Today, LuAnn is delighted to be getting together again with Anna Brockway, who first appeared on episode #79 of the show. Anna is the CEO and founder of Charish, which is also one of the show's sponsors. Anna is back today, as there are some crazy new updates to Charish that she and LuAnn want to share with you. Listen in to find out more about Charish and why it's important to you, as Interior Designers.

Charish is an Online Marketplace, which was started about four years ago. Three months ago, it had over 150 000 items available for sale on the site and nearly 1 000 000 buyers and sellers that do business there every month. Recently they've introduced a really cool virtual app that Interior Designers are going bananas about! Listen in now and find out more about Anna's really fun and fast growing business. If you're new to the show, please go back and listen to episode #79, to get the full story of how Anna started Charish and everything else that you need to know about it.

Today, Anna talks to LuAnn about:

• A quick run down of what Charish is and how it helps Interior Designers with their businesses.
• That the transactions at Charish are similar to those on e-Bay.
• The delivery service that Charish provides.
• The advantages of using Charish for Interior Designers.
• The 'cash back' discount benefit, for Interior Designers who use Charish.
• The new and exciting things that have been recently added to the Charish platform, making it an even better tool for the Design Trade to use.
• How the fantastic, new, 'try it before you buy it' virtual app works.
• That you can use the app to do design work on your iPhone.
• Amazing ways that you could use the app.
• The really large range of prices available at Charish.
• The Charish Pink Book- a digital pricing guide. Their version of the Kelly Blue Book.
• The environmental advantages to buying vintage furniture.
• The styles and trends that are available at Charish.
• The value points for used furniture.
• Pricing for either time or money.

Links:

Anna's website:

https://www.chairish.com

Are you bummed because you weren't able to attend the amazing  Designerlebrity Event, which was held on the 17th of May at the gorgeous Ethan Allen Showroom in New York City? If so, have no worries, because we have the full audio for the event, right here for you, on today's show. Listen in now, to catch this special presentation.

The panel for the event included Barbara Viteri, a brilliant business woman and the Creator of Designerlebrity, Cheryl Eisen, the Founder of Interior Marketing Group, Mikel Welsch, the Principal of Mikel Welsch Design and Manuella Morreira, the co-founder of the really beautiful New York Ethan Allan location. Today's show starts off with LuAnn's private, pre-show interview of the four panelists. After that, we go straight into the live panel discussion, which happened in front of all the attendees. Listen in to find out more about this outstanding Designer  Event.

Some highlights include:

• Mikel gives some inside info on Harry Connick Jr – that he really is as sweet and authentic as he seems to be, on his show!
• Mikel gives a brief synopsis of working with Steve Harvey.
• What it's like for Cheryl Eisen to work on the show with Frederick.
• That Cheryl staged Bethany's apartment and it sold within twenty-four hours – for over asking!
• What it's like for Cheryl, working with networks and doing amazing work that just doesn't get spoken about.
• Cheryl talks about the freedom of not having to design for a client and why people come to her.
• What it's like for Manuella, to design with the challenge of people from every walk of life coming into her showroom, in the middle of Manhattan.
• How Manuella got to where she is today.
• LuAnn explains what a wonderful and unique person and the astute businesswoman that Barbara Viteri really is!
• How Barbara got to where she is today.
• Barbara explains about the hot topics and the potentials in her great, new Designerlebrity.com thing that she's doing for the design community.
• Being prepared to be lucky!
• Barbara, Cheryl and Manuella's struggles on the way up and how they've grown beyond them.
• LuAnn's encouragement for you to take time to listen to the voice inside you, which will never lead you wrong.
• How Designers can help Celebrity Designers and grow in the industry.
• If you're a Designer and you have something going on, share it with Barbara and she will put it out on the Designerlebrity Platform if it's noteworthy.
• Cheryl answers Facebook Live questions about what was involved in her re-invention of herself and how she got started with doing staging of homes.
• Barbara's definition of what epitomizes a Designerlebrity.
• What makes a 'potential'.

Links:

Barbara's email: hbic@designerlebrity.com

To be on LuAnn's mailing list, send a text to 444 999 and put the word designbiz in the message field.

Go to LuAnn's website: www.windowworks-nj.com to see The Designerlebrity Event streamed live on Facebook, through Tastefully Inspired. (Go to the To The Trade Blog and you'll see a whole recap there.)

You can also see all the pictures on the sites and blogs of all the others – Ethan Allen, Designerlebrity, and even Tastefully Inspired has a post about it.

Do you sometimes look around and wonder if there could be different, or perhaps better ways to run your business more efficiently? If so, take heart and don't despair. Amber Lewis is back on the show today and she knows where you're at and what you're going through because she's been there. Today, Amber and LuAnn will go a bit deeper into the business side of what Amber does. They talk about how she discovered this podcast last winter and that she signed up for Kimberley Seldon's courses, because of even Amber, with a firm as successful and as large as hers, still wonders if there could be a better way to run things more effectively. Listen in today, as Amber shares her advice and the things she's learned along the way.

Today, Amber talks to LuAnn about:

• Some of the things that she's struggled with and challenges that she's faced, in her business.
• How she had to fake it, to make it, in the beginning, when dealing with people that were way more professional and talented than she was.
• What it was that catapulted her into a level above her own, in the beginning.
• Being comfortable with evolving and knowing that your style could change often.
• Being firm in your convictions, if you trust your own style.
• That clients will tend to focus on your weakness if you let it show.
• Parenting and running a business.
• Figuring out invoicing in a way that makes sense to the client- it's everything!
• The importance of figuring out how to create a good contract.
• Studio Webware- Amber finds this to be an amazingly intuitive program.
• The importance of figuring out your system and the chain of command in your firm.
• How she really works really together with her whole team.
• That she understands and accepts that there will always be variables with the trade.
• That her organization takes overall responsibility for everything in a project.
• How she works very specifically with vendors and contractors.
• That client couldn't care less who's fault it is if there's a problem- It's your responsibility!
• Treating your job as if it's your business and learning as much as possible about all it's aspects if you intend starting out on your own, one day.
• That she's always learning, growing and being humbled.
• That there's always the human factor in business.

Links:

Amber's website:
http://amberinteriordesign.com
Amber's instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/amberinteriors/

Do you realize how hard it can be to create a really successful experience for an intern in your business? LuAnn certainly does and this is one of the reasons that she asked Ranya Barrett to come onto the show today, to talk about the terrific Intern Program that she's set up at The House Of Funk. This program has both helped and developed the House Of Funk in the last year and the interns there have really benefited from the winning experience that Ranya has created for them. Listen in to find out more about Ranya's awesome Intern Program.

For nearly a full year now, LuAnn has admired the enormous change and that Ranya, as a single individual, has brought to Sandra Funk's business. LuAnn has watched an extreme uplevel of their message, branding, marketing and focus since Ranya joined their firm in the Spring of 2016. Prior to that, Ranya was a Content Director, Writer, Editor and a Branding Consultant, with more than thirteen years in the industry. She's written and edited for Glamour Magazine, Glamour.com, Highlights Magazine and Scholastic Books.  Ranya has a B.FA in Theatre, from New York University Tisch School Of The Arts and before taking up her current position as the Development Director at The House Of Funk, she was the Content Director at CA Creative, a New York-based Digital Media Agency. Listen in now, to find out more about Ranya and her really creative ways with interns.

