Today With Hailey Kolbe:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today I am joined by Hailey Kolbe, the founder and principal designer of her referral-based design firm, Hailey Kolbe Design, which specializes in full-service design for new builds and remodels. Do you know the value of a thorough client work-up? Today, Hailey and I discuss the importance of a thorough evaluation of your client inquiry forms, how to spot red flags, and set expectations with your clients so you set yourself, and your client, up for success. Tune in today to hear how these critical steps can ultimately help you attract your ideal client and be more profitable.
More About Hailey Kolbe:
Hailey Kolbe Design is a referral-based design firm ran by founder and lead designer Hailey Kolbe. HK Design specializes in full-service design for new builds and remodels. At the heart of the business is Hailey’s devotion to serving others and creating a unique design experience tailored to each client project. Through developing long lasting relationships with her clients, Hailey and her team create spaces reflective of each homeowner’s personality and lifestyle.
HK Design cultivates a client experience through a comprehensive materials presentation, the provision of on-site support throughout the construction process and concludes with the furnishing installation. It is Hailey’s priority to curate beautiful, yet functional spaces and a bespoke experience for each of her clients to enjoy while bringing the custom design to fruition.
A native Texan and Texas A&M graduate, Hailey began working as a Registered Nurse before her creative abilities, driven spirit, and deep faith transformed her profession in 2015 into a flourishing interior design career. She spent many years designing homes at a full-service design firm and furniture showroom where she gained experience in design, project management, retail and merchandising. Hailey’s design experience highlights full service residential remodels, new construction, and furnishings. Her work can be seen in Texas living Publications and Luxe Interior Design Magazine. Over the years, Hailey has honed her skills by growing resources and relationships to provide the best products and qualified contractors for each individual project.
Hailey also offers mentorship to fellow designers called "Mentorship by Hailey." She has experienced many wonderful mentors throughout her career as a designer and recognizes mentorship is indispensable for the success of Hailey Kolbe Design. She knows firsthand the importance of having one person to trust with the details of your business, to help guide you through decisions and provide encouragement to take the next step in order for your business to grow. This mentorship is designed to support you and your business in a unique way as she is currently in the midst of running her own business, navigating hard decisions, seeking to grow and serve her clients in a way that provides the very best experience.
Connect with Hailey Kolbe
To apply for Business Mentorship with Hailey Kolbe
Power Talk Friday Tour at High Point
Exciting Windows! Build a Better Business Registration
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
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
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
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.
Today with Claire Jefford:
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. In today’s sponsored show, I’m sitting down with Claire Jefford—a seasoned designer, a business coach, and one of my trusted Power Talk Friday experts.
Claire knows that the foundation of a successful business is trust and experience—and she’s formed the Interior Design Boss Academy to teach you how to build those two vital pieces for your business.
Pick It Apart
[13:38] Claire discusses why trust matters so much in business and how to build it from the very first touchpoint with a client.
[23:25] Claire and LuAnn talk about the importance of the client experience.
[30:51] Claire breaks down the modules of her course and how they help designers build a strong foundation for their business.
[45:25] Claire shares what you get when you join the Interior Design Boss Academy.
LuAnn Nigara and Claire Jefford's Ah-Ha Moments:
“The quicker you can build trust, the faster clients will hand over the reins to you and not micromanage. You’ll just see a big shift.” -Claire Jefford
“I have coached designers who have said that in their welcome emails they start talking about discounts. Who are you attracting there right now? You are attracting people who are counting their dollars. We don’t hire people in our business because they’re the cheapest. We hire because they’re the best.” -Claire Jefford
“This industry is a luxury. We as designers or business owners can’t forget that whether you’re selling somebody something a $250 service or a $50,000 design fee, they’re coming to you for the experience.” -LuAnn Nigara
More About Claire Jefford:
Claire Jefford began her award-winning Interior Decorating firm in 2011 & quickly grew her business, boasting the highest reviewed design professional in the Toronto area with over 100 reviews. In 2017, Claire started a second business as a Business Coach.
With a background in Human Resources, Claire is passionate about having organized processes, marketing & she also loves creating videos. Audiences love Claire for her authentic personality, her helpful, straight-up advice & cheeky sense of humour.
Voted Top Influencer 3 years running by Modenus, Claire does speaking engagements, panel discussions & live video broadcasts from various events across North America. She also runs a highly active Facebook group, Interior Design Business Strategies, with over 5500 design professionals from around the world.
Other Shows Mentioned:
#237 Claire Jefford: How To Get More Clients With Video Content
#325 Claire Jefford: Create Valuable Content to Sell Through Your Website
#485 Power Talk Friday: Claire Jefford: Rock the Consult
A big thank you to today's sponsor:
Today's show is sponsored by Claire Jefford and The Interior Design Boss Academy. Check out all the details of her upcoming course, the “Interior Designer Boss Academy”.
Enroll here: https://www.interiordesignbossacademy.com/
Today With Rebecca Hay:
Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Rebecca Hay, CEO of Rebecca Hay Designs. Through her podcast Resilient by Design and her course Power of Process, Rebecca is tapping into her experience with running her own business. She is sharing how she has learned to have a clear, organized, and thorough process of services resulting in success in every design project.
Of course, it wasn’t always ‘success’ with Rebecca’s business. She had some eye-opening experiences, including what she calls a “lemon job” which, along with A Well-Designed Business and her peers, really opened her eyes to put proper focus on building a process of services.
Listen in as Rebecca and I discuss processes and how through trial and error and the knowledge that process is constantly evolving she has managed to confidently run her business.
Pick It Apart
[6:30] Rebecca goes into how she learned that processes are important.
[10:03] Rebecca explains how she felt that systems and processes seemed too advanced for her to try at first.
[31:47] Rebecca shares how she councils designers through her podcast and through her Power of Process Course how to address processes.
[41:00] LuAnn and Rebecca discuss charging for your consultations.
LuAnn Nigara and Rebecca Hay's Ah-Ha Moments
“No matter what the situation is, you have to rewind it back to where you think the mistake took place because that’s where the lesson is.” - LuAnn Nigara
“If you never ask your clients those questions, you could go on for years having the same process that hasn't worked the best for your clients.” - LuAnn Nigara
“If the new processes aren’t updated in writing, then when the next project rolls around it's not there to follow. Process is constantly evolving.” - Rebecca Hay
More About Rebecca Hay:
Rebecca Hay is CEO of Rebecca Hay Designs, podcast host, international speaker, and business coach. She helps driven interior designers who are frustrated, time-strapped and spinning their wheels to eliminate the chaos of running a design business so that they can achieve focus and clarity. She helps them implement systems and strategies to inspire their confidence and streamline their business, taking them from chaos to coordinated. Her methods and experience prove that anyone can uplevel their business without working around the clock & missing out on precious family time.
She’s built her own seven-figure interior design business through trial and error and has eliminated the chaos giving her the freedom now to focus only on the parts that she enjoys most.
Her goal is to disrupt the traditional elitism and secrecy that has been a cornerstone of the Interior Design industry for far too long. Rebecca believes in collaboration over competition and given the right tools & truly authentic marketing, any designer can be successful.
