.facebook.com/candy.scott.754 https://www.linkedin.com/in/candy-scott-049b1ba/

On today’s show, we have the lovely Erika Ward! Erika started out as an accountant for a design, build company. While still working in corporate settings she started her own firm called “Erika Ward Interiors”. She used her background in financing and her creative side to grow her business and has since then built her business to the greatness that it is now. Erika not only works with individual clients but also works close with retail brands like Home Depot! Links: Her website and social: http://erikaward.com https://www.instagram.com/mrserikaward/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-ward-09a524a/ https://twitter.com/search?q=erika%20ward&src=typd

Welcome to another episode of Power talk Friday! Today LuAnn has Stephanie Chung with her on the show. Stephanie has a company called Stephanie Chung and Associates, where she offers Sales Training, Executive Coaching and also Small Business Mentorship, to companies nationwide. Stephanie also has a course, called High Ticket Selling Made Simple which has been designed to help business owners sell more and make more. Listen in to find out more about Stephanie and her company. Stephanie used to work as a Sales Executive in the Aviation and Private Jet Industry, where she mastered the art of high ticket selling. She has mentored and coached numerous people, including some of the highest paid, most elite Sales Professionals in the country. She serves Business leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Sales Professionals, using her proven Executive Coaching and Sales Training. Stephanie is a contributor on ABC, CBS, and NBC and she's authored Profit Like A Girl- A Woman's Guide To Kicking Butt In Sales And Leadership and also Embrace The Suck- How To Grow And Succeed In Business. LuAnn is really beyond tickled with all of this, so listen in now, as she and Stephanie discuss the mindset moves that are necessary to really scale your sales. Show highlights: What it all really comes down to is your own version of your own self-worth. Your financial beliefs play a role in the whole equation and sometimes people tend to struggle with that when selling their intellectual property. Stephanie digs into all the factors that contribute to that struggle. Financial self-worth and your mindset- why you should be very careful to never let your own financial beliefs creep into any sales conversation. It's never about you- it's always about the buyer in front of you. Stephanie explains how you can break out of a limited mindset. Remember that it's not your concern how much your customer can afford. You need to ensure that your presentation of your product (your digital footprint), or service actually aligns with your product or service. Run your business with excellence. If someone agrees to meet with you, it means that they've already done some research about you and they have already decided that you are going to be worth their time. Always approach a conversation with a buyer by looking at what it is that they want or need. Ask the buyer questions that go a little deeper, because sometimes the buyer can't really articulate what it is that they need. Use the power of silence. Really knowing your stuff and getting results will help build your confidence. Stephanie shares a technique that she uses with her VIP clients, called Pre-emptive Strike. Know the objections that are going to come your way and bring them up in advance, so that you can control the message. Remember to never bring your price down, if the buyer can't afford it. Rather take something away. This way you keep your price integrity. Only ask the buyer questions that you don't know the answers to. This will help you better understand how to solve their problem. After setting your agenda with a client, mention that you're not necessarily the Designer for everyone.... Great for getting the right If you really want to become a better salesperson, there is ample information out there, for you. Stephanie has done courses before, specifically for Interior Designers. (For example, High Ticket Selling Made Simple) Links: Stephanie's website: www.stephaniechung.com You can find loads of free resources there. To get a free download of Stephanie's book, go to: www.profitlikeagirl.com

My guest today is Judi Kieffer, who has over 24 years’ experience in hospitality, luxury residential, and restaurant design. Her portfolio is full of top-tier projects and satisfied clients. In our conversation, she shares advice about how she built and now manages her design firm in Boise, Idaho. Judi is involved as an advocate for the personal and professional development and for sustainable products and developments. She participates in several local philanthropic and civic groups and is a mentor for women’s and children’s organizations. She was recently appointed as a spokesperson for the American Society of Interior Designers and is a certified Green Globe auditor. Her passions are yoga, fine wine, riding horses, hiking, and inspiring other designers to run more profitable and enjoyable businesses. Join me for this conversation with Judi! What you’ll hear in this episode: How Judi’s career began, working for three different companies before opening her own firm The benefits of experience, classes, and various job positions before going out on your own What it’s like to build your own design firm in the beginning: cold calling, mailings, projects, and referrals What the builder or architect needs to hear from the commercial designer: how our services can fit into your project How to use directories for leads on upcoming commercial projects How to find free top sheets in your local area The benefits of long-term relationships in the design business Judi’s recommendations for software, including Quickbooks, Studio Designer, and MORE! The challenges as your business grows: having systems in place and using personality profiles as you add more people to your team Day-to-day running the firm: journals and calendars Judi’s superpower? Using the interior as a marketing tool Clear practices for charging fees Judi’s advice to a new designer with no portfolio: show your passion and excitement, have confidence, ask questions, and present solutions Judi’s interest in green building products The recent surge in green products Advice Judi’s received that is still with her: Be absolutely true to your passion Honor yourself Allow yourself time to breathe, renew, and relax Be transparent in communication What’s ahead for Judi? Hiring an office manager and hosting eco-glamping retreats Resources: Website and social: http://www.kiefferdesigngroup.com https://www.instagram.com/kiefferdesigngroup/ https://www.facebook.com/Kieffer-Design-Group-92036290457/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/kieffer-design-group/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/judikieffer/ For the free WindowWorks newsletter, text 444-999 and enter “designbiz” www.usgbc.org (Find out more about green building products) Search the GreenWorks or Green Standard group in your local area Judi recommends the following books: ECO-preneuring by John Ivanko The Northwest Green Home Primer by K.L. Smith and Kathleen O’Brien The Philosophy of Sustainable Design by Jason F. McLennan Women in Green by Kira Gould and Lance Hosey Value Pricing for the Design Firm by Frank Stasiowski A Guide to Principles and Practices for Interior Designers by Harry Sigel Marketing and Selling Design Services by Mary V. Knackstedt Interior Designers Business Handbook by Mary V. Knackstedt

Welcome back! Our guest today has been in the interior design business for 17 years! Andrea Schumacher started her own eight-person firm, Andrea Schumacher Interior Design, including herself in Colorado in 1999. Andrea has experience in commercial and residential spaces and she has set design for television at Days of Our Lives and Columbia Pictures! She has a BA in interior design from the F.I.D.E.R. accredited Colorado State University and a certificate in Universal Design from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. Today she is going to share with us how she does things at Andrea Schumacher Interior Design and how she makes everything more efficient and successful and how you can too. Show Notes: She can have how many projects in the pipeline at one time? How are the positions broken down at Andrea Schumacher Interior Design? Did she work for anyone before she started her own firm? How was Andrea Schumacher Interior Design started? Explain how everything is broken down up front! What about the customers that can’t be pleased? When does the “process” go into the project manager’s hands? Why doesn’t she like to hear a budget before the design project begins? What was her aha moment that there needed to be a change with her accountant to get her books straightened out for her design firm? Who is Chandra and what is her role in Andrea’s firm? What are some ways that Chandra has increased profitability for Andrea’s firm? How much has her profitability increased since Chandra has started working at Andrea Schumacher Interior Design? Keep yourself as humble as possible and own up to your mistakes! What is the next big thing for Andrea Schumacher Interior Design? What is Design Leadership Network? For the rest of the show notes, please visit our resource center: Window Works

We have Kae Whitaker with us once again on today's Power Talk Friday- this time for her fifth appearance on the show! She appeared previously on episodes #26, #66, #114 where she discussed branding, how to hire and train interns, how to conduct a proper year-end review of your business and last month on episode #259 she spoke about the subject and content of a typical sale funnel email sequence for interior design firms. Today she's back to talk some more about email marketing and she will be explaining how to set up an email marketing system, with some great tips for doing it really effectively. She will also be discussing the main idea of email marketing, the difference between broadcast emails and triggered emails, how your blog actually connects and supports your email marketing and how to segment your list and what to do with the different lists. Listen in to find out more. Kae is the owner and CEO of Kae Whitaker Solutions. She uses her more than ten years of experience in retail sales and marketing development to really focus on helping small businesses to stay competitive in their respective markets and to surpass their revenue goals. Having worked with some of the nation's largest retailers, Kae has now utilized her expertise in retail sales and marketing development to create her premium coaching programs that really assist small business owners to tune into what matters most in their marketing efforts and to streamline their processes while maximizing on their clientele. Kae's highest achievements come through helping others to reach their goals, and she would love the opportunity to help you to take your brand to the next level, so listen in to find out what she has to share with you on the show today. Show highlights: How LuAnn initially found Kae through her online reputation. Understanding the type of emails that you're going to send and the categories of emails that exist within those types. The importance of using a different approach when purchasing leads or email lists. Kae's advice is for everybody regardless of the size of your email list. The role of email marketing in the customer journey. Sending different email content to the groups of people who are at different points in the customer journey. The difference between broadcast emails and trigger emails. Segmentation campaigns- what they are and when and how to use them. An example of a trigger email for interior designers. What you need to look for in your email provider. Why segmenting is really so important. How to avoid becoming a victim of the spam monster. What the engagement would look like if you hire someone to set the process up on your behalf. When to use re-engagement campaigns. Ways to grow your email list through intentional engagement. How to target growing your email list geocentrically through the content that you're putting out on social media. Where email marketing fits into marketing funnels. Why it would even be worthwhile to create just one funnel. Previous episodes mentioned on this show: Farrha Hyman #43 Cheryl Janis #41 Links: Kae's email: [email protected] Kae's website: http://kaewhitaker.com

