A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

Welcome to today's episode! I have Steven G, of Interiors By Steven G, with me today and we will be talking about how and why Steven G came to the decision to leave the first interior design firm that he partnered with and how he launched his own company, based on the lessons (or the negatives, as he calls them) that he learned there. He will also discuss how he established his company and reputation with the luxury property developers in the South Florida region. Today's show is a fantastic example of gambling on yourself and of calculating the risk vs your return on investment, so please listen in carefully to what Steven has to share with you today. Interiors By Steven G is one of South Florida's most outstanding interior design firms. Steven leads a team of more than eighty professionals, which include licensed interior designers who are fluent in seven languages, interior design renderers, a full Autocad department, design assistants, an in-house marketing and PR department, as well as a full warehouse team with their own fleet of trucks. Their locations include a one-hundred-thousand square foot corporate office and showroom and the NOW by Steven G Showroom. These are both located in Broward County. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: How Steven intentionally, and also organically built his collaborations with the luxury property developers in South Florida. Why Steven has focused his career and business on the luxury condominium market. How Steven used to reach his buyers through his sales center. How Steven works between seventy and eighty hours every week to remain out-of-the-box as a designer. How Steven's business first began to blossom, and how he found his niche. The importance of being structured in the way you do your business. How Steven has never forgotten where he came from- or to say 'thank you'. Steven's humble approach to his business. How Steven got his foot in the door with the luxury property developers, early on in his business. How Steven assesses the potential return on his investments. Reaping the benefits of long-term design investments. How Steven realized that the first firm that he partnered with was going to crash and burn. The way that Steven built his company on 'the negatives'. Steven is always reachable- this really works for him! How working hard can allow you to eventually land in a really beautiful place! The importance of creating your own destiny. Steven is a wealth of knowledge- and he is willing to share it with you, designers! Why you always need to think ahead of the game. Please take the time to go to Steven's website interiorsbysteveng.com The work is really unbelievable! Resources: Interiors By Steven G Steven on social media: Facebook Twitter Instagram Linkedin

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! Last Friday we started a great conversation with Ashley Hotham-Cox, the editor-in-chief of Home Design & Decor in Charlotte, about how to pitch yourself and how to get press. Today we are really happy to continue the conversation with Amy Flurry. Amy has appeared once before on the show, on episode #108 and she's really a smart lady, so if you haven't met her yet, you are really in for a treat! Listen in now to find out more! Amy has two decades of editorial experience, conceiving ideas for stories, producing shoots, and writing copy for magazines and online publications. These include Country Living, In Style, Refinery 29, Conde Nast Traveller, Better Homes and Gardens, and Lucky Magazine. Amy authored Recipe For Press- Pitch Your Story and Create A Buzz, (which we spoke about in episode #108) after being inspired by her career in publishing. She has now written her second book, Recipe For Press- Designer Edition. This book is filled to the brim with tools for interior designers, architects, landscape planners, and product designers who need to take advantage of any new media opportunities which are available. Amy applies her collective expertise- from trend direction to product and brand development, working with companies to expand their marketing strategies and to connect businesses to the interior design trade. Listen in to find out what she has to share with you on today's show. Show highlights: The really great advice that Amy gave to LuAnn when they first met. About Amy's fabulous new book, Recipe For Press- Designer Edition. The overarching points that Amy wanted to get across in her new book. Why designers need to create a strategy for getting press. The shift that Amy has seen lately, in the design industry. The new opportunities that are available now, for designers to get their names out there. Why you need to have a really good pitch. How to create a killer pitch. Why you really need to know what you want to get from the press. Remember that all publications need content! The amount of work that you're going to be in for when you engage with a publicist. Why it makes more sense to pitch for publications in your neighborhood. Press is not about ego- it's actually about business! Working your way up- starting with your local press and local market. About Amy's layering strategy. The way that Amy creates events that are really worthwhile for everyone in the room. Why retailers really want you, as interior designers, in their showrooms. The importance of sharing- and recycling images. Celebrating the things that set you apart from other designers. Some of the fabulous resources that are available on Amy's website- Recipe For Press. About Amy's incredible company- Paper-Cut-Project. You can see it on Instagram. Links: Other episodes mentioned on this show: Laura Thurman #272 Claire Staszak #166 Lynn K Leonidas #179 And Amy Flurry appeared before on episode #108 To order your copy of Amy's book go to Recipe For Press. Go to Luann Nigara, to the 'live events' tab, to find the RSVP link for the opening night, at Lefroy Brooks, of the ICFF at the AND Building on 22nd May. The first 25 people will receive a free book from LuAnn! To figure out all the things that you can do with MyDoma Studio go to My Doma Studio. To get onto LuAnn's email list text the word designbiz to 444 999, or go to her website www.luannnigara.com and go to the events page.

Welcome to today's episode! On the show today we are going to be having an in-depth conversation with Deborah Von Donop, an interior designer, and well-known blogger. We will be talking to Deborah about monetizing your blog and also about how and why it is really important to create a content-rich blog, in order to drive readers and design enthusiasts to your website for the opportunity to monetize through affiliate links and sponsored content. Listen in to find out more about networking as your biggest resource for growth. Deborah is the principal of DVD Interiors in Connecticut and she is the editor and founder of the national blog DVD Interior Design. Deborah also guests blogs for a number of other sites, including Westchester Magazine, I blog Magazine, Blissfully Domestic.Com and more. She writes weekly posts about design resources, highlights from industry events and also interior design topics which are aimed to educate and inspire her readers. Deborah's experience includes a BFA in Interior Architecture from Cal State University in Long Beach, a CCIDQ certification, an NCIDQ certification and a LEED GA credential. All of this combines really well to bring an in-depth knowledge to all of her projects. Listen in now to find out what Deborah has to share about upping your game in social media. Note- This show with Deborah pairs very nicely with the upcoming show featuring Claire Jefford, which will air next week. It follows up on today's show with how to create your own content to sell through your website and blog, so be on the lookout for that! Show highlights: Deborah discusses her evolution from interior designer to online media marketing expert. How Deborah really got to grips with the online marketing space from the inside out. How the online marketing space has really widened Deborah's opportunities. How Deborah is now applying her experience from her blog, over the last few years, to her interior design business. Why Deborah really loves to teach people about the importance of republishing their work. Why you really have to give a lot before asking for anything back in the online space. Three good places to start with monetizing your blog. How advertising has evolved to become more sophisticated. Making money through affiliate marketing. Why middle bloggers are rising in the online space. Why you should always be consistent with your message in the online space. About word of mouth marketing. Ten great online environment options. Getting your blog to the point where you can monetize it. How much traffic you need to be a successful affiliate marketer. The benefits of using evergreen content in your blog. Creating income through sponsored content. Why you have to be really passionate about blogging to make it. Links: To contact Deborah, or to get her Visibility Package go to DvD Interior Design Book mentioned on the show: Jab Jab Jab Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuck. To get all the details about the Kips Bay show-house go to Kips Bay show-house

Welcome to today's episode! We are really happy to have Ashley Hotham Cox with us and she's going to be a really hot topic on the show today! Ashley comes with a significant level of experience. She used to be with Traditional Home and now she is the newly appointed editor-in-chief of Home Design & Decor. Listen in today to find out what Ashley has to share about promoting your design work through features in interior design magazines. Ashley is a long-time Charlotte local- with a twist. As a North Carolina native, she graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor of arts degree in fashion and a master's degree in journalism before earning her experience as a writer at Charlotte, Charlotte Wedding, and Charlotte Home & Garden magazines, and also as an editor at Traditional Home in New York. She is also a designer, having earned her certificate in interior design from the Parsons School of Design. Ashley returned home in 2016 to join the team of Home Design & Decor. Listen in now to find out more about how to pitch successfully, to be featured in design publications. Show highlights: Ashley discusses the big differences between what she was doing at Traditional Home and what she's doing now as an editor-in-chief at Home Design & Decor. Ashley discusses an overview of the editorial calendar and what she's looking out for, and how this affects you, as designers. Finding the cut-off dates for specific features. What you can do if you miss the cut-off date for a certain feature to promote some work that you've done. Weighing up if you should publish on Instagram or not if you have missed a deadline. Everything is always subject to change in time. Becoming really familiar with a specific publication before pitching your work to them. Ashley discusses what her front-of-book looked like for last year. The exceptions to the rule of featuring new design projects only. The kind of pitch that really gets Ashley's attention. What you need, in order to be considered for a magazine feature. Why you shouldn't be discouraged if you get a 'no' from an editor. Photography is not cheap, so should you supply your own photos for a magazine feature, or not? Why you need to turn the lights off when taking pictures for a publication. Photographing interiors is very different to taking real estate shots. Why Ashley doesn't really buy into trends. Why you need to really get to know about a publication before pitching them. Ashley's favorite thing about her job. Things that will really make your project different, bring life to an interior- and a great story! Social Media: Instagram: @AshleyHCox @Clt_homedesigndecor @tri_homedesigndecor

Welcome to today's show! We are really happy to have Jo Buckerfield with us today. She is the designer and project manager for the UK based design firm Your Space Living and her husband, Mike Buckerfield, is their studio manager. Mike has been Jo's champion in getting her onto the podcast and it's been no easy task because it's just not her thing to go out and be interviewed! Mike emailed LuAnn a few months back, saying that he'd been listening to the show and that he loves it! He explained that having Jo on the show would really bring it so much value because she is truly an amazing designer in the UK, so listen in to find out what she has to share on the show today. When the home design company that Jo had been working for as a furniture designer for many years went out of business unexpectedly in 2012, she wanted to ensure that the clients who had been left with unfinished projects still got their dream homes. That was when Your Space Living was born. Working tirelessly and out-of-pocket for six months, Jo and Mike completed every one of the abandoned projects, and so they laid the foundations for the successful company that they are still running today! Jo's design expertise, creativity, and vision allow them to go beyond the standard and create beautiful spaces that meet the needs of modern-day families. Listen in now to find out more. Show highlights: Jo is a full-service interior designer who leads with her kitchen design- she explains how this really works for her interior design firm. Jo explains all about her great reward-based client referral system, which is also an awesome marketing tool. How Jo evolved to becoming a project manager. Jo's really rewarding personal approach to her clients. The lovely gift hampers that Jo gives her clients to say 'thank you' at the end of a project. The little touches that serve as reminders to Jo's past clients. The intentional way that Jo keeps a positive spin about kitchen design on her website. The massive difference between kitchen design and interior design. How Jo manages to have enough time to spend with her clients through doing mainly kitchen design. The recent evolution of kitchen design. Why it really helps to understand the construction aspect of design. How Jo really puts her heart and soul into the industry. Jo's way of dealing with potential clients who are not the right fit for her business. Constantly tweaking her website to ensure that the right message is being put out there. Adding value for clients by giving them the right advice. Ways to be able to work with your ideal client with no worries. Social Media: Your Space Living Facebook Twitter Instagram: @yourspaceliving

There is a new landscape to how consumers are shopping for design products. More and more design clients are choosing products and features online. It might seem like the heyday of the local Design Center is over, but that is far from the truth. Your local design center is an ever-evolving resource for you and all of your design products. How can you properly utilize a design center to keep up with a changing industry? How do they remain a designer-focused tool, rather than a consumer-focused tool? My guest, Kristan McLaughlin, is going to answer all of this and more! Kristan McLaughlin is the General Manager of Leasing & Partnerships at the Boston Design Center (BDC), the region’s preeminent destination for luxury interior furnishings. For the last 4 years, she has been overseeing the massive 350,000 sq. ft. space that houses 70 home and contract showrooms. Kristan is also the President of the Design Centers International, a Board Member of the Decorative Furnishings Association and a partner to many such as Boston Home, Design New England, and New England Home to name a few. Kristan is a proud mom of 5 humans and 2 Golden Retrievers - Hula and Finn - who keep her from becoming a true empty-nester. She and her family look forward to moving back to Boston in the future and decorating their “grown-up home.” I am excited for you to hear so much more about how the Boston Design Center is ahead of the curve in innovation and style. You won’t want to miss out! More in this episode: Why a Design Center is still an important part of the new landscape of consumer purchases. Why a Design Center is the place for the most “Aha” moments! Design Centers across the country are absolutely evolving to the new market and new consumer. Event spaces and conference rooms are just another way the Centers are utilizing their spaces well. Clients don’t have to come in with a designer. Discover the product search engine that was designed within the industry! The new offerings that Design Centers are doing to make their services even more accessible. Being a part of the Design Center can be a good way to keep your foot in the field. Engaging with the internet is good for business. Resources: Boston Design @bostondesigncenter Facebook: Boston Design Center @kristanmclaughlin

Welcome to today's show! We are delighted to introduce you to our guest for the show, Jill Zarin. Jill is a veteran of the TV show Real Housewives of New York, and wife of the late Bobby Zarin, owner of Zarin Fabrics in New York. We will be talking to Jill today about Zarin Fabrics, about the rug line that she has recently launched with Unique Loom, and about her luxury ladies lunch that she hosts every year in the Hamptons for charity. Jill has also promised to give us a tour of her apartment in New York City, which boasts some pieces from DXV for the faucets, and all her rugs are there, too! Listen in to find out more! Last fall, Unique Loom, one of the most plentiful sources of handmade and power loomed rugs in the world, teamed up with Jill to create their very first rug collaboration. It's a vibrant collection, offering bold, colorful options with an airy and modern feel. This collection delivers quality design at an attainable price, which is a priority shared by both Jill and Unique Loom. The collection was inspired in part by Jill's personal style, as well as the various motifs found in the history of Manhattan's urban design. Listen today to find out more about this awesome collaboration. We're sure that every single person who knows Jill is thinking about her and everything that she went through recently, with the loss of her beloved husband, Bobby. Show highlights: The tedious way that advertising used to be done in the past. A little about the way that Zarin Fabrics used to be run in the past. Surprisingly enough, Zarin Fabrics is actually a fabric warehouse! Zarin Fabrics is the only drapery and upholstery supply company in the city of New York. Jill's experience with Macy's Training Program. Some of the projects and products lines that Jill developed prior to her collaboration with Unique Loom. Respecting the expertise of those who are in the know- unless your gut tells you otherwise! Jill's past jewelry lines and some mistakes she made with them. The wonderful partners that Jill has for her current line of rugs. The fantastic fabrics that Jill's rugs are made of. Jill discusses her fabulously affordable rug lines. How Jill has learned to go with the designs that she likes. All about Jill's luxury charity lunch this year, at Topping Rose House Hotel in the Hamptons. The valuable swag bags that Jill gives away at her charity lunches. The celebrities that show up for Jill's charity lunches. The entrepreneurial aspect of Jill's charity lunches. Enjoy the tour of Jill's apartment. The phenomenal DXV design pieces in Jill's apartment. Links: Jills website: Jill Zarin eSale Rugs Jill on Social Media: Facebook Twitter Instagram Kravet has a new code for you. You can get 10% off any one project using Kravet fabric, trims or wallpaper—specify Kravet fabric, trim and wallpaper for your next interior design project and use the code AWDB10 at checkout!! MyDoma Studio is a software platform that helps you manage your client projects easily and efficiently. Go to MyDoma Studio to learn more.

