I’m a huge fan of creating an on-boarding process for new clients. It makes attracting and signing new clients so much easier, efficient, and professional. A large part of my system involves a detailed client questionnaire. This helps me get to know the client before work begins. But, what happens after the work is complete? Do you have a process with an end-of-project survey?
Read MoreDo you ever feel like the public doesn’t place much value in interior design anymore?
YES!
I know. It’s what everyone says.
The funny thing is when I was at a marketing conference in April, an accountant stood up and said, “No one values accountants anymore.” And someone else stood up and said, “No one sees the value in custom dresses and clothing anymore.”
Read MoreI don’t have enough experience to take that project.
Why would clients listen to my advice?
I’m charging too much and client’s won’t pay me for my time.
Imposter syndrome rears its ugly head pretty regularly. I see it in other designers and more potently, I notice it in myself. Why would anyone listen to me? I battle it pretty regularly. I’m pretty sure most of us do.
Read MoreIs your business financially strapped? Is your financial life a mess? Can you not afford to invest in your business? Are you taking whatever measly work comes your way just to make ends meet? Living paycheck to paycheck for years?
Read MoreAs I think back amongst “trends” in interior design over the past few years, I think of Kuba & Mud cloth, Handira, Suzanis, Juju hats, Indian block print, Hmong fabric pillows, ikat - design elements that are considered exotic, eclectic, ethnic, global.
But these design elements are “exotic” in the generic sense of “other” or “different” and in their rise to trend, most people didn’t know or didn’t care about the origin or cultures behind what was simply considered an interior design trend.
Read MoreI get asked about these quick e-design companies quite often.
Are they a good option (to work for?)
How do they make money?
How can full-service designers compete?
Read MoreThere have been lots of studies and reports on habits, success, and productivity. Many emphasize the importance of repetition and dedication. Habits take time to become habits. To become a master at your craft it can take 10,000 hours (or more). Productivity can be increased by creating and using systems. This is where things like the Pomodoro Technique, time-blocking, habit-stacking, task-batching all came from.
Despite this being an extensive topic, today, there is something really simple that you can do to increase your success and productivity in your business. Something that will help you form habits, gain success, keep you focused, and up your productivity.
Read MoreBelow are the list of the top 10 posts of 2018. I have broken them down into the ones that are the most popular of all time - though may not have been written in the past year they are still relevant today. Then there are the top 5 that were written this year.
Read MoreThere are a few things I feel strongly about when you’re running an interior design business. Most of the time, it doesn’t matter how you do it, just that it gets done. One of those things I feel is a critical part of running an interior design business is telling people what to expect.
Unmet expectations are one of the most common reasons for unhappy clients and issues on projects. (You can read more about that in Why Projects Fail.)
But setting expectations isn’t just for clients, it is also important …
Read MoreHow can I find good vendors is a popular question from new designers. Finding vendors takes time. It’ll take trial and error and research on your part. There is no quick fix. You can read more about finding quality vendors in this article.
So after you’ve found vendors, you need to develop good relationships with them for maximum benefit in your business. (I’m using a blanket term “vendors” for tradespeople, workrooms, suppliers, manufacturers, showrooms, etc.) These people are extensions of your business and will help you run your business smoother and more efficiently if you consider them part of your extended team.
Read MoreAs a business, you deserve to be profitable. Running a business is a challenge and too often we settle for “just getting by”. We shouldn’t settle. We shouldn’t compromise on profitability. We shouldn’t allow ourselves to forget that we’re running a business and the goal of any business is to make money.
Otherwise we’re not running a business, we just have a hobby.
Read MoreWhen you work for someone else and you are put into an existing system and culture. They’ve created their systems, policies, and procedures and as an employee you’re expected to conform. These policies set up the rules of conduct within an organization and expectations of both the employee and the employer. Working for someone else’s business likely means there is an employee handbook, policies surrounding job performance & duties, and procedures for job performance.
Read MoreLaunching an interior design business is not for the faint of heart, some people want to get it up and running in a matter of weeks and others can spend years before they feel like they can hang their shingle. I see designers get stuck in the process needlessly because they become paralyzed with decision-making. Keep this in mind - you can always change it later. I tried to give the steps in order that I would go if I was starting from scratch, but the thing is many of these steps can and should be done simultaneously. You can't build a great brand without first knowing who you want to sell to and vice versa. But that's what I mean about changing it later, you can always go back and refine what you've got.
Read MoreOne of the most important things you can do for yourself in starting an interior design business is to take ownership. You are at the helm of the ship. You are the captain. You are the CEO. You make things happen, things don't happen to you.
Taking ownership means that if you decide to start an interior design business, you don't dabble. You take it seriously. (Even if you are running it part-time you can still run it like a business.) Otherwise, you need to recognize that you have a hobby and it is a side project. These are two very different things. You shouldn't allow your business-hobby languish in a grey area of uncertainty.
Read MoreHow to handle that first meeting with a client is a source of contention with many designers. How long? When? Where? What information should you get? How much information should you give?
Like running any business, there is not a single best answer. Everyone does it a little different and you can too. In my experience, it is best to get to know the client's needs before meeting with them in person. I have a lengthy client questionnaire that potential clients are required to fill out before I have an in-person meeting with them. Reading their answers gives me a better idea of what they are looking for and what they need. At this point I can also let them know if I don't think I am the right designer for them - all without ever meeting them in person. If we decide to proceed with an in-person meeting/ consultation…
Read MoreThere are hundreds of reasons to hire an interior designer. Most of them come down to correct allocation of assets. They can keep their eye on the big picture, help maximize your investment and minimize headaches. They know who to call and how to avoid and resolve problems. They're there to make your space beautiful and functional.
There are designers out there for all types of projects and budgets. There are designers who could help you with every single thing on this list and some that specialize in certain ones. But hiring a designer is more than just finding pretty things and getting a discount on them.
Read MoreIt's hard to be objective about our own businesses. I also know that many of you worry, especially when you're just starting, that your business doesn't look like a business. That somehow potential clients will see that it's just you working on your computer at your dining room table. A little bit of imposter syndrome creeping into your thoughts. It's perfectly okay to work from home in your jammies and still be a legit business. Here are some fairly easy things that you can do to make sure that your business looks professional.
Read MoreWhen I first started working in an interior design office, there were words that were being used that I had no idea what they meant, but I also didn't want to ask in case I looked stupid. True story. There were a lot of words that I was embarrassed to not know. But no fear my friends, I have complied a list of all those interior design industry words that confused me and I'm defining them for you. You don't have to feel stupid in the not knowing.
There are many interior design acronyms, some which are taken from architecture/construction and some that we've created all on our own. This list is by no means exhaustive, but
Read MoreWhen people go through my course, The Golden Blueprint, they often realize that they need a little rebranding so that the look of their business matches the services they are providing. And in that process many designers get really hung up on naming their businesses.
After talking to hundreds of designers, there is something that I feel I need to share on this topic. Don't name your business something basic. We all know the words that are overused in interior design business names. Don't use those.
Read MoreA couple of years ago I wrote the article, Do You Need A Degree in Interior Design?. The advice in that article is the same I'd give today. But today I'd like to talk a little more about this topic because I still get asked all the time if someone should get a degree.
Lately, a lot of those who have been doing the asking are people looking to change careers or are starting back up again after their kids have gotten a little older. They want to know if they need to go back to school.
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