Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another riveting episode of “What Would Lu Do?”! LuAnn received a request from a window treatment professional to review the “autopsy” process that LuAnn’s team does at Window Works, so this episode is dedicated to covering the review of a project once it’s completed.
Whether you are a photographer, web developer, architect, or blogger, it is essential for each and every business owner to review their projects for profitability, deficiencies, processes, and client satisfaction.
LuAnn discusses this process mostly from the perspective of a window treatment specialist, so if you are a designer, you have more work to do! But no worries, she’s got you designers covered on that, too! Get comfy, you’ll want to take notes!
Show Highlights:
Links :
WCAA's 3x3 Virtual Learning Event
FREE Virtual Learning Event!
October 28-30, 2020
9am, 12pm, and 3pm Daily!
Eileen B. Hahn's Interior Design Firm Hiring Toolkit
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
Kirsch’s motorized Briza collection is the perfect answer to high-end drapery treatments. Connect with Your Local Kirsch Distributor Now! Kirsch
When your client wants the finest in luxury appliances for their kitchen.
Are You Set Up with Monogram's Design Partner Trade Program?
Shows to include in show notes: #36 Susan Brunstrum
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today’s guest, Carissa Miller of CC and Mike, shares how a “completely unexpected opportunity” turned into a leap of faith for her and her husband, Mike. Carissa’s journey is so much more than that happy accident, though, as you’re going to hear. Listen in to this inspiring conversation around how an Instagram post that went viral launched her into a rapidly growing business that she never saw coming, as well as how she and her husband navigated the unique challenges that come with running a business with your spouse.
CC and Mike are a husband and wife team who make dream homes happen nation-wide, offering full-service design, build, and remodel services to their clients. Launched in May 2016, their social media and blog following have grown rapidly to include followers from all over the world who look to CC and Mike for design and building inspiration for their own homes. CC and Mike’s audience loves following their adventures as they design, flip, and renovate homes!
Show Highlights:
Connect with Carissa!
Links :
Eileen B. Hahn's Interior Design Firm Hiring Toolkit
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
FREE Trial! A One-Stop Shop to Keep Everything Organized!
Check Out Their Client Portal and Time Tracking Features!
Mydoma Studio: A Well Designed Business
When your client wants the finest in luxury appliances for their kitchen.
Are You Set Up with Monogram's Design Partner Trade Program?
#363 Power Talk Friday: Eileen Hahn: Building An Exceptional Interior Design Team
#06 Identifying Your Transferrable Skills with Erika Ward
#474 Bria Hammel: Keys to Scaling Your Interior Design Firm
#480 Chris Loves Julia: Quality Content Creation is Key to Their Success
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today’s Power Talk Friday is sponsored by Interior Design Business Academy and specifically the Interior Design Business Academy 2020 Summit, which is happening Wednesday, November 4 thru Friday, November 6, 2020.
This event will run from 10:00 am EST to 6:00 pm and it is entirely virtual.
In today’s conversation, Terri Taylor not only shares all the details of the outstanding Summit she has planned for you, but she shares valuable tips for running your firm. After 30 years in the industry, Terri has tons of experience in running her own firm and teaching you how to do it through her Interior Design Business Academy.
And to be clear, the summit is open to all interior design business owners, not just IDBA coaching members, so be sure to check it out at Interior Design Business Academy Summit 2020
Terri Taylor is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer at design conferences and showrooms throughout the country. She speaks on a number of topics related to the business of interior design, including: business practices, sales, marketing, motivation, leadership, success, and personal growth.
Ms. Taylor is nationally known as an interior design business expert and coach who teaches and mentors interior designers to help them create successful design businesses.
Terri has over 32 years in the interior design and construction business. She holds both residential and commercial general remodeling Arizona Contractors Licenses, and qualified for her NCIDQ certification in 1991. Terri is a professional member of ASID, IDS, and NCIDQ.
Her Tucson-based design studio, Taylor Design Group, was a diversified design practice working in the areas of high-end residential design and remodeling, model home merchandising, hospitality, and medical and professional offices. Her studio has been the recipient of ASID Arizona South Chapter Design Excellence Awards every year since 1986 and she received the ASID National Design Excellence Award in 2000. Terri’s design work has been published in regional and national design journals, including ASID ICON and Wall St. Journal. Terri retired from her studio practice in 2015.
In 2009, Ms. Taylor created Design Biz Blueprint (now Interior Design Business Academy); an education and coaching resource that provides a unique mix of design business strategies and systems, and powerful positive mindset to help interior designers create meaningful success. She’s inspired thousands of interior design entrepreneurs through her speaking engagements, seminars, on-line education, and coaching.
Terri connects with heart-centered designers to help grow their business strategy, accountability, and profitability all while undergoing a beautiful personal transformation.
Show Highlights:
Connect with Terri!
Interior Design Business Academy 2020 Summit
“Mastering Design Fees & Pricing”
Wednesday, November 4th thru Friday, November 6th, 2020
10:00 AM EST – 6:00 PM EST
Virtual experience
Admission: $347 or 2 payments of $207
*Early Bird pricing only valid until midnight, October 20th
*Early Bird BONUS - A pre-event Wealth Consciousness Workshop with Terri so that you can get a head start into shifting your mindset and getting paid what you are really worth!
Links :
Coming Back Soon!
Increase Confidence, Increase Profits
Coming Back in February 2021!
Coming Back Soon!
Eileen B. Hahn's Interior Design Firm Hiring Toolkit
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to This Podcast Sponsor:
Interior Design Business Academy Summit 2020
Other shows mentioned:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Social media guru, Darla Powell from Darla Powell Interiors, joins us in this conversation today on how to get more juice from your social media efforts. We change, our business changes, and sometimes, we need to refresh our minds about what we’re really doing and who we’re doing it for. The goal here today is to talk about honing the message you’re sending out to the world, and if you already did this five years ago, well maybe it’s time to do it again!
Darla is a co-author of the 2nd volume of A Well-Designed Business, The Power Talk Friday Experts that is coming out in November 2020. Darla really is the social media guru. She blew up social from the get-go and she hasn’t stopped since. Thankfully she is just fine with sharing her tools and ideas with us, so we can try to duplicate her success. Please welcome her back to the show!
Darla has a fun, genuine, and down-to-earth approach to the designing of beautiful spaces. Since she launched her career in 2016, she has grown her business almost exclusively by word-of-mouth and her clients have really fallen in love with her work!
In her past life, Darla spent almost twenty years as a Detective Sergeant in Miami Florida, so one might say that she is an expert on the importance of having complete tranquility at home after a stressful day at work! Also, her background has carried over many hidden perks- including a strong sense of integrity, accountability, and a ready-for-anything-ness that is key for home renovation projects.