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We are very excited to have Nicole Heymer back on the show today! Nicole is the owner of Curio Electro, a boutique creative agency that specializes in branding and websites for interior design firms and other interesting and creative businesses. Nicole is the genius behind my LuAnn Nigara website- and I really love it! There are certain things that we do that really represent who we are and what we do and my website is one of those things for me! And one of the reasons for Nicole coming back on the show is rooted in my own experience of being part of her company and going through the whole discovery process of building my website with her. Listen in today as Nicole takes us through her entire, really organized and actionable process- it's just like therapy for your business! Nicole's clear and actionable approach to branding has been featured by some of the design industry's favorite resources and organizations. From ASID's Tech Talk series to the New Jersey chapter and also to the Window Coverings Association of America, Nicole is an active ASID partner and she currently serves as the editor of the New Jersey chapter's Blueprint Magazine. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: Stepping back to get an overview of what you're doing. Starting out with a very clear plan. How Nicole developed her process. The whole planning process. Looking ahead to the goals that you want to accomplish- then doing things in the correct order. Some of the goals that designers could aspire towards. Getting to grips with the messaging on your website. Clearly showing people who and where you are, and what you do, on your website. Being truthful with your messaging when creating your brand. Taking your budget into account when planning your website. Getting really clear about who you want to take action on your website. Getting clear about the kind of action that you would like to be taken on your website. Some things to consider when setting up your website. Nurturing your clients' needs with lead magnets. Telling the story of a project with your portfolio. Ways of driving more traffic to your website. Coming up with content for a blog. About Nicole's Brand Discovery Class that's coming up shortly. Go to brandingdiscovery.com to find out more. Previous shows mentioned in this episode: Nicole Heymer #125 How To Brand Your Interior Design Business Rachel Cannon #306 Sandra Espinet #287 Kae Whitaker #259 Marina Umali #248 Nancy Ganzekaupher #256

Welcome to today's show! We have Wendy Woloshchuk with us today and she's the principal of Details Full Service Interiors located in rural western Massachusetts. Wendy is a real inspiration for designers! She lives and works in a rural area almost two hours away from the nearest design center and yet she's killing it! This is because she knows exactly who her ideal client is and she's claimed it without wasting any time on ideas and pursuits that are not authentic to her client base and all her marketing is intentionally created to attract this client to her every day. It was really no easy task starting an interior design business in a very small community, in the middle of a recession! Wendy is known for her no-nonsense approach and for her creative style with it's attention to detail. Nothing makes her happier than when her clients see how she's managed to infuse their personalities into the design and they love the finished space! Listen in today and become inspired by Wendy, her business model, and her awesome business acumen. Wendy opened Details in 2007 after going back to school to learn interior design as her second career in 2005. Details Full-Service Interiors specializes in designing comfortable, personalized homes for busy families who want to make the most of their family time and resources. Wendy has been using Facebook as her primary marketing tool for the last five years. She shares fun tips and decorating ideas on her Facebook daily live show, The Daily Details, and she has recently started a consumer-facing Facebook group, called The Details Design & Decorating Club, in order to keep her following and her business growing. Listen in now to find out more about Wendy and the way she runs her rural design business. Just to let you know- this show is also available as a video presentation on LuAnn's Youtube channel, A Well- Designed Business. Show highlights: How Wendy first got into using Facebook Live consistently for her marketing. Wendy walks through her whole process of pushing through with Facebook Live. Ways to come across naturally and authentically in your videos. How Wendy creates the content for The Daily Details. How Wendy prepares herself for her Monday videos. Ways for you to emulate what Wendy has been doing on Facebook Live. When she really began to experience engagement on Facebook Live. There are people watching you on Facebook that you don't even know about! Why Wendy chose Facebook as her primary marketing tool. Finding where your ideal client is hanging out on social media. How Wendy found her niche within her community. How Facebook Live makes you more accessible to your ideal market. What it's like- and some tips for doing business in a rural area. The benefits of building a great relationship with your reps. Some free- and some for-purchase downloads that are available on Wendy's website. (Some of them are even MyDoma Studio packages.) You can arrange for a consultation with Wendy and you can also purchase pre-paid furniture packages and even accessories via MyDoma Studio. The benefits of having affiliate sites. The DIY package that's available on Wendy's website. Ways to build a portfolio on your website. LuAnn has done a six-show series on the how, the why and the technical aspects of Facebook for business. These shows can be found on her website (www.luannnigara.com) in the Social Media and Marketing collection. For more FB marketing tips please search social media on LuAnn Nigara Kravet has a new code for you. You can get 10% off any one project using Kravet fabric, trims or wallpaper—specify Kravet fabric, trim and wallpaper for your next interior design project and use the code AWDB10 at checkout!! MyDoma Studio is a software platform that helps you manage your client projects easily and efficiently. Go to My Doma Studio to learn more. Other episodes mentioned on this show: Claire Jefford #237 Rachel Moriarty #55 and #214 Dixie Willard #273 Links: Details Full-Service Interiors Facebook: Details Full Service Interiors Instagram: Details Full Service Interiors

Are you ready to harness the secrets of the best in the industry to create consistently amazing results in your business? this Power Talk Friday is Madeline MacRae. Madeline was LuAnn’s guest in episode 283, and returns for this episode. Madeline is the CEO, founder and chief innovator for MM MacRae, a national learning, coaching and consulting firm. MM MacRae specializes in the development and growth of pros and companies specializing in the home professionals industry. She is such a high energy, driven person, and she shares a wealth of knowledge on this episode. If you’re ready to do what it takes to achieve freedom and long-term growth in your business, you will want to absorb Madeline MacRae’s information like a sponge! What you’ll hear in this episode: Madeline and LuAnn led a seminar on goal setting at the International Window Covering Expo in Tampa, FL, and discovered their ideas on goal setting are identical! 5 Day Sales Challenge (see 5 Day Sales Challenge Facebook Page) to help you learn the need for peer accountability, mindset and to give you concrete tools, that usually cost $3000.00 in our program, to help you tweak things in your business to make it more successful. It will also make you a better salesperson. In addition, you will have a call to action each day. The 5 Day Sales Challenge will include Madeline making a live appearance in the group every day and will share ideas, inspiration, and to answer your questions. Madeline will do some episodes of Facebook Live leading up to the challenge and will let you know when she will appear in the group. Topics will include: Day 1: Master your Metrix Day 2: Confidence is King Day 3: Systems Make Sales Day 4: The Fortune is in the Follow-up There is Gold in your Nose! Discover your inner creativity in relation to sales. Learn the importance of getting a definite yes or no answer when selling. Utilize effective listening skills when listening to your clients’ needs. Learn when a client is really a client, not a potential client or lead. Resources Mentioned in the Episode: mmmacrae.com for consulting and coaching Fasttrackmember.com for Madeline’s Bootcamp landing page 5 Day Sales Challenge on Facebook The 5 Levels of Leadership, by John C. Maxwell Now Discover Your Strengths, by Donald O. Clifton and Marcus Buckingham Strengths-Based Leadership, by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie To get access to some of Madeleine’s goals training absolutely free go to Fast Track Sales Systems.

What does it look like to be so committed to the success of your business that failure simply CANNOT be an option? For some, there is a crutch to fall back on, but for others, the welfare of their family depends on the level of commitment—and there is no Plan B. Today’s guest is passionate about her design business and there is no doubt about her commitment to success and claiming her niche. Kristen Thomas is the principal designer and owner of Studio Thomas, a full-service interior design firm based in Denver. With a degree in interior design and a background in real estate and home building, Kristen has spent the past 20 years honing her ability to transform homes into spaces that truly enhance and elevate the lives of her clients. When you hear Kristen on the show today, you will understand how the term “elevating and enhancing the lives of clients” is a true goal for her—a true mission. She has given careful and thorough thought to knowing very clearly who her ideal client is, what her ideal project is, and what the Studio Thomas aesthetic is. It’s because of this self-discovery that she made a very bold move this past January, and I’ll let her explain exactly what transpired. What you’ll hear in this episode: The growth of Studio Thomas in just 5 years When failure is NOT an option, so you MUST make it work “I’m really concerned with infusing value into my clients’ homes.” The emotion behind the hard work and commitment Creating the culture where employees are empowered and valued Kristen’s goal: to have a company that people love to come and work for and where everyone’s voice is valued The “slow” hiring process in creating chemistry and culture on the team In January 2018---the complete overhaul because Kristen “didn’t want to be everything to everyone” Deciding who you are, finding your best value, and being comfortable in your philosophy Being the best at what you do and making the highest contribution, facing the fear of turning down the jobs that aren’t WHO you are “You have to run your business and not let it run you.” After acquiring 16,000 Instagram followers, Kristen erased it all and started over with intention at every step Revamping, rebranding, and narrowing the focus “Our favorite color is texture.” The story behind the K. Thom lifestyle brand Vetting the client—how it’s done Why clients are willing to trust Kristen and Studio Thomas Kristen’s husband’s role in Studio Thomas and how he helps the growing business The visions, systems, and processes that make the business work and grow as you take bold steps in claiming your niche Resources mentioned in the episode: Camp Chroma WCAANJ Kristen's Website: Studio Thomas Kristen's Instagram: Studio Thomas Kristen's Facebook: Studio Thomas