Connect with Rebecca Hay
Power Talk Friday Tour at High Point
Exciting Windows! Build a Better Business Registration
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
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
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
Other Shows Mentioned:
#489: Power Talk Friday: Brad Clinard: Intentional Planning for Abundant Living
#777: Power Talk Friday: Desi Creswell: Leading from Your Future Self
#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
#02: The Importance of Systems for a Profitable Interior Design Business With Sandra Funk Levy
#585: Sandra Funk: Helping Designers Improve Their Business Systems
#36: Susan Brunstrum: Practical Advice for Project Management
#607: Sara Lynn Brennan: Project Management with Specific Deliverables and Deadlines
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Brad Clinard, the Director of Financial Design at High Point Financial Design. Brad and his team are not your average financial planners. Their mission is abundance for everyone, especially their clients and they believe it is their responsibility as Financial Designers to help people improve their lives, make better choices concerning their money, and positively impact their financial wellness. This is their one, extraordinary, and obsessive focus.
Today With Jeannie Andresen:
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. I often hear from designers who struggle to turn down undesirable businesses. That makes sense—it can be hard to say no to the wrong fit. It takes work on your own mindset to learn how to do that. Today, business coach Jeannie Andresen joins me to guide you through a straightforward process to determine your own worth, charge accordingly, and turn away the business that doesn’t align with it.
Pick It Apart
[7:52] Jeannie breaks down the art of the 10-minute phone call for crisis communication.
[19:47] Jeannie explains why removing emotion makes business decisions easier.
[38:22] LuAnn and Jeannie discuss why undercharging hurts both you and the client.
[45:18] Jeannie shares how to overcome feeling bad about saying no.
LuAnn Nigara and Jeannie Andresen's Ah-Ha Moments
“If you’re going to convince yourself of a story, why don’t we just try a different story? Let’s say that if you say $6,000 then they thought it was going to be $10,000 and they are thrilled. Because that is just as likely as the story that they were expecting $3,000 and $6,000 is too much. We made them both up.” -LuAnn
“You have to remember that in the tough conversations, the other person just wants to hear sometimes that you know a mistake was made. You don’t have to take it as a personal hit.” -LuAnn
“The worse feeling is when you give a quote and they say yes to it quickly and you just crumble because you think you should have charged more. How does that allow you to show up moving forward with that client?” -Jeannie
More About Jeannie Andresen:
Jeannie is a former corporate director turned life and business coach who specializes in helping interior designers become confident in both business and leadership.
Jeannie’s background includes a decade of experience in corporate America, running a recruiting business inside a Fortune 100 finance firm. Her role included directly managing a team of six, indirectly managing a team of thirty, and onboarding, training, and coaching sales professionals to develop habits of success to reach their business goals.
Jeannie now focuses her business on teaching interior designers the processes of running an organized, successful, and efficient business, so they can finally become confident in their business abilities and make the money they deserve.
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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:
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
Other Shows Mentioned:
#363 Power Talk Friday: Eileen Hahn: Building An Exceptional Interior Design Team
#710 Power Talk Friday: Terri Taylor: Get Paid What You are Worth. Sponsored by Interior Design Business Academy Summit 2021
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
Kravet. Have you heard? The majority of Kravet Inc. products are 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 http://www.kravet.com.
Today With Sherry Schmidt:
Today I am joined by Sherry Schmidt, owner of Form and Function. With 20 years of experience in the industry, Sherry offers individualized one-stop residential and commercial design services.
Today we are covering all things commercial design. Sherry puts all of her sales staff through a step by step training to teach them the art of conversation with clients. Whether you do commercial design, residential design and thinking about adding commercial, residential only, or you just think sales in general are scary, this episode will provide you with a ton of takeaways. You will also learn about Sherry’s course, the Consumer Centered Sales Method for Design Professionals, that will take sales training even farther giving you the confidence to close each and every sale.
Pick It Apart
[6:15] Sherry breaks down what she will be covering in our conversation about commercial design.
[15:00] Sherry explains what territorial restrictions refer to in commercial design.
[17:30] Being prepared with a list of questions about the project scope, budget and quality
[29:20] Tips on using what you know about your competition during the initial interview.
[49:59] What Sherry suggests designers watch out for in terms of budgeting.
LuAnn Nigara and Sherry Schmidt's Ah-Ha Moments
“Every situation is different. There are no problems, just solutions.” - Sherry Schmidt
“How do I value engineering and still get the look for less?” - Sherry Schmidt
“A huge takeaway is do not underestimate the interview, if we can’t wow them during this step then we’re just wasting our time.” - LuAnn Nigara
More About Sherry Schmidt:
Sherry Schmidt’s studies in art and psychology spawned her interest in interior design. With 20 years of experience in the industry, she offers individualized one-stop residential and commercial design services. Her client-inspired designs incorporate distinctive elements sourced from global artisans and suppliers to create exclusively tailored spaces. Sherry is dedicated to building trusted relationships and to providing superior service to clients throughout the Midwest and beyond.
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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:
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
Other Shows Mentioned:
#683: Jessica Matteson: The Client Experience is #1 in Design
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
Today's episode is sponsored by LuAnn University.
This is not just education. Not just the support of your colleagues. And not just a great experience. Each department and class is crafted to provide targeted, proven instruction in key areas for profit and growth—all specific to the interior design and window treatment industries
We are opening again this fall 2022 so do yourself a favor and look into this and all others we have coming at luannuniversity.com. The current roster for all of our 5 week courses are up, but please keep checking back because we are launching, brand new 3 hour intensives this semester as well. So check it out but go back in a few weeks to see the updates too.
Amber De La Garza is The Productivity Specialist! Amber is a sought-after coach, trainer, speaker, writer, host of the Productivity Straight Talk podcast, and creator of Leverage Lab®. She helps business owners improve their time management and elevate their productivity to maximize profits, reduce stress, and make time for what matters most!
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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:
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
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
Today's episode is sponsored by LuAnn University.
This is not just education. Not just the support of your colleagues. And not just a great experience. Each department and class is crafted to provide targeted, proven instruction in key areas for profit and growth—all specific to the interior design and window treatment industries
We are opening again this fall 2022 so do yourself a favor and look into this and all others we have coming at luannuniversity.com. The current roster for all of our 5 week courses are up, but please keep checking back because we are launching, brand new 3 hour intensives this semester as well. So check it out but go back in a few weeks to see the updates too.
Today With Gillian Segal:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I am sitting down with Gillian Segal, owner of Gillian Segal Design and HUGE supporter of relationships. But that’s not Gillian’s only passion. Gillian's skill of sourcing has also contributed to her company’s success. Tune in to learn how strong relationships in all aspects of her business and how growing her ‘black book’ of vendors has made Gillian’s firm successful in six years.
Pick It Apart
[3:00] Gillian starts us right off on what developing community means to her.
[7:38] How Gillian develops her supportive and collaborative team.
[26:36] Gillian brings the same principles in strengthening relationships with her clients.
[33:23] What comes to mind for Gillian in terms of the community with vendors and peers.
