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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, 2022
May 31, 2022

Today with Deborah Main:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business.

Today’s episode is a little bit different than the usual business acumen. We’re diving into Deborah Main’s story of how she became The Pillow Goddess. Deborah is the epitome of an inspirational story—of resiliency, of overcoming hardship, and chronic illness, and of art and creativity serving as an outlet in times of suffering. 

Deborah’s story serves as motivation, inspiration, and absolute proof that art and design can heal and bring joy in even the toughest of times.

Pick it apart:

  • [0:36] Deborah shares her inspirational story of battling chronic illness.
  • [14:24] Deborah discusses how she found pillow design, serving as a creative outlet that helped her focus on something positive. 
  • [24:00] Deborah shares the limitations her illness still has on her life and what it has taught her. 
  • [35:46] Deborah tasks about how she works with interior designers.
  • [43:42] LuAnn and Deborah discuss the new collection with Robin Baron.

LuAnn and Deborah Main’s Ah-Ha moments:

“You mention it as part of your journey, ‘Oh I answered an open call for designers and made some pillows and applied to Austin Fashion Week’ as if they are things you just do in the course of your day. I’ve got to believe that it took a lot of courage and guts to actually do it.” -LuAnn Nigara

 

“I was very sick at the time, and my husband thought I was crazy but he supported me. He easily could have said, ‘Oh you’re obviously feeling better—why don’t you just do the dishes and make me some food?’ But he just saw what was happening. He saw me opening up and lighting up and he was so happy to see that that he never questioned me—he just wanted me to keep doing pillows.” -Deborah Main

More about Deborah Main:

Deborah Main is The Pillow Goddess, a dynamic, innovative design leader who has helped individuals and businesses create beautiful, distinctive high-end spaces for 18 years.

 

Based in Austin, Texas, Deborah’s experience and deep appreciation for design, textiles, the home furnishings industry, and a wide variety of interiors and home products gives her a fully-rounded understanding of what it takes to provide an exceptional luxurious look and feel to both personal environments and commercial spaces. She provides interior designers with high-quality products for their clients, while also helping retailers and brands differentiate their products/services from their competitors.

 

Deborah’s private clients are some of the leading high-end specialty boutiques, national e-commerce sites, interior design businesses, and home brands in the United States. She has helped them provide value to their customers and environments – building brand awareness in the process – which has allowed them to position themselves as the exclusive and unsurpassed option for luxury clientele.

Connect with Deborah Main

Website 

Instagram 

Facebook 

Pinterest

The UnZipped Collection

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

Other Shows Mentioned:

#449- Design Biz Live: What We Learned at LuAnn Nigara Live, It’s About the Conversation.

#454- Power Talk Friday: Jamie Lieberman: Hashtag Legal: Lawyers That Speak Designer. 

#638- What Would Lu Do?: Processes and Contracts: They Aren’t Made to Be Broken.

#640- Power Talk Friday: Ashley Connell: Founder of Prowess: Helping You Find Your Next Hire.

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

#721- What Would Lu Do?: Year End 2021-Questions to Ask.

#723- What Would Lu Do?: Let’s Do a Revenue Generator Review.

#725- What Would Lu Do?: Year End: How to Plan Your Marketing.

#727- What Would Lu Do?: Year End Review: Apps, Tech, Memberships and More!

Thank you to today's sponsor!

Mydoma Studio: Mydoma makes it easy to streamline your processes, track projects, communicate with clients, and get organized. It’s created by designers for designers, specifically to address what you need as a business owner. I’ve said countless times that systems and processes are how you reach the next level of profitability. Mydoma Studio makes it easy to do that. You can get 20% off your first three months by going to mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness.

Other Shows Mentioned:

#540 Robin Baron: Strategic Thinking on Product Development

#32 Robin Baron – The President of ASID NY Metro Chapter Talks with us about PR and Brand Development

#41 Cheryl Janis

#423 Tiffannie White

#715 Kathleen Jennison

Sassy Says #45 Tiffannie White

Sass Says #31 Cheryl Janis

May 27, 2022

Today with Desi Creswell:

Welcome to A Well Designed Business. If you’re anything like me, you have a neverending to-do list. There’s always something else to get done, another box to check, another urgent task to complete. But when we get bogged down in those tasks, it becomes impossible to work on the business.  So how do we motivate ourselves to take a step back and work on the higher level needs? Interior Design Coach Desi Creswell shares her framework for getting big tasks done, even if it feels like you’ll never be able to.