Welcome to today's show! We have Dixie Willard, of Dixie Willard Design in Tennessee, with us today. Dixie is a co-host of the Design and Style Podcast with Rachel Moriarty, of Rachel Moriarty Interiors and today we will be talking to her about the Design and Style Community and about how her partnership with Rachel and their podcast came about. Today, Dixie also discusses her own business and she talks about the Community Projects that she's involved with too. Listen in, to find out more. Dixie got her Design Degree at the Chaminade University of Honolulu, where she graduated with honors. She has worked for an Architecture Firm as well as having worked as a Designer and a Bookkeeper, for a high-end furniture store and she has done e-design for Pottery Barn Kids, PBTeen, and West Elm. In the middle of all of that, she also managed to earn her NCIDQ Certification. After traveling around the world, Dixie and her Air Force husband have finally settled down in their forever home, in East Tennessee. Dixie loves taking continuing education classes for fun and reading Design Blogs, to keep up with all the latest trends. Listen in today, to find out more about Dixie, her Podcast and how she's really changing lives, out there, one Designer at a time! Show highlights: Dixie talks about what it took for her to obtain her NCIDQ Certification. Dixie's work with Ethan Allen. Dixie's experience of being a Bookkeeper for a high-end furniture store. The skill she's learned from first being an Air Force brat and then an Air Force wife. Their move from Oklahoma to Tennessee, where they knew absolutely no-one. Dixie talks about how she and Rachel met, at a Mastermind in Oklahoma. How the Design and Style Podcast came about. All about Rachel and Dixie's Visibility Challenge. To join the Visibility Challenge, go to Design and Style on Facebook and ask to join. The hardest part of the Visibility Challenge and the fantastic results that inevitably ensue, as a result of doing it. What's going to be happening in Dixie's community, at The Visibility Lab. The very exciting and special episode planned for the first Visibility Podcast for 2018, on the Design and Style Podcast. Moonshine tasting in the Smokey Mountains with Rachel. What happened at the Visibility Conference. The fantastic Community and Service Projects that Dixie does and how she assists, design-wise, at the Restoration House of East Tennessee. How you, as a Designer, can get involved with the Dwell With Dignity The service work that Dixie does, for Kingdom Design Ministries, for children who have suffered a trauma, or tragedy in their life. What it takes to rappel down a twelve story building! The awesome gains that you could enjoy, as a result of being a part of a networking group. Links: The Design and Style Podcast website: www.designandstylepodcast.com Design and Style can also be found on: Instagram Facebook Pinterest iTunes Youtube Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Remya Warrior #266

Today’s guest is Laura Thurman of Laura Thurman Design Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. She specializes in a global aesthetic that is filtered through a modern lens influenced by her upbringing in Los Angeles, as well as her world travels. Laura Thurman Design Studio services include custom interiors, re-design, weekend styling, and in-field developer selections. Laura talks about the importance of educating clients about the interior design process. To that end, she explains on her website to clients and potential clients the difference between “off the shelf” and “custom made.” We also discuss how she is harnessing the power of building meaningful relationships with peers and industry leaders in helping to grow her firm. In fact, our meeting is a direct result of her commitment to getting out her “box,” reaching out and asking for advice, and for remembering to return the favor. Laura is always thinking of ways to give value back to the new colleagues and mentors she has met. Laura is a delight, and I’m sure you will like her and learn much from what she has to share about intentional networking. What you’ll hear in this episode: How doors have opened recently because of networking and building professional relationships What Laura has learned from Amy Flurry’s book, Recipe for Press: Designer Edition: How to pitch an idea Why you need to do your homework How each project has multiple offshoots Giving serious thought to your WHY How to tactfully cultivate peer relationships, beginning with being intentionally present Why “thick skin” is important for entrepreneurs to cultivate How social media helps with networking How doors open when you “put it out there” Educating the client: Mainstream and retail = “off the shelf” Quality and exclusive = “to the trade” Resources: Episode 108, Amy Flurry Episode 203, Darla Powell Recipe for Press: Designer Edition, by Amy Flurry

Welcome to today's episode of Power Talk Friday! LuAnn has a really special treat in store for you today - her husband, Vince will be joining her on the show! LuAnn has recently had a lot of people asking her to address the topic of husband and wife teams, working together. She recently interviewed Syd and Shea McGee, of Studio McGee (#270) and there are also a few more interviews scheduled with husband and wife teams, which are to be aired in the near future. Vince has already appeared on the show once before, where he talked to LuAnn about the kind of advice that he would give to new entrepreneurs just starting out in their business. He discussed establishing a mission, core values and also systems. So if you're interested in finding out more about any of that, please go back and listen to episode #78. Today, LuAnn and Vince will be talking about how they've managed to be in business together for so many years, and still, like (let alone love) each other! Listen in to find out more! Vince is the brains behind the finances at Window Works, with a degree in Accounting and also an MBA in Business. He has been the fearless leader at Window Works for thirty-five years this December and he has achieved a very recognizable level of stature within their Window Treatment and Awning community. He has served on a number of Marketing and Operations Advisory Boards, for Window Works and for Dorosol (The Awning Company that they use most often) and he served for just less than two years as the Vice President of Franchise Sales, for Decorating Den. Listen in today, to find out more about how Vince and LuAnn have managed to work together, really successfully, for so long. Show highlights: Vince shares some of the core reasons that he thinks they have managed to work so happily and successfully with each other and with their third partner, Bill. How the Universe has really gifted them with their different yet clearly defined roles within their business. Recognizing their very different strengths and skills, which really blend well together, for the benefit of their business. Not micromanaging each other or their staff really works well for Vince and LuAnn. What makes a really great Salesperson. Their 'code' of who gets the final say if there's a disagreement about something in the business. (Unless it's a money decision). Letting go of your inner 'control freak' to find harmony in your business relationships. The importance of moving on after a deal has been done and signed off, regardless of what may transpire later. The importance of having a basis of respect in any relationship to avoid issues. It's so much easier to be in business with your spouse when you really do love and care for one another. Observing the fine line of respect/familiarity. Always keeping the bigger picture (the business) in mind when disagreements arise. The benefits of using rationality rather than emotional manipulation. Delineating responsibilities yet allowing people to grow by allowing them to work within their strengths and to run with what they do really well. It really helps to curb disagreements if you can actually feel the pain of your partner. Always keeping what's best for the business uppermost in mind. Links: Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Vince Nigara #78 Syd and Shea McGee #270

Welcome to today's show! We really have the most amazing surprise for all of you today- we have Syd and Shea McGee, of Studio McGee on the show with us! Shea was on the show about a month ago, (episode #236) where she talked about how Studio McGee was created in a spare bedroom and then, after many late nights of brainstorming and sharing their dreams, Shea and Syd decided to turn what was a small business for a stay at home mom, into something way beyond that. Today, you will hear Shea discuss how she always knew that she wanted to do high-end Design. She also talks about two business decisions that Syd was instrumental in making very early on, which allowed them to attract the kind of client that they really wanted to work with and she explains how Syd has also really helped her to approach certain problems in business with the right perspective. Listen in to find out more about this dynamic duo and their approach to running a really successful business. Studio McGee has been featured in House Beautiful, Domain Home, Design Sponge, Apartment Therapy, SMP Living and One Kings Lane, as well as many others. This show will also appear as a video on LuAnn's Youtube channel. (Go to Youtube for A Well Designed Business.) Listen in today and experience the really tangible love, respect, and admiration that these two have for one another and discover how Shea's dream to build a Design Empire is fast becoming a reality. Show highlights: What was going on in Syd's mind when they made the decision to move to Utah. Shea explains how Syd got involved bringing his really valuable perspective to the business. How Syd managed to figure out a way organize the operations side of their business by assessing the problems and then finding solutions. How Syd managed to streamline their systems by building their own internal software. Syd's initial focus was really on allowing the Designers to get on with their designing. The sacrifices that they made initially to ensure that there was enough content for their business to grow. The great pay off they've had from consistently investing the time in putting out really high-quality photos on Instagram. How to know when it's the right time to start charging more. How Shea and Syd have pushed each other, to create their Design Empire. The time it took for them to afford to create their own catalog. Attracting the type of clients that they have now. The financial risk that they took and what they put on the line to keep going forward to create their dream. The kind of support that Shea and Syd give one another. How they came to be doing their Webisodes on Youtube. Some of the actionable things that they have done, to really grow their business. All about McGee and Co, a website that they started about a year ago where you can go online and order from their really great product line. It's really demanding to be a very good mom and a great entrepreneur, but it can be done! Links: Shea and Syd's website: www.studio-mcgee.com You can do your purchasing from: www.mcgeeandco.com Shea and Syd on Instagram Shea and Syd on Facebook Shea and Syd on YouTube Follow A Well Designed Business on YouTube For your free offer, from MyDoma Studio, as a listener to the podcast, go to: www.mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness.

