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A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

In today's world being a talented interior designer isn't enough to ensure that you have a profitable and successful interior design business. Design school doesn't always teach you the critical business skills to be sure your interior design business be everything you imagined it would be! A Well Designed Business is here to fill in the gaps and give you real live business skills from some of the top interior designers. Your host, LuAnn Nigara shares her 35 years of success in the interior design industry, and she finds the most successful guests to share their interior design business best practices.
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Now displaying: May, 2021
May 28, 2021

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, I am introducing a new kind of episode to the show! Welcome to Flash Back Friday, where I revisit old episodes of the podcast. After so many successful years of interviews, there was a need, for both new listeners and long-time listeners alike, to revisit the archives.

For new listeners, it is an opportunity to be introduced to older shows they missed, and for long-time listeners, it's a chance to refresh the ah-ha moments of the past!   

So here we go! Today, we are revisiting "Episode 423: Tiffannie White, ​The Nappy Bohemian: Your “Only” and Lessons From a New Interior Design Business".

From the archives...

On today’s show! We’re talking to Tiffannie White today, the creator of The Nappy Bohemian, located in Oakland, California. Tiffannie is a blogger, an interior stylist, and an e-designer and she also has a full-time position as a design consultant at  Fireclay Tile. After spending many years as a career sales professional, The Nappy Bohemian was born in 2017 because Tiffannie wanted to merge her architecture education, her love for tile and ceramics, and her desire to showcase the real black experience in the world of interior design. Tune in today, to hear about Tiffannie’s business, what she’s doing, and the lessons she’s learned from running her business.

Tiffannie’s job with Fireclay Tile has allowed her an inside look on the world of artisan makers, and it has also connected her with terrific designers in her East Coast territory. In today’s episode, she describes how much she loves her job, she talks openly about the lessons and challenges she experienced in her first year in business, and she shares her goals for the year to come. Listen in now, to find out more.

Show highlights:

  • Tiffannie talks about her traumatic experience of taking her daughter to the hospital and how her daughter really loved the decor there. This showed Tiffannie just how important interior design really is in people’s lives.
  • Creating a holistic space is really important for Tiffannie.
  • About Tiffannie’s personal and unique ‘only’.
  • Tiffannie is proud of the lessons she’s learned.
  • Tiffannie talks about her first eighteen months in business.
  • Being focused and clear in her vision.
  • All about Tiffannie’s e-design packages.
  • Tiffannie’s e-design is driven mainly through her Instagram and word-of-mouth.
  • Settling on a name.
  • Going with the flow and trusting.
  • Some of the challenges she’s faced.
  • You have to value what you do to have a thriving business.
  • Being careful not to compromise in too many areas when starting out in a business.
  • Work for free only if it’s worth your while.
  • Some tips about blogging.
  • Tiffannie’s business goals for the next year.

Connect with Tiffannie:

Instagram: The Nappy Bohemian

The Nappy Bohemian

The Nappy Bohemian

Previous shows mentioned:

Albie Buabeng #348

Chaney Widmer #260#327

Cheryl Janice #41

Sue Firestone #404

May 25, 2021

Today with Kate Bendewald:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Sometimes, we start our own business because we always knew that’s what we were meant for. We want to be our own bosses, have flexibility in our work, and take charge of our lives. Other times, we’re pushed into it due to changes in our circumstances. For my guest today, Kate Bendewald, the second category is true. After she had her first daughter, she left a prestigious job in a commercial design firm and struck out on her own. Her design experience didn’t prepare her for the business side of things—that, she had to learn on her own. Today, she’s sharing with us the lessons she learned and how she has stayed the course through it all. 

Pick it apart:

  • [7:16] Kate shares her journey from commercial designer to running her own firm. 
  • [18:11] Kate discusses how she navigated the transition into business owner without any knowledge of business fundamentals.
  • [22:00] Kate dives into how she figured things out along the way, including improving at sales and messaging. 
  • [37:19] Kate explains her “FOCUS” strategy for not losing sight of what’s important and maintaining movement toward success. 
  • [45:38] Kate and LuAnn discuss the Designer’s Oasis and how designers can take advantage of its upcoming relaunch.