Learn more about Desi’s masterclass “The Focus Fix” starting June 7th, 2022

Pick it apart:

  • [2:52] Desi talks about what a balanced business looks like and how we stop ourselves from building one. 
  • [14:40] Desi sheds light on common mistakes she sees when people try to focus on important tasks. 
  • [29:09] Desi walks through her simple framework for tackling major tasks.
  • [45:08] LuAnn and Desi talk about how to keep yourself committed to tasks even when you don’t want to do them. 
  • [52:05] Desi shares the importance of evaluating yourself with curiosity to see why something isn’t getting done.

LuAnn and Desi Creswell's Ah-Ha Moments

“Ask yourself ‘Why do I think that my clients are worthy of my time and attention but my business is not?’” -Desi Creswell

“There will never be a time where you magically have a week where you don’t receive any emails or phone calls or have any deadlines.” -Desi Creswell

“What you want us to recognize is, we don’t just do it on Tuesday because we put it in our calendar to do it. We do it because on Wednesday we will be so glad we took the first steps.” -LuAnn Nigara

Connect with Desi Creswell

Learn more about Desi’s masterclass “The Focus Fix” starting June 7th, 2022

Website 

Instagram

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

Power Talk Friday Tour at High Point

Exciting Windows! Build a Better Business Registration

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

Other Shows Mentioned

#698 Power Talk Friday: Desi Creswell: Tactics to Beat Burnout and Overwhelm

#557 Power Talk Friday: Desi Creswell: Develop Your CEO Mindset

#475 Power Talk Friday: Desi Creswell: How to Create More Time

#753 Sandra Funk: How to Grow a Thriving Luxury Interior Design Business

A Big Thank You to Today's 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.

May 24, 2022

Today with Sonal Kotecha:

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today we have on Sonal Kotecha, founder of Rumah Interiors, a Dubai-based boutique interior design firm.

Sonal and I were going back and forth on Instagram and she was telling me all of the lessons that she had learned from the show. As we were chatting, a light bulb went off and I knew I had to have her on as a guest. I am so appreciative of her sharing her lessons that I know you will benefit from hearing her story. Enjoy!

Pick it apart:

[6:38] Sonal tells us about the first big lesson she learned from A Well-Designed Business.

[17:30] Sonal explains her second lesson from the podcast regarding your talent as a designer is not enough for success. 

[27:49] Sonal and LuAnn discuss the third lesson Sonal learned. 

[42:25] Sonal elaborates on her fourth lesson.

[50:22] Lesson 5- we all need a “Vin” man. 

[54:40] Last lesson of work-life balance is key.

LuAnn and Sonal Kotecha’s Ah-Ha moments:

“The discovery call is a sales presentation and the way we choose to discuss something, like trade discounts, will impact not only that conversation, but all of the following conversations.” - LuAnn Nigara

 

“We know what we are good at and we lean into that, and we hire people for the areas that we aren’t “good.” - LuAnn Nigara

 

“We need to strategically prepare for situations when we are not being driven by a state of emergency.” - Sonal Kotecha 

More about Sonal Kotecha:

Sonal Kotecha is the founder of Rumah Interiors, a Dubai-based boutique interior design firm, dedicated to providing a stellar design service for her clients in the Middle East and beyond. 

 

She calls herself a child of the world – after growing up as a second generation Indian in the United Kingdom, to parents born and raised in Kenya – she moved and set up her own home base in Dubai at the young age of 24, where she continues to live with her husband from yet another corner of the world, South Africa – and she credits this diverse background as being the reason she is able to connect on a deeper level to people & clients from all over the world. 

 

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture & Design from Nottingham Trent University in 2007. Shortly after graduating, fate led her on a one-way ticket to Dubai, where she built up experience working both as an in-house designer for a private developer, then for a multi-disciplinary interior design studio, before taking the plunge into entrepreneurship and starting Rumah Interiors in 2017. 

 

Sonal likes to keep her ear to the ground when it comes to movements in her local property industry and has witnessed first-hand the astronomical leap in residential projects in Dubai over the last 12 months. Sparked by a post-pandemic heightened appreciation for a well-designed home environment, and several new UAE’s government backed initiatives, such as more accessible residency visa options, an influx of new residents moved into the country that she has proudly called home for the last 12years. As a result, the floodgates to new projects opened up, and she had to quickly adapt from being a one-woman show, to a small team of powerful [female] design professionals, who could take on multiple projects in parallel from concept through to completion.  She realized that some of her old processes & contracts were no longer viable, and then along came A Well Designed Business Podcast – and in the conversations, she found answers to the questions that had been keeping her awake at night…

Connect with Sonal Kotecha

Website 

Instagram 

Facebook

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

Other Shows Mentioned:

#449- Design Biz Live: What We Learned at LuAnn Nigara Live, It’s About the Conversation.

