Business of Design ™ | Interior Designers, Decorators, Stagers, Stylists, Architects & Landscapers

Design is a competitive industry filled with thousands of designers who create jaw dropping designs. To stand out, it’s vital to create a spectacular service experience—not just during the holidays, but all year round. In this episode we learn: - three key factors to creating a spectacular client experience every day of the year - asking for constructive feedback is important to improving your systems - how to show appreciation to clients with holiday gifts - why a consumable gift or experience may be your best choice - to make it personal when it comes to gift-giving It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast Thank you to our sponsor! Check out http://business.article.com/

Ever thought about placing a Google ad to attract the right clients? Seattle interior designer Faith Sheridan did more than that—she placed the ad…and it worked! Lucky for us, she’s sharing everything she’s learned in the process. In this episode we learn: - it’s worth trying something new when you feel you hit a slump - negative key words (terms you do not want clients to find you through) are as important as key words - you will set a budget and the ad will run until your budget is used - prior to placing ads, consider who your ideal client is and target that person specifically - transparency with fees drives the right customers your way - quality is more important than quantity when it comes to ad hits - use any software you like—it’s a tool—you will still need systems and procedures It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast Thank you to our sponsor! Check out http://business.article.com/

Stepping in front of an audience to talk about design can be thrilling and terrifying. It can also be a total waste of time if you don’t prepare yourself for the task at hand. In this episode we learn: - before you agree to speak at an industry event or to a group of potential clients, get clear on why you are doing it—set an intention around what you want to accomplish - telling stories and sharing anecdotes will create a connection between you and the audience - stepping out on a limb (high stakes) is a great position from which to try something new - clients don’t need to change, we need to change - there is nothing special about people who have “made it”—systems will change your life It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast Thank you to our sponsor! Check out http://business.article.com/

When it’s time to say, “I’m sorry,” to a client, there are strategic ways to make it count. Own it, express regret and take responsibility. In this episode we learn: - entering “victim” mode prevents us from growing into powerful business owners - plug loop holes in your procedures that put you in a position of vulnerability - avoid words like if and but in your apology - when the situation is resolved, take time to reflect on how to avoid a repeated episode in future - explore best and worst-case scenarios - have difficult conversations face-to-face It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast Thank you to our sponsor! Check out http://business.article.com/

The formula for success is still 80% business + 20% creative. However, there’s room for some woo woo attributes within the 80%. In this episode we explore vital characteristics of the successful design pro, such as integrity, intention, confidence and reflection. In this episode we learn: - balance isn’t necessarily the goal, but equilibrium is - powerful business lessons are expensive - be clear about your expectations with clients - set a goal and then leave the outcome to the universe - there is no such thing as a design emergency It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

You are master of your own destiny. You are a business owner. Yes, there are risks to making this choice, but there are also rewards. In the second part of our conversation with Craig Cody we continue to explore ways to make the financial rewards even sweeter, by keeping more cash at the end of each fiscal year. In this episode we learn: - choosing the right retirement plan can leave you with more money later - hire family members to gain big tax advantages - medical benefits can save thousands - a deduction does not always equate to a benefit, talk to your tax professional about your thresholds - regular communication (once a month) with your tax professional can prevent overpaying in taxes It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Hear what a client has to say about keeping in touch, building a relationship, and the heartbreak that comes from working with a designer whose integrity goes MIA. In this episode we learn: - it’s reassuring to clients to know you are thinking about them, during and after the project - a client’s perspective on some unsuccessful designer relationships - having a healthy rapport with the client is vitally important but it does not substitute for a job well done - there’s a distinction between a corporate holiday basket and a spontaneous check-in call It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Heart and soul. That’s what the typical interior design professional puts into the job. However, what happens when the payoff doesn’t match all that you give to the work? Maryland designer Juliette Palarea describes hitting bottom and rethinking her entire career. In this episode we learn: - being vulnerable gets to more authentic conversations with peers and creates space for new ideas - stopping old behaviors is easiest when you replace them with new (better) behaviors - stepping out on a limb (high stakes) is a great position from which to try something new - clients don’t need to change, we need to change - there is nothing special about people who have “made it”—systems will change your life It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