Darla’s career transformation was fueled by her need to express her boundless creativity. She spent her childhood summers rummaging through her grandmother’s antique store where she developed an extensive knowledge of antiques, collectibles, and of pieces that look perfect together, so Darla’s refined eye definitely sees those diamonds hiding in the rough! Above all, Darla really loves creating rooms that are gorgeous, elegant and soothing.
Show Highlights:
Connect with Darla!
Darla’s Website
Darla’s Instagram
Darla’s Facebook
Darla’s Twitter
Links :
Coming Back Soon!
Increase Confidence, Increase Profits
Coming Back in February 2021!
Coming Back Soon!
Eileen B. Hahn's Interior Design Firm Hiring Toolkit
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?LuAnn Nigara COB
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
When your client wants the finest in luxury appliances for their kitchen.
Are You Set Up with Monogram's Design Partner Trade Program?
Kirsch’s motorized Briza collection is the perfect answer to high-end drapery treatments. Connect with Your Local Kirsch Distributor Now! Kirsch
Previous Episodes Mentioned:
Darla was on episodes #203 and #330
Welcome to the 600th episode of A Well-Designed Business! In this milestone conversation, LuAnn is the guest today! Deb Mitchell and Betty Marton are two writers and #smartladies who are talking to LuAnn today about the 599 episodes she has under her belt.
LuAnn shares how much her life has changed since she aired her first episode back in February of 2016, how appreciative she is for her guests and listeners who have played such a big part in making this podcast a success, and how grateful she is that you invite her into your lives and your businesses each week. Don’t miss this fascinating glimpse into the heart of the host of A Well-Designed Business!
Deb, or DesignWriterDeb as she’s referred to on Instagram, specializes in copywriting for interior designers and creatives. Betty, of In Your Own Words, helps individuals and businesses tell their stories through narrative.
Show Highlights:
High Point Market is the Oscars of the design industry, and this year, for a lot of us, that red carpet feels a long way away. But don’t feel like you have to miss out, because Mydoma Studio is here to bring Market to you, wherever you might be. More than just a virtual High Point, Mydoma’s Backstage at High Point Market will bring you showroom tours, private conversations with industry insiders, and insight you just can’t find anywhere else. Head over to Mydoma Studio HPMKT now to get your own backstage pass!
Links :
Coming Back Soon!
Increase Confidence, Increase Profits
Coming Back in February 2021!
Coming Back Soon!
Process Leads to Profits - Returning November 2020!
Eileen B. Hahn's Interior Design Firm Hiring Toolkit
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
Take Advantage of Kravet Inc.’s Extensive Digital Tools & 24/7 Customer Service! Set Up a Virtual Appointment with Your Local Sales Representative: Kravet
FREE Trial! A One-Stop Shop to Keep Everything Organized!
Check Out Their Client Portal and Time Tracking Features!
Mydoma Studio: A Well Designed Business
OTHER EPISODES MENTIONED AND TAG IN SM:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another riveting episode of “What Would Lu Do?”, where you ask the difficult questions and LuAnn gives the expert answers you’ve been wanting.
Today’s dilemma comes from an anonymous listener who has been a faithful listener of the podcast since she started her business in 2014. At that time, she took the least expensive options in setting up her business and hasn’t invested since. She received an inheritance right before COVID hit, so this designer is looking for words of wisdom on whether it’s better to hold on to the money for a household expenses safety net since her husband has been furloughed and is not likely to return to work soon, or if it’s better to invest it back into her business, along with a revised business plan.
Listen in as LuAnn digs into the details, susses out the situation, and lays out her reasoning on the resolutions.
If you are not working with a coach or perhaps you don’t have a business mentor or business bestie to provide guidance, this is the perfect opportunity to email LuAnn the burning issues that you need insight on and she’ll answer them on air. Please send your questions to LuAnn Nigara: WWLD!
Show Highlights:
Links :
Coming Back Soon!
Increase Confidence, Increase Profits
Coming Back in February 2021!
Coming Back Soon!
Eileen B. Hahn's Interior Design Firm Hiring Toolkit
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
Kirsch’s motorized Briza collection is the perfect answer to high-end drapery treatments. Connect with Your Local Kirsch Distributor Now! Kirsch
When your client wants the finest in luxury appliances for their kitchen.
Are You Set Up with Monogram's Design Partner Trade Program?
OTHER EPISODES MENTIONED AND TAG IN SM:
Jamie Lieberman’s episode #’s 454 and #547.
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Judith Taylor of Judith Taylor Designs returns as a guest today to share her ideas on networking for introverts. As Judith says, it can be a struggle to be an introvert in an extrovert’s industry! She has many things to say that can help not just introverts, but anybody looking to strengthen their networking skills. Listen in to this fascinating conversation about how you can set yourself up for success, even if you’re an introvert, and how to overcome the challenges when it comes to networking.
Judith is an international award-winning designer with a flair for making personal, meaningful spaces. She is the granddaughter of a once-prominent furniture manufacturer, and as such, is passionate about style and the tradition of quality fine furniture making.
Liveably luxury is achieved through her timeless aesthetic. Classic details, and refined clean lines anchor a love of the mix of contemporary traditional, and global influences. Mixing patterns, unexpected combinations, dressmaker’s details, and often vibrant colours distinguish her style.
A few things you may not know about her:
She started her career in Information Technology as a mainframe programmer/analyst but after 20 years as an IT consultant, her love of colour and pattern got the better of her. While working in IT, she also completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and later studied fine art at Toronto School of Art, and then most recently she studied Interior Design at the International Academy of Design and Technology where she received High Honours for her work.
She is the first (and so far only) Canadian to have won a “Designer of the Year” award from the Interior Design Society out of High Point North Carolina, and was also the first to win Crate and Barrel’s “designer challenge” and you can see the “Judith chair” on the “about” page on her website, or sit on the winning entry in her living room (by invitation only)!
She enjoys travel and always looks forward to spending more time at their summer place at Cape Cod.
Follow along with her blog to read posts about her travels, her design insight, and lifestyle thoughts that cross her mind. She hopes you enjoy the read.
Show Highlights:
Connect with Judith!
Links :
Coming Back Soon!
Increase Confidence, Increase Profits
Coming Back in February 2021!
Coming Back Soon!
Eileen B. Hahn's Interior Design Firm Hiring Toolkit
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
Jaipur Living’s Website - Easy to Browse, Custom Calculator, Products Ready to Ship! Open Your Trade Account to Begin Your Relationship with This Admirable Company.
Open Your Trade Account with ARTICLE.com Here!
Be the hero for your clients, and be the solution they need right now with Article.
Other shows mentioned to link to and to tag in SM
#340 Judith Taylor: Strategies for Working with Family and Friends
#584 Lesley Myrick: Building a Business From the Ground Up, Again
#557 Power Talk Friday: Desi Creswell: Develop Your CEO Mindset
#475 Power Talk Friday: Desi Creswell: How to Create More Time
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today’s guest is Mary Pat Wallace, the founder of Chicago Luxury Beds, and today’s focus is the luxury client! Mary Pat shares important perspectives about the surprising opportunities you have today in the midst of the pandemic, and not just how we can deal with it and accommodate it, but how we can truly serve our clients in a bigger and better way.
She also shares her insights on how she’s managed to maintain an excellent client experience and continue to be a strong leader for her team, even in a retail setting, throughout the challenges of Covid-19. Listen in for an inspiring conversation!
Mary is a 30-year veteran of the design industry. Committed to sourcing the highest-quality, bespoke mattresses and sleep products from across the globe, Mary Pat and her team of experts have spent the last 15 years helping clients transform their lives through sleep. Once she spent her first night in a Hästens bed, Mary Pat knew that mattresses should be viewed as a necessity in one’s life. Extensive experience in the design industry allowed Mary Pat to develop a perspective on value per use — we sleep a third of our lives, the mattress is the most important piece of furniture in the home. Restorative sleep is the foundation for optimum health. Having witnessed firsthand that the right mattress is critical to a deeply restful night of sleep she brought that experience and her unique expertise to the luxury market in Chicago, opening the first Hästens retail store in North America in 2005. Mary Pat eventually rebranded the business to Chicago Luxury Beds in order to expand her curated offerings. With the success and longevity of Chicago Luxury Beds, she opened a showroom in Dallas (Dallas Luxury Beds) furthering her team’s reach in helping clients get their best night of sleep. It is Mary Pat’s life passion to help clients create environments that are deeply restful and support transformational sleep.
Show Highlights:
Connect with Mary Pat!
Links :
Coming Back Soon!
Increase Confidence, Increase Profits
Coming Back in February 2021!
Coming Back Soon!
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
FREE Trial! A One-Stop Shop to Keep Everything Organized!
Check Out Their Client Portal and Time Tracking Features!
My Doma Studio A Well Designed Business
Open Your Trade Account with ARTICLE.com Here!
Be the hero for your clients, and be the solution they need right now with Article.
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today we are joined by Jamel Williams for another conversation in our Black Lives Matter series. As a young black designer and teacher, Jamel has a unique perspective on what can be done at the university-level to empower students of color. Please join us in this discussion on how mentorship in the university years could be a game-changer for all of our young designers, and especially our black designers, and Jamel’s suggestions on how schools can be that agent of change.
Jamel Williams is a young and passionate Interior Designer, Educator, and Entrepreneur who specializes in Residential Interior Design in all of New York and surrounding areas. Shortly after graduating from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, Class of 2017 with a Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design, Jamel founded To Be Designed, a full-service Interior Design Studio. Already having an undergraduate degree in Anthropology, his interests in people, cultures, and ways of life fuel his passion to approach design with a multidisciplinary perspective. His delicate persona, fortified drive, and a keen eye for detail provide the perfect foundation for every project he takes on, creating beautiful, and functional spaces in collaboration with his clients.
Also passionate about design education, Jamel took on his first two higher education teaching positions during the Spring 2020 semester at both Pratt Institute and Parsons Open Campus at the New School. He has had the pleasure of teaching both technical and theoretical courses; namely, AutoCAD 1, Professional Practice for Interior Designers, Interior Design Portfolio, Residential Interior Design, and Now Construction and Assemblies. Jamel's active Interior Design practice and educational experience allow him to provide his students with the information needed in order to understand the principles of design so they too can create aesthetically beautiful, functional, and responsive spaces for their future clients.
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and racial injustice spread across America, there has been an increased need for awareness, representation, and social change. Jamel has begun to think about ways he can use his platform to evoke change within the industry he serves. Being in direct contact with aspiring Interior Design Students and being a Black Designer in the Industry, Jamel thinks that one actionable solution may be to create relationships between students of color and designers of color, through mentorship, to create a sense of community and support for the young designers who may feel underrepresented once they cross over into the world of Interior Design.
Show Highlights:
Connect with Jamel!
Great Resources From Jamel to Check Out!
Interior Design: 7 African American Designers on How They're Pushing The Design Industry Forward
Black Artists + Designers Guild
Links :
Coming Back Soon!
Increase Confidence, Increase Profits
Coming Back in February 2021!
Coming Back Soon!
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
Take Advantage of Kravet Inc.’s Extensive Digital Tools & 24/7 Customer Service! Kravet
Use promo code AWDB10 for a 10% discount on Kravet fabric, trim, and wallcovering!
When your client wants the finest in luxury appliances for their kitchen.
Are You Set Up with Monogram's Design Partner Trade Program?
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! We’re super excited to have Karin Bohn join us on the show today.
Karin Bohn is the founder and creative director of the award-winning House of Bohn design studio. She established the interior design firm in 2009 and has made her mark in many industries including luxury residential, multi-family, restaurants, and retail.
Karin stars on Netflix’s Restaurants on the Edge in which she travels with a team of experts to provide design, marketing, and culinary consultation to establishments in some of the most beautiful locations in the world.
With her continuously growing YouTube channel, Karin offers behind-the-scenes glimpses of her creative process, collaborative partnerships, and life as an entrepreneur.
Listen in to hear how in 11 years, Karin went from struggling to start a design business all the way to having a Netflix show and managing a luxury interior design firm with a team of 10!
Show Highlights:
Connect with Karin!
Links :
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
Jaipur Living’s Website - Easy to Browse, Custom Calculator, Products Ready to Ship! Open Your Trade Account to Begin Your Relationship with This Admirable Company.
Kirsch’s motorized Briza collection is the perfect answer to high end drapery treatments. Connect with Your Local Kirsch Distributor Now! Kirsch
Other shows mentioned to link to and to tag in SM
#237,#325, #485 Claire Jefford
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today, Reena Philpot joins us to share her love of sales - and you’ll never guess what she’s selling!
Reena (pronounced “Re-Nay”) and her husband own Precision Duplicating Solutions, and for 18 years, Reena’s helped build a successful business selling...copiers. That’s right folks - she sells pricey copy machines - and she loves it! It doesn’t matter what you’re selling, because sales is sales, and Reena’s techniques can absolutely be applied to the design business.
Listen in to learn what sales tactics Reena has used to build her business, and how you can apply them to your own business to bring in those dollar bills!
Daily Reena manages the sales side of the business and part of the admin duties. She started her career as a telemarketer/appointment setter 26 years ago. She quickly transitioned to outside sales and vowed it was so awesome she would learn how to become successful.
When her boys had grown into young men and needed her less, Reena started joining some masterminds and groups of ladies with amazing businesses. Through that process, she learned she had something to offer them to help them grow their businesses. While Reena has had the advantages of learning sales and a process and then starting a business, not everyone has had the same opportunity.
Reena began using her background in high-ticket competitive sales and experience as a business owner to help other entrepreneurs and teams increase their customer base and sales revenue. Reena Philpot Sales Coaching began last year, and now she offers strategy sessions, workshops, and VIP days to those who want results.
Show Highlights:
Connect with Reena!
Reena’s Website
FREE! How to Develop Questions to Improve Closing
Reena Philpot Sales Coaching - Facebook
Reena Philpot Sales Coaching - Instagram
Reena Philpot Sales Coaching - LinkedIn
Links :
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
Take Advantage of Kravet Inc.’s Extensive Digital Tools & 24/7 Customer Service! Set Up a Virtual Appointment with Your Local Sales Representative: Kravet
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s guest today is Debbie Mathews of Debbie Mathews Antiques and Designs, LLC, and Debbie will be walking us through easily implementable, effective systems to take care of all those tiny details so that we have the time to focus on the big things in our business. Debbie revamped her growing business to ensure she and her team are less stressed while consistently providing their clients with an A+ experience. Be sure to listen and see if some of her ideas will help you be more productive and less stressed, too!
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Debbie Mathews Antiques and Designs, LLC is a full-service interior design firm that specializes in high-end residential projects. From new construction to simple refreshes, their goal is to realize each room’s greatest potential. With a keen focus to detail, their team works collaboratively with clients to navigate through the many decisions involved with high-quality, custom design work. Clients repeatedly tell them that their diverse experience, infectious energy, and unparalleled service make the process efficient and enjoyable. Debbie’s passion for beautiful things, paired with her love of antiques and timeless architecture, gives each of their interiors a sense of history and purpose. She is uniquely recognized for her hallmark design aesthetic of anchoring a room with timeless antiques and layering in more contemporary furniture and accessories. Her 30+ years of experience buying and selling fine antiques has proven to be a design distinction often unmatched. Because of this dedication to timeless and classic elements of design, her projects always reflect charm, warmth, and curated beauty. Debbie Mathews Antiques and Designs, LLC welcomes the opportunity to showcase their mantra to you: Timeless. Collected. Beautiful.
Show Highlights:
Connect with Debbie!
Debbie’s Website
Debbie’s Instagram
Debbie’s Facebook
Debbie’s Pinterest
Debbie’s Email
Links :
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
Design-Build For Profit - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors
Investment: $2195
Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Desi Creswell
Investment: $2195
LuAnn University
The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson
The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang
Coming September 2020!
Early Bird Registration Sept 4 - Sept 20
Classes: Sept 22 - Sept 24
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
FREE Trial! A One-Stop Shop to Keep Everything Organized!
Check Out Their Client Portal and Time Tracking Features!
My Doma Studio: A Well Designed Business
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! LuAnn welcomes Kimberly Merlitti, the Virtual CFO, back to the show. Kimberly also happens to be one of the co-authors for our third book, A Well-Designed Business, Power Talk Experts Volume 2, which is coming out in November.
On today’s show, Kimberly is sharing with us the importance of preparing an estimate for your job before you sign a contract. If there’s one thing Kimberly knows, it’s numbers! And she is going to walk you through not only WHY preparing an estimate at the very beginning is important, but also how to do this the right way, how to stay on track, and how to rely on data, so that you’re not playing a guessing game and risking losing money in your business. Because at the end of the day, you are not just a designer, you’re an entrepreneur, right?
Kimberly Merlitti owns KMM Consulting based out of Washington, D.C. She has 20 years of experience working in accounting for companies such as Swinerton Builders, WRNS Studio, and Martin Group. She has her Masters in Accounting from Golden Gate University. Located in Washington D.C. Kimberly’s clientele includes a diverse group of service-based companies, with the main focus on small interior design, construction, and architectural firms. The goal of her firm is to make the businesses she works for as profitable as they can be by educating them on accounting, cash flow management, tax deductions, project reporting, and business management.
Show Highlights:
(Without Just Guessing!) - get yours HERE!
Connect with Kimberly!
Kimberly’s Website
Kimberly’s Facebook
Kimberly’s LinkedIn
Kimberly’s Email
Links :
FREE From Kimberly: 7 Tips for Estimating BEFORE the Contract
(Without Just Guessing!)
Available in Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Design-Build For Profit - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors
Investment: $2195
Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Desi Creswell
Investment: $2195
LuAnn University
The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson
The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang
Coming September 2020!
Early Bird Registration Sept 4 - Sept 20
Classes: Sept 22 - Sept 24
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
When your client wants the finest in luxury appliances for their kitchen.
Are You Set Up with Monogram's Design Partner Trade Program?
FREE Trial! A One-Stop Shop to Keep Everything Organized!
Check Out Their Client Portal and Time Tracking Features!
Mydoma Studio: A Well Designed Business
Other shows mentioned to link:
#361 Power Talk Friday: Kimberly Merlitti: Does Your Interior Design Business Need a CFO?
#442 Power Talk Friday: Kimberly Merlitti: Do You Know Your Cash on Hand Number?
#384 Sarah Magness: Practical Strategies for Talking Budgets
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn welcomes Nicole White, CEO and Principal Designer of Nicole White Designs Interiors, back to the show. When they last visited, Nicole shared details about her client questionnaire, how she gets press, and the confidence she now has as a designer.
On today’s Black Lives Matter episode, you’ll hear about Nicole’s business and personal life, viewed specifically through the filter of being black.
As a trained journalist and Jamaican immigrant, Nicole has a unique perspective on what we can do to effect lasting change. We hope you join us!
Nicole White is the CEO and Principal Designer of Nicole White Designs Interiors, a full-service boutique interior design firm, based in Sunrise, Florida.
Nicole, known for her renovation prowess, has been featured in various local, national, and international publications including - HGTV, House Beautiful, Better Homes, and Gardens magazines; Ocean Drive, Huffington Post, and Domino online magazines and The Miami Herald and Jamaica Observer. Voted among the top 25 Interior Design Firms by the South Florida Luxury Guide, Nicole has also twice been noted as an emerging designer to watch by the Black Interior Designers Network and was a recipient of the Z-Gallerie Design Award Fall/Winter 2013. Nicole is also a brand ambassador/influencer for The Home Depot, Zephyr, Purple Drywall, and City Furniture.
Before launching her successful design firm, Nicole was an award-winning journalist whose stories appeared in The Miami Herald, Village Voice, and Vibe magazine. Her combined love of design and writing spawned the creation of her blog, Live Laugh Decorate, where she showcases the behind the scenes details of design projects, shares tips on affordable design ideas, and dishes about design trends.
Her blog was nominated for Best Renovation Blog by Domino Magazine in 2018.