LuAnn and Kate Bendewald’s Ah-Ha moments:

“Sometimes we are just counting the hours until we can leave a job—maybe it’s because we are going to make a move in location or a family change like having a baby—and other times it’s that, what you just said, that you enjoyed it and it was kind of a surprise that it wasn’t manageable with a baby.” -LuAnn Nigara

 

“That conversation was the starting point and after that, it was pen to paper, creating a spreadsheet, talking about the low-end possibility, the high-end possibility, and stretching and saving in other areas in order to make it work for our family.” -Kate Bendewald

 

“Once I started to realize that my call to action needed to be much simpler, my success rate went from 20% to 90%, so knowing your call to action and how to wrap up that discovery call has been an important part.” -Kate Bendewald

 

“We tend to get hung up on the term ‘sales.’ But the truth is that if you have any intention to run your business, you have to get good at sales, so you need to embrace it and you need to become comfortable with it.” -Kate Bendewald

More About Kate Bendewald:

Kate’s work is a celebration of approachable luxury informed by her lifelong love of antiques. Her unfussy livable interiors are classic in nature but remain fresh by the unapologetic mix of contemporary art and furnishings with collected items. The result is effortless mix of color, pattern, materials, styles, and eras.

Over the last 10 years, she has built a career in interior design working on projects ranging from luxury residences in the Texas Hill Country, to public spaces for children like the Rose Andom Center and Denver Children’s Museum. She’s had projects from Alaska to South Carolina. Additionally, she has designed for many clients with special physical, mental, and emotional needs.

Last year, 100% of her new clients were word-of-mouth referrals and over half of her clients were repeat clients, that not only love how she translates their ideas into reality, but also elevates the process into a true experience.

Kate grew up in a creative family and developed her technical skills while earning a degree in Interior Design from Texas State University. Today she’s married and a mother to two young daughters that constantly teach her better ways to live beautifully with children.

Connect with Kate Bendewald:

Website 

Instagram 

Facebook 

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

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

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

Mydoma Studio: Mydoma is your complete designer toolkit, the place for you to manage all of your projects, from time tracking to communication to product approvals, so that you can free your time up to focus on your business and serve your clients. You can get started today and save 20% off your first three months at mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness.

 

Other Shows Mentioned:

#37 Lesley Myrick – Strategies I Used to Build My Business



#584 Lesley Myrick: Building a Business From the Ground Up, Again



#656 April Jensen: How to Establish Client Expectations for Successful Projects

 

#654 Jenny Madden: Navigating Maternity Leave in Your Interior Design Business

May 21, 2021

Today with Susan Inglis:

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. When you hear the phrase “sustainable furnishings,” what comes to mind? Is it something you already know about, something you are bringing forth to your clients on a regular basis? Is it something you vaguely know about but aren’t sure of all the ins and outs? Or is it something that isn’t quite on your radar yet?

No matter which category you fall into, today’s conversation is relevant for you. Susan Inglis, Executive Director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, is sharing with us why sustainable furnishings matter, the power that designers hold when it comes to the future, and how you can embrace these ideals in your business.

Pick it apart:

  • [8:10] Susan and LuAnn discuss the power that interior designers hold when it comes to sustainability issues. 
  • [11:12] Susan breaks down what the Sustainable Furnishings Council is and what it offers for designers. 
  • [21:39] Susan gives us insight into the research behind sustainable furnishings and consumer interest.
  • [32:59] Susan dives into her inspiring backstory of how she came to be executive director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council. 
  • [48:15] Susan explains how to become a Green Leader or align your firm with the Council.

LuAnn and Susan Inglis’ Ah-Ha moments:

“Our supply chains are extremely complex, but our relationships are very, very important...so if one link in the chain says ‘I’m making a commitment to lower my carbon dioxide emissions...I’m going to change the lightbulbs in my warehouse…” they have the opportunity to share that news up and down their supply chain, inviting their vendors and everybody else to also take whatever is an easy first step, because all of us can do a little bit of something.” -Susan Inglis

 

“If each one of us is consciously trying to do what we can, it does have an overall effect on the end product being delivered in a less damaging way to the environment.” -LuAnn Nigara

 

“The interior designer is in a position of great power in being able to tell clients what the attributes of one piece of furniture over another might be, and this is important because 97% of the consumers we surveyed say they would be very interested in buying environmentally safe home furnishings (if, of course, they liked the style and the cost was within their budget).” -Susan Inglis

 

“The first step is often the most significant one you take, so I really encourage people to start with whatever is easiest for them, because you’re going to see that it makes a difference, you’re going to get excited, you’re going to be inspired, you’re going to want to make more changes and improvements within your operation, and, especially within the case of designers, you’re going to want to learn more and more because you’re going to see the significance of the information you’re garnering and sharing with your clients.” -Susan Inglis

 

More About Susan Inglis:

Susan Inglis is Executive Director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, and resident expert with the organization she helped found in 2006. She has led SFC to work with industry leaders to establish criteria to gauge the sustainability of furniture products and practices; develop programs for educating all sectors of the industry; and attract hundreds of companies to membership. Inglis is also founder and owner of From The Mountain, a company that imports hand spun cashmere yarn from Afghanistan, providing safe income for over 100 women there. Inglis serves on the Board of the American Sustainable Business Council and was awarded a 2017 Visionary Leadership award by the NC Business Council. She lives in North Carolina.