You are master of your own destiny. You are a business owner. Yes, there are risks to making this choice, but there are also rewards. In the first of a two-part conversation we explore ways to make the financial rewards even sweeter, by keeping more cash at the end of each fiscal year. In this episode we learn: - it’s critical to have a system for reviewing vital numbers - that understanding how your marketing dollars are working (or aren’t) is the best way to spend wisely - why it’s good to watch where your biggest revenue comes from - a quarterly check-in with your accountant pays real dividends - to talk to an attorney and your accountant for the most comprehensive advice when it comes to incorporating - how to use your home office deduction and help pay for that home gym or pool It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Are you happy in your career? Most of us don’t take time to even ask this important question. The bills have to be paid and we’re so busy already, who has time for reflection? Looking squarely at what you love about your current work/life situation (and what you hate) provides valuable insights that lead to powerful changes. In this episode we learn: - a dramatic breakdown, although uncomfortable, can give you clarity around your career - get clarity first, then move on to strategy - experiment with scheduling—many professionals prefer blocking tasks by day, rather than by hour - create the schedule you want, even if it’s unconventional - to determine where you stress spot is and then learn how to relax it - to notice the yearning to add something new to your existing career - how to own your inner Molly Ringwald - identify your hell-no client and a hell-yes client Find out more about Sarah Vermunt, get access to the Free Careergam Crash Course and (bonus!) download the first 40 pages of the Careergasm book. It's all here... bit.ly/bod-ep079 It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Role-playing is one of the most effective tools for increasing your confidence. By having rote answers that you’ve rehearsed and memorized, you can answer questions that sometimes feel intimidating. In this episode, BOD member, Michelle Binette, turns the tables on Kimberley by asking typical client questions. Some of the answers may surprise you. In this episode we learn: - when a potential client phones, sell the consultation, not the project - how to prevent clients who do not have a sufficient budget from calling, or to prompt them to increase the budget once they do call - how to ask clients for the job - how to say no to the wrong client/project - a reasonable amount to charge with a living room decorating project - why it’s important to read your contract to the client (line by line!) It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

More mistakes? Yup. We’ve all made them. In this episode, a continuation of EP 070, we are going to hear from another Business of Design member on mistakes she’s made as well as how to own them, how to solve them and how to avoid them. In this episode we learn: - get a great script to vet clients - take control of when you onboard clients - to let yourself consider, what’s the worst that can happen, as a way to keep yourself calm - to make an apology without a lot of fuss or drama - always do a debrief at the summation of a project - consider giving potential hires a task to complete as part of the interview process It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Is it possible for the professional designer to control the conversation when it comes to our skill set? What precisely separates the professional from the non-professional? It’s a challenging question, but Business of Design members Gail M. Davis and Courtney McLeod dig into the topic. In this episode we learn: - a high-end home purchase does not necessarily translate into high-end decorating budget - why a consult fee and solid hourly rate will save you from clients who aren’t right or ready for you - that six-figures (we’re talking salary not income) isn’t the end goal, it’s the starting goal - it’s helpful to ask clients up front, ‘have you worked with a designer before?’ DESIGN INTERVENTION Gail suggests hiring a branding coach. She works with a group on a monthly basis through Nicole Heymer at Curio Electro. Courtney loves her Vision/Goal/Task Strategy. - Vision is big picture, soul of your business - Goals are set quarterly - Tasks are narrowly defined and tackled each month. At Business of Design we call this a Design for Living. It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Sustainability has been a buzzword in the design world for years and it makes sense that we want to offer our clients options that are earth friendly. In this episode we take that commitment to another level as Kimberley explores ethical (non-animal source) options for leather and fur with a “vegan designer”. In this episode we learn: - ethical options exist, making it easy to offer this to clients - in some cases the price point is higher, but that won’t deter all clients - ethical design may be a worthwhile niche to add to your existing offerings Find out more and get a promo code to save 20% on the Vegan Design, CEU Accredited course at bit.ly/bod-ep075. It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

How committed are you? We usually think of commitment as a great quality, but what if you are committed to things/systems/procedures/behaviors that aren’t working effectively? It takes courage and drive to turn around when you know you’re going down a path that will never lead to success. In this episode we learn: - how a switch from a well-known behavior can be scary, but still worthwhile - how to determine if you have too many clients - when it’s time to take action - how to notify clients of an impending fees increase It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast