Ashlina Kaposta is the design blogger behind The Decorista, a household name in the world of interior design blogging. Ashlina works around-the-clock hours as an interior designer, site technician and writer, and she attends design conferences as either a speaker or a member of the audience. She has recently launched a new self-adhesive wallpaper line with graphic stripes, animal prints, and other fun designs! Here she is on our podcast discussing her inspired designs, motivated moves, energized creations, and life-changing choices and decisions.
Show Notes
- How Ashlina started her career
- Why she created the blog Decorista
- Her tips for building a successful business
- Importance of taking courses to enhance business skills
- Why enhancing speaking and writing skills is necessary
- The role of her blog in her success
- Attending industry events is very helpful
- Attending shows and visiting showrooms had a role in her success
- Continue learning everything you can about the industry and the people in it.
- The importance of publicity and exposure
- Building a successful brand
- Invest in your own stylized photography of your own work
- Be intentional - what it means
- Tips on creating a vision board of your ideal project, the type of project you want to attract and be paid to execute.
- Tips for dreams, goals, and planning
You can find the rest of the show notes here: Window Works
Amy specializes in helping interior designers pitch for press publicity. She follows a proven method of evaluating your press potential, current marketing materials, identification of storylines, and designing a strategic method for your media outreach plus specific recommendations for implementing such method. She also helps designers in personalized pitch development for your current and future pitching on print and online.
She is an editor and contributor to some of the biggest magazines on the news stand (Lucky, Country Living, Condé Nast Traveler, InStyle, Better Homes & Gardens). Amy authored the book Recipe for Press (Pitch Your Story and Create a Buzz) and then took to the road, sharing her editorial insights with creative entrepreneurs. Her book has been called “the small business blueprint for DIY publicity,” packed with good, no-nonsense advice on how to get your story or product onto the pages of influential publications. Amy conducts lectures and workshops to further educate entrepreneurs on how to refine their message, engage media, and create relationships with editors and bloggers.
Amy co-founded Paper-Cut-Project, a company whose clients include Kate Spade, Christies, Hermès, Cartier, and the Victoria & Albert museum. Paper-Cut-Project’s work has been featured in the New York Times, Italian Vogue, Nylon and Marie Claire Taiwan. Amy is also the creative director of Parlore, helping to develop and position a product management app and trade resource for interior designers.
Show Notes
- Techniques to create buzz for your business using the press
- How press helps your marketing
- Amy’s role in your press marketing
- The advantage of choosing Amy over other PR firms
- Are you ready for a publicist?
- What makes a good pitch and when to pitch
- Why Amy wrote the book Recipe for Press
- Standard method of pitching
- A pitch is short, concise but the homework takes a lot of time
- Amy’s publicist strategy
- The best things to do and the worst things to avoid in pitching
- The importance of research
- The different approaches for online and printed magazines
- Understanding the editorial calendar
- What are the blogs to write in
- Quick way to find who writes about who
- Creating content for interior designers
- Creating long-standing relationship with a publicist
You can find the rest of the show notes and resources at www.windwworks-nj.com
Hi Welcome to another episode of A Well-Designed Business. On the show today I have Brook Devenport. Brook is the owner of Blinds & More located in Minnesota. We are going to hear Brook’s personal story and how she took a business that practically started by accident and after nearly 6 years she transformed it into a well run, profitable business with 7 team members who together do both custom window treatments and interior design in Southern Minnesota and Northern Iowa.
Show Notes
- The business didn’t magically grow into a high earning business.
It took a lot of planning and tool-using
- Initial sales targeting was $60,000 in yearly sales.
- On the second year annual sales was $178,000.
- Current sales run to $650,000 annually
- Sales goal was but sales was
- Things they did differently to achieve the sales goal
- Her husband’s role in the success of her business
- Tracking appointments and tracking dealer’s performance
- All the tools they installed to track and monitor the business
- Their “ahah” moment
- Color coding the hard files
- The Tony Robbins effect on their business
- Being intentional. What it means
- When they decided to run a business, to work on her business, not simply in her business.
- The role of advertising on her success
- Quotables:
- If you know how to sell, you can sell almost anything. – Luann
- Take responsibility for setting your goals for monitoring your expenses, for analyzing every project for net cost and net profits.
- Manage your business with your eyes wide open.
You can find the rest of the show notes and resources at www.windowworks-nj.com
I have another fun show for you today! Taylor Spellman is with us today. Taylor is a New York based interior designer and staging expert. She is also the host of Bravo’s new TV show “Yours Mine or Ours”. No matter what she is designing- whether it be a 10-million-dollar penthouse, the lobby of a high-rise or the showroom for a fashion client-- her super down to earth personality combined with her bold style makes her a stand out in our interior design community. Taylor has the unique and unteachable talent using high end one of a kind pieces to an afternoon spent at the Goodwill. Today you will learn how she came from humble beginnings and now has million dollar clientele in New York City.
Show Notes:
- Did Taylor go to school for interior design?
- What are some pros for an interior designer that was not classically trained in the interior design field?
- What do Taylor’s clients have in common?
- How did she decide she wanted to work with men for her niche?
- How long did she research her idea for her niche before launching the idea?
- What did Taylor go to school for?
- What were Taylor’s intentions for her career?
- What is Taylor’s competitive edge?
- Nothing just happens!
- How did she discover staging as another niche?
- How did she find events to attend in real estate and build relationships?
- Why is it a good idea to have a lawyer?
- What opportunities came about before “Yours Mine or Ours”?
- What is the show “Yours Mine or Ours” about?
- Is it all just about real estate when helping clients with their homes?
- How does she execute her design on the show?
- Where do her girls from her business fit in while Taylor is working on set?
- Is there any other advice she would give to her colleagues?
The rest of the show notes are in our resource center: Window Works
Welcome back to another power talk Friday! I am happy to introduce to you Lindsey Anderson who is also known as One Click Lindsey. The reason for this is that she is a professional coach, counselor and her business is in helping. Lindsey is the founder and CEO of Trafficandleads.com. Today we are going to talk about how to get your web presence to work for you.
Show Notes:
- How can you capture the email address of a potential client?
- What does it mean to capture an email address of someone who visits the website?
- Are most of the people that visit the website ready to commit?
- What is an e-book?
- What is email marketing?
- Are there other ways besides eBooks to resource your website?
- What is Fiverr and how can it be helpful?
- How often should you email the email addresses you receive?
- What does it show when you email people who have given you an email address?
- After getting the email address do you need to hire a professional to help manage the emails?
- What is MailChimp and how can this be helpful?
- What do you do if what your offer is not working?
- What could you include in your emails?
- How should you write the emails?
- Why is Lindsey’s nickname One Click Lindsey?
The rest of the show notes are in our resource center: Window Works.
Kate Greunke is with us today! Kate is a published author, entrepreneur and founder of Kate the Socialite. Kate the Socialite is a marketing firm and niches in marketing for interior designers, window treatment professionals and remodelers. After two years of watching interior designers be taken advantage of by big companies and listening to her clients say and tell her how difficult it was to keep up with their email and social marketing, Kate decided to create a solution. She had already been designing custom newsletters and social media content for years. Not everyone could or would spend big bucks on a custom package. She decided to create a marketing solution that was affordable and easy to use, something that could be easily customized and sent in just a few clicks. Then a short time later, Socialite Subscribe was born!
Check out Kate's website at www.katethesocialite.com.
Show Notes:
- How did Kate arrive at her platform niche?
- Who were her best customers?
- What happened to her business when Kate found her niche?
- What are her services she provides for businesses?
- How does she make the newsletter different for everyone?
- What kind of success stories does she have?
- Does she have services to help with technical services?
- What social media platforms does she help people use?
- To get Kate’s help do you have to be bound with a contract?
- Is it a good idea for a client to sit down and evaluate their time before signing up?
- What about those people who do not have a mailing list or a small mailing list?
- What are the pros to having a smaller mailing list sometimes?
- What does your mindset have to do with the success of your business?
- How often does she have a meeting with her clients and how does the interaction go ?
- When was she first offered a publishing contract?
- When did she write her first novel and what was it about?
- What is her favorite part of her job?
- What role does her husband play in her business?
- What sort of free services can you get with her program?
The rest of the show notes are in our resource center: Window Works
Something must be in the air, I keep running into fourth generation business owners! Last week Scott Kravet was here for our 100th episode and he told us about the history of the Kravet family. He is part of the fourth generation of the Kravets to work and run Kravet Inc.