 

About SFC:

MISSION: SUSTAINABILITY.  The Sustainable Furnishings Council is a coalition of manufacturers, retailers and designers dedicated to raising awareness and expanding the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices across the home furnishings industry. Our mission is to help companies reduce their environmental footprints as they grow, and to help consumers find healthy furnishings.  To accomplish these lofty goals, we provide the best education, promotion, and networking opportunities available.  We raise consumer interest in environmentally safe furnishings and promote the development of many more sustainable options. SFC urges the use of Life Cycle Assessment as the best method for analyzing the environmental and health impact of products and a verifiable chain of custody as the only acceptable method for tracking wood flow. SFC members support the triple bottom line of PEOPLE - PLANET - PROFITS and lead the industry in best practices throughout their supply chains. Members are committed to continually work toward a healthy future, inside and out.

 

OUR GOALS: Raise awareness of sustainability issues. Assist companies in adopting eco-friendly practices. Serve as an information clearinghouse. Provide a symbol of assurance for consumers.

Connect with Susan Inglis:

Susan’s 2021 consumer report for free for a limited time

Website

Instagram 

Facebook  

LinkedIn

Twitter

YouTube

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

luannuniversity.com

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

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

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsors:

Kravet:

Kravet has been with me since the beginning of the show and I love them for it! They helped me to build this amazing community.

Please check out Kravet if you’re looking for fabrics, wall coverings, trims and even quick ship furnishings. Go to Kravet.com and use coupon code AWDB10 – You’ll love their excellent service and your clients will appreciate the Kravet quality for years to come.

May 18, 2021

Today with Kelly Collier:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m joined by a guest who knows all about balance in her business—Kelly Collier of Plot Twist Design in Philadelphia. Like many designers, Kelly started her business on the side, while working a full-time corporate career. Two years later, her business has grown and thrived to a full-service design business. But she’s also maintaining her full-time job. To top it all off, she is also a realtor and a podcaster.  Balancing it all isn’t easy. It takes deliberation, commitment, planning, and dedication. Today, Kelly’s sharing her tips for balancing it all and building the business, along with maintaining her career responsibilities. 

Pick it apart:

  • [6:40] Kelly shares how she manages to identify her multiple facets in her social media presence.
  • [11:40] Kelly dives into time blocking and how she lays out her day so that nothing falls through the cracks.
  • [18:32] LuAnn and Kelly talk about the importance of transparency and setting out expectations with clients.
  • [30:13] Kelly shares some insight into her personal life and how that factors into her responsibilities. 
  • [38:50] Kelly discusses racism in both the corporate world and the design industry and how she has dealt with it.

LuAnn and Kelly Collier’s Ah-Ha moments:

“I have to keep in mind what a healthy balance is for me...by me leading more with interior design, then I always have more interior design clients than real estate clients.” -Kelly Collier

 

“The nugget in this is the clarity in your priorities. You’re not just throwing the spaghetti against the wall with Instagram. You’re actually deciding that given the time and the ROI on design, real estate, and corporate, that the mix is that corporate obviously gets done first, then design, then real estate, but there’s a clear understanding of why they’re in that order and therefore, the strategy reflects that.” -LuAnn Nigara

 

“I hear people say that we all have the same 24 hours in a day, which is very true, but how you use those hours matters, especially when you’re doing a lot of things.” -Kelly Collier

More About Kelly Collier:

Kelly Collier is the Owner and Principal of Plot Twist Design in Philadelphia PA. She is also a licensed Realtor, offering interior design and real estate services under the brokerage of Keller Williams. Plot Twist Design was officially established in February 2019, and Kelly has been a Realtor for 12yrs. She also has a full time corporate career as a Senior Account Manager. 

 

Kelly is also a Blogger, Podcaster (Plot Twist Design Business Podcast) and recently started using her platform as an Influencer collaborating with other businesses. To date, Kelly has been featured in numerous publications by Architectural Digest AD PRO, Business of Home, Curated Quarters Mag, and others. She also served as an Influencer at market sharing trends and finds on the High Point Market Instagram page for fall 2020. 

 

In recent design news, Kelly completed her second One Room Challenge home project; a powder room renovation and a 2nd powder room refresh partially sponsored by The Tile Shop. 

 

Kelly’s brand is being built to offer multiple services. Her platform on social media is used to share her journey in the business and real-life via lifestyle posts, blog shares, and inspirational posts. 