A Jamaican native, Nicole is deeply inspired by the colors and textures of the Caribbean and constantly fuses those elements in her designs. Nicole prides herself on designing a home guided by her client’s passions, be it contemporary, traditional, vintage or modern. Nicole is an avid foodie and wine lover who is always busy plotting a travel escape. Her greatest design however is her 8-year-old son, Xavier – artist and dinosaur aficionado.
Show Highlights:
Connect with Nicole!
Nicole’s Instagram
Nicole’sFacebook
Nicole’sTwitter
Nicole’sPinterest
Nicole’sWebsite
Nicole’s Email
Nicole’s Recommended Resources:
Black Artists + Designers Guild
Black Interior Designers Network
Resources:
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Design-Build For Profit - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors
Investment: $2195
Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Desi Creswell
Investment: $2195
LuAnn University
The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson
The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang
Coming September 2020!
Early Bird Registration Sept 4 - Sept 20
Classes: Sept 22 - Sept 24
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to This Podcast Sponsor:
Take Advantage of Kravet Inc.’s Extensive Digital Tools & 24/7 Customer Service!
Set Up a Virtual Appointment with Your Local Sales Representative:
Open Your Trade Account with ARTICLE.com Here!
Be the hero for your clients, and be the solution they need right now with Article.
Other shows mentioned:
Nicole's 1st appearance on the show: #366
#BLM Shows:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! What do you do when you realize that the business you have nurtured over the years is no longer bringing you joy? Tawna Allred joins LuAnn in this conversation that is not so much about how Tawna built her design business, but how, after 10 years in business, she took a pause, looked inside, and shifted gears to bring back the spark and create the life that she really wanted. Listen in to this inspiring conversation for lessons on learning to trust your gut instinct and following through with simple changes.
Tawna Allred opened her interior design business (a single person LLC) in 2009, and she is still a one-woman business today. Tawna labels herself as a multi-passionate creative. Her interior design focus is design-build (new construction and remodeling), and she offers full-service design from plan conceptualization to installing furniture and styling. Tawna's husband is a contractor and although they have separate businesses, he's a huge mentor and supporter of her work. She started her business right after finishing school because there weren't any designers in her town and she had three young children. Tawna has been learning in the school of hard knocks ever since!
Show Highlights:
Links:
Tawna's Websites: -Tawna Allred & Tawna Allred Art
Links :
Interior Design Standard is Back!
Sandra Funk is a game changer for our industry!
Enrollment: September 16th - September 28th
Investment: $3,989
Interior Design Standard is a digital program that covers everything you need for running an efficient and joyful business! Interior Design Standard
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Design-Build For Profit - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors
Investment: $2195
Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Desi Creswell
Investment: $2195
LuAnn University
The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson
The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang
Coming September 2020!
Early Bird Registration Sept 4 - Sept 20
Classes: Sept 22 - Sept 24
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
Courses and Products to Dive Deep into Specific Elements of Your Business
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
Jaipur Living’s Website - Easy to Browse, Custom Calculator, Products Ready to Ship! Open Your Trade Account to Begin Your Relationship with This Admirable Company.
FREE Trial! A One-Stop Shop to Keep Everything Organized!
Check Out Their Client Portal and Time Tracking Features!
My doma Studio: A Well Designed Business
Other shows mentioned to link to and to tag in SM
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it's Power Talk Friday! Today, Luann and her guest, Eileen Hahn, dig into how to scale your design business from 2 million to 5 million. Going from 2 to 5 million is not easy, and it does not happen by accident. Intentional is the name of the game when scaling at this level. Who better to take us through that than Eileen? She’s the HR whisperer from LuAnn's first Power Talk Friday Experts book. Eileen was with us all at LuAnn Live and she also has a chapter in LuAnn's upcoming second Power Talk Friday Experts book, as well. Oh, and did you know that LuAnn and Eileen are COUSINS? Tune in to their conversation for expert advice on hiring, retaining, and scaling, and be amazed as Eileen takes
this overwhelming task of scaling and breaks it down into a simple (not easy, simple) to-do list!
Eileen Hahn is a leadership consultant who works with firms like Anheuser-Busch, Ericson Worldwide, General Motors, Legoland, San Diego Padres, and interior design firms, as well as smaller entrepreneurial firms. She teaches leaders in these organizations how to hire and lead exceptional employees who bring fire and energy to their work, achieve high levels of performance, and generate financial results. Eileen’s work has improved productivity, profitability, and employee work passion. It has also brought the employees joy, peace, purpose, and prosperity.
Show Highlights:
Connect with Eileen!
Eileen'sWebsite
Eileen's Instagram
Eileen's LinkedIn
Eileen's Interior Design Firm Hiring Toolkits
Eileen's Email
Links :
Interior Design Standard is Back!
Sandra Funk is a game changer for our industry!
Enrollment: September 16th - September 28th
Investment: $3,989
Interior Design Standard is a digital program that covers everything you need for running an efficient and joyful business! Interior Design Standard
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Design-Build For Profit - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors
Investment: $2195
Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Desi Creswell
Investment: $2195
LuAnn University
The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson
The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang
Coming September 2020!
Early Bird Registration Sept 4 - Sept 20
Classes: Sept 22 - Sept 24
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
Courses and Products to Dive Deep into Specific Elements of Your Business
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to This Podcast Sponsor:
Mydoma Studio - All your clients, numbers, and info in one place! Stay organized, source products, and get paid. View a demo of the interior design software today!
Other shows mentioned to link to and to tag in SM
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another riveting episode of “What Would Lu Do?”, where you ask the difficult questions and LuAnn gives the expert answers you’ve been wanting. Today’s episode is sponsored by Mydoma Studio.
Today’s dilemma comes from Virginia, a self-described #babydesigner. Virginia had a good working relationship with a contractor on commercial projects, and he brought her into one of his residential deals. Everything went great. She returned the favor by inviting him into one of her residential projects. The contractor ended up sending the client a proposal behind Virginia’s back, before she even had the design work presentation ready. This confused the client and made her look bad. Virginia is looking for the best way to handle this situation.
Today’s episode will capture your attention because Lu explains how having too much business isn’t always good. Really? Tune in to hear LuAnn explain.
Show Highlights:
If you are not working with a coach or perhaps you don’t have a business mentor or business bestie to provide guidance, this is the perfect opportunity to email LuAnn the burning issues that you need insight on and she’ll answer them on air. Please send your questions to LuAnn Nigara WWLD!
Links :
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Design-Build For Profit - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors
Register NOW & Get Early Bird Pricing $1895
Regular Price: $2195 after September 4th
Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Desi Creswell
Register NOW & Get Early Bird Pricing $1895
Regular Price: $2195 after September 4th
LuAnn University
The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson
The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang
Coming September 2020!