Today, Ranya talks to LuAnn about:

• That her Internship Program is an unpaid program, for school credit, so they cannot hire Interns if they're not getting school credit.
• Some creative ways to go about looking for the right Interns.
• Meeting the necessary criteria for the different colleges, when it comes to the credit requirements for the Interns.
• That The House of Funk have taken it upon themselves to have a Close Out Program with their Interns, where they write a letter of recommendation, highlighting the Intern's particular skills, of which they both keep a copy and send one to the Intern, to be used later, as a reference.
• The kinds of things that an Interior design Intern would need to turn into their school, at the end of a semester.
• The kinds of interns that The House Of Funk has had.
• The kinds tasks that Ranya has the Interns do.
• What prompted her to initiate her Internship Program in Sandra Funk's business and how those interns are a real benefit to the business.
• Tapping the skill sets of Graphic Design, Editorial or Video Interns, to your mutual benefit, in your business.
• That it's not really necessary to plan ahead, in order to have a productive workflow for the Interns in your business.
• How she manages situations where the Intern does not quite operate to the standard of quality that is required by the business.
• Using your instinct with Interns.
• Although you cannot expect to necessarily hire your awesome Intern, however, you might well be able to do that.
• How much time the Interns spend working in the business.
• Systems that she uses for monitoring the work of the Interns.
• The amount of time and guidance that's necessary for the Interns.
• That there will always be things that Interns can help you with, that will save you time and benefit them.
• The Six Points Of Law, regarding unpaid Internships.
• That Ranya takes in Interns for each semester.
• The number of applicants that usually apply for Internship and Ranya's advice for interviewing and vetting Interns, to find the right fit.
• That there will always be someone on your team, who could benefit from the assistance of an Intern.

Isn't it intriguing how we are sometimes lead to meeting certain people in strangely serendipitous ways?  Today's guest, Christie Leu, met LuAnn in a really fun and unusual way. Listen in to find out what brought these two ladies together and why LuAnn wanted to have Christie on the show today.

Christie, originally from Ohio,  is the principal of Christie Leu Interiors in DC. She started out in her career as a working artist, participating in juried shows and selling her work through galleries, stores, and catalogs. However, after having completed some major renovations to a number of her own homes, she realized just how much she really loved every step involved in the Interior Design process. So she enrolled in Montgomery College when her children were in pre-school and she earned an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences in Interior Design, with a further specialization in Kitchen and Bath Design. Christie was a star student and she won the local version of the National Kitchen And Bath Design Competition and was also asked to serve on the Montgomery College Advisory Board for Interior Design. Listen in now to find out more about how Christie and her colleagues learn from each other and help one another to grow and develop their businesses.

Today, Christie and LuAnn talk about:

• The hysterical story about how Christie and LuAnn met at IWCE.
• What happened with Christie, Darcy Heather, Lisa Escabar and Jessie Cooney at a Gail Doby Design Summit Event and their fabulous Mini Summit that ensued from that.
• How their Mini Summit really helped them to get to know one another and gave them a real understanding of the reasoning process that people have.
• The background behind Christie Leu Interiors.
• How Fred Berns (#174) helped her to discover that she's probably the only Artist Triplet Mom Interior Designer in the country- and how that's lead her to give her clients a really fabulous experience!
• That her assistant (Hired from Craig's List) also has triplets- the same age as hers!
• How being the mom of triplets helped her with her design process.
• What she really gained from the role play, during the Mini Summit.
• Why LuAnn really has no problem in asking for the money.
• The question of a standard markup on all products.
• Using historical data to help to arrive at an appropriate markup on products.
• Options for clients around flat fees and markups.
• Having boundaries with flat fee contracts.
• The benefits of listening to good and relevant podcasts.
• The work they did with the 'Energy Person' who was brought to their Mini Summit.
• That Christie prefers meeting with clients few times - how she keeps things efficient, in order to do that.

Christie's website:

www.christieleuinteriors.com

Get ready for today's show, with Angela Rassmussen of H2H design Plus Build, in San Jose, California. Angela is the definition of a go-getter and she's a firecracker, so LuAnn says that you may want to strap on your seat belt for this interview! Listen in and prepare yourself to be blown away!

H2H Design plus Build is a really fun and dynamic firm, which was started in 2009 by Matt and Angela Rassmussen, specializing in convenient all in one service, from kitchen and bathroom, to master suites and additions. Today, H2H has become known, both locally and nationally, as an award winning Design Plus Build firm. Some of their awards include those from prestigious associations like NARI, NKBA, and HGTD, to name just a few. At H2H Design Plus Build, the focus is on a no-nonsense approach to bringing the best Design Solutions and Remodelling Services. Their service is turnkey and they are set apart from general contractors and other design plus build firms because they take care of every aspect of your renovation. Listen in now, to find out more about the firm that Matt and Angela started, with the intention to change the game in the Construction Industry.

Today, Angela talks to LuAnn about:

• How she and Matt decided to start their business.
• Her success while at Design school, being an A+ student and getting onto Dean's List.
• How She and Matt just clicked when they met, both emotionally and business-wise.
• Their roles in the business when they first started out.
• How they started out slowly and built up, one job on top of the next.
• There really noteworthy early projects.
• How she implemented what she learned at school immediately, in the business.
• The growth and management of their team, over the years.
• The challenge of leading a team really well.
• Organization- her priority.
• What her ideal project looks like, from start to finish.
• The evolution of their company from kitchens and bathrooms, to bigger projects.
• That they handle every aspect of renovation, down to the appliances and finishes.
• Why their demographic market is more geared to renovation than building.
• The fun new cutting edge Home Automation Technology.
• The benefits of hiring professionals.
• Buildertrend- Their really good Track Your Project
• Their new design studio, opening in the next couple of months.

Their other goals for the future.

If you'd like to learn about the concept of Profit First and find out how you can really benefit from using it in your Design Business, you will gain a lot from today's Power Talk Friday with Michele Williams, one of the very few certified Profit First Coaches in the United States. LuAnn loves the idea of Profit First and she really wanted to bring it to the Interior Design community after hearing Mike Michalowicz talking about it on The Biz Chicks Podcast. So she asked Michele, who has been interviewed on the show once before, (#137) to come back and explain the concept. Listen in to find out more.

Michele is a truly gifted Business Coach. Before becoming a coach, she worked in the Financial Software Industry and ran a business as a Soft Window Treatment Fabricator. She has a BS in Business Administration and a diploma in Christian Life Coaching as well as her Profit First certification. Listen in now, to find out all you need to know about Profit First.