#454- Power Talk Friday: Jamie Lieberman: Hashtag Legal: Lawyers That Speak Designer. 

#638- What Would Lu Do?: Processes and Contracts: They Aren’t Made to Be Broken.

#640- Power Talk Friday: Ashley Connell: Founder of Prowess: Helping You Find Your Next Hire.

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

#721- What Would Lu Do?: Year End 2021-Questions to Ask.

#723- What Would Lu Do?: Let’s Do a Revenue Generator Review.

#725- What Would Lu Do?: Year End: How to Plan Your Marketing.

#727- What Would Lu Do?: Year End Review: Apps, Tech, Memberships and More!

Thank you to today's sponsor!

Did you happen to go to the new Kravet Showroom in HP last month? They unveiled the Kravet Home. Kravet has furniture, rugs, lighting accessories and fabric for every room in your house, including your outdoor rooms. The new showroom in the Steel Building is beautifully set up as a home. From the foyer as you enter, all the way through the living room, great room, dining room, bedroom, home office suite and the outdoor patio space. It is a treat to see the fabrics, wallpapers, sofas, desks everything all displayed just as you would specify them in your projects. And the rooms have been designed by some of your favorite designers. Thom Filicia, Carrier & Co and Mabley Handler to name a few. So if you are planning to go to HP in the fall, be sure to put Kravet on your list of must see stops. And in the meantime, go to kravet.com and get your trade acct set up today. No opening minimum orders, no yearly minimums and true trade pricing, so you can make money. Check it out and tell them I sent you.

May 20, 2022

Today with Vita Vygovska

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today is Window Treatment Friday, and we are debuting part 3 of our Pricing Window Treatment Series. Vita is back with some great tools that she has learned to use when pricing a window treatment to a consumer. 

Today, we are covering profit, and what designers can expect when selling window treatments.

More About Vita Vygovska

Vita is the CEO and founder of Vitalia Inc., a nationally recognized authority on quality window treatments and soft furnishings, located in the Metro Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania. Vitalia Inc. is your workroom and your partner for custom window treatments. Their mission is to provide value to their clients and improve their lives.

Vita would love to talk to you. Share your feedback, questions, problems, and challenges with her, and also your wins. You can email her at vita@vitaliainc.com

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

 

A BIG Thank You to Today's Sponsor:

Kravet. Have you heard? The majority of Kravet Inc. product is in stock and ready to ship within days. Order your favorite patterns from Kravet’s exclusive in stock collections like Barbara Barry’s Midsummer to CuratedKravet's exclusive decorative accessories. Keep your design projects on track with Kravet Inc. and order memos today at www.kravet.com.

 

May 17, 2022

Today with Rick Campos:

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today I am joined by Interior Designer and fellow podcaster Rick Campos of Design Biz Survival Guide. I had the absolute honor of turning the tables on Rick and putting him in the hot seat for his 4 year anniversary episode. I am delighted to share this with you today and thank you again Rick for the tremendous honor of making me apart of this milestone.

More about Rick Campos:

Rick Campos is a self proclaimed “recovering interior designer” with fifteen years of experience in the design industry. Formerly Director of Business Development for a notable Orange County design firm, his daily interactions with architects, builders, vendors and clients contributes to a broad perspective of the design industry. In 2018 Rick traded in his tape measure for a microphone and launched Design Biz Survival Guide - a podcast about life and business for interior design professionals - with the intention of informing and inspiring the design community. In 2019 Rick integrated freelance consulting into the platform with an emphasis on “the business of design” exclusively for the interior design community. He has since helped numerous design entrepreneurs grow their business to new levels. The platform has since evolved to include annual business development retreats, learning opportunities, networking events, and an online community. “My mission is to be the source of information and inspiration to interior design entrepreneurs that I needed when I launched my own design business back in 2007. To promote and further develop a design community that supports and empowers fellow design professionals on their journey in life and business.”

Connect with Lesley Myrick

Website

Instagram 

Facebook 

Podcast

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

May 13, 2022

Today with Corinne Bentzen and Melanie Kaplan: 

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On today’s sponsored show, I’m sitting down with Corinne Bentzen and Melanie Kaplan from The Company Store. We’re talking about the importance of staying on color trends, seasonal rotations of products, how the brand stays dedicated to premium quality, and their commitment to sustainability.