LuAnn Nigara and Gillian Segal's Ah-Ha Moments
“Design is a team sport because it definitely takes a village.” - Gillian Segal
“Some things are out of our control, but what is in our control is how we conduct ourselves with our partners.” - Gillian Segal
“The things that got you to your first $500,000 won’t be the things that will get you to your first million to your second million, and so on.” - LuAnn Nigara
More About Gillian Segal:
Gillian believes that design can have a profoundly positive impact on quality of life and has always had a passion for interior design and its influence on the way we feel day-to-day. At a young age, Gillian watched her parents build their first family home, and from that experience, she always knew that she wanted to change people’s lives through design.
After completing her Bachelor of Arts Degree, Gillian pursued her love for design by attending B.C.I.T’s Interior Design program and graduated magna cum laude. From there, she earned her CID and began working with some of Vancouver’s top design studios, which catapulted the start of her eponymous design firm. Now servicing major cities, including Vancouver, Los Angeles, New York, and beyond, Gillian works with clients around the globe to create highly personalized spaces that speak authentically to their lifestyles.
With an emphasis on playful, modern, and eclectic glamour, Gillian’s work is ever-evolving and frequently inspired by her travels and love for shifting styles throughout the decades. Gillian prioritizes the blending of old and new design aesthetics in order to continuously produce one-of-a-kind timeless spaces for her clients.
Passionate about collaborative initiatives, Gillian continues to expand her endeavors in the product development market. She is the co-founder of Saint Lunette, which focuses on servicing developers, and most recently has curated a product design and wallpaper collection with Drop It Modern.
Gillian has also shared her expertise as an interior design contributor and writer for marthastewart.com and Gray Malin.
In between site checks and design appointments, she loves spending time with her family and raising her young children. When she’s not working, Gillian is passionate about giving back and often participates in volunteer work around her community. Gillian is excited to expand her reach and bring her tailored design approach to more of her favorite cities around the world.
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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:
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
Other Shows Mentioned:
#64- Laura Umansky- Plan Your Career with Intention and Purpose
#363- Power Talk Friday: Eileen Hahn- Building An Exceptional Interior Design Team
#492- Laura Umansky: Leadership is the Secret Sauce of Success
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
Today's episode is sponsored by LuAnn University.
This is not just education. Not just the support of your colleagues. And not just a great experience. Each department and class is crafted to provide targeted, proven instruction in key areas for profit and growth—all specific to the interior design and window treatment industries
We are opening again this fall 2022 so do yourself a favor and look into this and all others we have coming at luannuniversity.com. The current roster for all of our 5 week courses are up, but please keep checking back because we are launching, brand new 3 hour intensives this semester as well. So check it out but go back in a few weeks to see the updates too.
Today’s Show Sponsored by the “Interior Design Standard.”
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On today’s sponsored show, Sandra Funk is here to share all the details of her upcoming course, the “Interior Design Standard”.
I’m so excited to share Sandra Funk’s business program, the “Interior Design Standard”, with you because I know it will be the best investment for your business.
Enroll here: https://interiordesignstandard.com/luann
Today with Sandra Funk:
Sandra's back on the show today, and we are talking all about growth and change. Mistakes and obstacles can lead to growth and transformation. Find out why Sandra never asks a client for their budget, and what she does instead.
This is one you don't want to miss! This will also be your exclusive invitation to sign up for the Interior Design Standard, so you can achieve the same transformation as Sandra's design firm, without having to make all the mistakes yourself.
More About Sandra Funk:
Sandra Funk is the CEO and Principal Designer of House of Funk, a greater New York area design firm working wherever great clients need us.
This is interior design with a soul and a sense of place; reflecting your desires, personality, and style.
House of Funk creates thoughtful homes with an emphasis on clean lines and soulful touches, all rooted in tradition.
Sandra is an Accredited Professional for the Sustainable Furnishings Council.
Sandra’s award-winning design work has been featured in publications such as Elle Decor, House Beautiful, The Huffington Post, Apartment Therapy, Aspire Design & Home, and Luxe Interiors + Design.
With almost two decades in the interior design industry, Sandra is launching the Interior Design Standard in the spring of 2020 – a template for designers to utilize her streamlined processes and business structure to bring joy and profit to their own design business.
Other Shows Mentioned:
#753: Sandra Funk: How to Grow a Thriving Luxury Interior Design Business
#660: Sandra Funk: Level Up Your Business Through Mentorship, Coaching, and Classes. Sponsored Show: “Interior Design Standard”
#585: Sandra Funk: Helping Designers Improve Their Business Systems
#520: Power Talk Friday: Sandra Funk: The Interior Design Standard is Here!
#145: Sandra Funk of House of Funk: Why and How She Re-Branded her 10-Year-old Firm
#02: The Importance of Systems for a Profitable Interior Design Business With Sandra Funk Levy
Today With Richelle Plett:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, with Richelle Plett, seasoned interior designer, and expert in upholstered furniture. We talk about her proprietary course, Upholstery Uncovered, which is accompanied by her, literally beautiful, book by the same name. We also talk about her exciting new 3-hour intensive course available through LuAnn University starting fall 2022, called "Close more upholstered furniture sales: No sit test required!". This episode and her courses are for you if you have ever struggled to sell upholstered pieces to your clients without a “sit test”. When you know the ergonomics of upholstered pieces and the construction of them, you can confidently specify comfortable, beautiful upholstered furniture without the stress and anxiety of “will they like it”? Be the expert and learn how to confidently sell upholstered furniture even when your client cannot try it themselves.
Pick It Apart
[4:00] LuAnn and Richelle explain the importance of how you can build trust by having the knowledge of what you are selling.
[7:02] As a full service interior designer, Richelle shares how she came to know so much about upholstery.
[20:45] Richelle runs through some of the topics covered in her book, Upholstery Uncovered.
[31:30] Information on Richelle’s upcoming course for LuAnn University.
LuAnn Nigara and Richelle Plett's Ah-Ha Moments
“From a sales standpoint, anytime I can understand exactly what I am talking about it’s so much easier to sell.” - LuAnn Nigara
“As a designer, you need to be able to read the frame, look at it and notice that this particular fabric, whether I’m reupholstering it or selecting a custom fabric and recognize how that is going to look.” - Richelle Plett
“Once you have a good understanding about what your client’s needs are for the upholstered piece in that space, it basically designs itself.” Richelle Plett
More About Richelle Plett:
Craving a way to confidently source custom upholstery and meet your client’s needs without resorting to crowdsourcing social media for the answer? Then you should know Richelle Plett.
In addition to being a “seasoned” interior designer, Richelle has developed a course called UPHOLSTERY UNCVOVERED that teaches design professionals how to identify and analyze upholstery construction materials and methods so they can make informed decisions on their client’s behalf.
Having previously owned an upholstery studio that specialized in the restoration of vintage seating, Richelle has had the unique opportunity to observe how various materials and construction methods wear in real life.
In UPHOLSTERY UNCOVERED, she presents the information in an unbiased manner diving deep into frames, foundations, springs, cushions, fabrics, and custom fabric application, and empowers students to confidently specify custom upholstery WITHOUT clients insisting on sitting on it first!
