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

To create a fully satisfying client experience with each design project, consider all five senses. In this episode we learn: - sight—colours, patterns, prints, contrasts of light and dark - scent—aromas that evoke a mood and eliminating unpleasant odors - touch—varied texture on the walls, floors and furniture - sound—pleasant background music, comfortable acoustics and the elimination of unpleasant noise or anything that impedes hearing - taste—consider selection of plates, cutlery and glassware to enhance the taste of food and beverage It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

There are benefits to creating a business plan—even if you’re already in business for yourself. Consider these five checkpoints to creating a robust creative offering. In this episode we learn: - interview existing clients (or clients you wish you had) to uncover primary motivations and pain points—two valuable pieces of information that will allow you to shape your best offer - identify your ideal client and then focus exclusively on marketing to that person - narrow your focus to what your ideal customer wants and needs (not what you want to sell) - establish the value of your offer—use price as a differentiator - test your "offer" with people who fit your ideal client profile - when pricing, start where the market is (not lower!) It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Too many go into business with an idealized or romantic view of what it’s going to be like to “be the boss”. If you’ve been talking about the benefits of owning your own business but not living the benefits, this episode is for you. In this episode we learn: - the common lies we tell ourselves about owning a business - how to take control of your life as the boss - being the boss is a choice - the difference between a job and a business It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

What makes an ideal client, how t0 charge for the “magic” we provide, and a fabulous way to stay connected or reconnect with clients. Award winning Australian designer, Marylou Sobel, has questions in part two of this episode. In this episode we learn: - narrow your focus to grow - follow BOD™ 15 Step Project Management Strategy as prescribed - send a survey to clients to gain valuable insights - delegate more so you can concentrate on designing It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Hourly fees vs. flat fees and how to handle the generalist within. Award winning Australian designer, Marylou Sobel, was more confused than ever after listening to a specific Business of Design™ Podcast about flat fees. Kimberley answers her questions and provides a better understanding of which fee structure works best. In this episode we learn: - when you set an hourly fee, it is built for profit, not just for covering overhead - some clients like flat fees and some like hourly fees, there is no one-size-fits-all - when in doubt, hourly fees are less risk to the design professional - handling a client who wants you to deviate from your process - specialists make more money than generalists - follow BOD™ 15 Step Project Management Strategy as prescribed - full service means nothing It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

It’s possible to boost the creative talents of designers—and the clients they work—by tapping into scientific triggers for creativity. Architect Donald M. Rattner shares the science behind enhanced creativity. In this episode we learn: - creative triggers can be physical or intellectual - your own workspace can be adjusted to assist and support creative power - there are colors that can assist how much creativity we tap into - how we are oriented in a room can impact creativity - curved shapes put us in a more creative mind - research says we are at our creative peak between 9 am – 1 pm - stress is the number one creativity killer - consider idea seeding—allowing your brain to work on a creative problem during sleep It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

To run a successful business, it’s vitally important to make time to work ON the systems and protocols that keep ensure projects run efficiently and effectively. DC designer Annie Elliott took this advice to heart and transformed her business—one system at a time. In this episode we learn: - make time to work ON your business. - a good bookkeeper is your partner in financial matters - select a software program can tell you what your gross, net and profit margin - follow your own rules - small projects take just as much time and effort as large ones, but they are far less profitable - review job descriptions from time to time - take time to analyze the income from past projects and spot the patterns - plant seeds of interest with the press It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Most of us will do anything to avoid change, even if it means staying stuck or staying miserable. Sometimes we are so invested in staying the course, even when a situation is lousy, that we’ll dismiss a new idea or concept outright, thus missing the opportunity to make dramatic improvements to the bottom line and to client satisfaction. In this episode we learn: - thinking, “I can’t”, is the surest way to stay stuck - trying something you are positive won’t work, might change your life for the better - if you are a BOD™ member, use the systems as described before you decide you can’t - find a method that sounds reasoned and try it It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

The journey to entrepreneurship is not always a straight path. Sakina Khawaja shares lessons from her own journey, 17 years in the making. In this episode we learn: - eliminating tasks that don’t bring you joy can free you up for more meaningful work - outsourcing done well turns into additional revenue - trial and error is more painful than following the advice and direction of someone who knows - if you do the work yourself, it does not cost nothing—it costs your most valuable resource… time - test multiple messages when launching an online campaign; eliminate the ones that aren’t as powerful It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Every designer who’s worked on a flat fee basis has experienced the monster that is scope creep. Although the vast majority of freelancers consider scope creep to be negative, there’s another side to the story—a positive side. In this episode, Kimberley looks at how to protect yourself from the negative aspects but allow room to embrace the positive aspects. In this episode we learn: - the dual personalities of scope creep - how to automatically get paid when scope creep occurs - how scope creep can also be a sign of trust - how thoroughness increases profits and clients will love you for it It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Back by popular demand, Dr. Ganz Ferrance shares an inventory process from his new book, The Me Factor that will help you spot the signs of burnout before things go too far. He’ll also share his insights on the vicious cycle you can find yourself in by investing too much time in social media. In this episode we learn: - spot the signs of burnout - feed yourself well (spiritually, emotionally and physically) and heal - ask yourself regularly, “is this working for me?” - don’t set a boundary you cannot keep - how to spot the liar within It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Making your business magnetic is the surest way to attract clients, but it starts as an inside job. As a service industry provider, you are the business, so you have to be positive and enthusiastic for your clients while maintaining a clear and present channel for your own well being. Balance is a myth, but equilibrium is attainable, and very attractive. In this episode we learn: - each of us determines how successful we want to be - your thoughts shape your destiny - consider a value proposition be if you understood homes are sacred - brand evangelists are your best opportunity for promotion It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Although hiring, firing and performance reviews are rarely the stuff entrepreneurial dreams are made of, they are elements that come into play as your practice grows. Aysun Kuck has worked with Kimberley Seldon Design Group for more than 20 years, running an office that consisted of 13 designers plus support staff. In this episode we learn: - a process for hiring is the surest way to get quality staff - candidates who do not follow the basic rules for the hiring process should be immediately disqualified from the process - firing is an inevitable part of the job - saying yes to every opportunity, without restrictions is not the best way to grow your brand It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

Flat fees vs. hourly fees—we could have this debate forever. While no system is perfect, Tim Williams, a professional marketing expert, believes value based flat fees provide a superior way to price for your expertise. In this episode we learn: - if you do not handle project management, you will most likely never get a finished photo to use in your portfolio - consider how disintermediation (cutting out the middle man) might impact your business - price in phases to give clients options - avoid pricing your services only to cover your overhead It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

In this solo podcast, Kimberley shares insights from her journey to reorganize her business and her life—paving the way for Business of Design™. She weaves funny examples from her interior design practice with parallel topics from a BOD™ member-recommended book, Confessions of an Organized Homemaker by Deniece Schofield. Thank you Monica Ashbrook for the great recommendation. In this episode we learn: - there is a ‘u’ in every excuse, what’s yours? - inventory is an essential part of uncovering what is no longer working - have a system for your consultation bag - taking 2 minutes to think before you act saves hours It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast