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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: October, 2021
Oct 29, 2021

Today with Fay + Belle:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today’s show is sponsored by Fay + Belle, a full-service luxury rug collection that offers authentic vintage and fully customizable rugs for design firms in the United States and Canada. 

The company was founded by sister-in-law duo, Kate O’Hara and Kaley O’Hara. Kate is the principal of Martha O’Hara Interiors, and has appeared on the show before. But when she noticed that acquiring custom rugs was a difficult process, she decided to find a way to streamline it for herself. Today, Kate and Kaley share their story and explain how Fay + Belle can help you.

Pick it apart:

    • [4:00] Kate and Kaley share the background on how Fay + Belle came to be. 
    • [11:00] Kate and Kaley discuss what sets Fay + Belle apart and what makes them compelling. 
    • [12:30] LuAnn asks about the pain points designers face when ordering custom or vintage rugs.
    • [27:11] Kaley discusses her sales background and how that plays into the success of the brand. 
    • [31:20] Kate and Kaley share the details on the ordering process and how it is streamlined to help you.

LuAnn and Fay + Belle’s Ah-Ha moments:

“You hear people say ‘by designers, for designers,’ which I love. But Fay + Belle is by designers and battle-tested by them. It served us for many years before we opened it up to other designers. It wasn’t serving a problem we saw that we thought theoretically might help designers. We built this selfishly for ourselves and then thought, ‘it works, let’s open this up to other designers.’”

 

“I hate the word trend, but it seems on-trend with sustainability and being ecologically forward. You’re repurposing things and get it back into the marketplace so it’s not sitting in a landfill.” -LuAnn

 

“You have the advantage of doing so many projects and overseeing a company that puts out so much production in a year. So what you experience in a quarter, a smaller firm might experience in a year. The volume that you do puts you in a place to understand and see what’s happening in the trends and rugs.” -LuAnn

More About Fay + Belle:

Fay + Belle is a full-service luxury rug collection that offers authentic vintage and fully customizable rugs for design firms in the United States and Canada.

Run by sister-in-law duo Kate + Kaley O’Hara, the company has found success in the industry since its founding in 2016. Kate, Co-Founder + Owner, positioned the rug brand for a luxury market and expanded its products into a successful e-commerce business. Kaley, Head of Sales + Designer Liaison, expanded the company’s interior design influence by growing a successful social media presence and developing meaningful relationships with designers across the US.

 

Today, Fay + Belle works with some of the most well-known interior designers in the country and has been featured in publications such as Austin Monthly and MidWest Homes.

Connect with Fay + Belle:

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:

If you have found yourself hung up with stock and delivery, having to waste hours searching through various platforms for antique and vintage rugs, or a clunky ordering process that tanks your productivity, then Fay + Belle is your answer. 

So go to their website, fayandbellerugs.com, and set up your trade account. And remember, if you use the code welldesigned10, you’ll get an extra 10% off. 

Thanks again to Kate and Kaley for sponsoring this episode and sharing their story and insights with us. 

Oct 26, 2021

Today with Kathleen Jennison

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Some of us come into this business because we’re naturally-born creatives that never imagined doing anything else. Others spend time in the corporate world but embrace an inner passion. But my guest today is unique—for Kathleen Jennison, a brain injury changed the way her mind functioned and opened the door for a new path as an interior designer. Today, she’s sharing her journey and the lessons she learned along the way. 

Pick it apart:

[6:34] Kathleen shares her journey through trauma and how she grew her design talents from it. 

[15:32] Kathleen discusses her decision to start her own business and how systems and organization helped her. 

[22:39] Kathleen describes the way her business grew and the big decisions and leaps of faith she had to take as it did. 

[40:38] LuAnn and Kathleen discuss evaluating projects and profitability. 

[52:39] Kathleen discusses how marketing is always important, even when your business is thriving.