When not geeking out over the pros and cons of 8-way hand-tied coils springs, Richelle can be found on her own sofa with her dog streaming a documentary and devouring black jellybeans.
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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:
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
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
Today's episode is sponsored by LuAnn University.
This is not just education. Not just the support of your colleagues. And not just a great experience. Each department and class is crafted to provide targeted, proven instruction in key areas for profit and growth—all specific to the interior design and window treatment industries
We are opening again this fall 2022 so do yourself a favor and look into this and all others we have coming at luannuniversity.com. The current roster for all of our 5 week courses are up, but please keep checking back because we are launching, brand new 3 hour intensives this semester as well. So check it out but go back in a few weeks to see the updates too.
Today With Jamie Van Cuyk:
It seems like everywhere I turn, businesses in our industry are hiring. And yet, just as many of them are struggling to find the right way to hire and onboard for long-term success. Today, Jamie Van Cuyk of Growing Your Business joins me to discuss the ins and outs of hiring the best fit employee for your team.
Pick It Apart
[2:14] Jamie discusses why hiring has changed so drastically in the last year and what it means for businesses looking to hire.
[20:05] Jamie shares her insights on the interview process, beginning with the job description.
[34:55] Jamie and LuAnn discuss the importance of the onboarding process.
[52:30] Jamie breaks down the importance of flexibility in work schedules for the modern workforce.
LuAnn Nigara and Jamie Van Cuyk's Ah-Ha Moments
“Just like in our design projects, the more clarity we can have upfront and the more we can create that in the job description and the job posting and the interview, the better match we’re going to ultimately end up with.” -LuAnn
“The main thing about onboarding is teaching your expectations so you are happy with their performance. If you don’t teach them your expectations, they’re going to make up their own expectations.” -Jamie
More About Jamie Van Cuyk:
Jamie Van Cuyk, the owner and lead strategist of Growing Your Team, is an expert in hiring and onboarding teams within small businesses.
Drawing from over 15 years of leadership experience, Jamie teaches her clients how to hire their early team members, including employees and long-term contractors. By learning the dynamics of each company and their specific needs, she helps them and their perfect, long-lasting team members and avoids the hiring and ring cycle.
On a personal side, Jamie lives in St Petersburg, FL, with her husband and two daughters, is a hobby winemaker, loves to travel, and enjoys exercise that takes her feet off the ground, including rock climbing and aerial dance.
Connect with Jamie Van Cuyk
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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:
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
Other Shows Mentioned:
#363 Power Talk Friday: Eileen Hahn: Building An Exceptional Interior Design Team
#634 Power Talk Friday: Jessica Harling: A Specific Process for Onboarding a New Hire
Other Resources Mentioned:
Link to Hiring & Team Management Collection on website : https://luannnigara.com/category/hiring-team-management/
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
Before we dive into today’s episode, let’s take a moment to thank our show sponsor, Revelwoods, 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.
Today With Brook Perdigon:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I am joined by Brook Perdigon, artist, designer, and owner of Brook Perdigon Textiles (BPT). Brook emailed me describing her transition from creative artist, to creative business owner. She explains there is an artist identity and a business owner identity. And how do we navigate that? Well Brook and I discuss all of her aha moments along her seven years in a creative business, along with the different approaches she took to those stubborn recurring challenges. Enjoy!
Pick It Apart
[3:20] Brook starts off with how she learned the hard way the difference between the two business identities; artist and business owner.
[22:53] Brook gives multiple ways you can reach a customer when one way doesn’t work.
[40:10] Brook talks about Design Social Popups and how they’ve been beneficial in her business.
LuAnn Nigara and Brook Perdigon's Ah-Ha Moments
“The creative mind always finds a way.” - Brook Perdigon
“Having a goal with a timeline makes it real.” - LuAnn Nigara
“My responsibility is to not only design a product, but also a functioning business that's profitable and can pay my employees.” - Brook Perdigon
“As my business grows each year, my challenges evolve.” - Brook Perdigon
More About Brook Perdigon:
Artist and designer Brook Perdigon founded her company in 2015. Informed by history, culture, creativity and craft, Brook Perdigon Textiles (BPT) has quickly grown from a small business to a global brand with showrooms across the United States as well as in the U.K., Canada, and Australia. In addition to textile collections, BPT offers wallpaper, custom fine art, and thoughtful industry collaborations. BPT has been featured in The World of Interiors, LUXE Magazine, House & Garden, C Magazine, Country Living, The New York Times, Modern Luxury and other leading design publications. Collections thread art, history and culture through the lens of modern making. Antique textiles inform Brook’s drawings and sketches, resulting in a process and practice that embraces imperfection and celebrates the human hand. Many fabrics are hand-screened on Belgian linen, and each product embodies an individual, idiosyncratic voice. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, Brook began her career as an independent artist creating custom textile collections for interior designers in Los Angeles, New York, and Paris. She went on to work as a senior designer for Tai Ping Carpets, designing textiles for high-profile clients and prestigious projects worldwide. She founded BPT, in part, to cultivate and support artists, women and fellow small business owners in her community. Many of her fabrics are printed in Los Angeles, and she regularly collaborates with local artists—a partnership with TARP, for example, led to the creation of a painted pool and dance performance inspired by her Ituri design. Brook currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Michael, their children, Mallory and Tanner.
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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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:
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
Other Shows Mentioned:
#769: Power Talk Friday: Leah Neaderthal: Sales Techniques For Introverts.
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
Join us for the Prerequisites for Success free zoom event on September 15th at 12:30 EDT. Come spend some time with me and some of the most brilliant brains in the design industry, the incredible instructors of LuAnn University! If you know me and have been to any of my events before, you know that this is going to be tons of fun and tons of information that you can take to your business. This event is absolutely free and each instructor is going to share their best advice, the thing you should know in order to be successful in their respective areas of expertise in LU.
Go to luannnigara.com/success to register.
Today With Andrea Liebross:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, Andrea Liebross, certified business and life coach, podcaster and owner of Andrea Liebross Coaching, LLC. is here to talk about self worth. She provides some great tips, strategies, and facts that will help us ditch our doubt in our skills and what we charge, and come out with one hundred percent assurance in how we conduct our business. Even I took a page out of Andrea’s book from the great tips she was offering. This is definitely worth the listen if you ever feel stuck or if your business feels stagnant due to not recognizing your own worth.
Pick It Apart
[4:30] Andrea shares how she approaches the subject of worthiness with her clients.
[15:30] Andrea starts to explain what to do next when you aren’t believing in yourself and your self worth.
[31:49] Andrea shares how to find emotional and financially mature clients.
[51:50] Andrea tells us about her podcast Time to Level Up and how you can reach her.