Early Bird Registration Sept 4 - Sept 20
Classes: Sept 22 - Sept 24
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
Courses and Products to Dive Deep into Specific Elements of Your Business
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to MyDoma Studio for sponsoring this episode!
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Are you really, truly, creating your own designs and ideas? Today’s guest wants you to learn to start with the story you want to tell and to express that in your design. LuAnn gets the pleasure of talking with so many great designers on the show, but she rarely gets the opportunity to chat with a commercial designer. That dynamic flips once again today, because she is joined by Darrell Long of Wilson Associates. Darrell believes it is important to develop your critical thinking in order to be an exceptional designer. He is here to share with us that the magic of creativity is in the story and it is the art behind the design. This is something that he is very passionate about and he considers it his mission to share with other designers, especially younger ones. Please join us in this very special episode!
Darrell Long possesses more than 25 years of brand-strengthening design experience that evokes a distinct sense of location, while engaging the world's most discriminating travelers. As Regional Managing Director Long oversees the design direction of the Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Dallas studios.
Throughout his professional career, Darrell has set new standards for luxury, comfort, and innovation in hospitality interior design across the world. He has been recognized throughout the hospitality design industry for his emphasis on modernist principles rooted in contemporary and technological design practices. Of the contemporary, Darrell is a fan of Gehry and Piano.
Darrell’s ultimate source of inspiration has always been music. In his early years, Darrell embarked on a career path to become a musician, which further ignited his love for the fine arts, particularly museum exhibition design, ultimately leading him to discover an innate passion for architecture and interior design. When Darrell isn’t leading his team designing world-class projects, he can be found enjoying music, playing the guitar and piano, indulging in great food, wine, film, and spending time at home.
Show Highlights:
Connect with Darrell!
Darrell’s Info: Wilson Associates
Darrell’s Email
Links :
Interior Design Standard is Back!
Sandra Funk is a game changer for our industry!
Enrollment: September 16th - September 28th
Investment: $3,989
Interior Design Standard is a digital program that covers everything you need for running an efficient and joyful business! Interior Design Standard
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Design-Build For Profit - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors
Investment: $2195
Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Desi Creswell
Investment: $2195
LuAnn University
The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson
The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang
Coming September 2020!
Early Bird Registration Sept 4 - Sept 20
Classes: Sept 22 - Sept 24
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
Courses and Products to Dive Deep into Specific Elements of Your Business
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to This Podcast Sponsor:
Jaipur Living’s Website - Easy to Browse, Custom Calculator, Products Ready to Ship! Open Your Trade Account to Begin Your Relationship with This Admirable Company.
Other shows mentioned:
#435 Global Hospitality Interior Design, Juan Carlos Rodriguez Artigas of Wilson Associates
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Window Treatment Friday! In today’s episode, LuAnn and her friend and co-host of WTF, Vita (Vitalia) Vygovska, discuss how to get yourself in the right mindset for selling window treatments. Window treatments add some dollar bills to that bottom line of a project and are a nice money profit center for an interior designer. Listen in today to hear what LuAnn and Vita have to share with you.
Vita is the award-winning window treatment specialist. Her company, Vitalia, Inc, is an all-encompassing fabrication, measurement, installation, and project management service exclusively for interior designers. In business for over a decade, Vita and her team are experts in their narrow field, providing designers with superb quality product and excellent communication. Most importantly, they take off the stress, save time, and give peace of mind in the job is well-done.
Show Highlights:
Connect with Vita!
Vita’s Website
Vita’s Instagram
Vita’s Facebook
Vita’s Email
Links / Resources:
Interior Design Standard is Back!
Sandra Funk is a game-changer for our industry!
Enrollment: September 16th - September 28th
Investment: $3,989
Interior Design Standard is a digital program that covers everything you need for running an efficient and joyful business! interiordesignstandard.com/luann
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Design-Build For Profit - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors
Register NOW & Get Early Bird Pricing $1895
Regular Price: $2195 after September 4th
Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Desi Creswell
Register NOW & Get Early Bird Pricing $1895
Regular Price: $2195 after September 4th
LuAnn University
The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson
The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang
Coming September 2020!
Early Bird Registration Sept 4 - Sept 20
Classes: Sept 22 - Sept 24
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
Courses and Products to Dive Deep into Specific Elements of Your Business
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
Kirsch’s motorized Briza collection is the perfect answer to high end drapery treatments. Connect with Your Local Kirsch Distributor Now!
Jaipur Living’s Website - Easy to Browse, Custom Calculator, Products Ready to Ship! Open Your Trade Account to Begin Your Relationship with This Admirable Company.
Other shows mentioned:
#174 Power Talk Friday- Fred Berns- Own Your “Only” Word & Tips to Discover Yours
#463 Sara Lynn Brennan: Package Your Design Services for Profit and Clarity
#6 Identifying Your Transferable Skills with Erika Ward
# 83 Lauren Clement of Lauren Nicole Designs – An Interior Design Firm Built on Family and Teamwork
# 180 Power Talk Friday: Michele Williams Talks About Profit First and Why it Matters to You
#448 Window Treatment Friday: A New Series featuring Vita Vygovska and LuAnn Nigara
#456 Window Treatment Friday: Custom-Made vs Ready-Made Window Treatments
#462 Window Treatment Friday: Window Treatment Business Models, Part 1
#471 Window Treatment Friday: Window Treatment Business Models, Part 2
#481 Window Treatment Friday: Overview of Hard and Soft Window Treatments
#493 Window Treatment Friday: Vitalia Vygovska: A Mindset for Success
#512 Window Treatment Friday: Drapery Hardware
#518 Communication Between the Designer and the Window Treatment Professional
#539 Window Treatment Friday: Look to Your Window Treatment Partner to Sell Remotely
#551 Window Treatment Friday: Exploring Awnings as an Additional Revenue Stream
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s guest today takes efficiency to a whole new level, and she is also one of the co-authors in LuAnn’s upcoming book A Well Designed Business: The Power Talk Friday Experts, coming out in November 2020. Please welcome Sandra Funk back to the show.
After 20 years in the business, Sandra has gained a ton of information, a ton of expertise, and a ton of knowledge, and now, she is offering that expertise, that well-oiled machine to designers everywhere. The Interior Design Standard is a program that Sandra has put together, actual templates for designers to utilize her systems and processes. LuAnn is thrilled to announce that today’s show is sponsored by Interior Design Standard. You’re going to love what you hear!
Sandra Funk is the CEO and Principal Designer of House of Funk, a greater New York area design firm working wherever great clients need us. This is interior design with a soul and a sense of place; reflecting your desires, personality, and style. House of Funk creates thoughtful homes with an emphasis on clean lines and soulful touches, all rooted in tradition. Sandra is an Accredited Professional for the Sustainable Furnishings Council. Sandra’s award-winning design work has been featured in publications such as Elle Decor, House Beautiful, The Huffington Post, Apartment Therapy, Aspire Design & Home, and Luxe Interiors + Design. With almost two decades in the interior design industry, Sandra is launching the Interior Design Standard in the spring of 2020 – a template for designers to utilize her streamlined processes and business structure to bring joy and profit to their own design business.