Welcome to today's show! We have Nina Magen, the Principal of Contour Interior Design, on the show with us today. Nina is a very savvy lady, who has a lot going on, on both the business and the Design side. The fact that she is driven is evident in the nine-year rise of her Design Firm and it also shows in the way that she runs her business. Today we talk to Nina about the significant impression it made on her and her business when she was on American Dream Builder TV show. We also talk to her about her staff: how she hires and what she looks for when hiring someone. So listen in to find out more. Contour is an international, full-service Interior Design firm, with offices both in Houston and Miami. There is a long list of award-winning interiors in the Contour portfolio, which have received recognition from NBC, Bravo and HGTV Networks, as well as acknowledgment for Best Interior Architecture and Best Commercial Interior, by Paper City. ASID also awarded them Best Commercial Interior. The work of Contour has been featured in Rue, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Interiors Magazine and Lux Interiors and Designs, to name just a few. Listen in today, to find out more about Nina and her approach to running Contour Interior Design. Show highlights: Nina explains how she came to have such an international team. What Nina does to encourage her team to learn from each other and to think outside of their comfort zone. American design and architecture, as compared with the more modern, forward-thinking European design. Nina discusses her approach and what she looks for when she's ready to hire a team member. The criteria for advancement, that Nina looks for in her team members. What it takes to be a really successful Designer. Nina discusses where her interest in being on a TV show came from. How Nina managed to get onto American Dream Builders TV show in 2014. Nina's harrowing experience on American Dream Builders. How Nina leveraged her life-changing experience on the TV show. Nina's constant growth, personally and business-wise, since being on the TV show. The things that Nina is looking forward to doing, in the future. How to get to be the Designer for celebrity homes. Connect with Nina: Website Instagram Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Go to www.mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness to find out how MyDoma Studio can help you to run your firm more efficiently. There's a special offer there for you too, as a podcast listener. Previous shows mentioned on this episode: Amber Lewis #184

Welcome to another episode of Power Talk Friday! We have Ashley Faulkes, the CEO of Mad Lemmings with us on the show today. Ashley creates Wordpress websites and he also is an SEO expert, which is one of the main reasons that LuAnn invited him onto the show. She knows that there are many of you out there, wondering about the merits of blogging and wanting to find out how to go about doing it. This is a topic that we really can't seem to get enough information on, so listen in and learn from Ashley, who is an expert when it comes to blogging and creating websites. Ashley, whose company is fourteen years old, is an Australian who is now living in Switzerland. After skiing one time, on the last run of the day, Ashley fell, twisting his leg and breaking it in thirty-seven places. He then had to spend three days immobilized in hospital, waiting for the weekend to be over and for the surgeons to get prepared to operate. It was well worth the wait, however, and he was also really lucky because they ended up doing a first class job and getting excellent results with his leg. The spin-off of this was that it brought Ashley to blogging, which then brought him to a whole new endeavor, which he became really good at, through getting educated and also teaching. Listen in now, to find out what Ashley has to share with you about SEO and Website Creation. Show highlights: Ashley's opinion on the difference between a Square Space site and a Wordpress Migrating to a new website with all of your current content. How to attract people to your website, if you're doing the website yourself. Optimising your Home Page and your Services Page. Making a habit of getting reviews on your website for SEO- you can even set up a link for that. Getting onto your local listings, to create SEO links, when starting out. Leveraging social proof, through getting your business listed with The Chamber Of Commerce, or Government Institutions. Finding the biggest bang for your buck, for SEO rankings. How to find out, rather than guessing, if there are any people searching for a particular topic, before writing a blog post. Thinking about reasons that people would need your services, for effective blogging. How to create links to your website. Getting access to Google tools. Using the right keywords for great rankings. Pictures can be worth a thousand words. Using Youtube for great rankings. The value of re-purposing your content. Links: Ashley's website: www.madlemmings.com Ashley on Youtube: Mad Lemmings Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Lisa Escobar #258

Welcome to today's show! Our guest for today is Rasheeda Gray, the Principal of Gray Space Interior Design, which is located in the Philadelphia Metro area. Gray Space is still a side hustle for Rasheeda at this point in time and yet in just under two years, she has already had more than twenty projects! You're probably wondering how she has managed to do this, so today she shares three strategies that she has used, to land these twenty plus projects and also her thoughts on what it takes to succeed in the field of Interior Design. Listen in now, to get some really actionable tips from Rasheeda, to fill your pipeline. Rasheeda holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and International Business, as well as a Master's Degree and she currently works full time, in a corporate position. She also has a husband and two kids. Rasheeda brings her business skills to her Design Firm, so listen in, as she explains how she's managed to achieve as much as she has, in such a short time. Show highlights: What led to Rasheeda starting Gray Space Interior Design, as her side hustle. Rasheeda is a strong believer in Vision Boards. How Rasheeda managed to obtain her first two projects. The way that Rasheeda made use of social media to get herself known, as an Interior Designer. The magic mix for Rasheeda's success on social media. The secret to Rasheeda's success on Instagram. Rasheeda's way of growing her business intentionally to attain the kind of success that she has, in such a short time. Taking full advantage of any opportunity to speak at events as a great way to get yourself and your business known. What Rasheeda did to get to know five Realtors. All about Rasheeda's Consultation Special for Cyber Monday. Using Loss Leaders to attract more business. How referrals and testimonials have helped Rasheeda to fill her pipeline. The way that Rasheeda leverages her reviews on Howz, to get more business. How Rasheeda found Cheryl and then selected her to be her mentor. How mentorship has contributed to Rasheeda's success. Why it could be tricky to have a mentor from the same area as you. Why it's important to be upfront with your clients about your working a full-time job. The questionnaire that Rasheeda has her prospective clients complete right in the beginning. Assessing the needs of your clients, then providing solutions for them. The logistics of running a Design firm, a full-time job and a family. Links: To take advantage of the special incentives that are being offered to you, as a listener of the podcast: From My Doma Studio, go to: www.mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness and From our newest sponsor, Fresh Books, go to www.freshbooks.com/luann

Today we have Remya Warrior on the show with us and she's a New Jersey Interior Designer with a Master's Degree as well as fourteen years of experience in the field. She is active in both the WCAA (Window Coverings Association of America), where she is currently the Vice President of the New Jersey chapter, and also in ASID in New Jersey, where she is the featured Tech Talk host. Listen in today, to hear all about what that is and also to find out about Remya's very actionable Seven Step Process that she uses to really knock her networking right out of the park. Remya really loves to cook for her friends and family and she firmly believes that the kitchen is the heart of the home and it is this that has her specializing in Kitchen Design. Being an active member of the WCAA has led her to her falling in love with window treatments and specializing in that area as well. On Remya's website, there is a line that says that she helps busy, middle-income families create a home that they love and this is something that LuAnn found very interesting because she really enjoys finding out what makes you, as an Interior Designer, different. LuAnn loves researching and finding out what really sets certain Designers apart, for the purposes of the show, and she points out that your clients also want to find something on your website, that really sets you apart as a Designer. Listen in now, to find out more about Remya and the really interesting things that she does with her business, to set her apart from the rest. Show highlights: Koffee Break- the Video Resource that Remya used to have on her website. What Remya learned from doing Koffee Break for two years. What Tech Talk is all about and who Remya has connected with, through doing it. How Remya has really managed to up her game, through doing Tech Talk. How Remya selects the people that she interviews on Tech Talk. You can go to the ASID channel on YouTube, to see the library of resources that Remya has created there with her webinars. If you'd like to attend one of Remya's Tech Talk Live Webinars, you will need to friend her on Facebook. (Remya Warrior) Remya gives a detailed explanation of her Seven Step Process designed to help you to network most effectively. The heartfelt and personal messages that Remya sent to only five special people on Thanksgiving. What it takes to create a really effective Sales Conversation. The three separate email sequences that Remya has on her website to put business leads into her pipeline. Building your referral strategy, through Remya's Seven Step Process. Resources: Remya's website: www.rwarriordesigns.org Remya on Facebook-Remya Warrior Designs Remya on LinkedIn-Remya Warrior Designs Remya learned this networking technique from her friend Paul McManus! You can also search for Remya on YouTube and Ted Talk. To get 10% off your entire first purchase from Curated Kravet, go to www.curatedkravet.com and use the code C K Podcast at the checkout. If you'd like to be in one of LuAnn's Masterminds, email her at [email protected] to see if you're a good fit. Please leave your review for the show on iTunes - LuAnn will really appreciate it

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We have an interview with FreshBooks today. A few months ago, FreshBooks and LuAnn started talking about them becoming a regular sponsor for this show. As pretty smart business people, they both wanted to find out more about one another before joining forces, to see who they would be getting involved with. FreshBooks asked to do a trial of two or three thirty second ad spots. Before LuAnn agreed to do any commercials for them, however, she wanted to know if they really were right for you, her listeners. And what better way for LuAnn to know if they are the right fit than to apply her ninja interview tactics to them? Listen in to find out more. LuAnn wanted the chance to ask any and every question that she thought would be helpful, for you to decide if FreshBooks is right for you because she thinks they really are a terrific platform for helping you to track the money side of your Design business. Today she talks to Julie Kerr, the Marketing Communications Strategist at FreshBooks, about FreshBooks and how she sees them as the perfect side companion to My Doma Studio. Listen in now, as Julie explains how this platform was designed, specifically for the small, serviced-based industry, to take the fear out of accounting and to help you to efficiently input, track and analyze your operations, your projects, and your business. Show highlights: Julie explains what FreshBooks is all about. Who the ideal client for FreshBooks is. Julie explains why this is the Accounting Software for non-Accountants. FreshBooks have built templates that actually help you to get paid faster. How FreshBooks helps you to track and operate your business seamlessly. You can take a picture of the receipts of money you spent, on gas, lunches or even hotel stays and the information will be automatically uploaded- and even sorted, for tax time. Your company credit cards can be linked to FreshBooks, to have all the transactions automatically uploaded. How FreshBooks helps you to easily assess the health of your business. Julie explains how the whole invoicing process of FreshBooks works. How well FreshBooks would work, as a side companion to My Doma Studios. The really beautiful design of the way that of FreshBooks looks. You can have your questions answered right away, by the Toronto based support team, at their call center. The way that the pricing structure of FreshBooks works. How FreshBooks helps you to track the exact number of hours that have been worked on a project. The different ways that you can stay connected to FreshBooks. Resources: You can get a free 30 Day Trial with FreshBooks! All you have to do is go to www.freshbooks/LuAnn to sign up! If you still have any questions, you can email their Support Team at [email protected], or you can give them a call at 1-866-303-6061.