LuAnn Nigara and Andrea Liebross' Ah-Ha Moments
“The more dissonance you have with your worth, the more drama you have about your worth or pricing.” - Andrea Liebross
“You need to think that you are undercharging them and over delivering.” - Andrea Liebross
“You have a talent and a gift that we need, but if you don’t create a sustainable business that provides you with the lifestyle you deserve then how can you stay in business so people can enjoy your gifts?” - LuAnn Nigara
More About Andrea Liebross:
After graduating from Dartmouth College and marrying the guy that lived down the hall, Andrea Liebross and her husband packed up the 1980s red Cadillac, left the northeast, and eventually made their way to the midwest city known for the Indianapolis 500. Over the last few decades, Andrea has started 3 successful businesses, all while raising two kids, now ages 20 and 17, and several giant puppies. As a certified business and life coach, Andrea's known for helping high-achieving women make the shift from overwhelm to freedom in both their personal and professional life. Her goal is to guide these bold, ambitious women to create their own custom secret sauce for success by combining just two ingredients - the right mindset and solid systems. Andrea believes every problem is solvable and every dream is possible IF you make it all simple, doable and FUN (even the systems).
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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:
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
Other Shows Mentioned:
#577- Power Talk Friday: Amber De La Garza, LuAnn is in the “Productivity” Hot Seat.
Time to Level Up Episode 30- What Are You Worth? How to Put a Price on it.
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
Today's episode is sponsored by LuAnn University.
This is not just education. Not just the support of your colleagues. And not just a great experience. Each department and class is crafted to provide targeted, proven instruction in key areas for profit and growth—all specific to the interior design and window treatment industries
We are opening again this fall 2022 so do yourself a favor and look into this and all others we have coming at luannuniversity.com. The current roster for all of our 5 week courses are up, but please keep checking back because we are launching, brand new 3 hour intensives this semester as well. So check it out but go back in a few weeks to see the updates too.
Today With Allison Handler:
Welcome to A Well-Design Business. Today I am joined by Allison Handler, owner of Allison Handler Design. Through listening to AWDB, taking courses at LuAnn University, facing hard challenges and creating important relationships, Allison earned $1 million in gross sales, in her first year of business.
Allison reached out to me and I was impressed with her work ethic and story. She wanted to share with you everything she learned in that first year, including what she learned about systems and processes, forming relationships, and the hard lessons along the way. Enjoy!
Pick It Apart
[13:18] Allison starts to share her story.
[27:19] Allison provides tips on how she navigates the conversation regarding budget.
[37:05] Allison shares struggles and aha moments along the way.
[39:20] What Allison would suggest for someone who doesn't feel like they have a good trade support team.
LuAnn Nigara and Allison Handler's Ah-Ha Moments
“I can’t be successful, if I don’t know the budget and it’s not realistic.” - Allison Handler
“There’s so much power to the relationships that we build, but the motor to that power is having the courage to put yourself out there.” - LuAnn Nigara
More About Allison Handler:
It all begins and ends with relationships. Allison Handler Design prides itself on building and maintaining incredible relationships with both clients and vendors, working hard every day to make sure that a client’s wants and needs are satisfied by keeping a close-knit but wide-reaching team of vendor partners on hand to seamlessly execute the vision. As lead designer and visionary, Allison oversees all projects, ensuring the AHD aesthetic is incorporated while keeping the client’s personal preferences foremost. We strongly believe in making the most out of every clients’ budget, and source from the best mid-to-high end suppliers including well-known brands and exclusive smaller artisans, to ensure long lasting and high quality products that will last and feel unique to each space.
On a personal note, Allison was born and raised right here in Bergen County, NJ. After moving to Florida at age 15 with her family, she returned to the northeast after college to pursue a career in the fashion industry. Twenty years later, after getting married and having a family of her own, she knew it was time for a change. Allison Handler Design was born, almost by accident, after several friends and family members asked for help with their own home projects. Building off her fashion roots, Allison discovered she had a major passion and natural talent for interiors and decided to pursue it as a new career path. Allison Handler Design is now a thriving business thanks to the support of current and past clients, and we look forward to continuing to grow and carve out our place in this little corner of the world.
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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:
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
Other Shows Mentioned:
#779- Power Talk Friday: Madeleine MacRae: What Should the CEO of an Interior Design Firm Be Doing?
#786- Meredith Huck: From Corporate to Interior Design Business: 3 Insights to Succeed
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
Today's episode is sponsored by LuAnn University.
This is not just education. Not just the support of your colleagues. And not just a great experience. Each department and class is crafted to provide targeted, proven instruction in key areas for profit and growth—all specific to the interior design and window treatment industries.
We are opening again this fall 2022 so do yourself a favor and look into this and all others we have coming at luannuniversity.com. The current roster for all of our 5-week courses is up, but please keep checking back because we are launching, brand new 3-hour intensives this semester as well. So check it out but go back in a few weeks to see the updates too.
Today With Katie McFarlan:
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. What does it take to be successful? We talk about it week in and week out on the show. There are so many details, so many facets to business success. But there are a handful of business practices that every successful designer puts into place—the things that set them apart from those who struggle. Today, Katie McFarlan of Dakota Design Co joins me to share the six business practices she believes are key to a well-designed business.
Pick It Apart
LuAnn Nigara and Katie McFarlan's Ah-Ha Moments
“The more clarity you can put around things the less opportunity there is for designers to complain about “scope creep.” If you didn’t define what it is that you do, how is the client supposed to know that it’s out of the parameters?” -LuAnn
“When you do the same thing over and over again, it’s good at getting you to be more efficient and working out the kinks. Your clients will enjoy working with you more when they know what to expect.” -Katie
More About Katie McFarlan:
As a former wedding and event planner with 16 years of experience in operations and project management, Katie enjoys using both her creative and analytical sides to find solutions that work for her clients. With her intimate knowledge of how both industries work, she knows what it takes to get behind-the-scenes operations running smoothly so businesses can grow in a sustainable and professional way. Today her business, Dakota Design Company, helps interior designers and wedding planners who are buried in business operations get back to doing the creative work they love. Through consulting and done-for-you implementation, she and her all-female team streamline their clients’ services and pricing, create strategic client experiences, and refine and implement processes their teams and customers will appreciate.
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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:
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
Other Shows Mentioned:
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
Mydoma Studio, your complete designer toolkit. 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
Today With Renee Biery:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I am chatting with Renee Biery, owner of deVignier Design, Inc. and Only Girl On the Jobsite podcast. Renee works in restoration as well as new construction and she wanted to share with my listeners how renovation management is a stable income for interior designers throughout the year, as procurement and decorating ebbs and flows per job. A lot of takeaways here. Enjoy!
Pick It Apart
[3:50] Renee describes the scope of renovation management in her business.
[14:26] Renee shares how she changed the initial conversations with her clients, so that they would consider her for renovation management as well.
[22:53] Renee shares another way we can position ourselves to clients as their one stop shop.
[32:40] Renee gives us tips as designers on how we can confidently show up at a typically male dominated job site.