Welcome to another Power Talk Friday! Financial planning may seem boring, however, the results of it certainly are not! Today we're very happy to introduce you to Hilary Hendershott, a CFA (certified financial adviser) with a lot of street cred. Hilary, who has been nicknamed The Investor's Voice of Reason, is the founder of Hilary Hendershott Wealth Management, a leading financial advisory firm for women and her mission is to motivate women and their loved ones to be financially empowered through wealth building. On the show today Hilary explains why you really don't need to feel intimidated, as a woman, at the thought of consulting with a financial adviser, so listen in to find out what she has to share with you today about money mindset and the importance of proper financial management. Hilary is also the host of Profit Boss Radio, a weekly podcast where she and her guests offer inspiration, advice, and support for women in their financial journey. She's a TedX speaker, she's been featured in the Wall Street Journal, NBC, ABC, Fox, Daily Worth, Forbes, and Investopedia. Hilary was recognized in 2014 as a Top Forty Under Forty Entrepreneur in the Silicon Valley. She's had more than thirty television appearances and she is considered the go-to personal finance expert in the Silicon Valley for NBC. Listen in now to find out why it's really critical for you to understand your finances. Show highlights: The right time to bring in a professional financial adviser. The importance of saving money. Why it really is well worth spending the money on getting some professional financial advice. Why Hilary sees wealth building as the last female frontier. Why you don't actually have a business until you're paying yourself a CEO's salary. About Hilary's course Money Blueprint For Business Owners. Being well compensated for the liability of running a business. Some financial facts that everyone should know. Not having to feel intimidated by your financial adviser. Not throwing the baby out with the bathwater when dealing with a financial adviser. The functions of a fiduciary. Why Hilary avoids using 'Wall Street speak'. Hilary explains the way that she does her business. Understanding the type of business that you're in. The difference between a lifestyle business and a sellable business. Smart ways to save on taxes by forcing yourself to save. Simple tweaks to help you to build a strong and profitable business. Links: Hilary's website: www.hilaryhendershott.com Other episodes mentioned in today's show: Danielle Liss #171 Jody Padar #229

I recently received an e-mail from Colleen from Colleen Knowles Interiors in Mercer Island, WA. Colleen says she is in the process of getting her back of the house systems more organized, and requests that we do a show on purchasing. So, on today’s show, Judith, Corey and I will address all the winding trails you may find yourself on when dealing with all the many facets of purchasing. For many designers just starting out in the industry, purchasing and pricing can sometimes be a volatile topic. Industry norms along with the best practicing of purchasing can overwhelm you if you don’t have good systems in place. Show Highlights: • Corey explains three different models for purchasing and pricing. • Learn some of the pitfalls of the kickback model. • Steering away from legal problems. • A designer can act as a sales consultant.. • A professional approach to pricing • Project minimum, flat fee and hourly pricing • Collecting retainer and consultation fees • How to incorporate pricing for online vendors • Judith discusses managing purchased items onsite. • Avoid discussing net purchase pricing with clients. * The better you handle the contract and front end, the smoother the back end will be. • LuAnn and Judith say there is no substitute for personal touches. Resources: This episode is available on A Well-Designed Business YouTube Channel. Corey Klassen Designs Judith Neary, Roadside Attractions Design Studio

Welcome! Jason Byrne of Jason Byrne Design joins us today for the second airing of The Things I Learned From A Well-Designed Business- the listener version. Jason has been a really kind supporter of the show over the last few months and he's been keeping in touch regularly via email. One time he sent an email with a list of the things that he's done in his business based on what he learned from listening to this podcast and he has sent others, with the specifics about the shows that he really liked and what he gained from listening to them. He particularly enjoyed the solo show about vendors and he sent LuAnn the most amazing, heartfelt email the next day to thank her for the show and to tell her how well it resonated with him! Listen in today to find out more. On the show today Jason starts out discussing his mission statement- Delivering excellence through communication and design- and what it really means to him, because sometimes mission statements can be quite a stumbling block for new designers. Jason, who used to teach Design Technology at Sydney Design School, also shares some of his expertise about the best kind of technology to use for either commercial or residential design and he explains some of the ways that he has made use of what he's learned from the podcast. Listen in to find out what Jason has to share today! Show highlights: Jason talks about his mission statement- how he arrived at it and what it means to him. He explains why he is so focused on clear communication. Why it's so important to Jason that less-than-good news really needs to be delivered in person. Jason explains how this show helped him to develop his 'schedule of fees' and his 'job run sheet' documents. Jason discussed some of the specifics around the documents that he has developed. How Jason ensures that he and his client are really on the same page when discussing design. A document that Jason developed and little exercise he designed to help his clients to understand where they are in the process. The importance of maintaining a really clear connection with your client. How the idea of a weekly client email has really helped Jason. (Laura Umanksy #64) The various design technologies that Jason would recommend for both commercial and residential designers. (He used to teach Design Technology at Sydney Design School.) How to get up and running with Autocad. About some of the more advanced design tech products. Link: Jason's website: www.jasonbyrnedesign.com His website and social: Jason Byrne Design Facebook: Jason Byrne Design Instagram: Jason Byrne Design Pinterest: Jason Byrne Design - Nail Salon

Welcome to the show! We are really delighted today to have Beth Dotolo and Carolina Gentry back again! (Episode #176) These brilliant ladies run a truly amazing design firm, Pulp Design, both in Seattle and in Dallas and on the show today they have some really fun news to share with you! They are about to realize a dream that they've had since starting their business eleven years ago. They are super-excited to finally be launching a licensed fabric collection with S Harris! Listen in now to get the latest! The work of Pulp Design has been recognized and published by Architectural Digest, The Traditional Home and New York Times Magazine. Both Beth and Carolina have been recognized as rising stars in interior design by Fashion Group International and they have both won awards for their fabulous work. Listen in to find out what this dynamic duo has to share with you today. Show highlights: All about the launch of their licensed fabric collection. As designers, Beth and Carolina have always wanted to have a product of their own. How they were approached by the creative director of S Harris. Why S Harris wanted to partner with Carolina and Beth. Creating a quality brand. The way that these two dynamic ladies like to think strategically. What their fabric line is like. Where the inspiration for the fabric designs came from. The whole process of creating the patterns. The inadvertent creation of the design for their fabric collections. The awesome experience of being accepted to collaborate with S Harris. Looking for the right kind of company to align with, as a small firm. Red flags to look out for when offered an opportunity to collaborate. Beth and Carolina's cautious approach to growing their business. The great support that they get from their team. Successfully expressing their brand through all the employees in their company. Taking the time to reflect on the values of your company- before working with anyone. Carolina and Beth's principal of quality completion. Creating success by getting to really know yourself. Get your invitation to their VIP preview event at High Point. (Details on their website pulpdesignstudios.com) Links: Website and SM: Pulp Design Studios Facebook: Pulp Design Studios Twitter: Pulp Design Studios Instagram: Pulp Designs Studios Pinterest: Pulp Design Studios