Today we have Jake Baer on the show with me and he is the twenty-eight-year-old CEO of Newel. Newel is the home of the largest decorative art collection and furniture in the US. Newel has been known for many years for its prop rental business since the 1930s. Jake was named the CEO of Newel in 2015 and he has really spearheaded change with a brand-new gallery in Manhattan. He has recently moved their collection to a massive warehouse in Long Island City in Long Island. We are going to talk about how he is moving Newel into a new age.
Show Notes:
- What was it like for Jake growing up in a family business?
- Who did he work with to learn the business?
- What sort of challenges has Jake faced being a young CEO?
- Are his siblings involved in the business: Newel?
- What is he doing for newer/younger interior designers?
- How can you get in on the dinners that Jake holds for interior designers?
- How does his business help people who live the apartment life?
- Can furniture be shipped out all over the US?
- What kind of antique furniture does Newel have to offer?
The rest of the show notes are in our resource center: Window Works
Welcome to another power talk Friday! We have Shauna Lynn Simon with us again today! If you listened to a previous power talk Friday, we started talking about how to host a successful home consumer event. In the first episode, we talked about the first three things that you need to do to set up a successful event. This included choosing your title, choosing the venue for the workshop, how to market your event and securing sponsors. Today Shauna Lynn is going to take it further with us and talk about content creation, managing and selecting guest speakers if it’s not yourself, handouts that you should possibly do using your event for a lead generation machine.
Show Notes:
- How can you create a good visual at your event?
- If you don’t access to electronic presentation what are some other ways to present?
- How can you prepare for your speaking part?
- Do you want audience participation?
- How should the area for seating be set up?
- When should you ask for donations at an event?
- How can you use your vendors to explain designs better?
- What should be the focus at your event?
- How do you choose a guest speaker?
- How can you increase your reputation at these events?
- What other material should you include in the goody bags?
- What is a lead generation machine?
- Free is good!
- Why is it important to use a professional event planning program?
- How can you ask for guest’s email addresses?
- How important is a “thank you” after the event?
The rest of the show notes are in our resource center: Window Works
Before I introduce our guest on the show today, Joni Vanderslice I have a big announcement! I am happy to introduce a new sponsor to the show: Mydoma Studio. If you remember a couple of weeks ago we had Sarah Daniele, the CEO of Mydoma Studio who told us about her company, how she came to found it, and all the features it has for you to help run your interior design projects more efficiently. If you missed that show you should go back and listen to Sarah and all about Mydoma Studio! In the meantime, thank you Mydoma Studio for recognizing these fabulous interior designers that we have here at A Well Design Business.
As I said we have Joni Vanderslice with us today and she is the owner and president of J. Banks Design Group in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Joni founded her firm thirty years ago! Since then she has nurtured the Hilton Head Island-based operation into an internationally recognized force of residential and resort design. J. Banks Design takes on a global portfolio of projects that translates resort living to home and home living to resort-living.
Show Notes:
- How many people are in her firm and how many interior designers does she have working for her?
- How did she get started?
- What is a catalyst in business and why is it important to have one?
- How did Joni’s consultant help her with her firm?
- How should you write a job description?
- How did she use a philosophy of using gifts to build her firm?
- How should you mentor new interior designers?
- What are the “words”?
- What are the other people at the firm doing that are not interior designers?
- Are the jobs at the firm mostly full time or part time?
- What does Joni’s day look like at J. Banks every day?
- How often does she have meetings with her team?
- What is the Valentine Project?
- How is Kravet Inc. helping with the Valentine Project?
The rest of the show notes are in our resource center: Window Works.
This is a celebratory episode dear loyal listeners! This is our 100th podcast episode and it’s time to celebrate! It’s certainly a very optimistic number as the podcast prognosis goes: If you make it to the 7th episode, you can make it to the 45th … and if you make it to the 100th you’ll make it for a while! Our guest for this landmark episode is Scott Kravet, the great grandson of Samuel Kravet, the founder of Kravet Inc.
Kravet Inc. will be celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2018. Another 100th reason to celebrate! Kravet Inc. was established in 1918 by Samuel Kravet, and it has grown to be the industry leader in the home furnishings industry -- fabrics, furniture, carpets, drapery, trimmings, wall coverings, and others. The family’s commitment to innovation has helped the company transform from a small fabric house to a global leader, representing brands and designers from all over the world. Kravet Inc. owns Kravet, Lee Jofa, Groundworks and GP & J Baker, all high-end fabric houses that specialize in style, luxury and exceptional design.