Pick it apart:

[18:34] Melanie shares her background in design and textiles, including experience in cotton mills that laid the foundation of her expertise. 

[23:27] Melanie discusses how her team plays into the success of the brand. 

[26:30] Melanie talks about the company’s design process and valuable partnerships. 

[31:30] Corinne and Melanie share how seasonal rotation and constant innovation keep the brand’s designs fresh and relevant. 

[44:23] Corinne and Melanie talk about how they maintain their commitment to artisanal quality.

Ah-Ha Moments:

“We have global design partners all over the world. It’s been my experience that partnership is so much a part of the success of the brand. We have great suppliers that understand our mission. We have design people that are so talented and understand the direction and vision of The Company Store. It’s an ongoing process. We think about the lifestyle, we think about the quality it needs to represent. We never shortcut anything in this brand.” -Melanie Kaplan

 

“We are the color authority. We have never, ever been afraid of color. In fact, we love it, and that’s a distinction of The Company Store.” -Melanie Kaplan

 

“That is the type of support that an interior designer needs, when you’re going to recommend bedding—people are going to sleep on this. Comfort is key and critical, and it can be judged way more harshly than walking on an area rug, for example. When I think about everything that goes into your products, I know I would not want to learn all of the things, so it’s nice that designers can just go to the website and order swatches.” -LuAnn Nigara

Connect with The Company Store

Website 

Instagram 

Facebook 

Pinterest 

Twitter

More About Corinne Bentzen:

Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Corinne Bentzen began her career at Procter & Gamble, where she built brand identity for premium brands before taking the leap across the pond to join Tiffany & Co. in New York. There she put her strategic thinking, strong decision making, and leadership skills to work, ultimately leading her to The Company Store where she breathed new life into the 110-year-old home goods retailer acquired by The Home Depot in 2018. Not one to shy from a challenge, Corinne most recently took over the leadership of Home Depot’s HD Home, in addition to her leadership role at The Company Store. An avid skier and cyclist, Corinne lives in Connecticut where she enjoys an active family life with her husband, two children, and their rescue dog Rosie.

More about Melanie Kaplan:

Following a graduate program in Textile Design and Science at Fashion Institute of Technology, Melanie  Kaplan launched a career in design and development of home furnishings products that spans a range  from decorative fabrics to finished consumer products, from bed ensembles to lifestyle furniture, from  children’s garments to kitchen textiles. 

From Design Director for a decorative fabrics company, Melanie transitioned to Vice President of Product Design and Development at a bedding producer, where she first worked directly with major  retailers to develop their programs. 

As Senior VP of Design for home furnishings at Dan River, a storied American textile company, Melanie’s  ability to translate art and concept to commercially successful design led Dan River to a spot as an  innovative leading supplier to the retail home furnishings market.  

In 2007, Melanie moved to the retail world as the Chief Creative Officer for Hanover Direct Inc., where  she headed all design, product development, sourcing and image development for the company’s key  brands, including The Company Store.  

Since The Home Depot’s acquisition of The Company Store in 2017, Melanie continues in a leadership  role. As Product Development Senior Merchant, her energy, expertise and leadership continue to inspire  colleagues on all sides of the global supply chain to the American home furnishings consumer. 

A native New Yorker, Melanie commits free time and resources to organizations committed to  improving the lives of individuals, children and families affected by various hardships.

What's new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

www.luannnigara.com/cob

insidevoiceoutsidevoice.com

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:

Thank you to The Company Store for sponsoring this show!

May 10, 2022

Today on A Well-Designed Business:

Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! Have you ever had a project where you felt undervalued and taken advantage of? A situation where someone else was taking credit for your work? What about mixing work and family? 

These factors create a spiderweb of entanglements and equal a ticking time bomb of emotions and feelings. Today's episode comes from a listener who, while highly skilled, talented, and experienced, has found herself in a situation where she has mixed family and business in a high dollar project in which she is not getting the compensation or recognition for her contributions.

Listen in as I break down the situation, the challenges, and what Lu would do.

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

Exciting Windows! Build a Better Business Registration

luannuniversity.com

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Inside Voice, Outside Voice

Windowworksnj.com

Shop38east.com

Comfortex.com

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 6, 2022

Today with Michelle Feeney:

Welcome to A Well Designed Business.  On this Power Talk Friday I am talking to Michelle Feeney, founder of Floral Street. Floral Street is a modern British fragrance that is both sustainable and eco-friendly.