As Interior Designers, we spend a lot of our time thinking about and choosing color. Have you ever stopped to wonder how that color is actually made? No, we are not talking about mixing pigments at the paint store. Today, I want to dive into the amazing topic of color data. What are the measurable ways that one color is distinct from another? Is there a quantity we can use to describe why some colors work better together than others? Here to help you unravel your Color DNA is Lori Sawaya, the podcast’s newest sponsor, and my amazing guest this week. Lori got her start in graphic design, and as color printing became more readily available, she started to become obsessed with the color management aspects of her career. This obsession turned into several years of dedicated training and study, which led Lori to a whole new understanding of color and how we measure it. From there, Lori developed a course that would teach other designers how to not just measure color data but use it within their design process. Lori's business, Camp Chroma, is all about giving you the foundational tools you need to leverage the power of color data. Other industries rely heavily on the values and measurements surrounding color, so why not Interior Design? Listen to this week’s episode to learn all about how color functions, and how you can begin your journey with Camp Chroma. It’s a whole new world out there, and the future of color looking bright! I am delighted about the partnership between A Well Designed Business and Camp Chroma, and I know you will be too. More in this episode: Lori tells us all about why she loves color so much. Learn all about how color gets made and why Camp Chroma is so powerful! The tools and that you need to analyze color. Now that you have data on color, you need to learn how to utilize it. The actual surfaces that you can use to measure color DNA. Discover the possibilities of the hue angle. We are busting the super big urban legends about color! Take the time to play with your data. We have actually quantified how humans perceive color. Dive into Lori’s design process, armed with the data values. What it means for Lori to be an Architectural Color Design Expert. Camp Chroma starts with the foundation and builds your skills from the ground up. Resources: This episode is sponsored by: Camp Chroma Online Social Media: Instagram: The Land of Color Facebook: Fun Colors Twitter Linkedin: Lori Sawaya Join in Online Luann Nigara

Welcome to today's episode! We really have a big treat in store for you today- we have Lori Weitzner as our guest and if you're not yet familiar with her, she's the principal and creative director of Lori Weitzner Design Inc. Lori has a really unique perspective on the use and significance of color in design and she discusses this today on the show. She also talks about the choices that she's made in her business and she shares many of the big moments that have shaped her career. Lori's latest endeavor is her book Ode To Color- The Ten Essential Palettes for Living and Design and now she's also developed The Ode To Color Analysis- a practical guide on how to find one's color world, as a compliment to the book. Listen in to find out about the windy road and some of the pivotal moments that this super successful lady has taken to get to where she is today. Lori's career as a designer spans thirty years and she's known internationally for her contribution to the world of textiles and wall coverings under that brand Weitzner. The Weitzner brand has been sold through highly esteemed houses, like Sahco, Larson, and Pollack. You may be familiar with Lori because of her trims, which are available through Samuel and Sons, or her rug designs for West Elm, or possibly even through her paper designs for Papyrus. Listen in now to find out more. Show Highlights: A special moment that really stands out for Lori, that set her on her particular career path. What a textile designer actually does. The serendipitous story of what happened when a very young Lori decided to risk everything and go off to a trade show in Lyon France. About Lori's big break with Jack Larson. The secret to how Lori, at the tender age of twenty-two, managed to sell forty-eight of her designs in one weekend, at a trade fair in France. How Lori's confidence has always worked for her. Why you should go for what you really want- not just what you think is possible. Lori shares about her next level of achievement after Jack Larson, with Sahco. How Lori started out with her own business- with a $100 000 loan from the bank. Getting the balance right between Lori's creative side and her business side. How Lori instinctively knew what she was meant to be doing with her career. How Lori's design for her Newsworthy wallpaper was developed. Lori discusses her new book Ode To Color and how it came about. How Lori discovered that her first language was actually color! All about Lori's Color Analysis Test. Resources: Lori's Website: Lori Weitzner To take Lori's test with her Ode To Color Analysis, or to buy her book go to Ode To Color Lori's panel discussion on 3/23/18 at the Architectural Design show in NYC LuAnn's book: The Making of A Well-Designed Business®

Welcome to today's episode of Power Talk Friday! We have Carol Cox with us today and she's the founder of Speaking Your Brand. She's also LuAnn's speaking coach and LuAnn really adores her- especially for her skillful way of assisting her to pull the right content together, in order to craft a captivating and cohesive speech. On the show today Carol explains what you really need to be thinking about, and the best tactics to use if you're not yet that well-known and you're going to be taking part a panel discussion. Listen in to find out about ways to really connect with an audience. Speaking Your Brand helps high-performing and purpose-driven women entrepreneurs and professionals to shape their businesses and personal brands, share their message, and become recognized as influencers in their field. Carol is a sought-after presenter and trainer on public speaking, branding, and leadership for women. She's also a podcaster and a TEDx speaker. Carol teaches classes in business and marketing at a university and she serves as a political analyst on TV news during election seasons. She is based in Orlando Florida and she works with her clients both locally and virtually around the world. Listen in today to find out what Carol has to share about public speaking and really engaging with your audience. Show Highlights: How to be a really great panelist. What a moderator could do to keep the conversation flowing if someone is dominating a panel discussion. What you can do if you're a panelist and someone on the panel is really monopolizing the conversation. Setting the ground rules ahead of time. What you need to prepare beforehand if you're going to be a panelist. Using emotion to create a really engaging story. Giving careful thought to the meaningful content that you're going to be talking about. Tips for being gracious and complimenting others authentically when you're in a panel discussion. Ways that you can bond with the other panelists, before the discussion. Taking the opportunity to network with the other panelists. Why you should give the moderator your own printed introduction before the discussion. Creating the very best pitch for yourself. Checking the room out beforehand, prior to the panel discussion. Ways to alleviate any nervousness you may feel before the discussion. Ways of getting the audience to relate to you. Remember that the more you do it, the better you will get. To check out the Speaking Your Brand Podcast go to www.speakingyourbrand.com/podcast To get the PDF for this show go to www.luannnigara.com/episode307

Welcome to today's show! It really looks like our guest for today, Rachel Cannon of Rachel Cannon Limited Interiors, is doing some good things down in Baton Rouge Louisiana! What really gets LuAnn going is Rachel's promise on her website of a structured process and a step-by-step method, when it comes to her design. On today's show, Rachel talks about the fifteen-step the ten-step processes that she uses with her clients and how she came to develop them. She also discusses the way that she changed her marketing in order to attract the right client. Listen in to find out more. The specialty of Rachel Cannon Limited is designing a space where you'll feel happiest and at peace, that's both practical and uniquely beautiful, and that also tells the story of who you are. Rachel is known for creating classic, fresh, and smart interiors, with details that are both livable and deluxe. As an experienced and licensed interior designer, she leads a team of creative minds who effortlessly mix subtle color and rich architectural features, weaving in the meaningful details of your life. Listen in today to find out about Rachel's design processes and how she markets her business. Show highlights: Rachel discusses her systems and the way that she works with her clients. Rachel's ideal client profile. How Rachel's fifteen-step process About Rachel's Ten-Step New Construction package. What Rachel's VIP Day and her One Week Room Rescue is all about. Why the process keeps refining. How Rachel changed her marketing to attract the right client. A good way of dealing with difficult clients. The value of having a really good contract with your client. Teaching your clients how to work with you. Rachel's document of 'rules' for her clients-why she uses it and what it has in it. The real cost of interruptions when you're working. What brought about a turning point for Rachel, regarding the fees she charges. Discovering your real value. Why it's important to know who your ideal client is. How Rachel's VIP Day came about. Getting clear on charging the right amount for your services. How Rachel vets her potential clients to see if they're a fit for her. Why you really need to document everything that happens with your clients. Links: Her website and social: Rachel Cannon Limited Facebook: RCL Interiors Instagram Twitter Linkedin: Rachel Cannon