LuAnn and Kathleen Jennison’s Ah-Ha moments:

“You have to be willing to take a risk. Some people are risk-averse and some people aren’t. There’s nothing wrong with having a home office and working by yourself, because you can still be successful, but it just depends on what you want to do and how you want to feel.” -Kathleen Jennison

 

“I look at the profitability on the project before I even present it to my client. I do a spreadsheet and see if there are adjustments I need to make ahead of time. Maybe there’s a coffee table we specified that they can find on the internet for cheaper...so let’s pick a different coffee table that is available to the trade only so we can increase our profit on it before we present it to the client.” -Kathleen Jennison

 

“I love that you brought out the very real point of always be marketing, but as you are building the business and you’re fine-tuning who your ideal client is, you want to always be evaluating that marketing. So we’re not going to start whatever we’re doing, but as your pipeline gets consistently full we can say, ‘Maybe we have 15 active projects in the pipeline but are they all our ideal clients?’ When you do have those projects in your pipeline you can be a little bit riskier in your marketing and start speaking just to the ideal client.” -LuAnn Nigara

More about Kathleen Jennison:

About KTJ Design Co.

Kathleen Jennison | Owner & Lead Designer

Hello! I’m Kathleen Jennison, and I offer interior design services for forward-thinking homeowners, regardless of whether they know what their style is. I specialize in helping people just like you create an environment with resources and materials appropriate for their needs and budget. As a full service interior designer, I use the Meticulous Method, providing plans with complete interior design specifications for both new and existing properties. My goal is to thrill and delight each client with every project.

In addition to my suite of interior design services, I also own a general contracting company. Because of this, I’m happy to provide general contracting services for your project as needed. I also welcome partnerships with any professional who is serving your project, including architects, other general contractors, and landscape designers. This multifaceted approach helps me provide creative and technical solutions while also enhancing the quality of life for my clients.  

Before becoming an interior designer, I enjoyed a long career as a Certified Public Accountant and was an auditor of many large corporations. This highly analytical and technical career coupled with my (second) Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design ensures that I am well-equipped to handle any challenges that might arise during a project.

A traumatic brain injury propelled this talented interior designer to unexpected heights. . . .

 When you are introduced to a person’s life story, you often can’t help but believe certain things happen by design. In some instances, this can be applied both literally and figuratively. For me, an unexpected and traumatic circumstance gave me one of two options: live my life by design or live it by default. I chose the former and have never looked back.

Up until 15 years agoI used to be a hard-charging, successful CPA. However, my career hit a detour when a car accident in which I was involved in 2006 suddenly changed the trajectory of my ambitions. After experiencing a traumatic brain injury as a result of the accident, my analytical mindset pivoted in a new direction. While my analytical processing did not necessarily diminish, it took somewhat of a back seat to this new, creative and innovative mindset that surprised me. However, I have not taken this for granted and, as a result, discovered a new purpose for my life that has opened more doors than I could ever imagine.

    Before the accident, I was completely engrained in being an accountant. After the accident, I struggled for a couple of years. I had been on medical leave for about six months and went back to my CPA job too early.

  After the car wreck, I was in the hospital for 17 days and subsequently went back and forth for additional surgeries and treatments. In all, I suffered from short-term memory issues, lost the vision in my right eye, and sustained multiple fractures, including my skull, eye orbit, hand, thigh and all of her toes. I found it extremely challenging for a while to cope with my disabilities. I endured extensive rehabilitation and even had to attend driving school to learn how to drive with just one eye, an issue to which she has had to bravely adapt.

Before my accident, being in the accounting profession translated to a very competitive and fast-paced environment for me. I traveled the country meeting with CEOs of big companies, specializing in auditing work. It was a high-pressure position but I thrived in it. However, the brain damage I sustained from the accident made it challenging to navigate within my profession as easily as I once did. I did manage to work for a year at my job, and my employer was super great about it.

  Recurring headaches and issues with cognitive rehabilitation measures, along loss of vision in my eye, forced meto re-evaluate my professional goals. At the urging of my ophthalmologist, who advised me that putting pen to paper helps retrain the brain and aids in depth perception, I enrolled in an art class. This just so happened to pave the way to an unchartered, yet equally exciting, territory for me.