Today, Michele talks to LuAnn about:

• What Profit First is all about and how it works.
• How Michele initially got going with Profit First.
• Why so many designers really need Profit First for their business.
• Bookkeepers and accountants are amazing, however, they are only going to work with the figures that the business owner gives them.
• How Profit First can help business owners understand how much money they really have available for themselves.
• How Profit First's view of profit differs from that of GAPS.
• That Profit First doesn't change the way you're doing your accounting, it changes the bank accounts that money gets allocated to.
• That Profit First changes the way that you're making your spending decisions.
• Some of the terms that are used by Profit First and what they refer to.
• What is meant by Real Revenue?
• That you have to sell the right product to the right person at the right price and then you need to manage the money.
• That it's not enough to build top line if you're spending all the money.
• Parkinson's Law, human nature and why you take profit first.
• That being honest and clear about your figures is really important.
• The benefit of moving money out to separate bank accounts, for your financial security.
• Your five main accounts- with Profit First.
• That staying consistent is key for this to work.
• Where a lot of business owners tend to get into trouble.
• That Profit First helps you move from cash flow negative to cash flow neutral, to cash flow positive.
• How Profit first can help you out of a hole, if you're in debt and willing to do the work.
• The beauty in Profit First working on percentages, for the natural ebbs and flows of your business.
• An instant assessment that you can do now, for your business.
• Owning your numbers, a bit at a time.
• Pricing for value and not to cover your needs.

Links:

Michele's website: www.scarletthreadconsulting.com

Michele's email: michele@scarletthreadconsulting.com

Michele on Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting

Your Coupon Code for 10% off Michele's Passion For Profit online course: WDB10

Resource:

Book: Profit First by Mike Michalowicz is available from Amazon, or other good book stores.

The guest on today's show is Lynn Leonidas, the really intentional principal of Lynn K. Leonidas Design and Decoration, in the San Francisco Bay Area. LuAnn had quite an 'aha moment' when she first started talking to her, as she suddenly realized that Lynn had achieved some really awesome things and has been published in some truly notable places, after only running her own firm for two years! Listen in to find about the really remarkable way that Lynn launched her business.

Lynn takes particular pride in her relationships with her vendors, which she says comes from having a contractor father, who taught her all about building techniques and materials. Lynn has a degree in Interior Design and Architecture and another in English Language and Literature.  Her work has been featured in Sunset, Domino, Lonny, Rue and also in Refinery 29. Prior to starting her own business, Lynn worked in Interior Design in the Bay Area for ten years. She first worked at The Workroom for two years, doing window coverings, soft furnishings, and upholstery. This is where she says that she probably got the best education for doing what she does now. After that, she became a Project Manager at The Workroom and then after that, she did Project Management for a couple of other designers, before striking out, on her own. Join LuAnn and Lynn now and find out how Lynn intentionally set out to achieve her success.

Today, Lynn talks to LuAnn about:

• How she's been able to achieve so much in only two years.
• Her strategy, once she knew that the article about her was coming out in Domino Magazine, in six months time.
• The Consultant (Christa Cooper Communications) and Business Coach (Sarah, of Anchor and Orbit) who really encouraged her to go out on her own.
• How she landed a featured in Domino Magazine, before even going out on her own!
• What she did to be prepared, after deciding to start her business.
• How she started out, using a friend's network, before having a portfolio to show people.
• The great opportunity to do a gut renovation, that presented itself to her, as she was starting out.
• How her Business Consultant helped her to develop her dream and business plan and to decide about the kind of work that she really wanted to take on.
• How she handled the clients who were not able to meet her budget requirements.
• How she's evolved to being totally comfortable with talking openly to people about their decorating budgets.
• Her past experience with Project Managing and with Bookkeeping, and how these have really helped her in her own business.
• Her experience with working in editorial and how it helped her later, as a designer, to understand the fits for the various publications.
• The importance of doing the research and getting to know the target market of each publication.
• How she determines which projects are portfolio-worthy.
• The roles of her two employees.
• How she promotes her business and gets her name out there.
• Using a vision board to create inspiration, when your portfolio is still small.
• Some tips to gain confidence, when starting out as a designer.
• Her opinion about working for free, for friends or family, when starting out.
• That transparency is a huge part of how she runs her business.
• Her plans for the month of May, and some of her short-term plans for the future.
• The changes in her business model that Lynn is planning.

 Links:

The guest on today's show is Monique Duarte. She's a brilliant business person and the founder and principal of Duarte Decor in New Jersey and the founder of Duarte Consulting, where she coaches Interior Decorators to help them to run their businesses better. Monique has traveled the world gathering inspiration and ideas for her design work. Listen in and find out more about Monique and the fabulous work that she does.

Monique is an active member of The National Association of Professional Women of the International Interior Decorator's Association and she's also a member of the Certified Interior Decorator's Association. She holds a number of degrees, including a Career Degree in Interior Decorating and in Autocad Design, a Bachelor's in International Business, with a specialization in Economics and Marketing and a Master's Degree in Interactive and Direct marketing. Monique was awarded Woman Of The Year for Interior Decorating in New Jersey in 2013 by the NAPW and her work has been featured in Your Decorating Resource and in Moxy Magazine.

As a Design Coach, Monique combines more than ten years of marketing experience with her design knowledge. She has had five years of experience in running her own seven-figure Interior Decorating business, which reached six figures in its very first year- while Monique was still working in her full-time job! Listen in now, to find out how Monique managed to achieve all of that!

Today, Monique talks to LuAnn about:

• How her ten years in advertising and marketing have informed the things she does to run her own business profitably.
• The really creative family that Monique comes from.
• How she realized that she had a gift for decorating, after buying her first home.
• Her first project, when she started her business as a side-hustle, eight years ago.
• Where and how she managed to find herself a mentor and how she cultivated a good working relationship with him.
• Why she really recommends finding a mentor or coach.
• That her mentor taught her that there is enough to go around.
• What the Local Experience and an International Experience, that she offers on her website, are all about.
• Her Eight Key Steps To Building A Profitable Design Business.
• The importance of figuring out who you are and who you want to work with.
• That she's always looking out for what's coming next and sharing that with designers.
• That the way you package and present what you have to offer is really important.
• That she always talks to clients upfront about how she works to set their expectations.
• Having a strong enough mindset to only work with the clients that really fit with you.
• The power of connection, networking with the right people and going to the right events.
• Submitting your design work for contests, as a marketing move.
• A book that Monique really recommends- Profit First by Mike Michalowicz.

Links:

Monique's website: www.duarteconsulting.net

To request to join Monique's Facebook group, type 'Interiors Guide To Profitability' into the search box on Facebook, or you can do it via her website, above.

Resource:

Book: Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

The guest on today's Power Talk Friday is Sarah Daniele, the CEO, and Co-founder of My Doma Studio, a sexy software which was built specifically for the Interior Design Industry. Sarah appeared on the show (#91) last November and then she became a sponsor for the podcast. LuAnn and her partners were all so truly impressed with the platform that Sarah has created that they actually invested in My Doma Studio, which is used by a lot of the Designers that LuAnn works with. Listen in to find out how My Doma Studio can really help you to keep a lot of balls in the air at the same time.

Sarah has a degree in Interior Design. She spent four or five years working for other Designers and then opened her own Design firm, with her focus on renovations, kitchens, and bathrooms. In episode #91 Sarah explains that while she was working for other Design Companies, she found no Project Management Systems in place at all, so Sarah, a highly intelligent, technical and organized person, developed her own system.  Today, Sarah talks to LuAnn about some of the really cool things that have been happening with My Doma Studio. They have been featured recently in a number of publications- Editor At Large, Kitchen And Bath, Kitchen And Bath Design News, and Home Accents. Listen in now to find out more about Sarah's great system, which has really attracted a lot of well-earned buzzes lately!