How many times have you, as a Designer, felt like you were caught between your client and the Contractor? You know the kinds of situations where you have created a floor plan for space, only to find, on your next visit to the site, that a wall has been moved... So, what happens when this happens? Listen in now, to find out. Judith Neary and Corey Klassen have some terrific insights and advice for you around this subject, on today's Design Biz Live feature. On today's show, Corey and Judith will be talking about how to manage not being the Project Manager. The diversity of the Design Industry is your strength, but sometimes also your weakness, as a Designer, so listen in, as we pick this topic apart a bit and go through the nuances of it, so that you can find out how to avoid being in this kind of situation. Show highlights: The definition of Project Management. Judith's concept of the three legs of the stool. The challenge that Corey faced recently, around having to manage a project. The role of the General Contractor, as compared with that of an Architect, or a Designer. The different elements that need to be pulled together, to create cohesion in a project. What a really good Project Manager looks like. Where Designers tend to fall down in a project. What the initial Sales Process should cover. Judith's way of preventing the pain factor in a project. Educating the client about the costs of Project Management. When to say 'no' to a project.

Welcome to today's show! Our guest for today, Amanda Evans, is someone you may know through Instagram. She is the Founder and Principal of Amanda Evans Interiors, which is based in Vancouver. Amanda opened her business in 2009, before the birth of Theo, her first child. Today Amanda talks to LuAnn about what work looked like for her before Theo came into her life, what it looked like after Theo began pre-school and what it looks like now, after their daughter, Marlee, who is now just three months old, was born. Listen in to find out more. On the show today, Amanda gives a detailed explanation of how she grew and then filled her pipeline, so that now, only three years later, she already has three employees. If you have been battling with ways to give your new (or existing firm) a boost in getting new leads, you're going to really enjoy today's show. Listen in now, to find out from Amanda some ways to handle the transitions in life, both from a business standpoint and when things come at you personally. Show highlights: Some of Amanda's observations about the transitions in her life, over the last few years. Amanda's really intentional way of creating relationships with the Builders and Realtors that she wanted to work with. What it was like for Amanda, and how she coped, when she first joined the mostly male Builder's Association and started going to networking meetings. Amanda's way of initiating a first meeting, to connect with the Builders and Realtors that she wanted to build relationships with. Some lessons that Amanda learned, and how her thinking changed, while making the transitions in her life. How Amanda was able to up-level her work and take on even more, by hiring people to assist her. Taking the pain out of developing new relationships with Builders or Contractors. How Amanda managed to get ideal team together. Some advice to help you to hire the right people for your business. Amanda's way of growing her Instagram, to get over 12 000 followers. Some things to watch out for, when tagging people on Instagram. You really do need to credit your photographer! Winning ways to work with Instagram. Some tips for engaging with your Instagram Community. Links: Website: www.aeinteriors.ca Instagram: @amandaevansinteriors Facebook: Facebook.com/amandaevansinteriors Twitter: @amandaevansinc Previous shows mentioned on this episode: Nancy Ganzekaupher #256 Tabitha Carro #235 Shea McGee #236 Amber Lewis #184

Welcome to another Power Talk Friday! Today LuAnn is really excited to have Joe Haecker, The CEO and Founder of Dezignwall, with her on the show. Listen in to find out more about this awesome social network platform, created specifically for the Design community. Dezignwall is the fastest growing network for Design and Architectural professionals, worldwide. It is the very first social platform to address the specific needs of the international Design community and it blends the features found on top social media platforms with the ability to produce products. The goal of Dezignwall is to unite the International Design and Products community, in order to help the industry to compete in a constantly changing and growing global marketplace. Joe's background is in Custom Lighting, for hotels, casinos, high end residential and Daylight Tubular Skylight Industries. He has been responsible for setting trends, developing innovations and also coordinating world-class projects internationally, for more than seventeen years. He has served as Head Of Design for Triton Chandelier, Alger Lighting, and Solatube International. He has also consulted for many custom lighting companies, including iWorks, Spectrum, 3Form Light-Art Schonbek and lots of others. Joe has a passion for the success of the industry and he serves as an Industry Advocate, fostering a focus on global communication, collaboration and restoring the value of luxury in the industry. Joe is a single Dad of two sons and he is very involved in Business Consulting, Mentoring and establishing an ecosystem for startups and Tech Companies in the Antelope Valley and Kern Country areas of Southern California. Listen in now! Show highlights: Joe explains how Dezignwall came about, what it is and why you, as a Designer, should care. The difference between Dezignwall and Instagram. Dezignwall is a place for one of a kind artisans. The multiple angles that a product can be viewed, on Dezignwall. The awesome features to be found on Dezignwall. Why a Designer would want to upload their projects onto Dezignwall. How Dezignwall works as a sales efficiency tool. How Dezignwall works for Designers and how it works for consumers. Joe's motivation in creating Dezignwall. Dezignwall is the only social network platform that features Podcasts. Joe explains the value of having your Podcast featured on this platform, to tell your Design story. Dezignwall is a tool that has access to analytics, so it can really help you to cater to the specific needs of each client. Everything on this platform can be accessed via a keyword search. The benefits of this platform, for reaching and connecting with a global market. Dezignwall as a system for coordinating the Trade Shows that you attended. The goal that Joe had in mind when creating this platform. Resources: Website: www.dezignwall.com FB LIVE Talkshow: https://www.facebook.com/events/502777173434577/?ti=cl Social Handle: @Dezignwall, Inc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCycMyaEpwYZVOg0D7pfIfA/featured Follow LuAnn on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgRScT16XD_jq_NqsPPawDA

Welcome to today's episode! We have Shannon Tate, a real go-getter, with us on the show today. She opened her business, Shannon Tate Interiors, in 2012, after having worked in a very diverse range of artistic fields, such Acting, Fine Art, Fashion, Writing, Lifestyle Coaching and even spending some time working as a Private Chef. Shannon, who is also a Certified Holistic Health Coach, loves to pair her artistic vision with her sense of empathy, her Reiki training and her knowledge of Ayurveda and Feng Shui. In addition to her Interior Design Services, Shannon designs and creates custom furniture, art and home décor for her projects. After being in business for only five years, Shannon has been featured in Home Polish three times, Apartment Therapy twice, Design Sponge, Domino, The Nest, New England Home, and Modern Sanctuary. Listen in now, to find out more about Shannon's artistic approach to her Interior Design business. Shannon grew up both in New York and Los Angeles. On today's show, she shares the story of how she, her husband and their daughter ended up in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts, so listen in, to find out more. Show highlights: Shannon talks about her earlier career, which eventually brought her to Interior Design. A funny story about why Shannon left Design School when she was still very young. The food business that Shannon and her husband ran together. How Shannon has managed to incorporate her Lifestyle Coaching with Interior Design. Their crazy move to Massachusetts, which prompted Shannon to hire a Coach. How Shannon got featured in so many top Design Publications, after opening her business only five years ago. How Shannon works to get what she really wants. The nuts and bolts of how Shannon Tate Interiors is run. Shannon explains her recent change in the way that she charges her clients. How Shannon deals with clients who want to negotiate her contract. Offering excellent Customer Service, without compromising your own principals. What's coming up for Shannon in 2018. Connect with Shannon: www.shannontateinteriors.com Facebook Instagram Remember that you can get 10% off your first purchase from Kravet, by going to www.curatedkravet.com and using the code CK Podcast at the checkout. Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Ren Miller #12 Fred Berns #174 Claire Staszak #166 Amy Flurry #108 Lesley Myrick #37 Marina Umali #248 Kerry Leskowitz #98 To contact LuAnn, you can text her using the word Design Biz on 444999, or you can email her at [email protected] .

A special 'hello' to all our new listeners and a warm welcome to the show! Today we are really happy to introduce you to our guest, Chaney Widmer, the Founder of Mix And Match Design Company. Chaney is a very smart lady, who saw a need in the market and created a really innovative way to fill it. She offers One On One Decorating Services, through her E-Design and Online Interior Design and on her Mix And Match Blog, she shares her decorating tips and inspiration. Listen in, to find out more about E-Design and how to make it work profitably for you. Today, Chaney explains how she created Mix And Match Design, in order to provide affordable and accessible Interior Design to everyone. After many years of writing a Design Blog and helping her friends and family to put together beautiful homes that they loved, Chaney decided that the time had come for her launch her own internet-based Design Business. Chaney is fully committed to taking the intimidation out of Interior Design, whether her client is starting from scratch with a brand new home, adding a few pieces to pull a room together or even just looking for a way to take their space from looking good to looking really great! Listen in now, to hear Chaney's poised and intelligent approach to her carefully designed business model. Show highlights: Chaney explains why she chose to focus her business on E-Design. What motivated Chaney to deal with the specific market that she has chosen to focus on. The demographics of the market that Chaney focuses on. The really reasonable cost of working with Chaney. The number of hours that Chaney typically spends on a $300 project. The time that it takes for Chaney to complete her average project. How her processes have evolved, over time. Chaney's detailed, but not overwhelming survey that she gives her clients to complete. How Chaney created the contract that she currently uses with her clients. How Chaney makes her money through affiliate links. Great resources for an affiliate networks, as a way to earn money through their affiliate programs. The type metric that is sought after, for Affiliate Programs. What creating an Affiliate Link would involve- it's really easy! The kind of service that Chaney offers her clients. How Chaney does her follow-ups. The eDesign Course that Chaney is going to be launching soon. The target market for Chaney's upcoming eDesign Course. Resources for Affiliate Programs: Reward Style Network – An application based Affiliate Network. Shop Style Collective – Have a pay per click affiliate program. J. Affiliate. Sign up for “How To Launch An E-Design Business" online course email list signup: bit.ly/launchanedesignbusiness Connect with Chaney on social media: Website: com Blog: com/new-blog Instagram: @mixandmatchdesigncompany Facebook: com/mixandmatchdesigncompany Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Christina Perry: #5 Danielle Liss #179 To get 10% off your next whole order from Curated Kravet Inc. head over to www.curatedkravet.com and use the code CK Podcast at the check out.