Connect with Kelly Collier:

Plot Twist Design Instagram

Plot Twist Home Instagram 

Facebook

Website

Podcast

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

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

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

Kravet: Kravet just recently unveiled their newest collection, Barry Lantz canvas to cloth. Check it out today and use coupon code AWDB10 to save 10% off any one purchase of Kravet Fabric, Wallpaper or Trim.

May 14, 2021

Today with Marlo Thomas:

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Marlo Thomas of the hit show, That Girl, shares the story of how her father’s diligence shaped her path to success and how her mother’s graciousness inspired her own product line with Williams Sonoma. She also shares her moment of self-doubt on her way to wild success in show business and how to lead with conviction so you can make a difference.

Pick it apart:

[11:15] Marlo shares her advice to young people

 

[14:50] Marlo talks about how her father was her example of what it took to be successful 

 

[21:00] Marlo shares how she came to call the shots for the storyline of That Girl

 

[27:00] LuAnn and Marlo chat about getting started with her women’s charity

 

[32:00] Marlo shares about Free to Be You

 

[40:03] Marlo tells about when she first met her husband

 

[44:00] Marlo shares what inspired her William Sonoma collection

LuAnn and Marlo Thomas’s Ah-Ha moments:

“Everybody gets a first chance but not everybody gets a second chance - so be ready for that first chance.” - Marlo Thomas

 

“If you believe something really strongly, it’s probably true.” - Marlo Thomas

More About Marlo Thomas:

Marlo Thomas is an award-winning actress, author and activist whose body of work continues to impact American entertainment and culture. She has been honored with four Emmy Awards, the Peabody, a Golden Globe and a Grammy, and has been inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame. In November 2014, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the highest honor a civilian can receive—by President Barack Obama at a White House ceremony.

 

Marlo burst onto the scene as television’s That Girl, which broke new ground for independent women everywhere, and which she also conceived and produced. Her pioneering spirit continued with her creation of Free to Be...You and Me, which became a platinum album, best-selling book, Emmy Award-winning television special and a stage show. Proceeds from this project went toward the formation of the Ms. Foundation for Women, which was co-founded. 

 

Marlo has produced eight bestselling books (three of them New York Times #1 bestsellers), including: Free to Be You and Me; Free to Be a Family; The Right Words at the Right Time (Volumes 1 and 2); Thanks and Giving: All Year Long (which became a Grammy-winning CD); her memoir, Growing Up Laughing; It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over; and in 2020, What Makes a Marriage Last, which she co-authored with her husband, talk show pioneer Phil Donahue.

 

For her activism, Marlo has been honored with the Helen Caldicott Award for Nuclear Disarmament; the ACLU's Thomas Paine Award; the American Women in Radio and Television Satellite Award; the William Kunstler Racial Justice Award; The National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award; and The Jefferson Award for Public Service, which she received along with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

 

Marlo is the National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which was founded by her father, Danny Thomas, in 1962. After his death, she became the face and voice of St. Jude; and in 2004, she created the hospital’s annual Thanks and Giving campaign, a national holiday fundraising and awareness program that has raised more than one billion dollars to date. In 2014, in recognition of her commitment to the hospital, St. Jude christened its newest building The Marlo Thomas Center for Global Education and Collaboration. 


Marlo began 2021 with a bang. In February, she launched her own line of unique tabletop settings in partnership with home furnishings giant Williams Sonoma. Tapping into Marlo’s renown as the consummate hostess, Williams Sonoma invited her to recreate dozens of the unique pieces she has discovered over decades of world travel, from the porcelain markets in Kyoto, Japan, to the iconic Portobello Road in London. And in March, Marlo and Phil will debut their original podcast series about marriage, “Double Date,” featuring intimate conversations with long-married celebrity couples—from Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, to Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, to Elton John and David Furnish. The series is based on the couple’s bestselling book, What Makes a Marriage Last, and is produced by Pushkin Industries.

Connect with Marlo Thomas:

Williams Sonoma Collection

Instagram 

Podcast

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

luannuniversity.com

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

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

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsors:

Kravet:

Kravet has been with me since the beginning of the show and I love them for it! They helped me to build this amazing community. 

Please check out Kravet if you’re looking for fabrics, wall coverings, trims and even quick ship furnishings. Go to Kravet.com and use coupon code AWDB10 - You’ll love their excellent service and your clients will appreciate the Kravet quality for years to come.

May 11, 2021

Today with Mark Weaver:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Mark Weaver, an industry veteran launched his full-service LA-based design firm, Mark Weaver & Associates over thirty years ago. He’s a design expert, travel lover, and also a lecturer in the business of design at UCLA. Learn what his design students are so eager to learn and how he’s used travel to elevate his palette and create connections with his clients.