Today, Sarah talks to LuAnn about:

• The new things that are coming out with My Domo Studio.
• Sarah's recipe for growing and scaling your Design Business.
• What went into their latest, brand new version, based on feedback from Designers.
• Some of the things that the new version has, that's different from the original.
• How her program has been designed to really assist with easy collaboration.
• How unlikely it would be to accidentally, or inadvertently communicate with a client, using Sarah's system.
• The great advantages of her new system.
• The kind of communication that the system makes possible, for different projects.
• How this system makes for better organization with projects.
• How checklists can be used in context, within the system.
• That My Doma Studio has automatic updates.
• That you can try Sarah's system out for thirty days for free.

Links:

Sarah's website:

https://www.mydomastudio.com

If you're interested in hearing about innovative designers who are also really good at business, you're in for a treat! The guests today are Carolina Gentry and Beth Dotolo of Pulp Design. LuAnn really wanted to have them on her show. She's been researching designers for the last year and a half and some of them have videos on their websites. Some of the videos are better than others, however, when she looked at those on Beth and Carolina's website, they were so good that she just wanted to keep on watching! She really enjoyed how their personalities come across in a subtle, yet distinctive way and also that their high regard for one another is very clear. Listen in and find out why LuAnn couldn't stop herself from falling in love with these two adorable rock stars!

Some of the videos are better than others, however, when she looked at those on Beth and Carolina's website, they were so good that she just wanted to keep on watching! She really enjoyed how their personalities come across in a subtle, yet distinctive way and also that their high regard for one another is very clear. Listen in and find out why LuAnn couldn't stop herself from falling in love with these two adorable rock stars!

She's been researching designers for the last year and a half and some of them have videos on their websites. Some of the videos are better than others, however, when she looked at those on Beth and Carolina's website, they were so good that she just wanted to keep on watching! She really enjoyed how their personalities come across in a subtle, yet distinctive way and also that their high regard for one another is very clear. Listen in and find out why LuAnn couldn't stop herself from falling in love with these two adorable rock stars!

Pulp Design has studios in both Seattle and in Dallas and their team has been recognized and published by Architectural Digest, The Traditional Home and New York Times Magazine. Beth has received an ASID Legacy Of Design Award and she was also named Best Designer in Dallas in 2011 and in 2012. Fashion Group International recognized her as a rising star in Interior Design and she's been named Dallas Design Glitteratti by Modern Luxury Magazine. Carolina has had more than fifteen years of experience in Interior Design and in Project management, with her work including award-winning New Construction and Renovated projects in Hospitality, Residential and Multi-family. Some of her projects have been for high-end hospitality brands, like Ritz Carlton, Hyatt Regency, Hilton and Mariotte, with her projects spanning all the way from New York City to Asia. Carolina was also a recipient of an ASID Legacy Of Design Award and she's also been recognized as a rising star in Interior Design by Fashion Group International. LuAnn had so much fun talking to these ladies and she knows you're really going to enjoy today's episode. Listen in now!

Carolina has had more than fifteen years of experience in Interior Design and in Project management, with her work including award-winning New Construction and Renovated projects in Hospitality, Residential and Multi-family. Some of her projects have been for high-end hospitality brands, like Ritz Carlton, Hyatt Regency, Hilton and Mariotte, with her projects spanning all the way from New York City to Asia. Carolina was also a recipient of an ASID Legacy Of Design Award and she's also been recognized as a rising star in Interior Design by Fashion Group International. LuAnn had so much fun talking to these ladies and she knows you're really going to enjoy today's episode. Listen in now!

Carolina has had more than fifteen years of experience in Interior Design and in Project management, with her work including award-winning New Construction and Renovated projects in Hospitality, Residential and Multi-family. Some of her projects have been for high-end hospitality brands, like Ritz Carlton, Hyatt Regency, Hilton, and Mariotte, with her projects spanning all the way from New York City to Asia. Carolina was also a recipient of an ASID Legacy Of Design Award and she's also been recognized as a rising star in Interior Design by Fashion Group International. LuAnn had so much fun talking to these ladies and she knows you're really going to enjoy today's episode. Listen in now!

Today, LuAnn talks to Beth and Carolina about: 

• What went into creating their beautifully done videos.
• That they wanted to create videos that people can really relate to.
• How the videos really save them so much time.
• The steps that went into the creation of their video.
• What they wanted to communicate with their video.
• How long it took to film all their videos.
• How Carolina managed to overcome her camera shyness.
• How much they invested in making their video.
• How quickly they started making a return on their investment.
• How they started out with their company ten years ago.
• How they decided that they could work with a two hour time difference.
• The support group that they work with.
• That even though they work far apart, they all work as one unit.
• How Beth and Carolina work together on all the projects so that the client can get the best of both of them.
• That they think it really important to take some of their staff to Trade Shows.
• The fun stuff that they do for team building.
• The product line that they're developing as an exciting next step for their company.
• Beth and Carolina's really awesome relationship.

Links:

http://pulpdesignstudios.com

My guest today is Judi Kieffer, who has over 24 years’ experience in hospitality, luxury residential, and restaurant design. Her portfolio is full of top tier projects and satisfied clients. In our conversation, she shares advice about how she built and now manages her design firm in Boise, Idaho. Judi is involved as an advocate for the personal and professional development and for sustainable products and developments.

She participates in several local philanthropic and civic groups and is a mentor for women’s and children’s organizations. She was recently appointed as a spokesperson for the American Society of Interior Designers and is a certified Green Globe auditor. Her passions are yoga, fine wine, riding horses, hiking, and inspiring other designers to run more profitable and enjoyable businesses. Join me for this conversation with Judi!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How Judi’s career began, working for three different companies before opening her own firm
• The benefits of experience, classes, and various job positions before going out on your own
• What it’s like to build your own design firm in the beginning: cold calling, mailings, projects, and referrals
• What the builder or architect needs to hear from the commercial designer: how our services can fit into your project
• How to use directories for leads on upcoming commercial projects
• How to find free top sheets in your local area
• The benefits of long-term relationships in the design business
• Judi’s recommendations for software, including Quickbooks, Studio Designer, and MORE!
• The challenges as your business grows: having systems in place and using personality profiles as you add more people to your team
• Day-to-day running the firm: journals and calendars
• Judi’s superpower? Using the interior as a marketing tool
• Clear practices for charging fees
• Judi’s advice to a new designer with no portfolio: show your passion and excitement, have confidence, ask questions, and present solutions
• Judi’s interest in green building products
• The recent surge in green products
• Advice Judi’s received that is still with her:
  • Be absolutely true to your passion
  • Honor yourself
  • Allow yourself time to breathe, renew, and relax
  • Be transparent in communication
• What’s ahead for Judi? Hiring an office manager and hosting eco-glamping retreats

Resources:

Find out more about Judi!  www.kiefferdesigngroup.com

For the free WindowWorks newsletter, text 444-999 and enter “designbiz”

www.usgbc.org  (Find out more about green building products)

Search the GreenWorks or Green Standard group in your local area

Judi recommends the following books:

ECO-preneuring by John Ivanko

The Northwest Green Home Primer by K.L. Smith and Kathleen O’Brien

The Philosophy of Sustainable Design by Jason F. McLennan

Women in Green by Kira Gould and Lance Hosey

Value Pricing for the Design Firm by Frank Stasiowski

A Guide to Principles and Practices for Interior Designers by Harry Sigel

Marketing and Selling Design Services by Mary V. Knackstedt

Interior Designers Business Handbook by Mary V. Knackstedt

The guest on today's Power Talk Friday is Fred Berns, the only Interior Design Industry Business Coach, and Speaker.  Fred was a Speaker at the Design Blogger's Conference, held in L.A. In March, where he spoke about how to create your bio, so this show is tagged onto the Design Blogger's Series. This is the fourth time that Fred has appeared on this show and LuAnn is really happy to have him back again because he always brings so much value. (He previously appeared on shows #22, #48 and#96.) Today, Fred will help you to figure out your 'only', so listen in now and find out why it's so important.