You’re probably wondering why I had Michelle on. Well despite her not being in interior design ,Michelle has provided me with a couple of aha moments that I want to bring to my listeners. She is an intelligent and accomplished business person and I can’t wait for you to hear about her experience to the top, how her fragrances make her customers feel, and how taking a break to stay at home gave her the information she needed to jump back in! 

 

Pick it apart:

[1:00] Michelle and LuAnn talk about the correlation between how a floral scent should make you feel on your body, but also when you walk into a room. 

[13:18] Michelle talks about starting Floral Street at 53-years old. 

[27:18] Michelle tells us how Floral Street breaks the mold in the sustainability of the fragrances ingredients and packaging. 

[32:37] Tiffany talks about how to make your brand a cult brand through partnerships.

LuAnn and Michelle Feeney's Ah-Ha Moments

“Interior designers focus on how clients want to feel in a space. They should extend that into, not only how the products in the room contribute to the “feel,” but also how the room is scented.” -LuAnn Nigara

 

“Many people fear how to get investments from the “big boys”with the money, but what they lack are the ideas and passion that you have.” - Michelle Feeney

 

“It’s important to take yourself out of that everyday and look in, to see how your idea could fit into the modern world.” - Michelle Feeney 

 

“If you are an individual and you are trying to build your brand, who you associate with becomes really important. There’s strength in numbers because they can help you tell your story.” - Michelle Feeney

Connect with Floral Street

Website 

Instagram 

Facebook

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

Power Talk Friday Tour at High Point

Exciting Windows! Build a Better Business Registration

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

Other Shows Mentioned

#32- Robin Baron- The President of ASID NY Metro Chapter Talks With Us About PR and Brand Development 

#540- Robin Baron- Strategic Thinking on Brand Development

May 3, 2022

Today with Tiffany Cassidy:

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today I am joined by Tiffany Cassidy, co-founder and principal designer of Lagnappe Custom Interiors. Tiffany and I discuss the fear some have about niching down your business and how Tiffany powered through her own fear. Every guest that has been on the show that has chosen a niche has said that it was the best decision they made for their business. Tiffany couldn't agree more and she has done such a wonderful job at combining her past experiences with what she’s learned from coach Tobi Fairley to niche into her luxury vacation rental design business. Please join us to learn about Tiffany’s niching journey and the versatile services that Lagnappe Custom Interiors has to offer.   

Pick it apart:

  • [6:13] Tiffany starts to tell us about when she decided to niche her design firm down and how she went about it.

    [16:30] Tiffany explains her initial resistance in niching down. 

    [20:15] Additional services that Lagnappe Interiors offers, also for those who want to DIY. 

    [32:45] Tiffany tells us more about her Designer for a Day Program and Master Plan program.

LuAnn and Tiffany Cassidy’s Ah-Ha moments:

“Part of my resistance to niche down was wanting to keep my options open. It felt scary to  limit, but learned it wasn’t limiting at all because people would come to me for help.” - Tiffany Cassidy

 

“I encourage other designers to niche down because it frees up your mind in so many ways and helps you grow your business in a specific manner.” - Tiffany Cassidy 

 

As designers when we are doing full service projects working with project managers and contractors, when we make our project book we should ask ourselves what are all of the potential questions they could ask us.” - Tiffany Cassidy 

More about Tiffany Cassidy:

A native of California with both a degree in chemistry and a highly creative side, Tiffany has been designing beautiful homes and commercial spaces in the U.S. Virgin Islands for her long list of clients since 2002. She marries her artistic and scientific sides together by transforming the intangible into breathtaking, cohesive and highly functional designs delivered in systematic and organized bliss. Tiffany considers it a privilege to be invited into other people’s homes to help them transform their personal spaces and her goal is to not only make your home prettier but in doing so, make your life better.

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Other Shows Mentioned:

#15- Nancy Ganzekaufer: Niche is Rich

#174- Power Talk Friday: Fred Berns: Own Your “Only” Word & Tips to Discover Yours

#368- Jessica Duce: VRBO Interior Design 

#440- Power Talk Friday: Tobi Fairley: Her Design You Coaching Program

#753 Sandra Funk: How to Grow a Thriving Luxury Interior Design Business

#372 Laura Michaels: How to Talk Budget with your Interior Design Clients

 

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

 

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

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