Pick it apart:

[21:24] Mark shares his advice to young designers entering the job market

 

[31:30] Mark shares who his own mentors in design, business, and personal life

 

[35:14] LuAnn and Mark discuss how travel informs design

 

[42:35] LuAnn and Mark talk about travel experience as a means of making your client comfortable with you

 

[47:57] Mark explains his philosophy on continual learning 

 

[50:33] Mark shares the importance of gaining experience as a designer

LuAnn and Mark Weaver’s Ah-Ha moments:

“Ignorance is not an asset, intelligence is.” - Mark Weaver

 

“Surround yourself with successful, positive people.” - Mark Weaver’s friend and mentor, Donald

 

“You want to be around people who elevate you.” - Mark Weaver

 

“Travel is magic and an instrumental part of my career.” - Mark Weaver

More About Mark Weaver:

Over thirty years ago, Mark Weaver launched his eponymous, full-service design firm, Mark Weaver & Associates, headquartered in Los Angeles.

 

MWA’s extensive portfolio covers a diverse and distinctive body of work including residential installations, private aircraft, yachts and private island retreats. The firm’s work has spanned projects from Los Angeles to New York, restorations of historic estates in Nantucket and Santa Barbara, a townhouse in London, renovations and interiors for a 16th century palazzo in Piacenza, Italy. In addition, MWA has completed prestigious private corporate installations, including offices, for Fortune 500 companies.

 

In response to the recent stay at home orders, Mark developed a weekly Instagram live series, Designers at Home. It is a casual and informative discussion between Mark and fellow colleagues in the architecture and design industry. The half hour Instagram Live addresses all things design and architecture related, along with personal anecdotes and inspiration. Recent guests have included set director and three-time Emmy Award nominee, Peter Gurski, one of America’s leading sculptors Sabin Howard, renowned architect and artist Leo Marmol, art advisor extraordinaire Barbara Guggenheim, and Eleanor Schrader, Distinguished Instructor at UCLA Extension’s Architectural and Interior Design Program.

 

Mark regularly lectures at UCLA’s interior design program discussing topics such as business procedures, conducting oneself as a professional, the responsibilities as a designer, and resourcing materials. He is a founding member of both the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art and The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art as well as a member of the Decorative Arts Council for LACMA and a patron of the Los Angeles Opera. Mark has been recognized by a breadth of national and international publications, earning him a loyal following of clients around the world.

 

Connect with Mark Weaver:

Website 

Instagram  

YouTube 

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

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

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

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May 7, 2021
 

Today on A Well-Designed Business®:

Today is a What Would Lu Do Show where I bring you listener questions, and....you guessed it, tell you what I would do!

Today's listener question comes to us from a designer who is in a difficult spot with a client. It just goes to show, no matter how long you have been in business, there are always those projects that teach us a thing or two about ourselves, our business, and where we can do better the next time. 

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

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

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

May 4, 2021

Today with Cathy Maready:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Cathy Maready shares a special piece of relationship-building wisdom she’s gained from running her North Carolina interior design business called Elephant Ears, since 1990. She also has a clever way to take the ick-factor out of your budget conversation with clients. She’s stacked several key skills to produce a successful business and thrilled clients.

Pick it apart:

  • [19:22] LuAnn recaps the importance of integrating a client’s passion and story into their design


    [35:52] Cathy shares how she has the budget conversation with clients


    [42:07] LuAnn and Cathy review the angle they use when talking about budget


    [48:03] Cathy share about how she handles potential clients who don’t have sufficient budget

LuAnn and Cathy Maready’s Ah-Ha moments:

“You got personality, budget and expectations. There has to be a beautiful balance before you’ve got a beautiful project.” - Cathy Maready

 

“Not all projects are photo worthy.” - Cathy Maready

More About Cathy Maready: 

Cathy has been practicing interior design since 1990 and is an Allied ASID member. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Chaminade University in Honolulu and graduated magna cum laude. After traveling the globe in her younger days, Cathy began an import business where she designed her own furniture and accessory line.

Upon settling back into her home state of North Carolina, she opted for a more personal level of design where she could apply her creations to specific environments. Through Elephant Ears, her successful interior design business, a diverse client base has allowed Cathy to work on multi-level and multi-million dollar commercial and residential projects in both domestic and international arenas.

Cathy also holds a commercial pilot license and loves animals. So, Pegasus would be her perfect ride.

Connect with Cathy Maready:

Website 

Instagram 

Facebook 

Pinterest  

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A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

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