  “I had this desire to draw and paint, which I thought was rather strange for me. As such, I enrolled in the Art Institute of California - Sacramento and took a Basic Drafting and Color Theory Class. This provided the first steppingstone on my new journey. Moving slowly but deliberately, I eventually quit my CPA job and began to acquire enough course credits over a period of a few years to ultimately earn a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, which was a great complement to her previous Bachelor’s degree in Business.

  By 2011, I was eager to find a new job, sending out myriad resumes to potential employers. My efforts, though, appeared to be somewhat futile. As a result, I looked within myself to discover my next plan of action.

  I realized I knew all about business and figured I could just start my own.

  Fortunately, I began a personal project during my rehabilitation that created an initial customer base for me. While I was in school, I started a blog about my injury and subsequent recovery. Several of my former CPA clients and colleagues followed me in that space. When I announced my new business through that platform, many of them hired her to do interior design work.

  Initially,I opened a furniture boutique eight years ago called The Shoppe at KTJ Design Co, located in an old candy factory in midtown Stockton in the Fremont Corridor. From there my business began to grow, and today I have found myself in demand and continually inspired to flex my creative muscles.

  Through interior design I have happily discovered my analytical abilities transition seamlessly and are highly applicable to the work I now do.

  With interior design, we draft plans and rely on geometry and dimensioning, along with laying out and organizing projects. My experience as an accountant plays into that. I can visualize spaces easily. However, I still stumble on my words sometimes.

  Along with the assistance and talent of my lead designer, Sandra Van Slack, I continue to expand her portfolio and is affiliated with the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). I have also served as past President of the ASID Central California/Nevada chapter, of which she is a current member. She is also a member of the National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI) and the National Kitchen and Bath (NKB) Sacramento chapters.

  When not tending to my business, I enjoys practicing yoga and experiencing adventures in travel. I also enjoys spending time with my husband, Bob, our two sons and our two granddaughters. A native Californian, Kathleen has moved about the state during her life but has found strong roots in the Central Valley.

  In addition to operating her business, which also includes a general contracting company, I delight readers regularly with my “Ask the Expert “column for HERLIFE Magazine. My expertise, insight and creative genius inspire, entertain and educate readers about all things interior design.

  I intend to keep on doing what I am doing for as long as I can. I love what I do and believe we have a pretty good system in place. I am happy with where I am today. I have good people around me. I like to think the Universe was correcting itself for me. I probably would’ve burnt out otherwise. I truly believe things happen for a reason.

Connect with Kathleen Jennison:

Website 

Instagram 

Facebook 

Pinterest

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

The Power Talk Friday Tour at High Point

LuAnn Nigara and Friends Meet and Greet at High Point 

luannuniversity.com

Inside Voice, Outside Voice Monthly Virtual Events

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’s workflow software helps you keep your projects organized from beginning to end, and also offers a valuable, thriving designer community. Mydoma is created by designers, for designers, so you know that it can truly offer everything you need to stay organized and free up your time. You can get 20% off your first three months by signing up at mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness.

 

Other Shows Mentioned:

#06 Identifying Your Transferrable Skills with Erika Ward

Oct 22, 2021

Today with Braden Drake:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Braden Drake of Unf*uck Your Biz podcast is a California tax attorney specializing in helping creatives made sense of business finances and tax law. He’s sharing all about business entities, business insurance, and CPA service structures. He’s sharing his lighthearted and easy-to-follow education style that empowers creatives to understanding the foundational principles of money and business tax law.

Pick it apart:

  • [12:15] Braden shares the non-negotiable insurance a business should have

    [18:02] LuAnn asks Braden about how to handle business registration and nexus for businesses that work and do business in multiples states

    [23:34] Braden breaks down LLCs, Corporations, and S Corps

    [27:44] Braden reviews a simple math example of when it makes sense to be an S Corp

    [36:42] Braden explains the different business models of CPAs

    [42:31] Braden shares about his upcoming educational program

LuAnn and Braden Drake’s Ah-Ha moments:

“You get what you pay for - are you paying for consulting services?” - Braden Drake

More About Braden Drake:

Braden is a California licensed attorney and tax professional. His tagline is your gay best friend here to help you get your legal and tax shit legit. Braden works primarily with service based, creative small business owners through his courses where he educates on contracts, business entities, cash flow, systems and taxes.