Welcome to another episode of Power Talk Friday! Everyone can start doing their happy dance today because we have Kae Whitaker on the show! After doing her really great series all about Facebook, LuAnn was considering doing another series, about landing pages, click funnels, email responders etc. She was out there, in Podcast Land, listening and looking out for the right person to have on the show- someone who could really relate to you, as Designers, as well as having all the necessary know-how, when out of the blue, she got a notification that Kae Whitaker was going live on Instagram. She went on over to have a look and there was Kae, talking about click funnels and email sequences... It was like hitting the jackpot for LuAnn because she knows that Kae really talks our language, so listen in to find out what Kae has to share with you today, about Email Marketing. If you're a new listener and you haven't yet been introduced to Kae, this is the fourth time that she's been on this show and she is really well loved by all who listen in. She was on episode 26, 66 and 114. In the past, we have discussed branding, how to hire and train interns and how to conduct a proper year-end review of your business. Today Kae is here to talk about Sales Funnels. What they are, why we need to know about them and how we can apply them to our individual interior design firms. Kae answers the questions: What kind of content should be in an email sequence and how often should I send a potential client an email? Kay is the Owner and the CEO of Kae Whitaker Solutions and she has more than ten years of experience in Retail Sales and Marketing Development. Now, her focus is on helping Small Businesses to stay competitive in their market and helping them to reach and surpass their revenue goals. She has worked with some of the largest national retailers and she now leverages her expertise in Retail Sales and Marketing Development to create her Premium Coaching Programs, that really help Small Business owners to tune in to what matters most in their Marketing efforts, by streamlining their processes and maximizing on their clientele. Kae's highest achievements come from helping others to reach their goals and she really loves having the opportunity to help people to take their brand to the next level. So, listen in now, to find out how to tune in to what really matters most for your business. Show highlights: Kae explains what a Sales Funnel Why Sales Funnels are really important for Designers. The major difference in the number of conversions, and also the ability to predict revenue, that Kae has experienced in her firm, since starting with Email Marketing. Where to start, with developing your Email Marketing. Thinking about what you could offer for free, in return for an email address. You're really not interrupting anyone, with Email Marketing, because they only opt-in if they're interested. Why video works so well, as an opt-in. What to do, right after getting your first opt-in. How to build a great, trusting relationship, through your emails. The whole point behind Email Marketing. What the content of the sequence of emails, following the opt-in, should include. The right time to schedule a chat with someone. Working with an Automated Email Responder. (Like Acuity Scheduling) Not stopping after the first 'no' can really set you apart from other Designers. If you can muster up the courage to get in front of a camera, do it! The video really converts well! Some alternative ideas, if you don't want to appear on camera. All about what's to be expected from Kae's soon to be launched Email Marketing Bootcamp. It will be live on Tuesdays at 8 pm (Central Standard Time) and it will be recorded, so you can still catch it if you miss the live broadcast. Why Kae designed her Email Marketing Bootcamp- and who it's for. The importance of spending the time to learn something new. Kae's course will cost $949 retail, and you, as listeners to A Well Designed Business Podcast will get a hefty 25% discount. Go to kaewhitaker.com/luanneemail to find the check-out form on the website. You can either pay it all at once, or you can even split it into three monthly payments. Kae will be back on the show soon, to talk about the more technical side of Email Marketing. Links: Kae’s course, Email Marketing Bootcamp is open and teaches everything you need to know in order to develop your own pipeline filling email strategy — A Well-Designed Business podcast listeners can get 25% off the $949.00 course by going to www.kaewhitaker.com/luannemail Her website: http://kaewhitaker.com

Today we have Lisa Escobar on the show and she has a Design Firm based in Las Vegas. Lisa was initially connected to LuAnn through Christie Leu (episode #182) and Darci Hether (episode #220). Lisa, Christie, Darcy and another Designer, Jessie Cooney, met at an Interior Designer Workshop Summit. They really hit it off and decided to all meet again, for a weekend retreat. Today, on the show, Lisa discusses the value of getting together with other Designers and having some quality one on one time together and she also talks about her firm, Lisa Escobar Design. Listen in to find out more. Lisa is from Las Vegas, and growing up in the 'Entertainment Capital of the World' has really had an impact on her career, where she has managed to complete a vast range of projects in an impressively short time. She has consulted on and managed high-rise condo transformations, high-end residential spaces, and new build designs, both locally and beyond. She has shaped concepts and designs for Commercial and Hospitality projects alike, collaborating with the best of the industry's Design Professionals. The influence of the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas has helped Lisa to add flair and high style comfort to everything she's touched. Travelling to places such as China, Spain, and France has offered her inspiration to draw from daily, to shape her vibrant and polished style. Lisa is steadily gaining recognition from the Design Community and well-respected brands such as HGTV, Houzz, International Market Centres and the High Point Market Authority view her as a sought after tastemaker and a rising star. Lisa's ten-year history of working alongside Hotel Executives, Nightclub Owners and high profile clientele at top resorts has led her to create a business that really encompasses some very important principals. Lisa was left ingrained with some vital key service values, from the Five Star Five Diamond environment of the Wynn and Encore Resorts. Listen in today, to find out more about Lisa's approach to her Design Business, which really sets her apart from the rest. Show highlights: The great benefits of spending quality one on one time with other Designers. The 'secret sauce' behind the really valuable time that Lisa spent at the weekend retreat with three other Superwoman Designers, Christy Lou, Darcy Heather and Jessie Cooney. Lisa discusses how her typically high level, CEO, high performer, mostly male, niche market came about. The way that Lisa leverages her previous work experience in the Hospitality Industry, for her current business. How Lisa evolved towards realizing her niche. Looking at your strengths, to find your ideal market. An unintentional marketing tactic that really worked! Lisa's experience of being at Cambria's Residential Style-makers Summit, in Minnesota and how she got to go there. All about Lisa's Firm. The secret to how to ask for money. Paying attention to your gut feelings.

Welcome! Today, we're really happy to introduce you to Landy Gardner Interiors, which is based in Nashville, Tennessee. Landy Gardner Interiors have a really unique philosophy with which they approach their diverse clientele, where the focus is on individual needs and on combining the comfort of familiarity with new and fresh elements, using techniques both proven and untried. The way that a client works, plays, entertains and relaxes must all be considered, according to the Landy Gardner way of designing. Today, we're really privileged to have Landy's daughter, Dionne, on the show with us. We originally arranged to have both Landy and Dionne on the show, however, due to some technical hitches on their end, the recording of the interview had to be rescheduled twice. Sadly, in the interim, Landy Gardner passed away. He was a man bigger than life and a great, kind soul and even though LuAnn had very little exchange with him, he made a really deep impression on her. Today, Dionne talks about how she started working her Dad, the lessons that she learned from him and also about how she will continue to lead his company and carry on with his legacy, with the help of her team. LuAnn is really so very glad that Dionne decided that she still wanted to go ahead and do the interview with her today, so listen in now, as Dionne shares her memories of her father and the inspiration that he was to her. In 2001, Landy Gardner was named South East Designer Of The Year, by the Atlantic Decorative Arts Centre and he has been named Designer Of The Year by Nashville Magazine. He has been published in Southern Living, Southern Accents, Traditional Home, Nashville Lifestyles, Showcase Of Interior Design, Southern Edition, Better Homes And Gardens, Boulevards, Southern Rooms, Interior Design From Miami To Houston, Spectacular Homes Of Tennessee, Atlanta, the cover of Veranda and a feature in Veranda's twentieth anniversary edition- Twenty Years Of Memorable Rooms. Landy has also been on HDTV's Interior By Design. Landy Gardner Interior's design projects include private residences in Tennessee, New York, California, Florida, Alabama, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and also The Bahamas. He has designed rooms for the Tennessee Governor's Mansion, the Junior League Of Nashville's show houses and the Judd House, in Dalton, Georgia. Landy's commercial work includes Health Spas and Executive Offices in Nashville and office buildings for Hospital Corporation Of America, across the country, and also restaurants and bars for strategic hospitality. Both Landy and His Daughter, Dionne, are rare and extraordinary individuals, as well as being really talented Designers, so listen in to this bittersweet interview, to find out more about Landy Gardner Interiors. Show highlights: How Dionne first came to work for her Dad. What it was like for Dionne, when she started working for her Dad. How Dionne got to know and admire her Dad much more deeply, after working with him. How it was all about the client, for Landy- something that really made him remarkable. The really great, collaborative dynamic that existed between Dionne and Landy. How Dionne now finds herself selecting fabrics in the way that Landy would have done it. Landy's amazingly integrated left brain/ right brain approach to his work. Dionne explains how she learned to shop for clients, using Landy's mindful method. Why Dionne and Landy were able to work together, so successfully. The way that Dionne intends to go forward with her Dad's business and honor his legacy. Landy's mindblowing process of installation, for a project. The importance of being clear about the methods that you use, in your Design process. Links: Website: http://landygardner.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/landygardnerinteriors/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LandyGardner