Welcome to today's episode of A Well-Designed Business! We are introducing a new feature on the show today, called The Things I Learned From A Well-Designed Business- Listener Shows. This show will be intermingled with our current Power Talk Friday feature and either one or the other will air each Friday. There have been a number of designers who have emailed LuAnn over the years and shared with her their lists of all the things that they have learned from the podcast and then applied directly to their businesses. It then occurred to LuAnn that if you, the listener, actually hear your peers explaining the results of taking those actions, it may just give you the extra push that you need to take action on all the information that you have received from the show. That is what has motivated LuAnn to start this new feature for the show so listen in today to find out more! Our guest for today is Elizabeth Scruggs and she's the owner of Superior Construction And Design in Tennessee. She is the mid state's only female general contractor and designer. She's been in business since 2000. Recognising a love of construction when building her own home at the age of twenty-four, she knew that coupling that knowledge with her interior design skill was a service that few could provide. Elizabeth and SC and D have won numerous awards over the years and she believes that continuing education is vital for success. Elizabeth attends industry trade events and market events each year and she was a member of the Modenus Blog Tour of K-biz in January of 2018. She currently serves on the national board of directors for the Real Estate Staging Association, the board of directors for the Nashville chapter of the Nashville Association of Women in Construction, she's the vice-president of the virtual chapter of the Interior Design Society and the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Elizabeth's clients are busy working professionals in the age range of forty-five to fifty-five, looking to upgrade their current home, but lacking the time and desire to oversee it. She finds her sweet spot in handling these full-home renovations from inception to completion. Elizabeth has been a contributing writer for Wilson County's premier magazine, Wilson Living, for six years and she's been featured in The Lebanon Democrat, The Wilson Post, and The Mount Juliet Chronicle. Elizabeth resides in Tennessee, just east of Nashville, with her husband of twenty-six years and their twin daughters and young son. Listen in to find out what Elizabeth has to share with you today. Show highlights: Elizabeth shares about what it was about Brittany and her company that moved her to action.(#149) Elizabeth's 'aha moment' with Gavin Zuchlinski of Acuity Scheduling and how Acuity has really worked for her. (#241) All about Elizabeth's 'pick your brain' thirty-minute phone calls. How Elizabeth has benefited from getting to know about Kate The Socialite. (#104) What Elizabeth has learned about systems from Kimberley Seldon. (#112) Why Elizabeth really loves Nancy Ganzekaufer's Business In Words so much! (#256) What she learned from The Prepared Performer- Molly Mahoney. (#247) Elizabeth's awesome takeaway from the Facebook Live Queen- Jessica Brace. (#250) What Kate O'Hara had to teach Elizabeth about Pinterest. (#215) What she took away from the episode with Summer Tannhauser. (#292) How much Elizabeth learned from the episode with Leslie Carothers and Sam Henderson of the Savour Partnership. (#209) The effect that the episode with Adam Japko, of the Design Blogger's Conference, had on her. (#95) Time chunking with Darci Hether. (#220) Lessons learned from Carla Aston (#242), Fred Berns (#174), and Tabitha Carro (#235). About Elizabeth's relationship with her good friend and designer bestie Kristi Barnett aka The Decorologist. Links: Elizabeth's website: Superior Construction and Design Elizabeth on social: facebook blog pinterest houzz insta You can get your free PDF of The Things I Learned From Elizabeth Scruggs at www.luannnigara.com/305

Welcome to today's show where we feature another husband and wife team, Jill and Steve McKenzie. They are the owners of McKenzie Design Llc and also Steve McKenzie's, a home décor business which is located in the heart of Atlanta's west-midtown design district. Steve does the interior designing and runs the product design side of the business, while Jill predominantly oversees the running of the store and does the buying for the business. Recently, they have also been doing a lot of product design and creation and also the licensing of certain products. Listen in today, to find out how they work together as a team, to run the retail end of their interior design business. Steve started Steve McKenzie's in 2012 after his tenure of more than twenty years with Berkshire-Hathaway owned Larson-Juhl, a custom frame manufacturer, and distributor, where he served most recently as the company's president and CEO. Through practicing as an artist for more than twenty-five years, Steve has developed a unique technique of painting with walnut ink and focusing on organic composition. His studio is located in the upper loft space of Steve McKenzie's. Jill and Steve have three children and three Springer Spaniels. Listen in today, to find out more about the ethical and service driven way that they run their business. Show highlights: It all started with Steve's art- the fabric collection being the genesis of both the store and the design business. The community that has developed as an offshoot of their showroom. How it happened that Steve ended up taking the route he did, creating and selling his own textile line in showrooms across the country. How Steve found the right experts to help him with getting his product line manufactured and launched. Getting really clear about your expectations with mentors and mentees. Some tips for getting your product line known 'out there'. The Jill works (and hustles) with Steve to get his products out there. The grounding effect of Steve's corporate background. What went into Steve and Jill's decision to open their own showroom and retail lifestyle store. The idea of creating a personality around Steve's fabrics. Jill's style of marketing their product lines. Jill and Steve's approach to their lifestyle brand of products. How the design side of their business was born. Evaluating whether or not to start a showroom. How Steve and Jill cope when their opinions differ in their business. Creating healthy boundaries and a good work-life balance. Covering all the hours in the showroom. Jill and Steve's real commitment to really great customer service. Why the customer is always (Even when they're not!) Links: Website and Social: Steve Mckenzies Mckenzie Interior Design Steve Mckenzies Steve Mckenzie Art Houzz – McKenzie Interior Design/steve mckenzie’s Pinterest - @stevemckenzies Instagram - @stevemckenzies Twitter - @stevemckenzies Facebook - @stevemckenzies

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! Rebecca Richards joins us as our guest on the show today and she's the director of marketing for Charles Cunniffe Architects in Aspen Colorado. Rebecca is also part of the firm's management committee and one of her responsibilities within that committee is the hiring process for the firm. So today she talks to us about the process that she uses for hiring and she also shares some of the key questions that she asks and some of the things that she looks for when she interviews candidates. Whether you're a solo interior designer looking to make your first hire or you run mid-size or a larger firm and you're looking for a direct process to follow when doing your hiring, we relate this to you, so listen in to find out what Rebecca has to share with you on the show today. Rebecca joined Charles Cunniffe Architects in 2006 and the firm widely increased their market reach while decreasing their marketing expenditure under her leadership as director of marketing. Rececca's keen eye for design has led to the complete redesign of the company's marketing materials and their website, and also to the addition of their social media outlets. Her appreciation for design and sustainable business practices has become instrumental in the operations at CCA. CCA is quite a powerhouse of an architectural firm. They have nineteen people on their staff and they have been named as best places to work for the last four years running. Their Elk Peak Ranch project was named Home Of The Year in November 2017 by Mountain Living Magazine- and it's truly spectacular! (Check out their website www.cunniffe.com or my Instagram feed today, as I will be featuring their work all day.) Listen in now to find out more. Show highlights: Rebecca describes the structure within CCA and also what the various roles are, within their management committee. Rebecca's holistic approach to the hiring process. Rebecca goes through her entire hiring process, step by step. Methodically looking at the necessary roles within the office structure, prior to the hiring process. Where CCA advertise for their staff. Why Rebecca likes to respond to every single resume that she receives. Cross-checking the resumes, to get a bigger picture of the person. It can be quite hard to stand out as an entry-level applicant, so Rebecca explains what makes someone really stand out for her. Internships- how they can really make you stand out as a job applicant. The best questions to ask when conducting a phone interview. The importance of finding out what the applicant really wants and expects- in terms of the job and the salary. Rebecca describes her process of the second interview. Why it's really worth spending the time figuring out exactly where the applicant is at, and if they fit where you need them to be. Why it's really important to ask for references. Getting the information that you really need when doing a reference check. Knowing when it's the right time to hire someone. Links: CCA website Skype handle: rebeccalynnhill Instagram Facebook Blog Twitter LuAnn on Instagram: @luannnigara Kravet has launched their new website and they have a new code for you, as a listener of this podcast, to get 10% off any one purchase of Kravet fabric, trimmings, or wallpaper. Go to Kravet and use the code AWDB10 at checkout. Charles Cunniffe Architects website: Cunniffe