Connect with Braden Drake:

Website 

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Podcast

Book

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:

Revel Woods: your source for premium hardwood and resilient flooring. Using the Revel Woods selector tool, you’ll be able to find curated suggestions for your project catered to your client’s home. When you sign up for a free professional membership, you’ll get access to exclusive discounts and referral benefits. Visit revelwoods.com to get started.

 

Oct 19, 2021

Today with Geoff Siebold

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, we’re diving into the world of luxury carpets. While most of us don’t understand the intricate inner workings of carpets, my guest today, Geoff Siebold of Stanton Carpet, thinks that we should, and I agree with him. In this episode, Geoff explains to me what we need to understand about the practicality of different carpet types so that we can steer our clients in the right direction and offer them more value through our own knowledge and expertise.

Pick it apart:

  • [4:15] Geoff discusses how the environment and lifestyle of your clients affect carpet choice, and what “practical luxury” means. 
  • [10:49] Geoff highlights how synthetic carpets have improved over time, offering more choices for your clients. 
  • [22:00] Geoff gives us a deep-dive into the construction of carpets and what it means for your clients. 
  • [33:10] Geoff and LuAnn discuss how different traffic areas impact carpet choices, and talk about a special tool to help your clients. 
  • [44:57] Geoff reminds us of the factors that affect a carpet’s performance.

LuAnn and Geoff Siebold's Ah-Ha moments:

“It’s important to understand your environment….One of the catchphrases for Stanton is ‘practical luxury.’ It’s having a product that looks fantastic but is suited either with fiber or construction to withstand everyday maintenance. There certainly is a time and a place for the luxury setting, whether it’s a master suite, or you’re an empty nester and there isn’t a lot of traffic or pets. But as a general rule, you want to make sure that if it’s a space with a lot of traffic, it’s a durable construction.” -Geoff Siebold

 

“What you’re saying is that companies like yours, Stanton, the big products, if your mission is to educate the sales staff and support staff at the designer trade room, then we only have to say to them, ‘I want more information beyond the look the style, the feel, I want to really understand what it is that I should know about carpeting so that I am an informed person when I go to do my projects.’” -LuAnn Nigara

 

“I think many of the designers that are bold enough, and brave enough, and assertive enough to bring knowledge to the table, those are the ones that add value. It’s not ‘whatever the end-user wants, the end-user gets,’ it’s got to be one of those things where not only do we know what’s best for the interior in terms of color, style, and pattern, but now we need to talk about the actual practical living that you’re going to have to accommodate to get this type of product. That upfront management of expectations is so important.” -Geoff Siebold

More about Geoff Siebold:

Geoff Siebold has been passionately engaged in the luxury carpet and area rug market for over 22 years. He began his career as a manufacturer's sales agent representing high-end carpet and rug brands throughout the Midwestern United States. He was responsible for cultivating business from designers, architectural firms and wholesale-direct showrooms. Within a year, he was hired by one of the manufacturers to become their Midwest Regional V.P. of sales. He was the youngest manager in the company's history. From there he moved on to be a National Director of Dealer Sales for a prominent luxury area rug manufacturer. In early 2007, Geoff returned to his agency roots and once again represented the best domestic and international manufacturers and distributors in the luxury carpet market. 

 

Then, in 2014, Stanton Carpet hired him to be their National Sales manager for Antrim Carpet and ultimately the National V.P. of premiere brands including Antrim, Rosecore and Crescent Carpets. Geoff has extensive experience helping designers curate products and leverage technologies in order to grow business and add value to their clients. He has also developed specific training programs aimed at helping designers better understand fiber, construction and application of luxury carpets.

Connect with Stanton Carpet:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

Inside Voice, Outside Voice Monthly Virtual Events

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 is committed to helping you serve your clients. Their new website redesign makes finding quality home furnishings even easier for you. With the new redesign, you can quickly access all of your tools, like your account settings, price lists, current and past orders, and more. The product has also been enhanced to offer more tailored results to get you what you're looking for quicker. Designers can now also search more specifically by color with Kravet's new advanced color search, which allows you to create the exact custom color you are looking for and get filtered search results that best match your selection. Visit Kravet.com today to see it for yourself! Be sure to use coupon code AWDB10 for 10% off your first order! 