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We have Nancy Ganzekaufer with us today and if you're a new listener to the show and you're not familiar with her, she has already been on the show twice before, first on episode #15, where she spoke about Niche Markets and then again, on episode #159, where she had a very actionable conversation with LuAnn about getting clear and confident about who you are and what you offer. Today we are going to be talking about your business, in words. This will be the kind of show where you may want to take down some notes, so please have your pen and paper ready. Then, listen in, to find out about a fantastic, non-salesy way of having people really want to work with you. Nancy and LuAnn are eight weeks through their fantastic ten weeks Premiere Online Coaching Program, Money, Mindset, And Sales, with an awesome group of people, who are all working really hard, to get themselves to the next level. So far it's been really interesting and also very rewarding and because this Program has been such an all-round success, they have decided to do it again, so they will be launching their new program, Six Weeks To Success, in January. Listen in to find out more. Nancy has developed a powerful step by step exercise called Your Business in Words. She guides you in crafting the perfect description of your values, your interior design services and your process all with the goal of attracting more of your ideal client to you. If you have ever struggled with networking, promoting yourself or just need a proven way to make a memorable introduction of yourself, Nancy has the answer for you. Show highlights: Nancy takes you, step by step, through what their Six Weeks To Success Program, starting on January the 4th, will include. Go to www.luannnigara.com/6weeks to get the details. Registration is open! Nancy's take on the six clear and actionable steps that LuAnn and her husband do for their business, every year in January, or at any time that they're ready to start something new. Really understanding what it is that you do, in your business. Nancy explains her business, in words. The goal of having your business, in words. An exercise to help you to put your business into words. (You can go to www.nancyganzekaufer.com/ybiw for Nancy's free, twenty-minute webinar, to walk you through this process.) Being who you are, and not who you think people want to hear that you are. Adjectives to help you to get past the obvious traits that most Designers are going to bring to the table. Identifying your ideal client and also, the particular problem that you help them to solve. Using directed sentences, to describe your particular uniqueness, in your line of business. Explaining how people can work with you. Saying what the flow of your process is. Saying what your consultations consist of. How to add the enthusiasm for your last sentence. Becoming attractive by showing your passion. The more information that you give to people, the more relatable points they will have, to really connect with you. When it would be appropriate to use your description of your business in words. Resources: Sign up for Six Weeks to Success - luannnigara.com/6weeks Grab Nancy’s Freebie - Your Business in Words at www.nancyganzekaufer.com/ybiw Nancy’s website http://nancyganzekaufer.com Nancy on Twitter: nancyganzekaufe Nancy on FB: https://www.facebook.com/NancyGanzekaufer Nancy on Instagram: nancyganzekaufer Nancy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyganzekaufer/

Today we have Anne Rue on the show. Anne is the principal of Anne Rue Interiors and she has more than twenty years of experience in the world of Design, having worked with both high end residential and also commercial clients. Today, Anne shares tons of insights, from her vast experience as a business owner, for you to enjoy and appreciate. Listen in, as she talks about the complete turnaround in her eighteen-year-old business after she hired a Business Coach and also about the reality of doing Reality TV. Anne has been creating inspired living spaces for everyone, from professional athletes, multi-family housing properties, model merchandising, senior housing and even luxury motor coaches and yachts. Anne's work has been featured in Florida Design, Orlando Magazine, Orange Appeal Magazine and she's been a Design Expert on Orlando's WESH News On Sunrise and Good Day Orlando, on Fox News. You may even know Anne as the Season Eight Fan Favorite, on HGTV's Design Star, or possibly as the Designer on the hit show, Hotel Impossible, on the travel channel. Listen in now, to find out more about Anne and her fabulous Design Work. Show highlights: What drove Anne to seek help for her business, after nearly eighteen years. The benefits of working for a really great Designer in your area, regardless of the kind of work you may be required to do. The consequences of moonlighting on super luxury motor coaches and yachts. Utilising the genius of two women and their teams. Where Anne would like to be in her business, in ten years time. Some of the things that Anne learned from her two genius mentors. A book that Anne highly recommends: The Values Factor, by John Demartini. The importance of knowing who you are and where you want to be. The niche market that Anne is currently focusing on. Why Anne is currently cultivating her Builder Relationships. Working out if a project is really worth the time that it will take. The importance of working out your values- both personal values and those relating to your business. Anne's whole experience of getting onto HGTV's Design Star show. (HGTV Star) A view in hindsight of the true reality behind Reality TV. Why Anne is not pursuing a career in TV, even though she does really well with it. Links: Instagram: Anne Rue interiors Facebook: Anne Rue interiors Pinterest: Anne Rue interiors

Welcome to part two of Design Biz Live 3, with Corey Klassen. The last episode of Design Biz Live (#246) was the interview with Judith Neary, about the Self Assessment Evaluation, (which you can still find at www.windowworks-nj.com/designbiz2) that Judith and Corey put together for themselves and also for you, so that you can learn to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of yourself, as an Interior Designer and also of your staff. They created this because just like many of you, they battled to structure their fees. Because Judith and Corey really are pretty brilliant, they worked out a way to figure out what you're really good at, what you're not so good at, what you don't like doing, what you're not going to do... the whole thing! In the last episode, LuAnn talked with Judith, who runs a One Man Show, in Vashon Island, off the coast of Seattle, about how she used this evaluation to enable her to work in her particular zone of genius and to structure her projects and fees to best coincide with the things that she does really well and that she really likes to do. Please go back and listen, if you missed that episode. Today, we have Corey Klassen with us on the show. Corey has his Interior Design firm in Vancouver, Canada and he has a staff, so when he took the evaluation, it was not only for himself, it was for his staff too. Today, Corey will share the results that he learned from his evaluation and also the way that he utilized the information from these results, about himself and also about each of the people on his staff. Then, using that information, he moves into the best way to structure the fees for his Design firm, in order to best serve his clients and also the firm, itself. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: One of the key things that Corey recognized from his evaluation. The way that Corey has utilized all the information that he got from the Assessment, without deviation. All the work that Corey does, whether it's for a kitchen, bathroom, or anything else, it all follows exactly the same process. Looking deeper into the data, to figure out where the biggest strengths and weaknesses of himself and his staff were and to align his fees accordingly. Core shares some graphs, demonstrating the conceptual phase of his and his staff's assessment. What the graph demonstrating the execution phase of Corey's Assessment says to him. The importance of documents being communicated correctly, on time, with the right information and all complete, together. A process to ensure that the documents are being communicated correctly, on time, with the right information all complete and together, with MyDoma Studio. Flipping over to using Quickbooks to easily manage accounting systems, to save time. Some key solutions to invite the vendor into the project. Managing punch lists. Using tracking sheets for orders, to really work well as a team. A formulated process that Corey used, to help him to determine the appropriate fees to charge. Addressing, and then utilizing failures to their best advantage. The three phases of the evaluation are also the same three phases of a project. Corey's formula for structuring flat fees. Why Corey charges for each phase, before moving on to the next. The difference between General Contractors and Designers. The importance of really good communication. When product sales come into the picture. The importance of having a Termination Clause in your agreement with a client. Making use of a Design Retainer, which remains retained until the final invoice is done. (Then the balance is refunded.) If you have any questions, either for this section or for the section that Judith covered, please email them to LuAnn, to be answered on the next episode of Design Biz Live. ([email protected] and please put Design Biz Live Question in the subject line.)

Welcome to today's episode of Power Talk Friday! LuAnn is thrilled beyond belief to introduce you to today's guest, Katie Krimitsos! Katie is the founder of the Facebook Community Biz Women Rock, and she uses this platform to educate and bring women entrepreneurs together, from all around the world. When you listen to Katie on her show, she is so real, so empathetic and so willing to share what she's learned and she's really on the ball with her on-air Coaching too, so listen in today, to find out more about Katie and the way that she manages to do so many different things really, really well! Katie, who has a Masters Degree in Communication, has a great depth of experience in helping and teaching her fellow women entrepreneurs how to get their businesses on track. Within the platform of Biz Women Rock that Katie has created, she has the Biz Women Rock Podcast, she teaches a course on how to create a rocking Facebook Community, she has the Mompreneur Series, she has a blog, she has her Money Moxy Series and she also has the Biz Women Rock Academy, where you get education, support, mindset and strategy training, community challenges, hot seats, goal setting and so much more! Listen in now, to find out what Katie has to share with you on the show today. Show highlights: A huge and really common pain point around mindset, that most women entrepreneurs tend to experience. How Katie helps entrepreneurs with their mindset. The way that women's roles and responsibilities are really so deeply entwined with how they show up for business. How Katie helps women by reflecting their light back to them. How your own personal development impacts everything about your business. The journey of entrepreneurship never really ends (just like being a parent)- you will constantly be challenged to do things better. Some of the things that make the entrepreneurial journey a bit easier, down the line. How Katie helps people whose backs are against the wall, to get their businesses back on track. What Katie did to help her husband get his business back on track. The steps that Katie took to create a major transition in her business, in order to really make it work. Why you really need to be super clear about what you're doing in your business. Katie explains all about the Biz Women Rock Retreat that she's planning, between the 1st and the 3rd of December. Links: Katie's website: www.bizwomenrock.com Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/biz-women-rock-with-katie-krimitsos/id818183720?mt=2 Twitter: @katiekrimitsos Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiekrimitsos/ Join Our Exclusive Facebook Group for FREE! Full of over 4,800 of your fellow business women!