Fred creates personal bio's and other promotional materials for design professionals, worldwide. He has had more than twenty-five years of experience, training design professionals and creating their online profiles, website, and social media copy, blogs, and marketing forums. He also offers a wide range of business coaching services, including his High-End Performance Coaching Program, his bio briefing and his website once over. Listen in to today's show to find out from Fred how you can really stand out in the marketplace.

Today, Fred talks to LuAnn about:

• Why it's so important for you to figure out your 'only'.
• How he helps designers to arrive at their 'only'.
• Some categories to consider when trying to figure out your 'only' phrase.
• How to be sure that you are really the 'only' one when making that claim.
• How to subtly modify your 'only phrase', if necessary.
• Using the word 'specializes' to better describe your 'only' and to differentiate yourself.
• That your 'only' doesn't have to be a big thing.
• How having an 'only' helps you to charge a higher fee.
• How he helps people to draft letters to inform customers that they are raising their fees.
• How educating people about your value helps to overcome their resistance to your charging top dollar.
• Why he encourages you, as a designer, to highlight rather than hide your past.
• That it's often the small things that make you unique.
• Some examples of how you can incorporate your 'only phrase' into your bio, to make yourself memorable.
• Ways for newly graduated designers to set themselves apart.
• His victory vocabulary.
• Using the law of attraction to draw the kinds of clients you'd like to work with towards you.
• That the most financially successful designers are not necessarily the best designers.
• 'Only' is not the only word, but it's the best one!

Links:

Fred's website: www.interiordesignbusiness.net This is where you will find Fred's The   Big Splash Little Cash Marketing Manual.

Go to: www.biobriefing.com to sign up for Fred's promotional Bio Briefing Campaign.

To telephone Fred: 303 589 3013

If you'd like to know what it's like to be a successful Interior Designer in The Hampton's, you're going to enjoy today's show with LuAnn's guest, Austin Handler. Austin and his wife, Jennifer Mabely, are the principals of Mabely Handler Interior Design in The Hampton's. Listen in today, to find out about this leading design firm that has been featured many many times, in both magazines and on TV.

LuAnn does a lot of work herself, in The Hampton's. She says that it's like it's own little planet. On today's show, you will hear about Austin and Jennifer's fabulous projects there and the great success of  their Interior Design Business, which they started in The Hampton's in 2002 and also about their work which has been featured in numerous publications, including Hampton's Cottages and Gardens, Hampton's Magazine, Beach Magazine, Coastal Living,  Lux Interiors and Design, Ocean Home, Traditional Home, The New York times, The Daily News and the New York Post, along with News Day and NBC's LX TV, Open House, New York City, News 12 and The Discovery Channel.

Kravet Inc. recently launched their brand new line of furniture, which has been designed by Mabely Handler Interior Design. Listen in today, as Austin shares the back story on the creation and the execution of this truly gorgeous new line of furniture.

Today, Austin talks to LuAnn about:

• What it's like, working as a designer in The Hampton's, where the design has its own feel and vibe.
• Finding the balance in design, between luxurious living and durability.
• What it was like, breaking into Interior Design in The Hampton's and breaking the stereotype of 'taking your designer with you'.
• When their room, which wasn't a feature room, in their first show house for Hampton's Cottages and Gardens Magazine was featured in The New York Times.
• How they came to develop The Hampton Aesthetic, their line of furniture with Kravet Inc.
• The kind of furniture in The Hampton Aesthetic line.
• Austin and Jennifer's initial meeting with Kravet Inc. about the furniture design and how they managed to convey their concepts and their vision, with clarity.
• The very well known Hampton's design style.
• How they set the scene, to create the right atmosphere, to sell The Hampton's Aesthetic furniture line to Cravet Inc.
• How they set a trend for creating coastal design collections.
• How they used certain fabrics and materials to give The Hampton Aesthetic maximum versatility.
• Why Kravet was always first on the list to make Jennifer's furniture.
• The incredible support that they got from the expert team at Kravet Inc., every step of the way.
• The pieces that they designed that didn't make the collection.
• The great value Austin and Jennifer found in the sharing of expertise with Kravet Inc.

The great pleasure that it's been for Austin and Jennifer to work with Kravet.

Austin's websites:
http://www.mableyhandler.com
http://www.kravet.com/products/collections/
www.curatedkravet.com

If you'd like to hear about a business  perspective that's very different to that of the bigger firms which are usually featured on the show, you'll enjoy today's episode, with Natalie Hurst, who's first a full-time mom and wife and second, a part-time Interior Designer. Listen in and find out how Natalie does it. You're going to find it interesting!

Natalie, who lives in Salt Lake City Utah, with her husband and four children, graduated from Brigham Young University in 2003 with a B.Sa in Interior Design. After working in the lighting industry for a few years, she spent the next ten years away from the design world, consulting occasionally with friends or family. In 2014 she felt ready to dive back in and so she started Natalie Hurst Interiors. Listen in today, as Natalie shares her ideas on work and business flow, from a very different perspective.

Today, Natalie talks to LuAnn about:

• How she decided to start her business at such a busy time in her life.
• That she's comfortable with doing her business part time, for the time being.
• The specific work-life balance that she's found, that works for her.
• That her life could appear disorganized and stressful to someone else.
• How she structures the phases of her work, both consciously and organically.
• Attracting the clientele that you want.
• Charging prices that are appropriate to your desired clientele.
• How she prepares for her really busy design weeks.
• Coping with very specific challenges.
• That her sourcing is mostly done online.
• How she organizes her workspace, at home.
• That she keeps track of things by taking lots of notes.
• Her really honest relationships with her vendors.
• Having confidence in asking for help.
• How she structures her fees.
• How she landed her very first client.
• Word of mouth is the only marketing tool that she needs at the moment.
• How she came to being featured in Pregnancy And New Born Magazine from a picture on Instagram.
• That Instagram is an authentic and effective marketing tool for her.

Are you intimidated at the thought of going to see a lawyer about your business? Or do you feel that they may look down on you and not take your business seriously? If so, you really need to listen in to today's show, with LuAnn's expert guest, Danielle Liss, who is a lawyer who has absolutely nothing invested in intimidating her clients.

Quite the opposite, actually- Danielle and her partner, Jamie Lieberman have a firm called HashtagLegal and they allow a potential client to purchase only what they really need, even if it's only a once off conversation. They don't want people to feel that legal work is inaccessible. They believe that a lawyer should be a partner, to help your business grow and to help you to make strategic decisions. Listen in now and find out what Danielle has to say, that could benefit you and your business.