Other Shows Mentioned:

#608 Power Talk Friday: Christopher Wallace: Leverage Industry Partners to Improve Your Client Experience

# 705 Jessica Mann-Amato

 

Oct 15, 2021

Today with Molly Schoneveld:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Some of you aspire to be a designer that helps people in your community live better, feel better, and appreciate their spaces more. Others want to design for the high-end client, creating luxury spaces. But others want something a little bit different—to become celebrity designers featured on television and in major publications. Today, publicist Molly Schoneveld is going to share with us how you structure your career to strategically build up your persona and work toward that celebrity status. 

Pick it apart:

  • [1:21] Molly shares what your number one job is when you desire to be a celebrity designer. 
  • [15:21] Molly and LuAnn discuss the importance of having a signature style and investing in quality photography for your portfolio.
  • [27:03] Molly explains why niching is even more important if you want to become a celebrity designer. 
  • [30:30] Molly lays out the steps to getting featured in the media as a designer. 
  • [42:54] Molly shares what it takes to reach out for collaborations and cross-promotions to help grow your online presence.

LuAnn and Molly Schoneveld’s Ah-Ha moments:

“What do you want to be known for? ONe of the commonalities between people who want to be on television and those who just want successful firms is that if you want to be known, you have to hone your own style.” -Molly

 

“Having a point of view or a signature style...we all know designer colleagues that will design a beautiful Mediterranean home, or a Scandinavian design, or whatever it is, but what you’re saying is that if you’re going to be a celebrity designer, you have to dive into a niche.” -LuAnn

 

“Certainly you can get publicity without a niche, if your projects are of a certain caliber. Getting your project placed is one thing. Trying to really build your personal brand and your studio brand is something else. So having a point of view is really the thing you need, if you want to take it to the next level.” -Molly

More About Molly Schoneveld:

Molly Schoneveld founded The Storied Group in 2008 (under the name SW PR SHOP) to offer a unique point of view at the intersection of entertainment, design, and luxury lifestyle. She has over 15 years of experience in PR and marketing, beginning her PR career at PMK/HBH (now Rogers & Cowan PMK), where she worked with A-list talent, as well as on Oscar campaigns for directors, producers and films.

In 2007, she left PMK to launch her sister-in-law's maternity line called Schone Maternity.
The line was enormously successful, being touted by O, The Oprah Magazine as "the really good guy of the month" for their dedication to fair labor factories and support of artisans across the globe. It was working with Rebecca that ignited Molly's entrepreneurial spirit, and while she loved the gratification of watching this new line prosper, she missed the diversity of working with more than one client. It wasn't long before she formed a partnership with a former PMK/HBH colleague Jennifer Weaver to begin SW PR Shop.

The two grew the business together for nine years until Jennifer moved out of state. Molly took over the company and rebranded under the name The Storied Group.

Career highlights Include putting the Interior design firm Hammer and Spear on the map as a design destination In the downtown L.A. Arts District, and helping to transform Golden Door, which had become a tired brand that was once a pioneer In the wellness industry, back Into what Conde Nast Traveler called In 2019, "The Most Iconic Spa."

Molly has worked with such design talent as Drew Scott of Lone Fox Home, Kishani Perera, Hammer and Spear, Lisa Gilmore Design, Marie Flanigan Interiors, The Habitat Collective, Tracie Butler, and many others.

Her first job was working for producer Brian Grazer at Imagine Entertainment, the year he won the Oscar for A BEAUTIFUL MIND.

Molly has built a solid reputation providing great attention and care to every client and has proven success in getting results. She has secured cover and feature stories in domestic and international publications, including Architectural Digest, WSJ, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Veranda, InStyle, House Beautiful, Departures, New York Times, Robb Report, Sunset, as well as numerous television segments with a national audience.