Welcome to today's show! We have Michelle Woeller as our guest and today she will be talking to us about how to build a new client base, after relocating to a new area. Michelle and her family relocated to Cape Cod about a year ago and today she discusses what she had to do in her new community, and the strategies she employed, to get her Interior Design firm off the ground there. Listen in now, to get some awesome tips from Michelle. Michelle graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a degree in Fashion Buying and Merchandising and she also studied Interior Design at the same university. After a career in Retail Settings and Product Design, she took some time off, to focus her attention on raising her children. Then, in 2006, she became the lead Designer for her husband's Landscaping Company, where she and her husband collaborated in the designing of outdoor spaces for both residential and commercial properties. In 2013, Michelle launched Summerland Homes And Gardens, a Design Studio dedicated to beautiful design, for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Then, in the summer of 2016, Michelle and her family decided to move to Cape Cod, so now Michelle works with Cape Cod home owners, to transform their homes and capture the wonder of seaside living. Listen in to find out how Michelle built up her client base, in this new location. Show highlights: What it was like for Michelle, to find her feet in a new area. How Michelle did her marketing, found new vendors and formed a network, in her new area. The challenge of finding new clients in an area where most people only live for part of the year. How much Michelle's business increased over a four year period, due to paid marketing. The whole real life process that Michelle went through and how it felt for her, to identify and reach out to the Architects and Builders in her new area. The importance of not taking things personally. The value of reaching out to some people who are not directly involved in your industry. Weathering the off-season in Cape Cod. Michelle and her husband's experience of attending a three day Ten X Growth Conference Event in Miami. Some of the things that Michelle learned at the Ten X Growth Conference. Michelle's practice of starting each day with positivity, to put everything into the right perspective. The way that Michelle and her husband collaborate with their businesses. What the operational side of Michelle's business looks like. Michelle's dilemma of which direction to take her business and whether or not to expand it. How Brittanie Elms has really helped Michelle. (Go back and listen to episode #149 to find out more about Brittanie.) Michelle shares about what it was like for her, working with her husband. Links: http://summerlandhomesandgardens.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Summerland-Homes-Gardens-660101854019470/ https://www.instagram.com/ellesummerland/ Go to www.curatedkravet.com and use the code CK Podcast, to get 10% off your entire first purchase!

Welcome to another episode of A Well Designed Business! Today we have Adam Scougall on the show. He's someone who has become quite famous to all of us through the Facebook groups that we're in, where he's become our good friend and also someone that we really value! Today, Adam and LuAnn have decided to zero in on some really interesting topics, including photography and leaving your day job to become a full-time Interior Designer. Listen in now, to find out what Adam has to share with you. Adam, who is an artist as well as an Interior Designer, opened his Interiors Consulting Business in New South Wales, Australia, in 2010 and ever since then, he has been creating and studying Residential Interiors for his clients, across New South Wales. His work has been featured in many national and international publications, including Home Beautiful, Real Living, Grand Designs Australia and Singapore's Metropolitan Home Magazine. What really hooked LuAnn about Adam is that he also has a full-time corporate job, which he has no intention of leaving in the foreseeable future. LuAnn really found this is very interesting, especially when they discussed the pros and cons of having a full-time job while running a Design Business on the side. So, listen in- you may find this really interesting if you are possibly in a similar position to Adam, working full time, while building your Interior Design Business. Show highlights: The really amazing support and information that you can access, by joining Facebook Groups. What Adam is focusing on at the moment. Adam explains how he goes about saying 'no' to projects that aren't a good fit for him. How Adam manages his time. How Adam selects his ideal clients. The criteria that make something really photo-worthy for Adam. How Adam manages to get everything done for his Design projects while working full time. Scope Creep- what it means and how Adam manages to deal with it. How Adam structures his fees, to make an allowance for the amount that he has to pay his professional photographer. Adam, who does all his own styling currently, explains why his photography is so effective. Why Adam would consider hiring a stylist in the future. Adam explains his philosophy of telling a story, through his photo shoots. If you're looking to learn more about styling your own photo shoots, you can go back and listen to episode #108. Links: Adam's website: www.adamscougall.com.au website and social: https://twitter.com/AdamScougall https://www.facebook.com/adam.scougall https://www.instagram.com/adam_scougall/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-scougall-403785139/

We have Jessica Brace with us as our guest on today's Power Talk Friday. LuAnn is very appreciative and happy to have her on the show, because she's really well sought after in podcasting circles, due to her expertise in Internet and Video Marketing. LuAnn has also enjoyed several other podcast episodes, where Jessica was the featured guest, talking about Facebook Live. So listen in, as Jessica shares some of her expertise about Facebook Live with you, today. We're doing a whole series about Facebook Live on the show and statistics have been mentioned by more than a few of the guests recently, that by around 2020, approximately eighty percent of all social media will be done by video. We also know from others in the Design Industry, about how important Facebook Live, Instagram, and Snapchat have become. LuAnn finds Facebook Live to be a particular conundrum though, because, on the one hand, she sees it as a great platform for our really visual Industry, however, on the other hand, Designers do tend to struggle a bit with the mechanics of how to do it and sometimes even with the content. So listen in, as Jessica sheds some light on how to get going with Facebook Live and how to keep going, from there. Show highlights: Jessica starts off by explaining what Facebook Live really is and also, why you should consider doing it. The two types of video that Jessica uses for Facebook Live. When you would use either pop-ups or pre-planned video content on your Facebook Live. The difference between the videos on Youtube and those on Facebook Live. Why consistency is key, with Facebook Live. A strategy that works really well, with Facebook comments. The best way to get people to share your Facebook content. How to go about doing your Facebook Live and what you'll need, in order to do it. Writing a compelling headline, which is key to getting people to watch your FB Live. Introducing yourself, on your video. How FB Live videos are automatically embedded on other social media platforms, to reach a really huge audience. Why it's okay for your videos to be casual and relaxed. What to share, on your FB Live video. The fun things that you can do with your Facebook Video Library. Uploading captions on your video. There is an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for getting everything done on FB Live. How the transcripts for FB Live work. Why perfection is really the lowest standard! The fun things you can do to educate your audience, with Facebook Live. Jessica's Genius Extraction on Facebook Live. Building momentum, in order to become established on FB Live. The programs and freebies that Jessica has to offer, on her website. Go to facebook.com/groups/shebroadcasts for Jessica's group She Broadcasts. Links: Give away for listeners: Free FB Live Cheat Sheet: http://purplemermaidstudios.com her email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-brace-56858b13b/ Her FaceBook Group: She Broadcasts https://www.facebook.com/groups/shebroadcasts/?ref=br_rs

Welcome to another episode of A Well Designed Business! Today we have Kendra Bester with us on the show. She's an Interior Decorator who runs her own firm in the Toronto area and today she talks to LuAnn about some of the challenges that she's faced and the things that she's learned in her first three years in business. She also discusses the importance of setting up great systems in your business and ensuring that you really have your finances in good order. Listen in to find out more about Kendra and the way she runs her firm. Kendra received her degree in Environmental Science from the University of Guelph. She then switched career tracks and enrolled at Humber College, in their Interior Decorating Program. She graduated there with first-class honors and she's now a Certified Interior Decorator. Listen in today, to find out more about Kendra's take on the business side of Design. Show highlights: Some tips for new Designers about the right kind of questions to ask during the initial consultation with a client. How to find the personal style for each client. Developing a set of questions, to help your client figure out what they're actually looking for. Using Pinterest to help you discover patterns that your client could be gravitating towards. The second consultation is really important- this is usually the make or breaks one. Looking for clues to better inform you about your clients. Dealing with situations where you feel you're not the right fit for the project. Gearing your portfolio towards the kinds of projects you'd really like to be doing in the future. Pictures are really powerful! Take loads of them! What it really takes to be the Boss Lady. The importance of being in the know about the financial aspect of your business. How Kendra handles the interview and hiring process. Links: A Link to Kendra's bio here: About Kendra Her Website: Kendra Bester Design Her Instagram: @kendrabesterdesign Find Kendra on Facebook: Kendra Bester Design Pinterest: Kendra Bester