Danielle was previously Chief Marketing Officer and General Council for Fitfluential, an Influencer's Network that concentrates on health and wellness initiatives. She has loads of experience in creating and negotiating contracts, interpreting FTC guidelines and creating website policies. She's also worked for a Fortune 500 Bank and spent some time in private practice. As well as this, she is an accomplished speaker, having spoken at dozens of conferences on legal issues, related to bloggers and social media pros. Listen in and find out what you really need to know, legally speaking.

Today, Danielle talks to LuAnn about:

• How hard it is, at times, for people to figure out the kind of legal service that they really need.
• Those lawyers have a tendency to not take people and their businesses as seriously as people would like them to.
• The kinds of things that they like to help people through.
• What she would suggest for people who are starting out in an Interior Design business and are looking for some advice.
• The kinds of entities that you can create for your business- an LLC or a Corporation and what each one will involve.
• The costs involved to file the paperwork for either an LLC or a Corporation.
• Why you shouldn't skip on the legal stuff when building your brand.
• The importance of figuring out and crafting a letter of agreement with your client.
• What to outline in a letter of agreement with a client.
• How to extricate yourself from a design agreement, legally.
• The importance of being really clear about what you are being engaged for.
• Creating clear communication boundaries.
• Indemnity provisions and making sure that you are going to be held harmless in certain types of claims.
• Making provision for the gray areas in a standard client contract.
• Creating contracts for sub-contractors.
• The importance of vetting the contractors that you work with.
• Making sure that your clients are okay with being included in your portfolio, in a confidentiality provision.
• Site terms, disclaimers, and legal and privacy policies on your website.
• The importance of disclosing your retargeting pixels.
• Liabilities on Facebook Live and Youtube.
• Protecting yourself against 'nonsense lawsuits', which could end up costing you five figures!
• The importance of disclosing and maintaining transparency about what you're doing on your website or blog.

Links:

Danielle's website: www.hashtag-legal.com

Danielle's email: danielle@hashtag-legal.com

Today’s show features, Corey Klassen and Judith Neary. While there’s a host of topics we could talk to them about, today we are focusing our conversation on the new CEU that they have created. There is so much value in their CEU. Judith is a certified bath and kitchen designer, and she moved to the manufacturing side and now works on implementing business processes. She offers a comprehensive designers perspective as a consultant and she's known for doing weird really well!

Corey is also a certified bath and kitchen designer, and a Certified Designer with experience in commercial and residential design. He opened his own firm in 2011 and has won many awards and been featured in many design magazines. He teaches and continues to expand his professional credentials. He is known for creating symmetry in awkward spaces.

Together, Judith and Corey co-lecture all across the US and teach designers about the business of design. This led to the creation of their new CEU.

In this episode Corey and Judith discuss:

• How My Doma Studio plays a role in the new CEU course.
• Learn what a “psychographic” is and why it matters to Corey.
• Why Judith does weird so very well.
• Find out how hard it is to make your kitchen match your aura!
• The rules for designers are different since the recession.
• Learn how Judith and Corey met and teamed up!
• Corey and Judith are polar opposites - and it works!
• The process of working through psychographics.
• There’s an art in knowing when to refer someone out - learn it today.
• Homeowners truly don’t understand what designers do.
• Find out why a site visit isn’t being fully utilized and how Corey changed it!
• The CEU can help designers regain valuable administrative charges.
• Find out which course is best for you

Resources:

mydomastudio.com/beyonddesign - Register for the course

First course starts May 10

Course for seasoned designers starts May 18

Corey’s website:

https://coreyklassen.ca 

Judith Neary's website:

http://www.roadsideattractionstudio.com

Not sure if the CEU course is right for you? Here’s a detailed description:

Beyond Design: Establishing Monetary Value for Creative Skills

Judith and I have co-authored a 2hr CEU that is IDCEC Approved and has been presented at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (in current format) this year with sold-out attendance. We're already scheduled for 2018. Previous formats have been sold-out at KBIS 2015, 2016 and IDS Vancouver 2014.

So, what is this? The start of the course came out of personal and professional challenges that Judith and I have separately had with the ever-changing market of clients who shop online, watch media shows, read mommy-blogs and thing they can do it all for a shoe-string budget. 

Why this course? Interior design education is really great at teaching the basics of business and excels at creativity, but if the business is 80% and creativity is 20% we really have our shirts on backwards.

Why now? Personally, after I was apart of the DXV Design Panel in 2014, my business went from a home office to taking over my home, adding and employee, and now in a studio location with a Team. I when to show much incredible professional growth that I've nearly thrown in the towel a few times, but if I love what I do I had to find a way to do what I love.

I'm sure Judith will have more to contribute, and I'm sure I'll run down the road and leave her at the stop sign too, but we're really excited to talk about why running a scalable business is achievable with a solid plan (or without one...) I truly admire Judith and her skills, she has been such a great friend, co-conspirator, and advisor to me and I'm sure she has her shared values about me.

Here's a link to our upcoming course hosted by Mydoma Studio!

https://www.mydomastudio.com/beyond-design-business-course-for-interior-designers

The guest on today's show is Amber Lewis, who was a Key Note Speaker at the recent Design Blogger's Conference. LuAnn didn't get to talk to her at the conference, so she's really happy to interview Amber on today's show, as there were parts of her story that LuAnne thought were really fun and interesting.  LuAnn finds Amber's body of work and what she's managed to accomplish at such a young age, to be incredible. Listen in now and get some great tips for gaining followers on social media.

Amber spent a couple of years working for Elizabeth Lamont (#17) at her store, Room With A View, in Santa Monica. This is where she first fell in love with pretty things and with design and started to feel a pull in that direction. Listen in and find out how Amber first discovered her niche in the world of design and how her business has evolved and grown, since then.

Today, Amber talks to LuAnn about: 

• How she first started out, working for Elizabeth Lamont and where she went, from there.
• How she initially didn't connect being an Interior Designer with making a living.
• How much she gained from working for and being mentored by Kirsten Marie.
• Why she only hires people who have completed school.
• How she learned about design on the job, through making mistakes, rather than going to school.
• That she runs her business as a team effort.
• What it was like for her, speaking at the Design Blogger's Conference.
• Why you shouldn't compare your own business with the appearance of someone else's success.
• How she first started to develop a name for herself through her initial obsessive engagement with her community.
• How she has learned and progressed through her business.
• Creating a formula to her really successful method of engagement with social media.
• Her e-commerce store- how it started through her blog which documented the decoration of her home.
• Her Flash Sales on Instagram- a great way to gain followers.
• Her struggle with sacrificing her family time for the huge amount of time and attention that she poured into developing her business.
• Her milestones, analyzing why her followers were coming back.
• The first time her house was properly published, in Glitter Guide and in HD TV Magazine how she used the pics to her advantage.
• The silly names she uses for her clients' hashtags!
• Her fabulous photographer, Tessa W, who she's used on all her projects.
• The value of using really great photography.
• Being featured in Architectural Digest last October, for her kitchen.
• Working with agencies for blog sponsorship.
• Brand ambassadorship and how it has developed.
• That she does all her own writing for all her social media platforms.