Connect with Molly Schoneveld:

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:

Kravet is always focused on making things easier for you. With Kravet’s new website, finding the products you need is easier than ever. Designers can now search for more tailored results so you can get the exact search results you need, which in turn helps you create the best experience for your clients. Visit kravet.com today and try the new advanced search options for yourself.

Other Shows Mentioned: 

#267 Rasheeda Gray: A Pipeline With Over 20 Interior Design Projects in Under 2 Years

 

#648 Marie Flanigan: Leveraging Relationships and Making Decisions in Interior Design

Oct 12, 2021

Today with Christine Platt

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Christine Platt, the author of The Afrominimalists Guide to Living with Less offers a fresh take on minimalism, why it’s not just a one-day throw-out marathon, and what it takes to get to the core of how we got overwhelmed with clutter in the first place.

Pick it apart:

[7:58] Christine shares where to start your journey of discovery

 

[14:35] Christine describes her one day, one year challenge

 

[18:16] Christine shares what minimalism means for her

 

[23:40] Christine shares about buy-nothing groups as a way to release your items

 

[45:35] Christine summarizes her theory of minimalism

LuAnn and Christine Platt’s Ah-Ha moments:

“For me, minimalism is really just about being a more mindful, intentional consumer - just having the things you need and love in your life.” - Christine Platt

 

“It’s good for your own mental health - clutter takes up physical space and mental space.” - Christine Platt

 

“Our natural way of being is always to just have enough.” - Christine Platt

 

“We have to learn to be content with enough.” - Christine Platt

More about Chrsitine Platt:

Christine Platt is a modern-day renaissance woman also known as The Afrominimalist. She holds a B.A. in Africana Studies, M.A. in African-American Studies, and J.D. in General Law. An award-winning author of over two dozen literary works, Christine’s most recent book, THE AFROMINIMALIST’S GUIDE TO LIVING WITH LESS is a radical re-envisioning of minimalism that focuses on authenticity over aesthetics. A resource for anyone seeking to discover the truth behind their overconsumption as well as how to let go of what no longer serves them, The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living with Less encourages us to be intentional, mindful consumers so our lives are filled with only those things we need, use, and love. Visit her online at TheAfrominimalist or on Instagram @afrominimalist.

Connect with Christine Platt:

Website

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What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

The Power Talk Friday Tour at High Point

LuAnn Nigara and Friends Meet and Greet at High Point 

luannuniversity.com

Inside Voice, Outside Voice Monthly Virtual Events

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: To learn about how it can uplevel your professionalism and organization, go to mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness and scroll down to the designer testimonial videos. Also on that site, my listeners can click to receive 20% off Mydoma for 3 months.

Oct 8, 2021
Today With Terri Taylor:

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 2021 Summit, which is happening Wednesday, November 3rd through to Friday, November 5, 2021.

 

Overhaul Your Interior Design Business in 3 Days to
Finally Get Paid What You are Worth

Event dates:
Nov 3-5 2021

This event will run from 10:00 am EST to 6:00 pm and it is entirely virtual.

This is an intimate group to maximize the attention given to each and every attendee.

  • Day 1: Wednesday, November 3rd, 11AM - 7PM ET 
  • Day 2: Thursday, November 4th, 11AM - 7PM ET
  • Day 3: Friday November 5th, 11AM - 7PM ET 

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.

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 2021

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.

Connect with Terri:

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

Website

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

The Power Talk Friday Tour at High Point

LuAnn Nigara and Friends Meet and Greet at High Point 

luannuniversity.com

Inside Voice, Outside Voice Monthly Virtual Events

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

Other Shows Mentioned:

Episode 548

Episode 602

Episode 662

 

Oct 5, 2021

Today with Jenny and Ben Slingerland

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Jenny and Ben Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors share the growing pains of their luxury design firm, how they run their team, and how they fill the gaps in expertise. Jenny also details what her Design for Build course involves and how it helps her students expand their business and get the respect of builders.