LuAnn Nigara and Renee Biery's Ah-Ha Moments
“Many designers are doing renovation management, but don’t necessarily lead with it in their marketing.” - Renee Biery
“There’s a lot of different people with different skill sets that are needed to complete the project, but they don’t have overlapping skills. A designer can add to that and elevate any project.” - Renee Biery
“View yourself as an equal on the team. You are not above and you are not below.” - Renee Biery
“In order to be taken seriously, you have to show up seriously.” - LuAnn Nigara
More About Renee Biery:
Renée deVignier Biery, ASID, is an interior designer based in Wilmington, Delaware. She is a graduate of the New York School of Interior Design, one of the country’s oldest conservatory interior design programs, earning a degree with distinction in 1994 as an Associate in Applied Science in Interior Design. Biery is formally trained in practical interior architecture with advanced technical and rendering proficiency. Her credentials include NCIDQ board licensing as a professional member of the ASID, the design industry’s highest certification.
For Biery, design is a lifelong calling. It is a throughline of home life, from the traditional American houses of the Delaware Valley, to her training and professional experience in the design world of New York, and back again to her roots in Wilmington. Across this map of influences, design has given Renée the way to celebrate a sense of place that is both local and original.
Renée deVignier Biery was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, home to the Winterthur Museum among many important and historic residences and gardens. Good design was always in her surroundings, “a common language of big rambling homes filled with proper antiques,” she explains. She drew her inspiration early from a number of grandly formal old houses belonging to members of her own family in Virginia and especially from her two grandmothers—one, a southern, Virginia lady with an eye for cutting-edge New York and European fashion, and the other, a social worker who had a talent for understanding people deeply. Those qualities combine in Biery’s approach to design. She puts people and their practical needs first. She aims to create work that will be lasting and meaningful. She views tradition with an edge but also with a natural, truly southern civility.
During and following her schooling, Biery worked in the design field in New York. She began in 1993 as an associate in the legendary Lexington Avenue boutique of designer Charlotte Moss. She spent several years as a senior designer in the firm of Barbara Hauben Ross, a well-known New York designer who specializes in refined, luxury Art Deco interiors. During this tenure Biery honed her skill not only in historical and architectural renovation, but also, specifically, in the edited simplicity of early modern color, shape, and structure. The experience has given her a quietly pared-down viewpoint to balance more embellished, traditional environments.
Biery returned permanently to Wilmington in 2000 and established her own firm, deVignier Design, Inc. She works in restoration as well as new construction, and remains committed to the personal attention of a studio practice where she is fully involved from inception to installation with every assignment. “These are people who are sharing their lives with me, who will often spend a number of years with me on a project,” she says. “If I do my job right, the relationship is as lasting as the work, and the resulting house will look like the homeowners, not me.”
Connect with Renee Biery
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:
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
Other Shows Mentioned:
#16- Charles Pavarini: Behind the Scenes of the Architectural Digest Design Show 2016
#305- Elizabeth Scruggs: The Things I Learned From A Well-Designed Business.
#380- Circle Design Studio: Architect & Interior Design Firm: John & Theresa Dorlini
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
Mydoma studio, the project management tool for you to organize your communication with your team, your clients and your trades. Invoices, proposals, presentations, project milestones all in one place. See it for yourself- go to mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today is Window Treatment Friday, and we are debuting part 4 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 talking about how to breakdown your pricing for a client. How much detail do you include? How do you explain labor, fabric, hardware, and installation costs? We talk about it all! Tune in to learn how to have this tough conversation like a pro.
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
The Power Talk Friday Tour at High Point
LuAnn Nigara and Friends Meet and Greet at High Point
Inside Voice, Outside Voice Monthly Virtual Events
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
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!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
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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 http://www.kravet.com.
Today With Jessica Davis:
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, Jessica Davis of JL Design in Nashville, Tennessee is joining me to share her tried and true strategies to hold clients accountable at the beginning, middle, and end of your project. We’ve all been on a tense phone call with a client about something not going their way. You think about all the ways this could have been avoided. Today Jessica shares her strategies to hold your clients, and yes sometimes even holding yourself accountable.
More About Jessica Davis:
Jessica Davis founded JL Design in 2005. She is a graduate of Watkins College of Art in Nashville Tennessee, and brings 18 years of Interior Design experience to the JL Design team.
“I knew I wanted to be involved in Design at a very young age, when I realized there were always new challenges to overcome. I have always been surrounded by the arts and I have always felt that my inner creativity would ultimately guide me in my career. I wanted to be a part of something that would allow me to work closely with people and enrich their lives through design. For me, Interior Design is defined by functional, unique, creativity tailored to each individual.”
With a degree in Interior Design, Jessica began consulting on Design projects in Middle Tennessee, and was soon being commissioned for jobs in New York, New Jersey, and Miami. JL Design’s reputation for innovative Interior Design solutions has made it a leader in its class.
“I feel so fortunate to be able to bring my devotion and energy to my clients every day, and forge relationships that I find so crucial when working in someone's home or personal space. There will always be a need for functional, progressive Interior Design, and I am committed to the art form and the evolving industry as it meets the needs of today.”
Carrie Flynn is the owner of Virtual Simplicity, LLC., which specializes in helping our clients get their online programs created, designed, and ready to launch with simplicity and ease, so they can launch + maximize profits fast. We offer custom funnel design + tech setup in Kajabi, and full launch management strategy/support. Carrie loves yoga, her daily coffee, British TV shows and movies, and college football (Go Gators!). She's been married to her husband for 17 years, and together they have two daughters, ages 13 and 5. Carrie lives in the Mount Dora, FL area with her family.
Connect with Jessica Davis
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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:
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
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
Mydoma studio, the project management tool for you to organize your communication with your team, your clients and your trades. Invoices, proposals, presentations, project milestones all in one place. See it for yourself- go to mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness
Today With Carrie Flynn:
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today Carrie Flynn, owner of Virtual Simplicity, LLC. is joining us to talk about all things, launching.
Listen, I’ve launched a lot of successful programs; Money, Mindset & Sales, the Power Talk Friday Tour…but I would be lying if I said I did it all by myself and knew exactly what I was doing in terms of the TECH side. Thank God for my team! We, as creatives, have the brains, expertise, and superpower, but launching can be overwhelming.
Carrie is a certified Master Marketer and Launch Manager and is here to prepare us for what to expect (including the roller coaster of emotions), do, and not to do when it comes to launching a new product or service. Enjoy!
More About Carrie Flynn:
Carrie Flynn is the owner of Virtual Simplicity, LLC., which specializes in helping our clients get their online programs created, designed, and ready to launch with simplicity and ease, so they can launch + maximize profits fast. We offer custom funnel design + tech setup in Kajabi, and full launch management strategy/support. Carrie loves yoga, her daily coffee, British TV shows and movies, and college football (Go Gators!). She's been married to her husband for 17 years, and together they have two daughters, ages 13 and 5. Carrie lives in the Mount Dora, FL area with her family.
Pick it apart:
[1:50] Carrie explains what it means to be a certified master marketer and certified launch manager.
[10:30] Carrie gives some ideas you can take on your own to vet your launching idea to see if it will even work.
[23:55] Carrie gets more in depth on how to prepare for the emotional side of a launch.
[37:40] Do you need to invest in ads and if so, what is a healthy budget?