Welcome to today's episode of A Well-Designed Business! We have Laura Buchner and Kirsten McCoy with us on the show and today we are going to be talking to them about how their interior design firm was founded in 1982 by Penny Steele, and how they purchased it from her in 2005 when she retired. Listen in as we pick apart their motivation for buying an existing business from someone else rather than starting their own business from scratch. Laura and Kirsten are the principals of Meadowbank Designs, which is located in the Philadelphia Pennsylvania area. Meadowbank Designs has completed a wide range of projects throughout the country, for generations of clients, from historic preservation to vacation homes and also additions and renovations. They are best known for residential design which combines traditional motifs with a modern sensibility, and also for providing the highest quality of design excellence and personal service. Listen in today to find out about Laura and Kirsten's decision to buy their business, and how they went about acquiring it. Show highlights: Kirsten and Laura discuss their decision to buy the business. The confidence that they felt about their relationships with the existing clients. The really awesome way that Penny, the previous owner of the business, worked to create a great relationship between Laura, Kirsten and the existing clients. What made them decide to buy an existing business, rather than starting up one of their own. The organic process of how they came to decide to buy the business from the previous owner. How the previous owner arrived at the value of the business. The time that it took for the business to be fully paid off and for Kirsten and Laura to begin making a profit. How they worked their finances, in order to get the business paid off as quickly as possible. Using professional systems, in order to run a business the right way. How they overcame the difficulties that they experienced during the recession in 2008. The importance of their constant and clear communication. The number of clients that they typically handle during any given quarter. The roles that Laura and Kirsten each play for their projects. The really mature way that they handle conflict when it comes up. The different, yet complimentary things that Laura and Kirsten each bring to the business. Some things worth considering, when thinking about buying an existing business. Previous episodes mentioned on the show: Fred Berns: Episodes #22, #48, #96, #174, #226 and #289 Links: Meadowbank designs can be found at: Meadowbank Designs Facebook: Meadowbank-Designs Instagram: Meadowbank Designs Twitter: Meadowbank Designs Pinterest: Meadowbank Designs Fred Bern's website: https://interiordesignbusiness.net

Welcome to today's episode of Power Talk Friday! We are delighted to introduce you to Duncan Blair, the director of marketing for Article, a furniture company out of Vancouver Canada, and the sponsor for today's show. Article recently approached LuAnn about getting onto the podcast to tell you about their products. LuAnn agreed to this because she thinks that it's an interesting company with great potential as a resource for you and your interior design projects. Duncan is here today to tell us all about Article, so listen in carefully as we pick it apart to see if it really is a viable option for us, as designers. Article has been in business since 2013. It is an online company and an original, modern furniture brand that engineers remarkably better furniture shopping experiences. It is a dedicated, deadline orientated, people pleasing type of company, with a trade facing program, and they are currently in the midst of an initiative to spread their wings and further develop their trade program, to make it both more efficient and more effective. Listen in now, to find out more. Show highlights: Duncan explains why he thinks that Article would make a really good alliance company for interior designers. What Article does, to help make the designers who have a hard time ordering furniture from an online location, more comfortable. Article's really generous return policy- if you don't like it, you can send it back- seamlessly, with no problem. About Article's dedicated trade team, to guide you and help you to pre-purchase. Jill and her team at Article are interior designers who really understand. Article has a complete fabric swatch kit, which is available to designers at no cost. Their really reasonable flat rate freight shipping fee, for anywhere in Canada or the USA. Article's three-tiered shipping model. Article's really awesome customer service. Duncan explains about their free exchange service. What really sets Article apart from other vendors, in terms of their delivery times. Article really prides itself on its ability to always meet your deadlines. The members of the team at Article are always ready to help you out with questions that are specific to the design industry. All about the furniture at Article and where it is made. About Article's fair trade policy and their pledge to only having a positive impact on the world. What would be required in order for you to become a trade partner with Article? (Go to welldesigned.article.com) The discounts that are available through their trade program. About the quality and styling of the products which are supplied by Article. Article's projected income for the next financial year. Links: Article on Instagram: @article Apply for the Article Trade Program: Article Article: Article Linkedin: Article Houzz: Article Instagram: Article Facebook: Article

A very warm welcome to the three hundredth episode of A Well-Designed Business today- and happy birthday to us! February the 15th was the second birthday of the podcast and we are having our birthday party tonight (21st February) at Lefroy Brooks in New York City. Today is a really big day for the podcast and there's lots of awesome news too, so listen in now to find out more. It really takes a lot of effort from many people to get this podcast aired each week and I'm truly grateful to everyone involved! I'm especially grateful to you, my designer friends, who show up and listen in to the show every single week! Listen in today as I share some news and express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has played their part in making this show so successful! Show highlights: A special mention of thanks to everyone that works so hard to get this show ready and aired! Special thanks to our featured sponsors- Kravet Inc and MyDoma Studio. How we know that Kravet is truly in the business of helping you to run a better business. Why I really love MyDoma Studio so much! A shout out to all our other sponsors. Thanks to all the wonderful guests who have been on the show! A really HUGE thank you to you, my designer friend, who listens to this show every week- It's because of you that I show up each week!. How my world has expanded tenfold because of my designer friends, who follow me, interact with me on Instagram and Facebook, and give me really valuable feedback. The changes that are happening with the show. Why we will be airing our shows just twice a week, as of next week. We will be adding more video content to the podcast as we go forward. How the Well-Designed Business Fan Club got started. The details about the first meeting of the fan club. You're welcome to join! How you can really benefit from joining the fan club. About my book- The Making Of A Well-Designed Business. It's finally out! The biggest lesson that's in my whole book! If are just hearing about this and you'd like to join us at our birthday party, there's still time for you to get in, so go on over to Party. To get our amazing newsletter every Wednesday, simply text 444 999 and enter the word designbiz. The first meeting of the Well-Designed Business Fan Club will be on Friday 23rd February at noon (eastern time). To join, email Deborah at [email protected] and put LuAnn Fan Club in the subject line. My book, The Making Of A Well-Designed Business, is available in e-book form and in paperback. The paperback is $14.95 and the e-book is $7.99, but from 21st February until 28th February 2018 the e-book will only be $3.00- in honor of our 300th episode! Go to The Making Of A Well-Designed Business.

The interior design industry was recently rocked with the news that Houzz.com acquired IvyMark for a reported $30 to $40 million dollars. There have been panel discussions on Facebook Live and other podcasters have addressed it on their shows as well. These discussions have covered, among other things, the motivations of both the Ivy team and of Houzz.com, the ramifications of the purchase to the interior designers who are using the IVY platform and the ripples this news is making through our industry. I agree wholeheartedly that all of these discussions are important and valid and they have been well addressed. But today I want to address the lessons we can learn from this situation and talk about how and why it is so important for us as business owners to understand how Ivy and Houzz might have avoided some of this significant backlash from the design community. It begins and ends with you as a business owner, your conduct, your philosophy and your leadership.