Scott Kravet, part of the company’s 4th generation, is the Creative Director and Head of Product Development. Having a near encyclopedic knowledge of fabrics, he oversees all aspects of product development for Kravet and its brands. He is an alumnus of Emory University and the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science. Scott manages creative teams in 5 design studios in New York and worldwide. He travels the globe sourcing products from the finest craftsmen and best mills.
I’m deeply grateful to Kravet Inc. for continuing to sponsor our podcast (since 2015) which by now is followed by professional groups consisting of over 70,000 and growing! At the minimum, Window Works get contacted by 5 interior designers daily and they all mention the Well-Designed Business podcast as the source and resource. Thank you, Kravet Inc.!!
Show Notes
- Kravet products are for trade-only.
- All products are available to interior designers only to protect their interests
- Retail sales are for interior designers only
- Kravet designs remain cherished and fashionable for a long time
- Kravet Showrooms are updated with the latest featured designs regularly
- The “for trade only” policy does not seem to be an issue
- All lamps, trays, pillow, textiles, all neatly laid out corporate products on exhibit
- Honor and respect what your family has accomplished as a personal, professional, and corporate policy
- It’s not enough to create beautiful anything; you must package and market it smartly.
- Reinventing the business
- Reaching out to the influencers
- Watch out for the Kravet Centennial where they will be honoring all the people who have helped them all these years.
- Check out Episodes 10, 59, 17, 34, and 74 where designers talked about their experience in working with Kravet. Kravet has a culture that supports creativity, collaboration, kindness, and respect to your clients and vendors
- An archive of over 30,000 textile collections is currently on exhibit; check out with ASID for the details.
The rest of the show notes are in our resource center: Window Works.
It’s power talk Friday again! I have a treat for all of you today. I found our guest, John Muldoon while I was doing research, and I got jazzed up when I saw what John is doing! We are going to be talking to him about his “business” (a consulting firm) that he has had for twelve years! But we are really going to get into his powerful blog called The Monthly Experiments Project.
Show Notes:
- What is his description of his job and why are there two versions?
- How did he come up with his brand?
- What is his blog The Monthly Experiment about?
- How did he come up with his blog: The Monthly Experiment?
- Why is he doing his blog The Monthly Experiment?
- What happened when John finally found a balance between work and life?
- What did he do to help pick up the business when he started working less?
- How do you get more referrals according to John?
- How can you make your blog or podcast more successful and what is the most important quality a blog can have?
- How can you be more helpful?
- What are the two things that create the value of a blog?
- How do you start a blog and how does John help people with this?
- How do you join his blog challenge and join his free membership group?
- What are some of the “Experiments” he has done on his blog?
The rest of the show notes are in our resource center: Window Works
Today on the show I have Carrie Leskowitz! Carrie brings a unique perspective to her work. She is not only an interior designer but she is also a certified Marth Beck life coach. Carrie combines her background in fashion and psychology with twenty years in the interior design industry. She shows her clients how our living space often mirrors our inner space. Her blog: Carrie’s Design Musings, is in its sixth year and has a very loyal following!
Show Notes:
- How did Carrie come to interior design?
- What was her experience at Design Bloggers Conference?
- Why should you go to the Design Bloggers Conference?
- What are the requirements to qualify for the Design Bloggers Conference?
- How often is the Design Bloggers Conference held and where is the conference venue?
- Do you get paid or is there money involved going to the Design Bloggers Conference?
- What were her observations at the Design Bloggers Conference?
- What did Carrie do while at High Point at the Design Bloggers Conference?
- Why did she start her blog: Carrie’s Design Musings?
- What are the nuts and bolts of her business?
- How many employees does she have?
- How does she connect her life coach experience to her interior design business?
- When did she understand her value, and decide to start sending an invoice for her coaching?
- What are some typical triggers that people start to think they are stuck?
- Are there any tips that she would suggest to her clients to help them feel unstuck?
- Are there any cautions that she would say to a new designer getting started?
- Try everything!
- What is something she does herself when she feels overwhelmed?
- Can you retrain yourself on how to react to certain things or situations that bug you?
The rest of the show notes are in our resource center: Window Works
Our guest today on the show is Linda Holt! Linda was recommended to me by a listener of the podcast! Thank you, Marie! She suggested Linda because she admires her work and she loves the interesting bit that she comes from a twenty-year career in photography and she specializes in modeling and celebrity head shots. Linda has worked with more than 3000 celebrities, actors and models as one of Boston’s top headshot photographer. So today she is going to talk to us about why she made the switch from photography to interior design.
Show Notes:
- What degree did she earn first in college?
- Why didn’t Linda get a degree in interior design when she went to college?
- What niche made her so successful in photography?
- How did she arrive at her systems that she used in her photography business?
- Why is it important to pay attention to personal details and remember them with clients?
- How does she use Pinterest and Pinterest Boards for her business?
- How does she bill for her work and what are the factors that determine the way she bills?
- Does she talk to her clients up front about money or as she goes?
- What are the “two hours”?
- Why did she start her blog Linda Holt Interiors?
- How often does she blog and how “big” is her blog?
- How does she write and how does she figure out what to write about?
- Does she read other blogs or listen to other podcasts?
- What happened to her when she was at the Design Bloggers Conference?
- How does she help designers use their iPhones to take better pictures?
- What did Linda win at the Design Bloggers Conference?
- What sort of things did she learn from the Design Bloggers Conference?
The rest of the show notes are in our resource center: Window Works.
We are back with another power talk Friday and we have Fred Berns with us again! As you know Fred Berns has been on the show two other times. We have talked about our bio briefing, our website once over because Fred is a leader in the interior design business coaching arena. He has twenty-five years of experience specializing in helping interior designers grow their interior design firms through more effective websites, more effective programs, and more effective introductions and bios. Today we are going to talk about selling methods of the masters.
Show Notes:
- What do financially successful firms have in common?
- What is the “daily dozen” and how is this helpful to your business?
- What is saving the best for first and how does it work?
- What is the number one financial obstacle for designer firms?
- Treat obstacles as opportunities!
- What are closing questions and how can they help close a sale?
- Always talk about a phase two before you talk about phase one!
- How do you make sure there is “no money left on the table”?
- What does it mean to have money left on the table and why is it bad?
- How should a new designer start marketing?
- What is one thing people can’t get anywhere else?
- Pay attention to what clients had a problem with in previous transactions!
- What are common mistakes designers make when selling their services?
- What is feel, felt, found?
- How can you use a blog as a good selling tool?
- What is the best personal tool to use when trying to “sell yourself”?
- How can you adapt your bio with Fred Bern’s knowledge that he has shared with us?
Download the free resources from Fred Berns from our resource center: Window Works
Today I have someone whom I’m sure many of you are familiar with his businesses or platforms. You have probably heard of at least one of them and maybe you know Adam Japko through one of these. He is the founder and CEO of Esteem Media but prior to Esteem Media he was the president of DigitalSherpa. Esteem Media is the home of leading national and local media brands that specialize in luxury home design and fine wine. Through Adam Japko, Esteem Media leads the industry in community and initiatives that help business professionals just like you navigate the shift between traditional and digital media. Adam also has a wine blog called WineZag. I hope you enjoy this interview with Adam Japko as he talks about his business Esteem Media and all about the Design Bloggers Conference!
Show Notes:
- Where does the commerce happen?
- How did Adam come up with the model he uses in his businesses?
- What extra value does Adam put into his work?
- What is the Design Bloggers Conference?
- Why did Adam launch the Design Bloggers Conference?
- What are keynote designers?
- What three groups are used to design the outcome of the Design Bloggers Conference?
- Is it just designers who come to the Design Bloggers Conference?
- What things can you learn by coming to these conferences?
- How often is the Design Bloggers Conference held?
- Who will be the speaker at the next Design Bloggers Conference?
- What makes the Design Bloggers Conference different from other conferences?
- In what ways does the Design Bloggers Conference make connections that people will never forget, and how does it branch out to people?
- How are these connections made different?
- Bring your values to your work!
- Don’t bring a work version of yourself to work!
- How you get the most out of your life.
You will find the rest of the show notes at our resource center: Window Works.
Our guest on today’s show is Debi Pinelli and the way we got connected is such a funny story! I have a very dear friend named Rachel who is the cousin of Debi’s husband! A few months ago, we had Tim Templeton on a power talk Friday show and he was talking to us about influencers and connectors that you will have in your circle of influencers. Rachel is that connector!
Today we are going to talk about Debi’s business, A&J Interiors. She came to interior design through her specialty in designing her own window treatments. Debi has been designing and fabricating window treatments for over 20 years! She is the president of the New Jersey chapter of Window Coverings Association of America.