Pick it apart:

  • [25:22] Ben explains what their new hire, a client experience coordinator, manages


    [27:24] Jenny explains how she provides initial design guidance on a project to her design staff and has designers handle client communication


    [38:49] Jenny shares the coaches she and Ben have hired to enhance and grow their business


    [44:01] Jenny explains how her class can help designers gain an additional revenue stream and how to talk to clients about the furniture stage


    [47:41] Jenny explains how her LuAnn University course will help designers


    [1:07:58] Jenny shares real advice for designers just getting their feet wet

LuAnn and Jenny and Ben Slingerland’s Ah-Ha moments:

“There is nothing greater to me if my students get one job or a positive response from a builder.” - Jenny Slingerland

 

“It’s knowing what the builder’s expectation is and delivering it in an organized, buttoned-up manner.” - Jenny Slingerland

 

“If you can make their life easier, they will hire you again and again.” - Jenny Slingerland

More about Jenny and Ben Slingerland:

Jenny is the Owner and Principal Designer of Black Ink Interiors, a luxury residential interior design firm based in Arizona. She and her team serve clients throughout the United States and the Bahamas. Jenny is known for her unique sense of style and her ability to visualize the possibilities of any space. She is an award-winning designer who has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Business of Home and Luxe Magazine. 

Ben is the Chief Operating Officer of Black Ink Interiors. He left the corporate world in 2018 to join the team and oversee the back end operations, allowing Jenny and the design team to focus on the client-facing activities. Ben has an MBA and over 20 years of business experience across multiple industries and disciplines including land acquisition & development for a national homebuilder and senior procurement and human resources roles at Mars Incorporated.

Connect with Black Ink Interiors:

Website 

Instagram 

Facebook 

Pinterest

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

The Power Talk Friday Tour at High Point

LuAnn Nigara and Friends Meet and Greet at High Point 

luannuniversity.com

Inside Voice, Outside Voice Monthly Virtual Events

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: To learn about how it can uplevel your professionalism and organization, go to mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness and scroll down to the designer testimonial videos. Also on that site, my listeners can click to receive 20% off Mydoma for 3 months.

Oct 1, 2021

Today with Vita Vygovska

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Ever wonder how Vita Vygovska of Vitalia Inc. Window Treatments & Awnings has been able to scale her business and maintain a family life at the same time? Her passion for spreadsheets has helped her design and build a digitized Project Management system that streamlined her business process and serves as her center of truth. Listen now as she outlines the 10 must-have elements that every Project Management System needs.

Pick It Apart: 

[18:35] Vita explains show a PMS gives you the options and checklists to make sure nothing is forgotten or falls through the cracks. 

 

[36:33] Vita shows how to use the reports from your digital project management system to evaluate your business

 

[39:11] Vita shares about how she has worked very hard to consistently refine the systems and processes of her business and the benefits that brings to her personal life.

 

[40:50] Vita shares how she got a business coach.

 

[43:07] Vita reviews the need for a process of project management to get your order through each project stage 

 

[48:17] Luann talks about key project stages: waiting for approval/deposit and balance due

 

Ah-Ha Moments with LuAnn Nigara and Vita Vygovska:

“10 points to a great Project Management System, but one of my favorites is that it has to be suggestive and intuitive, a va-va-voom, sexy system!” - Vita Vygovska

 

“A good Project Management System can provide validation to the feelings of busy because you can see the numbers in front of you, and gives you a whole new level of awareness.” - Vita Vygovska

 

“Mindset is huge. Other people giving you limitations is horse crap.” - LuAnn Nigara

More About Vita Vygovska

Vitalia Vygovska (Vita for short), CWFP, MBA, is an award-winning window treatment specialist, author, speaker, mom, wife, and a ballroom dance enthusiast.  Her company, Vitalia, Inc, provides all-encompassing concierge-level, tech-driven fabrication, measurement, installation, and project management services 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.

Connect with Vita Vygovska:

Website

Instagram 

Facebook 

Pinterest

YouTube

LinkedIn

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

The Power Talk Friday Tour at High Point

LuAnn Nigara and Friends Meet and Greet at High Point 

luannuniversity.com

Inside Voice, Outside Voice Monthly Virtual Events

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

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

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