LuAnn and Carrie Flynn's Ah-Ha Moments
“The clientele for your one on one business, won’t necessarily be the same clientele for your new launch.” - Carrie Flynn
“You could have come up with an awesome idea that your people don’t need. They want to buy a transformation” - Carrie Flynn
“The vehicle is your choice to decide how you want to put your idea out there.” - Carrie Flynn
“Like I always say, if you are going to do it, do it like a business.” - LuAnn Nigara
Connect with Carrie Flynn
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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:
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
Other Shows Mentioned:
EPISODE 32 Robin Baron – The President of ASID NY Metro Chapter Talks with us about PR and Brand Development
EPISODE 540 Robin Baron: Strategic Thinking on Product Development
EPISODE 474 Bria Hammel: Keys to Scaling Your Interior Design Firm
EPISODE 731 Chloe Mackintosh: Chloe Mackintosh: How She Went From Blogger to Interior Designer
EPISODE 476 Amanda Hamilton: Running a Mid-Size Firm & Creating Additional Revenue Streams
EPISODE 687 Demetrius Robinson: Show Up & Do The Work
EPISODE 701 Kristen Rivoli: New Brand, New Year: How Rebranding Can Work for Interior Designer
Today With Rick Campos:
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Whether we’ve had it for 6 months or 5 years, we still have questions when running our design business. The experience may not be the same, but the questions we ask ourselves are. It’s the circumstances that change.
Today with Rick Campos, who does freelance consulting exclusively for the interior design community, we tackle these questions that linger in our minds and all of the resources that are all around us that can answer them.
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.”
Pick it apart:
[4:00] Rick introduces what we will be talking about today, that a creative business is still a business.
[6:57] Rick addresses challenges that may arise from three to ten years down the road of owning your design business.
[16:24] Rick tells us the types of questions designers ask each other when they connect.
[33:40] Our conversation continues with great questions to ask your colleagues, including their background.
[38:27] Rick gives us details about his 3rd annual Design Biz Retreat.
[42:05] Rick talks about his expertise; selling luxury.
LuAnn and Rick Campos' Ah-Ha Moments
“No matter how long we’re in our design business the questions we have are the same, it’s the circumstances that are different.” - Rick Campos
“It’s the conversations with other people in the business that answer your questions, not Google or Youtube.” - Rick Campos
“What I have said one billion times is that people buy people and process, not products.” - LuAnn Nigara
“If anyone is going to help guide you, it’s going to be a fellow designer because they’re already doing it.” - Rick Campos
“Getting together with other people who do what you do is one of the most enjoyable ways to push the envelope on your business.” - LuAnn Nigara
Connect with Rick Campos
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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:
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
Other Shows Mentioned
#06- Identifying Your Transferable Skills With Erika Ward
#50- Veronica Solomon: Powerful Marketing for Your Interior Design Firm- Website to Fan Engagement on Facebook
#180- PowerTalk Friday: Michele Williams Talks About Profit First and Why It Matters to You
#482- Cheryl Clennendon- Small Business, Think Big
#485- Power Talk Friday: Claire Jeffers- Rock the Consult
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
Mydoma studio, the project management tool for you to organize your communication with your team, your clients and your trades. Invoices, proposals, presentations, project milestones all in one place. See it for yourself- go to mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness
Today With Michelle Wiebe:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today is a Flashback Friday epsiode, where we revisit some of the most popular shows from our archives. I hope you enjoy Michelle Wiebe's episode that originally aired as episode 148!
On the show today, we have Michelle Wiebe! Michelle is the principal of Studio M in Tampa, Florida. The specialty of Michelle’s firm is luxury residential new construction. I know we have talked to quite a few designers in this field I haven’t really picked their brain as much as I did with Michelle today.
Her firm in addition to luxury residential, new construction they also do family condominiums, corporate headquarters, medical offices and small-scale hospitality spaces. Michelle is a busy lady! In addition to all of this, she serves on the board of interior design at Florida State University her Almer mater. She also serves on the high point market authority board and she goes all over the country speaking on design social media. She is the editor of Impression, the Studio M design blog.
Pick it Apart:
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
Power Talk Friday Tour at High Point
Exciting Windows! Build a Better Business Registration
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
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Today With LuAnn Nigara:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today is a solo show. I am sharing my thoughts on the biggest piece of business advice I have to offer from my long career as a business owner.
There are so many things you need to learn to run a well-designed business. If you’re a longtime listener than you can probably name many of them by now. But today, I am sharing my absolute greatest takeaway that you need to know.
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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:
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
Other Shows Mentioned:
#575 Lisa Gilmore: Finance Fridays! From 850k to 2.25 Million in One Year!
#467 Taylor Spellman: Hard Truths on Why You Need to Manage the 80% Business
#398 Courtney McLeod: Defined Process = Success in Your Interior Design Business
#781 Flash Back Friday: Lori Morris: When Working with the Luxury Client, the Answer is Yes!
#683 Jessica Matteson: The Client Experience Is #1 in Design
#412 Power Talk Friday: Ashley Uhl: How to Deliver a High-End Client Experience
#663 Andrea Hysmith: Structure and Flexibility, Keys to Reaching Goals in Your Interior Design Business
#516 Power Talk Friday: Jude Charles: Video Storytelling for Your Brand
#626 Power Talk Friday: Jude Charles: How to Tell Your Story to Connect with Clients in Interior Design
#718 Power Talk Friday: Jude Charles: The Power of Dramatic Demonstration in Your Business Videos
#724 Power Talk Friday: Jude Charles: Using Video to Close More Interior Design Deals
#125 Nicole Heymer- How To Brand Your Business. Yes, again! Do not miss this one!!!
#317 Nicole Heymer: 6 Keys to Planning A Website That Makes Things Happen
#466 Power Talk Friday: Nicole Heymer: You’ve Defined Your Brand…Now What?
#589 Power Talk Friday: Eileen Hahn: Scaling from 2 Million to 5 Million
#622 Dwayne Bergmann: Empower Your Team to Own the Project Management While Maintaining Design Vision as the Creative Director
#634 Power Talk Friday: Jessica Harling: A Specific Process for Onboarding a New Hire
#669 Kelly Collier: Managing Expectations Through Clear Messaging
Window Treatments for Profit Podcast Episode #25 Rick Baker: Preserving Your Values as You Grow Your Window Treatment Business
Other Resources Mentioned:
Finances Podcast Episodes Collection
Hiring Podcast Episodes Collection
Window Treatments for Profit Podcast
LuAnn and Friends Facebook Group
Nancy Ganzekaufer’s Facebook Group
Veronica Soloman’s Facebook Group
Claire Jefford's Facebook Group
Cheryl Clendenon’s Facebook Group
The Wingnut Social Media Lab Facbeook Group
IDS Conference coming up this August 2022
Design Biz Survival Guide Retreat October 2022
The Power Talk Friday Tour this October at High Point Market
Today With Adam Urbanski:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today is a Flashback Friday epsiode, where we revisit some of the most popular shows from our archives. I hope you enjoy Adam Urbanski's episode that originally aired as episode 280!