Show Notes:
- How did she decide to make her window treatments into a business?
- How important is it to have good rapport with your vendor?
- What are some things that she did when she started to become successful?
- What are some ways you can reach out to others for help in running a business?
- Who does she have on her staff?
- Write procedures down!
- Why are bookkeepers so important to running a successful business?
- Where does she go to get inspiration for designs?
- Is Highpoint worth going to?
- Make sure you look at your numbers!
- What are some ways to look at advertising?
- Why did she join Window Coverings Association of America?
- What is “Windows to Success”?
- What does the New Jersey chapter of Window Coverings Association of America do?
- Does the New Jersey chapter just talk about window coverings?
- How often should an evaluation be done?
- Why did she decide to charge a flat fee for her services?
- Listen to your gut!
- How many chapters are in the Window Coverings Association of America?
You will find the rest of the show notes at our resource center: Window Works.
Welcome back to power talk Friday! I am so happy that Stacy Brown Randall is back here with us today! Stacy was with us a couple of weeks ago. She talked about organization and how to make your business more effective and gave us lots of tips and specific details. One of the things she talks about is how she coaches us and organizes our business into quads. We talked a little bit about the details last time but today we are going a little deeper into each of the quads. We are really going to pick apart Stacy’s advice on how we maximize and take control of our client’s experience.
Show Notes:
- What does it mean to take control of your client’s experience?
- What are the four quads for the four- quad strategy?
- “What is it like to work with you?”
- How should you look at the customer’s experience?
- What is a “sticky” client experience and why should you strive to have it?
- What are work touch points and why should you have them?
- What four things come from having sticky clients?
- What is a client’s experience?
- Why should you unpack a client’s experience?
- Why do you need a work output list?
- Where do you build the relationship with the client?
- What are the differences between a work touch-point and a personal touch-point?
- What is buyer’s remorse?
- How can you prevent clients from having buyer’s remorse?
- What is a journey card and why is a journey card so important?
- How can a journey card change the relationship between you and your client?
- What is the new client phase and what is an alumni client?
- How long does a new client phase last?
- Write things on a calendar and do those things!
- How can you reconnect with your clients?
See the rest of the show notes at our
resource center: Window Works
On the show today I’m happy to have Karen McKenna: the principal of KMCK Designs in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Karen has been in the interior design industry for over 21 years. In addition to running her own firm, she is the principal interior designer for Classic Interiors, a retail showroom in Idaho Falls also. Karen studied interior design and architecture and earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Idaho. She has extensive experience in both commercial and residential interior design. Karen also acts as a buyer and a merchandise coordinator for Classic Interiors. The way Karen has positioned her firm and aligned it with the retail store Classic Interiors is rather unique. I’m going to let Karen explain it to you. Let’s see what you think!
Show Notes:
- How did Karen come to work with KMCK Designs and Classic Interiors?
- Who are Mark Collard and Mike Jensen and what is their relationship to Karen?
- How does her relationship with the designer’s work?
- What is her payoff?
- What is the process for the quotation of products for a project?
- How does the bidding process work with the team she works with at KMCK Designs?
- Has she ever come across the relationship like she has with KMCK Designs anywhere else?
- How does the market experience happen?
- Why is loyalty to vendors so important?
- What sort of markets are they involved in?
- Are they using markets in Europe?
- What systems does she use to keep everything organized?
- Make sure to have documentation on what everyone is doing and has been said on every project!
- How do you maintain a good relationship with vendors?
- Is this process something that someone new to the business should start with or should this be done by someone who has been in the business for a while?
The rest of the show notes is in our resource center: Window Works
On the show today you are going to meet Sarah Daniele! Sarah was recommended to me by a previous guest and my friend, Rachel Moriarty. So, who is Sarah Daniele? She is a very smart, take- the- bull- by- the- horns type person, interior designer and also happens to be the co-founder and CEO of Mydoma Studio! Sarah has a degree in interior design, has worked for others and then eventually started her own business, Mydoma Studio. Her business focuses on residential renovations, add-ons, kitchen, and bath. Today she is going to share with us a little about her career.
Show Notes:
- When did Sarah start her new software?
- What were her guidelines for her new software system?
- Was her software originally for other designers?
- When did she decide to let other designers use her program?
- What changes were made to her software program to fit other designers?
- How did she know that other designers would need a different program than herself?