Welcome to A Well Designed Business! Today we have Rich Rogers as our guest and he is the sales manager for the exterior side of Window Works. Rich is someone who has really been making LuAnn's life a whole lot easier in many ways and for many years and he is a real asset to the team at Window Works, with his experience in the trade and his knowledge about product lines. On the show today he will be talking about awnings and discussing some awesome solutions to almost impossible situations. Listen in to find out more. Before coming to work at Window Works Rich was the senior regional manager for K E Dorosoil Awnings Inc., an Italian based company and the primary awning supplier that Window Works have used since 1985. They really provide an enormous range of outdoor shading solutions, with a slightly European, outdoor restaurant feeling. Listen in now to find out about a shady way of offering savvy solutions and making more money in your design business! Show highlights: Rich's thoughts on where designers tend to miss the boat with outdoor shading solutions for their clients. Understanding both the products and the solution. Creating amazing awnings for awkward spaces. The lasting quality of the products that Rich works with. The awnings are so awesome that people even take them with when they move house! Creating awareness about quality, unique awnings, and their features. Offering solutions using exterior products. Operating automated products with your smartphone. Automated products are not only functional, they're really beautiful too. Some high-end options for you to offer your clients. The featured 'Genius Project' and how this product line differs from others. The unbelievable size of the awning that was put onto Nomad Pizza in Princeton. Creating shady solutions at the Life Hotel. The benefits of starting out with the Genius range of products. Why you really need not be intimidated by this kind of product. Link: The Dorosol website: KE Outdoor Design The Window Works website: Window Works NJ

Welcome to another episode of A Well Designed Business! We have Mikel Welch, of Mikel Welch Designs, as our guest on the show and today we pull back the curtain to find out what the lifestyle of a celebrity interior designer is really all about. And guess what? It turns out it's not at all the way we think it is. It involves a lot of risk-taking situations, unforeseen bumps in the road, sleeping on sofas at other people's houses and even asking friends for some help. Mikel, who is a really hard worker with a very clear vision for himself, grew up in Southfield Michigan. Today, he works as an on-air personality and design expert for Pickler and Ben TV show and he is also the brand ambassador to Inspire Closets. All this, in addition to running his own interior design projects. On the show today Mikel shares his really remarkable and encouraging success story. Listen in to hear about a turning point with Steve Harvey and other ways that doors keep on opening for Mikel. Mikel worked as a set designer for the Steve Harvey Show in 2012, where he created lavish green rooms for prominent people, including First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Joan Rivers, Halle Berry and Tyler Perry, just to name a few. In 2012, before joining the Steve Harvey Show, he was on the HGTV Design Star's season seven, where he finished as a top-four contender. Before that, in 2011, he was behind the camera, as a set designer for Style Network's hit reality show, Jerseylicious. He has appeared as a design expert on WGN TV, CBS-TV's The Talk and he has made special guest appearances on behalf of West Elm, CB2 and Pottery Barn. His designs have been featured in The Huffington Post, HGTV Magazine, Essence Magazine, Chicago's NBC-TV, HGTV's Shop This Room and The Fabulist on E! Network and Splash Magazine. Mikel was also recently profiled in CS Magazine, Modern Luxury Interiors and Crain's Chicago Business. It all sounds so exciting and Mikel really sounds like a lucky guy, doesn't he? Listen in today, as we pick his incredible career apart and find out the truth behind how it all really happened! Show highlights: What Mikel had in mind, and how things fell into place for him when he made the move to New York from Atlanta. What has happened as a result of Mikel donating his time and services. How Mikel used Craig's List to start his career as an interior designer. The unglamorous start to his New York life. Creating unbelievable opportunities by working strategically for free. Getting set design experience while building a portfolio. Mikel's first real experience of a reality show. What he had to go through working on Jerseylicious. Pushing through the fear and just doing it! The benefits of boot-camp with a celebrity coach. The challenges of working on television. The really lucky break with Steve Harvey. Why Steve Harvey liked and helped Mikel. Mikel's way of working smarter, not harder! An awesome new opportunity at Inspired Closets. Taking the right kind of risks. Resources: A soon as the new Kravet website goes live, you can use the promo code AWDB10, for a 10% discount on any Kravet fabric, trim and wall covering order.

Welcome to today's show! We have Ruthie Staalsen with us today and she's someone who is really loved by many! Ruthie operates out of the Dallas Fort Worth area in Texas, she has had more than fourteen years of experience as a designer and she's also on the board of the Design Blogger's Conference. Ruthie focuses on making homes look collected rather than decorated and there is a European flair to her personal design style- with an eclectic twist. She views her privilege of having had the opportunity to experience many different lifestyles as the greatest gift of her childhood. Listen in today to hear our awesome conversation with Ruthie about the value of mentorship, the value of attending conferences and Ruthie's way of running her business. Ruthie was born and raised overseas and many of her influences come from Europe, Africa and Central and South America. She is an internationally published interior designer and she has built her business from the ground up. She was awarded the 2016 Designer Of The Year from the National Interior Design Society for a kitchen renovation project and she was nominated as one of the top fifteen decorators in Dallas. Her work has been published in Elite Monde- a lifestyle and fashion magazine in Dubai and also in Traditional Home Magazine Great Kitchens. Listen in to find out more. Show highlights: The incredible kind of connections that can be made with others at the Design Blogger's Conference. Ruthie's daunting first experience of a Design Blogger's Conference, about seven years ago. The way that your business will benefit from your attending conferences. Things that will keep you going and really spur you on with your business. Ruthie's awesome relationship with her mentee, Cheryl Luckett. (Episode #291) How you can really benefit from being a mentor. Some of the things that newbie designers tend to struggle with. Ruthie's take on charging the right fee, as a new designer. What happened when Ruthie started to hire people to help her. The huge responsibility- and benefits of hiring new people. Some interesting things about the way that Ruthie has set her business up. Ruthie's Away For The Day design service. Mistakes will happen- just get up and carry on! Living a really purposeful life as a designer. Ruthie's personal approach to decorating people's homes. How Ruthie finds the very best vendors to work with. How Ruthie really manages to express her authentic self through her blog. Links: Her website and social: https://www.ruthiestaalsen.com Facebook Ruthie Designer Instagram : Ruthie Designer Linkedin : Interiors Twitter : Ruthie Designer Youtube : Ruthie Staalsen To join us at our birthday party go to the RSVP at Luann Nigara Party.

Welcome to another episode of Power Talk Friday! There have been perhaps a dozen times in the last two years that someone has suggested to LuAnn that she does a show about vendors and what it's like working with them. Then, something quite incredible happened in a Facebook group recently, where a vendor spoke out very directly to a particular designer about his experience with other designers. This brought about mixed reactions from designers in the Facebook group. Some were incensed at his misdirected wrath, saying that it was ridiculous, while others felt it was better to just walk away. LuAnn's opinion, however, was that this was really a vendor to hang on to for dear life, because although he had been both blunt and less than politically correct, he was honest without being mean, cutting or personalizing his opinion- really epitomizing what it is that vendors have to go through. Listen in today, to find out what LuAnn has to tell you about how designers are directly affected by whatever their vendors are going through at that time. For the last two years on this podcast, LuAnn has championed you, as designers, standing in your space and helping you to teach your clients how to do business with you. So when the vendor stands in their own space and wants to teach you how to do business with them, you really cannot take offense to that, now can you? Listen in today and learn as LuAnn explains how to work with your vendor and also, how you can express your needs to your client about how you want them to work with you. Show highlights: LuAnn reads the Facebook post from the very straightforward vendor. Ways that you can learn to think from the point of view of the vendor. The difference between your relationship with your client and the relationship that your vendor has with you. The kinds of difficulties that vendors tend to have and how they usually deal with them when they are not yet standing firmly in their own space. Why it's actually easier for a vendor to have “the hard conversation” upfront- even at the risk of losing the whole project. What Lee Cockerell, the senior vice president of Disney World, had to say in episode #222 about doing hard things. Becoming empowered, setting boundaries and teaching your clients how to do business with you. Learning from your mistakes- without throwing your vendor under the bus. What inevitably ends up happening to you when you try to blame your vendor. It's really all about very good communication. Some great tips for working really well with your vendors. Protecting your vendors from information overload. The benefits of using a project management software like MyDoma Studio. Really valuing the kind of vendor that makes it clear to you how to work successfully with them. Giving your vendor the benefit of the doubt. Links: To be on our email list: Text the number 444999 and enter the word designbiz. To come to our birthday party, generously hosted by Lefroy Brooks, on Wednesday, February 21st go to Luann Nigara Party On Monday, February 19th Blanch Garcia will be doing a Lunch And Learn at out New Jersey showroom on running your design business.

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