Show Highlights:
Connect with Sandra!
Sandra’s Website
Sandra’s Instagram
Sandra’s Facebook
Sandra’s Pinterest
Sandra’s Email
Interior Design Standard is Back!
Sandra Funk is a game changer for our industry!
Enrollment: September 16th - September 28th
Investment: $3,989
Interior Design Standard is a digital program that covers everything you need for running an efficient and joyful business! Interior Design Standard
Links :
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Design-Build For Profit - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors
Register NOW & Get Early Bird Pricing $1895
Regular Price: $2195 after September 4th
Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Desi Creswell
Register NOW & Get Early Bird Pricing $1895
Regular Price: $2195 after September 4th
LuAnn University
The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson
The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang
Coming September 2020!
Early Bird Registration Sept 4 - Sept 20
Classes: Sept 22 - Sept 24
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
Courses and Products to Dive Deep into Specific Elements of Your Business
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
Interior Design Standard is a digital program that covers everything you need for running an efficient and joyful business! Interior Design Standard
FREE Trial! A One-Stop Shop to Keep Everything Organized!
Check Out Their Client Portal and Time Tracking Features!
My Doma Studio A Well Designed Business
Take Advantage of Kravet Inc.’s Extensive Digital Tools & 24/7 Customer Service!
Set Up a Virtual Appointment with Your Local Sales Representative:
Other shows mentioned to link:
Power Talk Friday: Sandra Funk: The Interior Design Standard is Here
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! No matter where your business is, it’s going to take trial and error, iterating, learning, changing, and growing to take it to the next level. And if anybody knows how to build a business from the ground up in new locations multiple times, relying on solid networking and content marketing strategies to help her forge new connections and succeed in new places, it’s today’s guest. LuAnn welcomes Lesley Myrick back to the show. Listen in to learn what Lesley has to say about building a successful business, even when you’re starting in a brand new place.
Lesley Myrick is an adventurous, organized, and enthusiastic interior designer in the Atlanta, Georgia area (and she works with clients all over the US and Canada, too). Lesley is originally from Canada and has lived and worked in Toronto, Ontario; Los Angeles, California; Waco, Texas; and now Macon, Georgia. She earned an honors diploma in interior design from Sheridan College in 2005 and launched Lesley Myrick Art + Design in 2015. She works with high-achieving women who are ambitious, adaptable, and committed to personal and professional growth. Lesley helps these driven women bust out of boring homes and helps new interior designers launch kickass businesses they love.
Show Highlights:
Connect with Lesley!
Lesley’s Website
Lesley’s Freebies
Lesley’s Instagram
Lesley’s Podcast Bust Out of Boring
Lesley’s Email
#BizTipMonday emails + Resources for Interior Designers
Links :
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Design-Build For Profit - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors
Register NOW & Get Early Bird Pricing $1895
Regular Price: $2195 after September 4th
Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Desi Creswell
Register NOW & Get Early Bird Pricing $1895
Regular Price: $2195 after September 4th
LuAnn University
The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson
The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang
Coming September 2020!
Early Bird Registration Sept 4 - Sept 20
Classes: Sept 22 - Sept 24
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
Courses and Products to Dive Deep into Specific Elements of Your Business
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
FREE Trial! A One-Stop Shop to Keep Everything Organized!
Check Out Their Client Portal and Time Tracking Features!
My Doma Studio A Well Designed Business
Take Advantage of Kravet Inc.’s Extensive Digital Tools & 24/7 Customer Service!
Check Out Their ICreate Program to Easily Design Your Own Furniture in Just a Few Simple Steps! Kravet
Other shows mentioned to link:
#37 Lesley Myrick - Strategies I Used to Build My Business
#203 Darla Powell – How to Launch an Interior Design Firm
#330 Darla Powell: Darla Powell Interiors 18 Months After Opening
#15 Nancy Ganzekaufer- Niche is Rich
#159 Power Talk Friday – Nancy Ganzekaufer – How To Get Confident & Clear on What You Offer
#256 Nancy Ganzekaufer- A Powerful Strategy to Attract More Clients
#389 Power Talk Friday: Nancy Ganzekaufer: The Interior Design Profit Formula
#82 Deborah Rosenberg – Tailoring Your Interior Design Firm to Your Core Beliefs
#117 Power Talk Friday: Deborah Rosenberg- Cruelty Free Design Certification is Here!
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! LuAnn’s guest today is Mitch Hahn, the CEO of Nordens, a large, established accounting firm in Central London. Mitch is not new to the struggles and successes that accompany accounting for home designers. Simply put, Mitch doesn’t just look at home design from an accountant’s perspective; he sees accounting from a home designer’s perspective, too, so he truly speaks creatives’ language. Listen in for what Mitch has to say about what to look for in an accountant and how accountants can better serve designer clients.
The CEO of an established accounting firm - like, over-3000-clients-established - at only 31, Mitch Hahn is versed in starting a company from scratch at a young age. And he’s not too bad at helping a variety of other businesses do the same, either.
Plus, with a variety of home design businesses included within that scope, Mitch is not new to the struggles and successes that accompany accounting for home designers. It’s that “struggle” bit that he knows all too well!
Show Highlights:
Connect with Mitch!
Nordens Website [The firm Mitch is CEO of]
@MitchelHahn [personal twitter handle]
@NordensAccounts [Accounting firm handle]
Mitch’s LinkedIn
To sign up for the Interactive Acceleration Program, just email Mitch directly at mitch@nordens.co.uk
Links :
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
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LuAnn University
The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson
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Early Bird Registration Sept 4 - Sept 20
Classes: Sept 22 - Sept 24
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
Courses and Products to Dive Deep into Specific Elements of Your Business
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Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
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#464 Power Talk Friday: Peter Lang: Understanding Your Finances #FreeTheDesigner
#349 Power Talk Friday: Peter Lang: The Designer CPA
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another episode of “What Would Lu Do?”, where you ask the questions and LuAnn helps out with the answers.
Today’s dilemma comes from Virginia, a self-described #babydesigner. Virginia had a good working relationship with a contractor on commercial projects, and he brought her into one of his residential deals. Everything went great. She returned the favor by inviting him into one of her residential projects. The contractor ended up sending the client a proposal behind Virginia’s back, before she even had the design work presentation ready. This confused the client and made her look bad. Virginia is looking for the best way to handle this situation.
Listen in as LuAnn digs into the details, susses out the situation, and lays out her reasoning on the resolutions.