Today's guest is Adam Urbanski, aka The Millionaire Marketing Mentor and he’s a real headliner in Online Marketing and Podcast circles! There are so many ways that Adam could really help and influence all LuAnn’s Designer friends to get that extra ‘something’ to tweak their businesses, so today, she’s decided to go with Adam’s Dream Business Design Process. Listen in to find out how this process helps Designers to identify what they want to sell the most and also how to sell to the most clients.
Adam, who has been in business for seventeen years now, is really the ‘go-to guy’ for Coaches, Consultants and other Service Professionals who want to attract more clients, convert more high-value sales, build an authority brand, or grow a Lifestyle Business that has more impact and generates more income. Adam’s clients have often doubled, tripled and even ten times-ed their businesses, some of them in as little as ninety days! All of this and Adam started out with only $194 and limited English and he still managed to turn his first business into a seven-figure business in less than ten years! LuAnn knows that she’s in the presence of a true expert with Adam, so she’s very grateful that he’s on the show today! Listen in now, as Adam shares some really hot tips with you, to help you to become a way better business strategist!
Pick it apart:
Becoming a master of, and being known for a very specific approach.
What his six question worksheet allows you to zero in on.
How he discovered his ideal clients.
That 90% of his clients are women and this happened by design!
That marketing is really all about listening.
Adam talks you through his six questions and how to best approach working with them.
Finding your specific magic, as a Designer.
Thinking about your dream income, per client.
Identifying your dream project.
Identifying the characteristics of your dream client.
What you’d need to do in order to execute your project in the best possible way. (i.e. identifying your Superpower)
Really understanding the expectations that you have to meet with your project.
Expressing what you’re really good at to your client.
Establishing systems for really clear processes in your business.
Knowing that everything is changing all the time, so you need to maintain a constant process of evaluation with your clients.
Asking yourself how much money you’d like to make from each project, per year.
Examining which three to six marketing activities you really need to focus on- to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
That you should really become a one track pony, in order to not lose sight of your core competencies.
Connect with Adam Urbanski:
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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:
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
Today With Meredith Huck:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I am joined with fellow Jersey girl Meredith Huck, Founder of House of Huck. Meredith and I were chatting on Instagram, and it ended up with one of those instances in which I saw value in her being a guest on the show.
Meredith has successfully achieved a net amount of six figures within her first ten months of business. She is here to give my audience three helpful tips for those who are twiddling their thumbs about starting their design business. Don’t worry, we get it. But I know that you will find value and information that will give you the confidence you are desiring to go for it!
More About Meredith Huck:
Meredith and her husband live in Coastal Connecticut with their two young children. She is also a licensed real estate agent in the state of Connecticut and enjoys supporting her clients to turn average houses into spectacular homes.
Pick it apart:
[5:18] Meredith elaborates on her first lesson that you don’t need a creative background to succeed in a creative business.
[20:17] Meredith starts to explain how you can make more money in your first year than you had in corporate if you are organized and disciplined.
[35:17] Meredith shares her lessons of process and systems in her first year.
[45:00] Meredith explains how you can be creative in the beginning if you don’t have the money to invest in the business.
LuAnn and Meredith Huck's Ah-Ha Moments:
“Whatever you want to be, you don’t necessarily need to have had experience in that trade.” - Meredith Huck
“As a designer, you should be striving for as many trade resources as possible.” - LuAnn Nigara
“The wisdom and experience of your first year in business is like the memory of childbirth pain, it fades over time. It becomes hard to remember how hard the first couple of years can be.- LuAnn Nigara
Connect with Meredith Huck:
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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:
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
Other Shows Mentioned:
#6- Identifying Your Transferable Skills With Erika Ward.
#182- Christie Leu- Christie Leu Interiors: Creating Your Own Mini Designer Summit.
#234- Kimberly Kay Interiors- A New Designer & Her 1st Five Months in Business.
#278- Erika Ward- Master Business Skills 1st, Interior Design Skills 2nd.
#297- Mikel Welch- Interior Design, TV, Self Made Man.
#455- Megan Molten: Planning Creates Success in Your Interior Design Business
#463- Sara Lynn Brennan- Package Your Design Services For Profit and Clarity.
#607- Sara Lynn Brennan- Project Management With Specific Deliverables and Deadlines.
#677- Megan Molten: To Succeed, Focus on Your Why
#678- Power Talk Friday: Katie McFarlan: The Client Experience Starts With Processes.
Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! Today we are going to talk about unleveling to new, different, bigger, and better projects. These are the projects that you want to do but currently are not doing because you don't have the experience yet. Let's talk about it!
Power Talk Friday Tour Fall 2022
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
Windowworksnj.com
Shop38east.com
Comfortex.com
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!
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
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
Today with Kelly Fridline:
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. For many of you, running a successful and profitable interior design firm is the ultimate goal. But sometimes, the goal might look different. Perhaps you’ve thought about coaching, course creation, or another avenue besides a traditional firm. There are many career paths in the industry, and all of them require adjusting, evaluation, learning, and making mistakes. Today, Kelly Fridline joins me to discuss what it looks like to take a unique career path and what she has learned as she has carved out her businesses.
Pick it apart:
LuAnn and Kelly Fridline’s Ah-Ha moments:
“Humility is key, but so is being really proud of what your gifts are.” -Kelly Fridline
“No matter how many podcasts you listen to or how great your business coach is, there is still that learning experience where you’re going to make some really stupid decisions, and you’re going to learn from them.” -Kelly Fridline
“It’s such a personal thing. I have to believe with the body of experience and education you have, if it really mattered to you, you’d sit and pass the darn test. But it doesn’t. And until it really matters to you, so what?” -LuAnn Nigara
More about Kelly Fridline:
Kelly Fridline is an entrepreneur at heart, but a designer through and through. Since establishing Kelly Fridline Design, LLC in 2017, she’s learned the importance of flexibility in not only design, but business planning and goals. In the almost five years she’s been in business her focus has changed from primarily interior design, to Virtual Design Assistance and Renderings, totraining fellow creatives in the art of professionally presenting and documenting their projects, and finally assisting and mentoring fellow virtual assistants in business and attracting clients.
With a Master of Architecture from Savannah College of Art and Design and almost a decade of professional design, construction, and virtual collaboration experience, Kelly brings a unique insight to the interior design industry.
Using these experiences, this past year Kelly founded The Virtual Design Mentor and Liaise for Interior Design.
In addition to her own business, Kelly resides in the Metro-Detroit area with her husband, son, and two dogs.
Connect with Kelly Fridline
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
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:
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
Other Shows Mentioned:
#389 Power Talk Friday: Nancy Ganzekaufer: The Interior Design Profit Formula
#256 Nancy Ganzekaufer- A Powerful Strategy to Attract More Clients
#159 Power Talk Friday – Nancy Ganzekaufer – How To Get Confident & Clear on What You Offer
#779 Power Talk Friday: Madeleine MacRae: What Should the CEO of an Interior Design Firm Be Doing?
#440 Power Talk Friday: Tobi Fairley: Her Design You Coaching Program
#419 Tobi Fairley- Say No to Busy and Yes to Health, Wealth and Joy
A big thank you to today's sponsor
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