Amber's website:

http://amberinteriordesign.com

Amber's instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/amberinteriors/

In today's Power Talk Friday, I'll continue with the second half of the Design Bloggers Conference Summary series. I'm covering the top lessons that I've learned through podcasting about interior design. Last week, we went over the first three lessons #165.

The other shows include Claire Staszak and Kelsey Grose this past Monday and Wednesday and this coming Monday will be Amber Lewis. All 3 interviews had some terrific advice for design blogging as well as running your firm and building an audience on Instagram. Three truly smart ladies! Today, we'll cover the rest.  Join me now with The Things I Learned From A Well Designed Business Part 2!

• Be Do Have – Have Do Be

#141 Jim Riviello says that we need to change our way of thinking about things in order to be successful. Jim, a business coach and the owner of Leadership X University, explains that we need to Be-Do-Have, not Have-Do-Be. In today's show, I will clarify this powerful explanation.

• Leap Of Faith

#21 Stacy Garcia took a leap of faith and decided to invest in vintage wallpaper and fabric as a starting point for creating a new textile line for the hospitality industry.

• No Pipeline

#55 Rachel Moriaty heard about Facebook Live and the rest is history.

• 24 hours to decide

#128 Grace McNamara was an Advertising Director, thirty-one years old and with no idea of how to run a magazine, was given 24 hours in which to decide if she would buy two magazines. Despite huge fears, she jumped into it and became an entrepreneur and a magazine publisher.

• Sarah Daniele came up with an idea and turned it into a software program.
• #79 Anna Brockway-Chairish saw a need in the marketplace and built a huge company, filling a gap in services.
• #85 Heather and Mark used tech to offer truly professional Interior Design at a level of excellence, affordable for the masses. Nous Decor was born- however, in running Nous Decor, she has another business- how to scale Nous Decor.

Interior Design Is A Business First

• #112 and #144 Kimberly Seldon- Business of Design. Flat fees, Scope Creep, Trade Days, Fifteen steps to running a profitable project...and the list goes on.

#2 and #Sandra Funk House Of Funk

#36 Susan Brunstrum

#24 #45 #60 #81 #150 Krista Coupar

• How to bill out using hourly fees.
• Managing work-life balance from a financial perspective.
• Build your story and your brand.
• Things to look at when planning your new work year.

#71 Dr. Ellen Fischer- Ellen cautions us about the main reasons that Interior Designers have trouble being profitable:

• Undervaluing your time.
• Not charging for the hours you work.
• Not recognizing how to keep your pipeline filled.
• Not placing enough emphasis on marketing.

Ellen's advice to new graduates:

• Stay connected to the passion that brought you to the field throughout your career, not just in the beginning.
• Be prepared for hard work. The business of interior design is tough and while outsiders may not recognize it, it is truly as hard as any other career.

Ellen's advice when hiring interns and junior designers for your firm:

• Set tangible goals and objectives for the tenure.
• Teach, train, monitor and evaluate performance.
• “Fuzzy objectives = Fuzzy experience.”

#6 Erika Ward- Erika attributes her success to her expertise and knowledge in Business Management. She advises:

• Educate yourself about Business Management.
• Do everything you can to broaden and enhance your business acumen.

This will ensure a proper foundation for a profitable business, allowing you to explore your talent, create fantastic spaces for your clients and explode your Interior Design business.

Links:

Jim Riviello: https://lxu.training/

https://businessofdesign.com/how-it-works/

Today’s guest is Kelsey Grose. I sat beside her at the Design Blogger’s Conference and after she won an award, I knew immediately that I had to get her on the show. I’ve been doing a whole series lately with all of the people I met at the Design Blogger’s Conference, so you are going to learn so much from all my guests in this series. 

I was even more blown away when I learned that Kelsey has only been in business a year! That blew me away and I knew I had to work with her. So in addition to having the privilege of interviewing her today, I’m pleased

Kelsey Grose is the owner of Farmer’s Daughter Interior. Kelsey is based in Canada and has quickly found a following all over the US as well. She uses a 6 step design process that combines several different design styles. She has a passion for small business and entrepreneurship and she’s here today to share her wisdom with us. 

Listen in as Kelsey and LuAnn discuss:

• Find out Kelsey’s impression of the Design Blogger’s Conference and see if she had the same experience as LuAnn.
• In some ways, Kelsey got more than she expected from the conference - find out what exceeded her expectations.
• Relationships, relationships, relationships - the unexpected benefit of the conference.
• How a house tour is bringing several bloggers together and allowing them to leverage each other’s audiences through cross promotion.
• How guest posting on another blog can help promote your own website and business.
• Ways a new designer just getting their business off the ground can use existing resources online and properly credit the creator, and still build out their own content.
• How Kelsey is able to look like a seasoned designer with a beautiful blog, but in reality has only been in business a year.
• The resources that have been useful to Kelsey in getting her business started, plus she’s kind of obsessed with design!
• The exact steps Kelsey took to get started blogging and building her design business.
• How Kelsey got a really big kitchen design job as a new designer.
• A free consultation or a paid consultation? Find out which Kelsey uses.
• Ways to convert a paid consultation into a paid project.
• Treat your business like the world is watching you, even if they aren’t yet.

Today's interview is the first of three, which are as a follow up to the recent Design Bloggers Conference, which was held in LA, this last March. LuAnn really loves the process of how these designers create blogs to serve as a marketing arm for their business and a lead generator for their design firm. Listen in today to get some really great, actionable tips that you can duplicate.

Today's guest is Claire Staszak, who won the award at the Conference for the best blog writing of 2017. She is a Chicago-based interior designer who is known for her holistic design process of combining refined aesthetics with wellness principals, as she draws on her years of experience as a Yoga and Meditation Instructor, to gently guide her clients through the process of unearthing and then refining their own, unique style, resulting in a sanctuary which is timeless, rather than trendy.

Claire studied Interior Design at the School of Art Institute in Chicago and she holds a Certificate of Kitchen and Bathroom Design from Harper College. She's a certified Yoga Instructor, with more than five hundred hours of training and she also has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in journalism from the University of Dayton. Claire did apprenticeships at two high-end firms- Nate Berkus and Associates and Kate Marker Interiors. Her own work has been featured in Design Sponge, Rue Magazine, and Domino. In 2016, she had the honor of being nominated for HD TV's Fresh Faces of Design Competition. With her latest project of renovating her own home, a 1932 Tudor Style brick bungalow in Chicago, Claire is using her own, eclectic style. You can follow this renovation on her blog. Listen in to today's show to find out more about Claire, and how she uses her blog as an effective tool for marketing her business.

Today, Claire talks to LuAnn about:

• How she got to do her internships with Nate Burkus and Associates and Kate Marker Interiors.
• The advantages of getting as much work experience as possible.
• The benefits of working for a large and well-run business, in order to gain necessary experience, to run a successful business of your own, later on.
• Where she found the inspiration for her blog.
• How she incorporates Yoga and Meditation into her design work.
• How she's starting to be recognized by her clients, who know that she really gets them and knows what they want.
• That consistency is really important with blogging.
• Creating blog content that readers want to come back for.
• Her Renovation Series- how it helps her to draw people to her website.
• How collaboration has really worked for her as a marketing vehicle.
• That she really doesn't try to sell things from her blog, yet it still makes money for her in other ways.
• That you should go to conferences to renew your energy, expand your horizons with blogging and keep you moving forward.
• The great networking opportunities that she found at the conference.
• How the conference has helped her to partner up with other Interior Designers, to enhance their blogs and hers.
• Her Spring Into Home collaboration with other design bloggers.
• You don't need to spend a lot of money on your blog, however, you do need to spend something, to make it look really good.
• Using the correct etiquette and ethics to credit the source of the photographs that you use on your blog, from the internet.
• An idea to help people to network better with the people that they connect with at conferences.