- How did she build her beta team to test the new product?
- Is Mydoma Studio an accounting software?
- Where did the name Mydoma Studio come from?
- How did she decide the “look” of her website?
- What is the usability of Mydoma Studio?
- What is Mydoma Studio and what can it help designers do with clients?
- What is the process to sign up for Sarah’s program on Mydoma Studio?
- What is a product catalog builder?
- What does it mean when the product catalog builder is global?
- How does a designer get the client on board using Mydoma Studio?
- Would the client still have access to their studio after the project is finished?
- How are the invoices incorporated in the program?
- Is there a way for the designer to view the project like they are the client?
- What is the targeted audience for Mydoma Studio?
- How are the fees decided?
For the rest of the shownotes, please visit our resource center: Window Works
Welcome to another power talk Friday! Nicole Holland is on the show today and she is part of the Business Building Rockstar Show! This is another podcast that is one of my favorites and let’s face it Nicole is a rockstar! She is out there trying to help other people create bigger and better businesses for themselves. She is a master coach and marketing strategist. Nicole is launching on November 1st a summit for The Business Building Rockstar. What is a summit? Listen to this episode and find out.
Show Notes:
- What is a summit in podcast terms?
- What is the summit that Nicole is launching on November 1st going to be about?
- What is the difference in what you are “supposed” to do and what you “should” do when starting a business?
- How can social media be valuable to your business?
- What are some tools she recommends and uses herself?
- Is this summit going to be free?
- What are some special deals you can get when you upgrade?
- What are some of the topics that are going to be discussed on The Business Building Rockstar Summit?
- What is Nicole’s mission in life?
- How does Nicole incorporate her mission in life and making a dollar together?
- How can each session be accessed during The Business Building Rockstar Summit?
- Why do you want an all access pass for this summit?
- Why did Nicole decide to launch her podcast: The Business Building Rockstar Show?
- How many topics will be discussed on this summit?
- How much of a discount does this summit give on certain programs?
- How did Nicole get so many bonuses for her new launch that starts on November 1st?
- How can this summit help interior designers with their businesses to make their businesses bigger and known more?
Resources:
You can download the Nicole Holland Business Building Rockstar PDF and get the Ticket to the free Summit at our resource center: Window Works
I have Marie Flanigan from Texas with me on the show today! Marie is an award winning designer whose background includes a BA in Architecture and Masters in Business Administration. She has over a decade of work experience in architecture and design industry and you can see how she uses these qualities beautifully in her work. While working with a previous firm she realized her love for architecture and interiors together. She quickly realized how she can achieve more in-depth creativity when the two are intertwined. Her trademark style is evident with the sophisticated texture, color, light and creating environments that people love to live in. Her distinguished designs can be found in luxury homes and commercial spaces throughout the country. Today we are going to talk about Marie’s marketing strategies and how they have worked for her and how they can work for you too!
Show Notes:
- What is her marketing philosophy?
- What are the roots of her business, Marie Flanigan Interiors?
- What are some of the services her business, Marie Flanigan Interiors has to offer?
- What is her advice to someone starting out?
- How can designers make it easier to relate their designs?
- What are some ways that her team uses to relate their designs?
- How do you keep your brand consistent?
- How does her team finish up a project?
- What is the most important part of a project?
- Pictures are your assets!
- When did she decide to use videos for marketing?
- How did Marie find someone who knew how to use videos for marketing?
- How long does it take to make these videos?
- What is her advice on how to find a good videographer?
- How do you pick the music for the videos?
- Look for more ways to create an experience for the client!
- Are business retreats a good idea?
Please visit our resource center: Window Works for the rest of the show notes.
On the show today I’m happy for you to meet Polly Williams, the founder of Camberyard. The designer’s advisor! Polly offers bespoke interior design business solutions and mentoring to creative professionals across the industry. She can advise you what your USP, promote your talent and make your business reach its full potential. Her expertise includes launching new brands, streamlining and expanding your current business, mentoring designers, PR, brand partnerships, social media strategy, fee negotiations and making introductions within the industry. Polly has over 12 years of experience advising an interior design studio in London.
Show Notes:
- What is Polly’s 360-degree approach?
- What are some of the first things she talks about when a designer wants to start their own firm?
- How does she help lay the foundation of a business?
- Has she ever had to tell someone maybe they need more experience before having their own business?