If you are not working with a coach or perhaps you don’t have a business mentor or business bestie to provide guidance, this is the perfect opportunity to email LuAnn the burning issues that you need insight on and she’ll answer them on air. Please send your questions to LuAnn Nigara WWLD!
Show Highlights:
Links :
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Design-Build For Profit - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors
Register NOW & Get Early Bird Pricing $1895
Regular Price: $2195 after September 4th
Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits - Kicking Off September 23, 2020!
With Desi Creswell
Register NOW & Get Early Bird Pricing $1895
Regular Price: $2195 after September 4th
LuAnn University
The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson
The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang
Coming September 2020!
Early Bird Registration Sept 4 - Sept 20
Classes: Sept 22 - Sept 24
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
Courses and Products to Dive Deep into Specific Elements of Your Business
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
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When your client wants the finest in luxury appliances for their kitchen.
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Welcome to a Well-Designed Business! Today’s guest is the Paloma Contreras - the Elle A-list, Forbes recognized, shop-owning, fabulously talented design influencer. You know, the Paloma Contreras that has163,000 Instagram followers? This lady is one amazing powerhouse! Keep listening, though, because it wasn’t always that way. She is a lady who cried on Sundays because she dreaded her work week so much, then went on to find her niche, love her job, and become that Elle Decor A-Lister.
Don’t miss LuAnn’s and Paloma’s inspiring conversation about trusting your gut, taking action even when you’re afraid or unsure, and going for the big dream in your head and making it reality.
Based in Houston, Texas, Paloma has honed her eye for style over more than a decade in the design industry. She has developed a reputation for designing beautiful interiors in a broad range of styles which are executed in a manner that is polished, refined, and effortless.
Paloma has repeatedly been named on the prestigious ELLE Decor “A-List” of the top interior designers in the world. She’s been recognized as a “Next Wave” interior designer by House Beautiful and has been named to LUXE Magazine’s “Gold List”.
Paloma was named #4 on the Forbes list of the Top Social Media Influencers in the Home category and according to ELLE Decor, is one of the Top 10 interior design Instagram accounts to follow.
She recently debuted a licensed collection with Williams Sonoma Home and has done special projects with many major brands including One Kings Lane, Bravo Television, American Express, KitchenAid, Kohler, Auberge du Soleil, and Peninsula Hotels.
Paloma has a book named Dream Design Live and a curated retail shop, Paloma & Co. And last but not least - she’s a lady after my own heart - she just launched The Style Files Podcast.
When she gets a free second, Paloma enjoys traveling with her husband, Fabian, and spending time with their sweet dog, Tate.
Show Highlights:
Connect with Paloma!
Paloma’s Website
Paloma’s Instagram
Paloma’s Blog
Paloma’s Podcast:The Style Files Podcast
Paloma’s Email
Order Your Copy of Paloma’s Book, Dream Design Live!
Links :
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Design-Build For Profit - Coming Late Summer / Early Fall!
With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors
Get on the Email List HERE!
Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits
Registration Opening in August, Course Starts in September
LuAnn University
The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson
The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang
Coming September 2020!
Early Bird Registration Sept 4 - Sept 20
Classes: Sept 22 - Sept 24
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
Courses and Products to Dive Deep into Specific Elements of Your Business
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:
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Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn welcomes Brad Leavitt of A.F.T. Construction back on the show today. Brad is here to talk with us about the “B” word - budgets! And the other “B” word - builders! Taking charge of the money for our projects is vital. In fact, it’s absolutely necessary if you want to build amazing client relationships and get the respect you deserve from your builders - and really anyone you interact with in your business. Brad is going to get into that with us today. Plus, LuAnn has been saving a question from one of her designers for him, so listen in to hear that question and see how Brad responds.
Brad Leavitt is President of A Finer Touch Construction, LLC, a luxury residential and commercial builder located in Scottsdale, AZ. His Podcast, “The AFT Construction Podcast”, is focused on bringing value to its listeners, no matter their industry. The topics are focused on marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, organization, building science, and construction. Brad is an ambassador for many national brands and an energetic public speaker.
Brad was born and raised in San Diego, CA as the oldest of 6 children. He grew up in the Construction industry and worked as an electrician throughout High School for Grove Electric with his 2 uncles. They did remodels and new home builds all over San Diego, but mostly on Coronado Island and in Rancho Santa Fe. Upon HS Graduation, he was accepted to Brigham Young University where he received a Bachelor’s of Science in Construction Management.
Brad accepted an offer in 2005 with Trend Homes, a local production home builder in Phoenix, AZ. He worked 1 year as a superintendent before accepting a dream job building custom homes. Rowland Luxury Homes hired Brad in 2006 and immediately he was assigned to be a Project Manager at the 350MM Omni Montelucia Resort and Spa in Paradise Valley, AZ. Brad oversaw the construction and completion of 34 Custom homes that ranged between 2-4MM each. After completion of the 34 custom homes, he then assisted with the completion of the hotel guest rooms, arrival zone, lodge, and spa. After Montelucia was complete, Brad worked on numerous other residential and commercial projects in the greater Phoenix Area.
In March 2013, Brad was ready to begin his own company and officially started A Finer Touch Construction, also known throughout social media as AFT Construction. AFT has continued their rapid growth this past 7 years and has been fortunate to win numerous build awards for its work. AFT Construction offers a wide variety of services including: Multi family, commercial, residential, tenant improvement, retail and medical. AFT has continued to exceed industry standards and create strong client relationships based on integrity, reliability, and quality.
Brad is married to Ashley Leavitt. Together, they have 6 children, 5 girls, and 1 boy. Brad is active with all 6 of his children, serves in his local community, and loves all sports
Show Highlights:
Connect with Brad!
Brad’s Website
Brad’s Instagram
Brad’s Facebook
Brad’s Pinterest
Brad’sLinkedIn
All of Brad’s social media handles are “AFT_Construction”.
Brad’s podcast is “The AFT Construction Podcast”.
Links :
Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?
LuAnn Live - Coming February 2021
Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!
Design-Build For Profit - Coming Late Summer / Early Fall!
With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors
Get on the Email List HERE!
Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits
Registration Opening in August, Course Starts in September
LuAnn University
The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson
The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang
Coming September 2020!
Early Bird Registration Sept 4 - Sept 20
Classes: Sept 22 - Sept 24
Get the Goodies! - For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!
Courses and Products to Dive Deep into Specific Elements of Your Business
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well - Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Podcast - Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!
LuAnn’s Blog
A Big THANK YOU to This Podcast Sponsor:
FREE Trial! A One-Stop Shop to Keep Everything Organized!
Check Out Their Client Portal and Time Tracking Features!
My Doma Studio: A Well Designed Business
Other shows mentioned to include in show notes:
Brad’s other show: #542 & #560