Welcome to A Well Designed Business! Today we have a really special treat for LuAnn (and hopefully for you too). We have Interior Designer Marina Umali of Marina V Design Studio in New Jersey with us and on today's show she discusses the art of Feng Shui and how she uses this practice in conjunction with her Interior Design work. At the time of recording this show, both Marina and LuAnn were really looking forward to the Lunch And Learn, where Marina presented Five Easy Steps To Invite Success Into Your Personal And Your Professional Life, With The Art Of Feng Shui, at the Window Works Showroom. Although the Lunch And Learn has already aired, you can still go over to www.facebook.com/awelldesignedbusiness and find it. Listen in to find out more! Marina is a New York State Certified Interior Designer. She's lead accredited and she studied Architecture at Parson School Of Design and Interior Design at The Fashion Institute Of Technology. Marina worked as an Interior Designer for a number of different Architectural firms in New York City, before starting Marina V Design Studio. She is a Certified Feng Shui Practitioner and she is about to start her second term on the board of the International Feng Shui Guild. You may even remember Marina from the My Doma commercials that she recorded over the summer. Listen in now, to find out more about Marina and how she uses the art of Feng Shui to enhance her Designing. Show highlights: What initially drove Marina to learning about Feng Shui. Marina gives an example of how Feng Shui really changed someone's life. How changing the décor of your home, using the art of Feng Shui, could really bring changes to other, unrelated areas of your life. How Feng Shui really works hand in hand with Interior Design. Marina's common sense approach to using Feng Shui in conjunction with Interior Design. What the course that Marina did, to learn about Feng Shui, entailed. There are a number of different schools of thought about Feng Shui, so this should be kept in mind, when selecting a school, if you're considering studying it. Some of the differences in the various schools of thought about Feng Shui. Why you should care about Feng Shui, in Marina's opinion. How Fung Shui talks to other, seemingly unrelated areas of people's lives, via their intention. Marina explains how Feng Shui is working with LuAnn and her partners, at Window Works. Marina gives some things to bear in mind about Feng Shui, when making some changes, or designing a space. Playing around with the various elements of Feng Shui, to create a more harmonious space. (Water, wood, fire, metal) Why the position of your bed is more important than you'd think. Marina's intuitive use of Feng Shui. What to look out for, in terms of Feng Shui, when looking at a home. Using Feng Shui when changing the layout of a house. What the Feng Shui Guild has been set up for. Marina is going to host a workshop for interior Designers, on how to incorporate Feng Shui into your designs and also about what you need to know about Feng Shui, to inform your clients. If you, as an Interior Designer, have any questions relating to Feng Shui, you can email Marina for answers. ([email protected]) Link: Use the link www.mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness to access the goodies that are there for you!

Welcome to today's Power Talk Friday! This is the next episode in our Facebook Coaching Series and we have the fabulous Molly Mahoney joining us on the show today. Molly is the Prepared Performer, the Camera Confidence Coach and she's also a Facebook Live Ninja! She really has an incredible amount of energy and passion for showing Entrepreneurs, Artists and Business Owners how to up their visibility and online presence by leveraging all the latest and most powerful features that Facebook has to offer. Listen in to find out more! Today, Molly gives some really awesome tips on how to identify your ideal client, so that you can attract them to your Facebook Business Page. She also talks about how to understand Facebook Ads and about how to host Facebook Live broadcasts, to provide great value and build deeper relationships. Molly is the very first guest on this show to talk about Facebook Messenger Bots, which can really help you to attract more of your perfect clients and customers in a unique and reliable way. It is a bit complicated, so pay close attention and you're sure to get it. Molly also has a free gift for you today, so be sure to stay with us right to the end of the show. Listen in now, to learn about the really useful strategies that Molly has to share with you, to help you to effectively engage with people and to draw them into your Facebook Live Videos. Show highlights: The real point behind everything that Molly teaches. Focusing on the way that you address a mass audience. Content and confidence- they're both really important. Figuring out who you are. You really are the most important element of your business. An exercise that Molly created, called “The Quesadilla Of Awesome”, to help you discover your own, uniquely awesome skill set. Working with the way you look (and feel about the way you look) on camera. A trick to open your mind, to really embrace the space that your ideal client is in. Molly explains how to start your live video. It's one of the keys to her formula for creating really awesome live videos. Using Messenger Bots to get much higher open rates for your Facebook messages. Tips for staying platform specific and still getting people to 'click this link'. How Messenger Bots can save you having to create PDF's. Awesome ways to use your video to build viewership, even if nobody shows up to watch it. Better ways to boost your video. How Molly does her Facebook Ads as Engagement Ads. Why (and how) you should have your Facebook Ads on the news feed and not on the sidebar. Molly explains all about Messenger Bots, how to use them and what you need to have in place, in order to use them on your Facebook Business Page. Messenger Bots can be overwhelming and confusing, so Molly has created an awesome mini-course called The Messenger Automation Academy. Using Growth Tools as ways to build your subscriber base. Why you should not be doing business on your Facebook Personal Page. How Molly works her Facebook Personal Page to enhance her Facebook Business Page. Molly has a 'done for you' Bot Service because it really can be so confusing for some people. Molly has some really great, free resources for you today! Links: To access everything that Molly has for you today, go to: www.thepreparedperformer.com/design Her website: www.thepreparedperformer.com Her social: https://www.facebook.com/thepreparedperformer https://twitter.com/prep2perform https://www.instagram.com/thepreparedperformer/ https://www.youtube.com/user/ThePreparedPerformer https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-mahoney-072a1024/ https://www.pinterest.com/mollymmahoney/

We are back together for another installment of Design Biz Live, in spite of all the obstacles and scheduling conflicts we’ve had to overcome to make it happen! I’m back with my trusted experts, Judith Neary of Roadside Attraction Design Studio, and Corey Klassen of Corey Klassen Interiors. One of our goals is to cover all aspects of the flat fee vs. hourly rate question that designers face. What we have discovered is that there is a more basic issue at stake that we must turn our attention to first. The issue is that YOU, as a designer, need to know what you are and are not most efficient at in your business. In other words, you need to break down the work of a designer into your personal strengths and weaknesses. Corey and Judith have developed a self-assessment for principals to use in evaluating all the different things we do for our clients. As industry leaders, Judith and Corey have spent a lot of time speaking in front of their peers, and they have developed this tool with the purpose of evaluating your skills as they relate to your design firm. In this show, I talk with Judith about how solo firms and smaller firms can use the assessment to develop their fee structures.Let’s jump into this conversation! Show highlights: Gear your services toward your skill set according to the self-assessment How Judith and Corey got the idea for developing this helpful tool The three phases of the assessment: concept, execution, and administration Debunking the “ideal client” myth Why you need to get clear on what you do really well A basic fundamental that a designer must figure out via the self-assessment: What am I most efficient at? How can I fill in the gaps that I’m not best at? Look for opportunities to improve your skill set Your business evolves and grows as a living, breathing entity The relationship between your strengths and weaknesses and the question of flat fee vs. hourly rates For the client, services needed in each of the three phases and their associated fees Segmenting your services in each distinct phase How the designer controls “the process” Setting the project and the team up for success How designers get into trouble when they tackle things they aren’t good at How Corey graphed his and his employees’ strengths of skill and how the result measured up to their perceptions When you as the business owner-need to change the outcome How to have the difficult conversations with employees “Am I interested in rehabilitating this employee or do I want them to leave my firm?” The “show-tell-do” and feedback process Reach out to get an honest evaluation of your performance as a designer How to ask questions to former clients for feedback about your fee structure Links: Corey's website: Corey Klassen Judith's website: Road Side Attraction Studio Download the Skills Worksheet Here: www.windowworks-nj.com/designbiz2

Welcome to today's show and happy birthday to LuAnn! Today's guest, Angela Harris, is the principal of Trio Environments and she is a real dynamo! Trio Environments is one of the fastest growing Interior Design and Visual Merchandising firms in the USA today and in less than ten years, it is on track to becoming an international leader in Market-Driven Design. The company currently has over twenty employees and it manages more than seventy-six projects at any given time, both locally and nationally. More than twenty-one thousand homes have been sold with the assistance of Trio Environments, who has also generated over seven billion dollars in revenue to date, from Commercial and Residential clients. Listen in to find out more about Angela and the amazing success she's had with Trio Environments. Angela has a B.S. in Marketing and Management, from the University of Colorado. After obtaining her degree, she went to work in an Engineering Firm but wasn't really happy there, because she didn't feel that she was living up to her full potential, so she dropped everything to pursue her dream career in Interior Design. She enrolled in an Interior Design program and spent her last five hundred dollars on business cards, direct mail and a few another start-up costs and then she launched Trio Environments. Angela also has a Masters Degree in Sustainable Design, from the Philadelphia University and she sits on the Denver Home Builders Association Board of Directors. She manages seven councils through the HBA and she sits on the Sales and Marketing Council for the National Association of Home Builders. Angela has developed a three-part process, to give her company a competitive edge- it assesses a client's baseline value, through their Design program, it introduces Market Design principals and finally, it executes a design that's innovative, attractive and profitable. Listen in now, to find out how important it really is to be prepared and to have good systems in place and also to experience the passion that inspires Angela to fuse her market-driven approach with the creation of really beautiful spaces. Show highlights: Angela describes the types of relationships that she has built her business on, with builders and developers. How Angela has been able to expand her brand, to really handle the entire creative process. Angela describes her company's creative process, which really allows them to be a part of something bigger. Angela explains how their process is really all about the experience of their audience, where every detail is relevant. Angela discusses the enormous amount of work that they do on the upfront side of their projects, in terms of Market Research and Market Data. Why Angela thinks that her company has been so much more successful than most Design Firms. Angela explains her initial process of creating relationships with builders and developers- what it takes and how you, as a Designer, could learn to do the same. Angela explains the best way to start out with doing the types of projects that she does. Angela discusses how she went about creating a really awesome team, with great synergy. Capitalising on people's strengths and passions, rather than their weaknesses, to make the whole machine work. Angela explains the way that her whole team works and what everyone focuses on. They really want to help and support one another. The tight systems and solid processes that they have in place. How they actually developed these processes. Angela's Colorado Companies To Watch video, where they were awarded recognition, as one of the Companies to watch. The criteria that actually earned Angela the Award. What is involved in the bidding process, for projects? Please give LuAnn a bit of birthday love today and go on over to iTunes and rate and review this show. She will really appreciate it! Links: Her website: http://trioenvironments.com/angela-harris.htm Social: https://www.instagram.com/trioenvironments/ https://www.facebook.com/TRIOEnvironments https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-harris-89314a11/