- What are some other ways she works with clients besides setting up the outline of the business?
- How are the packages set up for her mentoring services?
- How does she help her clients with time management?
- How does Polly help a designer figure out their unique selling point or USP?
- Does everyone have a unique selling point?
- How do you determine what is appropriate to put on social media?
- How does a designer figure out their brand?
- How are colors and fonts used to determine the message the business is trying to give?
- Why did Polly decide on the name Camberyard instead of Polly Williams Consulting?
- Does a business need to have a logo?
- Make sure to go out and network and plant your seed!
- What does Polly mean when she says think globally, act locally?
- Is Polly available to work with clients virtually?
For the rest of the show notes, please visit our
resource center: Window Works
It’s time for another Power Talk Friday! Today on the show we have Stacy Tuschl! Stacy is a very accomplished young lady. She has a brick and mortar business in performing arts that is a seven figure business. The roots of her business started when she was eighteen years old from her parent’s backyard! She is also a real estate investor, the author of Is your Business Worth Saving? and the host of a podcast called The Business Rescue Roadmap. Stacy is going to talk to us about how she runs her business and give us some great tools and tips to use in our own businesses.
Show Notes:
- How did she come up with the name of her book: Is Your Business Worth Saving?
- Why is it important for business owners to ask themselves is their business worth saving at certain times?
- What are some ways to keep money in the checkbook?
- How can business owners figure out the missing piece in their business keeping them from making more money?
- What is a mastermind group and where can they be found?
- What three people/group does she suggest having when running a business?
- Where and how does Stacy look to find different conferences to go to for new ideas?
- Where are some good places to get access for more information for free?
- What are some good tools to help with plan the day?
- Make sure to set goals!
- How is every department set up in her business?
- What are some tools Stacy uses for organization with her employees?
- Why is it so important to always take notes?
- Get out of your comfort zone and take risks!
- What is Business Rescue Road Map about?
For the rest of the show notes, please visit our resource center: Window Works.
Welcome back! Our guest today has been in the interior design business for 17 years! Andrea Schumacher started her own eight-person firm, Andrea Schumacher Interior Design, including herself in Colorado in 1999. Andrea has experience in commercial and residential spaces and she has set design for television at Days of Our Lives and Columbia Pictures! She has a BA in interior design from the F.I.D.E.R. accredited Colorado State University and a certificate in Universal Design from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. Today she is going to share with us how she does things at Andrea Schumacher Interior Design and how she makes everything more efficient and successful and how you can too.
Show Notes:
- She can have how many projects in the pipeline at one time?
- How are the positions broken down at Andrea Schumacher Interior Design?
- Did she work for anyone before she started her own firm?
- How was Andrea Schumacher Interior Design started?
- Explain how everything is broken down up front!
- What about the customers that can’t be pleased?
- When does the “process” go into the project manager’s hands?
- Why doesn’t she like to hear a budget before the design project begins?
- What was her aha moment that there needed to be a change with her accountant to get her books straightened out for her design firm?
- Who is Chandra and what is her role in Andrea’s firm?
- What are some ways that Chandra has increased profitability for Andrea’s firm?
- How much has her profitability increased since Chandra has started working at Andrea Schumacher Interior Design?
- Keep yourself as humble as possible and own up to your mistakes!
- What is the next big thing for Andrea Schumacher Interior Design?
- What is Design Leadership Network?
For the rest of the show notes, please visit our resource center: Window Works
I am so pleased to have Mark Cutler and Heather Gillette with us on the show! The information that they are going to share today will maximize yours and your staff’s productivity in a way you previously could not imagine. Heather is a tech person and has been specialized in early tech startups for the past twenty years. She will explain that there are never enough resources, so you need to be creative and innovative to keep up with the amount of work. Heather founded and headed up several departments of YouTube. With little manpower, she and her team kept YouTube legal and clean while processing millions of videos and user communications every day. Heather wanted to bring this same thinking and make interior design more accessible. This is when their first company was born: NousDécor.
Mark Cutler is an Australian-born interior designer. Mark is one of the Robb Report’s top 40 firms in the country and a leading proponent of interior design as a form of portraiture. He is formally the resident designer for A&E’s TV Makeover Mamas. He has many celebrity clients and his work has been in many leading interior design magazines. He currently serves as the Chief Design Officer at NousDécor.
You can read the show notes and access all the links and resources at www.windowworks-nj.com