Claire's website: www.centeredbydesign.com

 http://centeredbydesign.com/spring-home-tour-week-one-doreen-corrigan/

In today’s Power Talk Friday episode, I’m kicking off the Design Bloggers Conference Summary series. I was inspired by the conference that was held in Los Angeles in March, and I wanted to share it with you. I had to condense my presentation down to only 13 minutes for the conference, but I can take the time here to expand! I’m covering my top lessons learned through podcasting about interior design. We’ll go over the first three lessons today and cover the rest next week. Join me now!

Influence and authority are gained through NICHING

• This subject comes up repeatedly with guests on the show
• Here are a few episodes in which niching was discussed:
  • Episode 15 and 159 with Nancy Ganzekaufer —“Niche is rich!”
  • Episode 41 with Cheryl Janis—Niching can help create a space that increases revenue
  • Episode 106 with Taylor Spellman—She niched down her design business to target bachelors in Manhattan
  • Episodes 82 and 117 with Deborah Rosenberg—She extended her belief system to her design business
  • Episode 77 with Katie Deedy—She taught us about setting yourself apart, creating focus and clarity, and being able to raise your rates when you become a recognized expert
• Your “About You” page is CRITICAL
  • Episodes 22, 48, and 96 with Fred Berns—Much insight into the “About You” page
  • Episode 125 with Nicole Heymer—“I’m the interior designer that . . . “
• Establish your company’s MISSION and CORE VALUES
  • Episodes 26 and 66 with Kae Whitaker—Core values can push your business forward
  • Episode 78 with my husband, Vince—“Everything you do must support your company’s mission.”
  • Episode 73 with Kim Kuhteubl—Check out her book, Branding + Interior Design

If you think your life is busy, get ready to meet Susan Winterstein, of Savvy Interiors, in San Diego, California. As well as running an Interior Design Firm, she also has Inside Savvy, a Retail Store and Savvy Giving By Design, a non-profit organization. Susan also has a husband and five daughters. Listen in today, to an awesome conversation with a remarkable woman.

On today's show, the focus is on her non-profit, Savvy Giving By Design. LuAnn is truly overwhelmed with what Susan is doing. She points out that even though there are other designers who are involved with different ways of helping out and giving back, Susan has turned her business into a full on Non- profit Organisation of her own, with an extremely organized platform. Listen in to find out more.

Today, Susan talks to LuAnn about:

• What drew her to turn her business into a Non-profit Organisation and how she started out with it.
• Why she keeps her Facebook Group small and intimate and runs it the way that she does.
• How she went about finding another child for her project, after the first one and the whole process that followed that.
• How she got started as an official Non-profit Organisation.
• Her goal of tapping into bigger and better vendor relationships.
• How hard it is to get corporate attention onto her projects.
• Putting out the Funder Needs - why this is critical when you're in your social media community and the success that Susan has had with it.
• Although they rely on donations, there are certain things which have to be paid for- like painters.
• If the child that Susan is creating a space for has siblings, she does their rooms as well.
• What goes into the decision of who the next child will be to receive her tremendous gift.
• That she's willing to assist other designers to do as she does with Savvy Giving By Design, even if they're located in other states.
• The grounding effect that working with people who would not normally use the services of a designer, has on designers.
• How she would love to see designers helping designers to do something to pay it forward.

Links:

The main website for Susan's Non-profit: www.savvygivingbydesign.org

Susan's website: http://www.savvyinteriors.com

Susan's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SavvyGivingbyDesign/

Susan on social media: Youtube

Instagram: @Savvy Giving By Design

My guest for today’s exciting show is Highlyann Krasnow, one of the founders of The Developers Group, now MNS, located in Brooklyn, NY. Not only did she oversee the design of her company’s buildings and sales offices, but then she opened The Design High, the exclusive interior design arm at MNS. Highlyann is involved in commercial interiors and residential projects, but the focus of our conversation today is on the commercial side of her business. Join us!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• The path from real estate development to The Design High
• Benefits to “casting a wider net”
• Interior design concepts for commercial spaces
• Challenges in designing for the target demographic
• How to hone your commercial design skills
• The key: relationships with manufacturers
• Tips for the designer seeking a career in commercial design
• How to “let go” of some of your design elements
• Why you need to be a design chameleon
• The payoff for a designer
• The mood board test HIghlyann uses for hiring designers
• The commitment to eco-friendly designs: Why is it so important?
• Understanding the “durability” of your design: it’s NOT just for today!
• Highlyann’s recent and current projects and their specific challenges
• Carrying the design thread through the project as a whole

Resources:

www.thedesignhigh.com (Highlyann’s website)

Email Highlyann: hsk@mns.com

www.cherish.com/trade

The guest on today's show is Natalie Norcross, the dynamic founder and CEO of A Design Partnership, which is a Premier National Marketing and PR Agency. Natalie herself has appeared in Boutique design, Esquire, Hospitality Design, Access Hollywood, E Entertainment, Television, and Extra. Listen in today and learn about some great strategies and marketing tips from Natalie.

Natalie started her career as an Interior Designer, after which she built, then in 2008, sold, a highly successful firm, specializing in both Residential and Hospitality. Fellow designers in Architectural Firms then began asking for her help with generating leads, media placements, and marketing tools. That was how A Design Partnership started out. The agency, with Natalie, her two partners and a staff of nine high-powered designers and marketing experts has really grown over the last nine years. Listen to today's show to find out more about how this energetic group, who are passionate about helping design-minded companies to exceed their goals, transform their brands and evolve their businesses, work to create success.

Today, Natalie talks to LuAnn about:

• The businesses that were started by her mother and her grandmother, who were both entrepreneurs and both a great inspiration to Natalie.
• How she and other parents can lead their children and inspire them to develop positive work ethics, through their own example.
• Her successful design firm, which she sold in 2008 and what she learned from it.
• How having really good systems in place works, to catapult your business to wild success.
• The process of creating an exit strategy for your business.
• The power of having a team which is focused on the same mission.
• Some advice for people who are working on their brands.
• The DISC Profile tool, to help you get more clear as to who you really are, as a human being, to help you build focus, a mission, and a vision.
• The 5 Why's and how this can help you to get to the core of your beliefs.
• The difference between Inbound and Outbound Marketing.
• Great ways to drive traffic to your website.
• How, in the last six months, her company has grown five of their client's Instagram followers to over 15 000.
• Great ways to help your business to grow, using social media.
• The value in having blog posts on your website.
• Using the Ladder Up Strategy, for PR.
• Great tips for pitching for publications.
• Natalie's finite system for keeping her entire company on that train.

Natalie's website: www.adesignpartnership.com